Western and Chinese herbalism
Chai Hu
Bupleurum falcatum
Also known as Bupleurum, Hare's Ear Root, Thorowax Root, Northern/Southern Bupleurum, Chinese thoroughwax.
Chai Hu acts primarily as: Anti-inflammatory, Hepatoprotective, Antipyretic, Immunomodulatory, Antidepressant, Antiviral, Antitussive, Choleretic, Antioxidant, Adaptogenic (HPA-modulating). Secondary actions include Harmonize Shaoyang, Soothe Liver qi, Raise yang qi, Clear heat, Resolve constraint, Anti-inflammatory.
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Alternating fever and chills
- Shaoyang syndrome
- Liver qi stagnation
- Hypochondriac and flank pain
- Chest and breast distention
- Irritability
- Depression
- Emotional constraint
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Menstrual irregularity
- Dysmenorrhea
- Amenorrhea
- Bitter taste in mouth
- Dry throat
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Malarial disorders
- Intermittent and recurrent fever
- Common cold with fever
- Chronic hepatitis
- Fatty liver
- Cholestasis
- Jaundice
- Organ prolapse (with qi-raising herbs)
- Rectal prolapse
- Uterine prolapse
- Gastric prolapse
- Nausea with epigastric fullness
- Stress-related digestive complaints
- Liver-Spleen disharmony with bloating and alternating diarrhea and constipation
Safety
Pregnancy: Limited safety data in pregnancy
The record lists 8 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Dried root decoction | Dried root decoction: 3-12 g/day (lower 3-6 g to raise yang for prolapse | 3000-12000 mg |
| higher 9-12 g for Shaoyang heat and constraint) | 9000-12000 mg | |
| Tincture (1:5, 40-50% alcohol) | Tincture (1:5, 40-50% alcohol): 2-4 ml three times daily | 2-4 mL |
| Dried root | Dried root: 1.5-6 gm/day in divided doses as a decoction or in capsules | 1500-6000 mg |
| 1:5 tincture | 1:5 tincture: 5-20 ml/ day | 5-20 mL |
| 1:2 fluid extract | 1:2 fluid extract:3-12 ml/day in divided doses | 3-12 mL |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
primary-actions. Chai Hu acts primarily as: Anti-inflammatory, Hepatoprotective, Antipyretic, Immunomodulatory, Antidepressant, Antiviral, Antitussive, Choleretic, Antioxidant, Adaptogenic (HPA-modulating). Secondary actions include Harmonize Shaoyang, Soothe Liver qi, Raise yang qi, Clear heat, Resolve constraint, Anti-inflammatory.
indications. Chai Hu is traditionally indicated for: Alternating fever and chills, Shaoyang syndrome, Liver qi stagnation, Hypochondriac and flank pain, Chest and breast distention, Irritability, Depression, Emotional constraint, Premenstrual syndrome, Menstrual irregularity, Dysmenorrhea, Amenorrhea, Bitter taste in mouth, Dry throat, Dizziness, and 17 further conditions.
constituents. Notable constituents of Chai Hu include: Triterpenoid saikosaponins (saikosaponins a, c, d, and b1-b4, over 130 characterized), Saikogenins, Polysaccharides (bupleurans), Essential oil (bupleurynol, pentanoic acid derivatives), Lignans, Flavonoids (rutin, quercetin, isoquercitrin, narcissin), Phytosterols (alpha-spinasterol, stigmasterol), Polyacetylenes, Phenolic acids, Coumarins.
dose-reference. Reference preparation/dosing for Chai Hu: Dried root decoction: 3-12 g/day (lower 3-6 g to raise yang for prolapse; higher 9-12 g for Shaoyang heat and constraint); Tincture (1:5, 40-50% alcohol): 2-4 ml three times daily; Powdered extract: per standardized saikosaponin content per manufacturer; Classically combined with Scutellaria baicalensis (Huang Qin) for Shaoyang harmonization (Xiao Chai Hu Tang), or with Angelica sinensis and Paeon
In formulas
Chai Hu stands in 243 documented formulas in the library, among them Liver Support & Detoxification Formula, jing jiè lián giáo tàng, xuân fei rùn cháng tāng, chái hú bái hũ tāng, pù jì xiào dú yin, ging gu san.
Often paired with
Licorice rootGlycyrrhiza glabra
Chinese skullcapScutellaria baicalensis
White PeonyPaeonia lactiflora
Dong QuaiAngelica sinensis
GinsengPanax ginseng
GingerZingiber officinaleNearby on the shelf
Ceylon cinnamonCinnamomum zeylanicum
Ceylon ironwoodMesua ferrea
Ceylon leadwortPlumbago zeylanica
ChagaInonotus obliquus
ChaksuChamaecrista absus
ChamomileChamaemelum nobile
ChangiumChangium smyrnioides
ChaparralLarrea tridentataThe whole plate is in the library. The compass, Compare, the Sky of eleven hundred plants and the formulary open with an email address and a password, free, with the formula builder and its safety engine. Herbert without limit, his formulating, clients, the handouts and the labels are the paid room.
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