Huo Xiang - 藿香 - Herba Agastaches/Pogostemonis - Patchouli
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Herba Agastaches/Pogostemonis |
| Common English: | Agastache Patchouli Pogostemonis Rugose Giant Hysop Herb Wrinkled Giant Hyssop |
Category
Aromatic Herbs that Transform DampnessProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid | Slightly Warm Aromatic | Lung Spleen Stomach | 3-10g Double when fresh Tincture: 2-4ml Do not decoct for longer than 15 minutes. |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Aromatically transforms Dampness, releases the Exterior and dispels Summerheat (transforms turbidity) | Turbid Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao Summer Heat-Dampness Damp-Warmth Wind-Dampness |
Harmonizes the Middle Jiao and stops vomiting | Nausea or vomiting due to Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao Other types of vomiting, and morning sickness when combined with appropriate herbs |
Treats dermatosis and fungal infection | Dermatosis and fungal infections affecting either the hands or feet |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Rz. Pinelliae Preparata | Hb. Eupatorii | Fol. Perillae |
Nausea and vomiting, fullness and distention of the chest, epigastrium, and abdomen, anorexia and diarrhea with a turbid, greasy tongue coat due to turbid Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao. | Fatigue, stifling sensations in the chest, abdominal distention, nausea and a thin, greasy tongue coat due Summer Heat with Dampness. | Fever and chills, a stifling sensation in the chest and epigastrium, cough and nausea due to Wind-Cold with Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao. |
| Rx. Scutellariae | Rz. Pinelliae Preparata | Fr. Amomi |
Early stage Damp-Warm febrile disease with fever, achy limbs, lethargy, abdominal distention and dark, scanty urine and constipation. Summerheat with Dampness. | Early stages of Damp-Warmth when Dampness predominates, with fever, a stifling sensation in the chest, nausea, a sense of being encumbered, a sticky sensation in the mouth and a lack of thirst. | Morning sickness. |
| Rx. Codonopsis Or Rx. Glycyrrhizae | Rz. Coptidis | Fol. Perillae |
Vomiting and diarrhea due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency. | Vomiting due to Damp-Heat. | Transforms Dampness, regulates Qi, harmonizes the Stomach, stops nausea and vomiting and treats turbid Dampness Obstructing the Spleen with lethargy, a stifling sensation in the chest, nausea , loss of appetite, diarrhea or loose stools and a thick tongue coat. (use Zi Su Geng) Releases the Exterior to treat Externally contracted pathogens such as Externally- contracted Cold during Hot, Damp summer weather, with fever, lethargy, a stifling sensation in the chest and nausea. |
Rz. Pinelliae Preparata | Fol. Perillae | Rz. Pinelliae Preparata |
Summerheat and Dampness Stagnation in the Middle Jiao. | Summer-Dampness with Wind-Cold. | Nausea and vomiting. |
Rx. et Rz. Rhei | ||
Soaked in vinegar for one week and applied topically for fungal infection. |
Notes
- It addresses Turbid Dampness that obstructs the Middle Jiao and impairs the Spleen's functions of transformation and transportation.
- Its main use is Summer-Heat affecting the Spleen/Stomach.
- It is used for bad breath caused by decaying food in the Stomach.
- It relieves turbid stagnation, obstruction, tightness of the chest or abdomen, nausea, vomiting and morning sickness.
- Hb. Agastaches/Pogostemonis Huo Xiang, Fol. Perillae Zi Su Ye and Rz. Phragmitis Lu Gen all stop vomiting. Of the three, Huo Xiang is best at transforming Dampness, Zi Su Ye at releasing the exterior, and Lu Gen at clearing Stomach Heat.
- Agastache was the traditional source, but over the last century Pogostemonis has been grown and used in its place. Certain sources say this herb treats Wind-Cold invasion with underlying internal Dampness.
- It is frequently paired with Hb. Eupatorii Pei Lan, which works best for excessive salivation and an unpleasant, sticky feeling in the mouth, whereas Huo Xiang is better at releasing the exterior and stopping vomiting.
- Huo Xiang and Hb. Eupatorii Pei Lan both dispel Summerheat and transform Dampness and are commonly combined. Huo Xiang is more suitable for expelling pathogenic Cold contracted externally during hot summer weather. Pei Lan is gentler, more harmonizing and less dispersing.
- Patchouli Leaf Huo Xiang Ye moves the Exterior, disseminating and dispersing to treat externally contracted Wind-Cold with Internal Dampness Obstruction.
- Patchouli Stalk Huo Xiang Geng moves the Middle and opens the chest, and is especially good at harmonizing the Stomach and stopping nausea. It is commonly used for nausea and vomiting from Dampness Obstructing the Middle or from Stomach Cold, and for morning sickness.
- Fresh Patchouli Xian Huo Xiang relieves Summerheat and releases the Exterior. It is often taken as a tea with Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis Bo He in the early stages of Summerheat with Dampness.
- Patchouli Dew Huo Xiang Lu is acrid and slightly warm. It clears Summerheat, restores the normal flow of Qi and, through its strong aroma, dispels Turbid Dampness, treating Summerheat-Dampness Obstructing the flow of Qi with a stifling feeling in the chest, nausea and vomiting; it is prized for its ability to prevent Summerheat disorders.
- It is also known as Guang Huo Xiang (Pogostemonis).
From Class
- Huo Xiang (Agastache / patchouli): Fragrances for those left behind — grief, loss, sadness. (Yuen)
- Patchouli (Huo Xiang substitute) — Chong Mai: Patchouli is an important oil for Chong Mai, the blueprint that manifests the soul; changes connection to the deceased. (Yuen)