Xiang Fu - 香附 - Rhizoma Cyperi - Nut-Grass Rhizome
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Rhizoma Cyperi |
| Common English: | Cyperus Nut-Grass Rhizome Purple Nutsedge Root |
Category
Herbs that Regulate QiProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid Slightly Bitter Slightly Sweet | Neutral | Liver San Jiao Gallbladder (Stomach) | 6-14g Tincture: 2-4ml 6-12g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Spreads and regulates Liver Qi | Liver Qi Stagnation with hypochondriac pain and epigastric distention Disharmony between the Liver and Spleen |
Regulates menstruation and alleviates pain | Gynecological disorders due to Liver Qi Stagnation with dysmenorrhea or irregular menstruation |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Rx. Bupleuri | Rx. Aucklandiae | Rx. Linderae |
Pain and distention in the chest and flanks. | Epigastric and abdominal pain, indigestion, vomiting and diarrhea due to Qi Obstruction of the Liver and Spleen. | Pain, distention, and prolapse in the lower abdomen due to Cold and Qi Obstruction of the Liver and Kidneys. Hernial pain due to Cold. |
| Rz. Alpiniae Officinarum | Rz. Atractylodis | Caul. Perillae |
Epigastric and hypochondriac pain due to Liver Qi Stagnation with Cold congealing in the Stomach. | Indigestion, pain and distention in the flanks and abdomen, nausea, vomiting and acid regurgitation. | Fullness, distention, and discomfort in the epigastrium and abdomen due to Liver attacking the Spleen. Morning sickness. |
| Fol. Perillae | Flos Inulae | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Nasal congestion, epigastric and abdominal distention and discomfort associated with externally contracted disorders. | Thin mucus in the hypochondria. | Irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea due to Qi and Blood Stasis. |
Rx. Bupleuri | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Rx. Bupleuri |
Breast masses that swell around the time of the menstrual flow. | Disordered period. | Qi Stagnation and menstrual irregularity. |
Fr. Amomi | Rx. Linderae | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Ulcer and digestive disturbance. | Unblocks Qi in both the Qi and Blood levels, releases constraint from the Liver and Gallbladder, descends Qi in the chest and abdomen and warms Qi which has been slowed by pathogenic Cold. Painful, Cold Qi leading to abdominal distention, borborygmus and diarrhea. Qi and Blood Stagnation with menstrual irregularity, pain in the lower abdomen and generalized pain and distention throughout the body. | Tonifies the Blood and moves Qi, for premenstrual symptoms, menstrual pain and irregular menstruation. |
Faeces Trogopterori | Rz. Chuanxiong | Rz. Corydalis |
Dysmenorrhea. | Qi Stagnation combined with Blood Stasis. | Treats everything from Liver Qi Stagnation to Deep Blood Stasis with pain anywhere in the body including stabbing chest pain, distending pain in the breast, Cold pain in the epigastrium, pain due to bulging disorder in the lower body and dysmenorrhea. |
Lignum Santali Albi | Rx. Bupleuri | Rx. Paeoniae Alba |
Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Liver and Spleen to treat Liver QI Stagnation causing Spleen and Stomach disharmony with a stifling sensation in the chest and flanks, belching, sighing, loss of appetite and epigastric pain. | Hypochondriac pain. | Stress and emotional disturbance. |
Rz. Alpiniae Officinarum | Rz. Alpiniae Officinarum | Concha Arcae |
Stomach pain caused by stress. | Epigastric pain due to alternating Cold and Heat. | Acid regurgitation. |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Rx. Bupleuri | |
Irregular menstruation with breast distention and abdominal pain. | Breast distention or breast nodules. |
Notes
- Its wide use is explained by its neutral nature combined with its capacity to disperse and harmonize.
- It ranks among the most frequently used analgesics for abdominal pain, particularly pain in the upper abdomen.
- For menstrual problems linked to Liver tension, it is paired with either Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu or Rx. Linderae Wu Yao, but not with both.
- Because it disperses and spreads stagnant Liver and Stomach Qi, it is ideal for emotional Stagnation (irritability), distention and pain of the epigastrium and hypochondrium, and menstrual problems (particularly when bleeding is scanty).
- It is reputed to treat melancholy.
- Xiang Fu and Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang are both bitter and acrid, promote the flow of Qi, stop pain and, most significantly, enter the San Jiao channel. Mu Xiang moves clumped Qi in the Stomach and Intestine channels and reduces Food Stagnation, so it is used for epigastric fullness, abdominal distention and diarrhea. Xiang Fu dredges and disperses Qi Stagnation in the Stomach and Liver and excels at relieving Liver Qi Stagnation, regulating menstruation and stopping pain, so it is used for emotional constraint, distending pain of the ribs and flanks, and irregular menstruation.
- For dredging the Liver and relieving pain, Processed Cyperus Zhi Xiang Fu is the most effective form.
- Black Cyperus Hei Xiang Fu can enter the Liver Blood level, where it harmonizes Blood and stops bleeding, and is used for irregular menstrual bleeding.
- Pain from Qi Stagnation is regulated by Dry-fried Cyperus Chao Xiang Fu.
- Four (Substance) Prepared Cyperus Si Zhi Xiang Fu is less prone to exhausting Qi or drying the Yin and Yang fluids. It is more effective at promoting the flow of Qi, unblocking the collaterals, reducing accumulation and relieving pain, making it suitable for deficient patients with pathogenic obstruction.
- Also known as Xiang Fu Zi.
- Dui Yao pair with Yi Mu Cao: for irregular menstruation, PMS and postpartum abdominal pain due to Liver Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis.
- Dui Yao pair with Ai Ye: for irregular menstruation, leukorrhea and pain from Deficiency Cold in the Lower Jiao with Liver Qi Stagnation, and for infertility from Deficiency Cold in the uterus. Used together in Ai Fu Nuan Gong Wan.
From Class
- Chai Hu (Bupleurum): Strong for liver-qi stagnation and drying dampness, but overly drying in yin deficiency — avoid Chai Hu formulas then. (Lewis)
- Xiang Fu (Cyperus): The one herb said to rectify qi (made famous by Zhu Danxi) — 'fragrant resonance'. (Yuen)
- Xiang Fu (Cyperus) / Zhi Zi (Gardenia): Shao Yang / San Jiao herbs for basophils as mediators. (Yuen)
- Xiang Fu / Mu Xiang / Chen Pi: Harmonizing qi movers that don't dry as much — alternatives to Chai Hu when yin deficient. (Lewis)