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Chai Hu Thorowax Root, Bupleurum - Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chai Hu Names

  • English Name: Thorowax Root, Bupleurum
  • Pinyin Name: Chai Hu

Chai Hu Image

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Functional Groupings

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Chai Hu Cautions


    Contraindication Notes:

    • Due to its rising and dispersing nature avoid in yin deficiency or liver yang rising.
    • May cause nausea or vomiting - use a smaller dose if necessary.

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Chai Hu Clinical Usages and Indications

  • Clears shao yang disorders and reduces fever - alternating chills and fever, bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, vomiting, stifling sensation in the chest.
  • Relieves liver qi stagnation (often used with Bai Shao) - vertigo, menstrual disorders, chest and flank pain, the most common herb to treat stress, irritability, depression, etc.; also for liver and spleen disharmony - bloating, nausea, indigestion, flank pain.
  • Raises yang qi in spleen and stomach deficiency patterns (often used with Sheng Ma) - prolapsed organ, diarrhea, hemorrhoids.

Related Conditions:

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Related TCM Diagnostic Patterns:

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Chai Hu Dosage and Prep Notes

  • Dosage: 3-12g

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Related Properties:

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Clinician Notes

  • Compare with Ge Gen and Sheng Ma.
  • Research indicates antibiotic, antiviral, and tranquilizing effects.

Chai Hu Appears In 13 Formulas

Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan

  • Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Formula

  • For Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency - spontaneous sweating, aversion to cold, desire for warm beverages, shortness of breath, intermittent fever, weak speech/low voice, weak limbs, loose/watery stools.

    The Pulse will be deficient and rootless in the spleen position or simply deficient overall and the Tongue will be pale with a thin white coat.

  • Tonify
  • Tonify the Qi

Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Wan

  • Bupleurum, Dragon Bone, and Oyster Shell Formula

  • Used for heat that is lodged in the chest affecting all yang stages, also for phlegm in the liver/gall bladder.  Generally used for a range of psychological conditions, aiding with drug withdrawal and related issues.  Symptoms include chest oppression, anxiety, irratiblity, palpitations, excessive/delirious speech, heavy sensation of body, constipation, urinary issues.

    The Pulse will be wiry and rapid and the Tongue will be red with a slippery tongue coating.

  • Calm The Spirit
  • Sedate and Calm the Spirit

Chai Hu Shu Gan Wan

Er Long Zuo Ci Wan

Gan Bing Zhi Ben Wan

Jia Wei Xiao Yao Wan

Long Dan Xie Gan Wan

  • Gentiana Purge Liver Formula

  • Hypochondriac pain, bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, easily angered, headache, dizziness, red, and possibly sore, eyes, diminished hearing and/or swollen sensation in ears/head.  May have urinary symptoms such as painful, hot urination perhaps with swollen genitalia.  Women may have leukorrhea with a strong odor.

    The Pulse will be wiry, rapid and forceful and the Tongue will be red with a yellow tongue coating.

  • Clear Heat
  • Clear Heat From The Organs

Ren Shen Bai Du Wan

Si Ni San Wan

  • Frigid Extremities Powder Pills

  • Used for liver qi stagnation and counterflow qi to the limbs (i.e. cold limbs with hot/stagnant trunk).  Principle signs would be those of liver qi stagnation (depression, mood swings, PMS, grinding of the teeth), hypochondriac pain and/or abdominal pain.

    The tongue will generally be purple/red - darker and the pulse will be wiry or possibly mixed to indicate heat trapped within and stagnation to the extremities.  

  • Harmonize
  • Regulate and Harmonize the Liver and Spleen
  • Cautions
    • Not for cold extremities from yang or Blood deficiency.
    • Use with caution or avoid in very weak patients who cannot sustain the movement that this formula creates.

Wu Ling San Wan

Xiao Chai Hu Tang Wan

Xiao Yao Wan

  • Free and Easy Wanderer

  • Depression, anxiety, Headache, vertigo, hypochondriac pain, fatigue, poor appetite, bitter taste in the mouth.  In women - PMS, breast distention, irregular menstruation, fertility issues.

    The Pulse will be wiry and deficient and the Tongue will be pale-red/purplish.

  • Harmonize
  • Regulate and Harmonize the Liver and Spleen

Xue Fu Zhu Yu Wan

  • Blood Stasis Relief Pills
    • Qi and Blood stagnation - pain, cardiovascular issues, physical organ issues.
    • Coronary artery disease, angina and other cardiovascular issues.
    • Hepatitis and other liver function issues.
    • Migraines, headaches, neuralgia from most causes.
    • A range of menstrual issues including dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, fibroids - particularly with pain and/or bleeding.
    • Certain diagnostic types of psychological illness, schizophrenia, bipolar, chronic depression, etc.
  • Invigorate the Blood
  • Invigorate the Blood and Dispel Blood Stasis
  • Cautions
  • Pregnancy
    • Avoid during pregnancy.
    • Avoid with heavy menstrual bleeding.
    • Use only under direction if you are taking blood thinners.
    • Generally not for long term use.

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