Xiao Hui Xiang - 小茴香 - Fructus Foeniculi
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Foeniculi |
| Common English: | Fennel Fruit |
Category
Herbs that Warm the Interior and Expel ColdProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid | Warm | Liver Kidney Spleen Stomach | 3-12g Tincture: 2-4ml Essential Oil: 2-4 drops in warm water 3-9g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Warms the Liver and Kidneys, expels Cold and alleviates pain | Cold in the Lower Jiao with lower abdominal pain Cold Invades the Liver Channel with Cold bulging disorders |
Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Stomach | Stomach Cold with abdominal pain, indigestion, reduced appetite and vomiting |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Cx. Cinnamomi | Sm. Litchi | Sm. Litchi |
Sharp, localized, lower abdominal pain that is aggravated by Cold. | Abdominal and testicular pain and prolapse due to Cold. Running Piglet disorder. | Abdominal and testicular pain and prolapse due to severe Cold. Running Piglet disorder due to severe Cold. |
| Fr. Gardeniae | Cx. Eucommiae | Rz. Zingiberis Recens Or Rz. Zingiberis Recens |
Bulging disorders that have transformed into Heat. | Lower back pain from Kidney Deficiency. | Vomiting and anorexia due to Stomach Cold. |
| Ram. Cinnamomi | Fr. Psoraliae Bu Gu Zhi | Fr. Toosendan |
Spasmodic epigastric pain due to Spleen Deficiency with Qi and Blood Stagnation. | Kidney Yang Deficiency with clear, frequent, profuse urination or spermatorrhea or dysmenorrhea with lower back ache, late periods and coldness in the lower abdomen. Spleen Yang Deficiency or Stomach Cold with epigastric distention, anorexia, nausea, explosive diarrhea or unformed stools with gripping abdominal pain. | Strongly stops pain and regulates Qi to treat bulging disorders and mobile masses in the lower abdomen. |
Sm. Trigonellae | Sm. Pharbitidis | Sm. Litchi |
Cold-type bulging disorders and abdominal distention due to Cold. Cold dysmenorrhea with painful abdominal distention. | Drains pathogenic Yin to disperse Cold, reduce swelling, alleviate pain in the treatment of Cold-Damp bulging disorder with scrotal swelling and sensations of dragging pain, constipation and urinary difficulty due to Deficiency, Cold in the Lower Jiao with Qi Stagnation and Water Accumulation. | Hernia. |
Fr. Evodiae | Fr. Toosendan | Sm. Litchi |
Cold hernial disorders. | Heat-related hernial disorders with Heat symptoms and burning pain. | Swelling and hardness of the scrotum. |
Rz. Zingiberis | Massa Medicata Fermentata | |
Qi Stagnation in the Middle Jiao. | Indigestion and fullness after meals. |
Notes
- It is typically combined with Rz. Zingiberis Officinalis Gan Jiang for Cold in the Liver Channel with hernia, inguinal Cold and gynecological pain.
- It dispels abdominal Cold that causes distention, pain and digestive upset, and also serves as a reproductive tonic.
- For cold hernial disorders, it can be warmed and applied topically to the scrotum and abdomen.
- It is the familiar spice used in cooking.
- Xiao Hui Xiang and Rx. Linderae Wu Yao are both acrid, warm and aromatic. Wu Yao disseminates and unblocks Qi, moves the Spleen and Lungs and permeates the Liver, Kidneys and Bladder; by dredging and unblocking rebellious Qi in the chest and abdomen it smooths and descends Qi, disperses Cold and relieves pain. Xiao Hui Xiang does not reach the upper Jiao but acts on the Middle and Lower Jiaos; it descends Qi to settle nausea, disperses Cold and relieves abdominal pain, and is especially known for treating bulging disorders.
- Xiao Hui Xiang and Sm. Trigonellae Hu Lu Ba are both aromatic and warm, expel Cold from the Lower Jiao and treat bulging disorders, and they are frequently used together. Xiao Hui Xiang enters the Middle Jiao to improve appetite, settle nausea and relieve abdominal pain and distention, and it enters the Lower Jiao to warm and treat every type of bulging disorder; in large doses it may be overly drying. Hu Lu Ba acts only on the Lower Jiao and is essentially a strongly warming Yang tonic with a faint aroma that drives out lurking Cold Qi accumulated in the Lower Jiao.
- Dried Fennel Chao Hui Xiang moves less strongly but is better at warming and regulating the Middle and awakening the Spleen. It is commonly used for nausea and vomiting from Stomach Cold or for anorexia from Spleen Deficiency.
- Salt-fried Fennel Yan Hui Xiang descends more strongly into the Kidneys to warm and disperse pathogenic Cold in the Lower Jiao.
From Class
- Warming the interior: Rou Dou Kou (nutmeg), Rou Gui, Xiao Hui Xiang: Warm middle heater (separation), lower (transition), upper (deliverance) so yang can hold yin. (Yuen)