INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Radix Bupleuri
Common English: Bupleurum Root
Hare’s Ear Root
Thorowax Root
Red Thorowax Root
Asian Buplever Root
Herbs that Release the Exterior: Cool Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior (Wind-Heat Diaphoretics)
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Bitter
Acrid
(Astringent)
Cool
(Neutral)
Gallbladder
Liver
Pericardium
San Jiao
3-12g
Tincture: 1-3.5ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Resolves Shao Yang disorders and reduces fever (harmonizes the Exterior and Interior)

Shao Yang Stage with alternating chills and fever, a bitter taste,dizziness, tinnitus, flank pain, irritability, vomiting and a stifling sensation in the chest

Deficiency Heat (auxiliary)

Gallbladder Fire

Spreads Liver Qi and relieves Stagnation

Liver Qi Stagnation with dizziness, vertigo, chest and flank pain, emotional instability and menstrual problems

Disharmony between the Liver and Spleen with epigastric and flank pain, a stifling sensation in the chest, abdominal bloating, nausea and indigestion

Liver/Gallbladder Disharmony

Raises Yang Qi (specifically the Clear Qi of the Stomach and Gallbladder)

Spleen and Stomach Yang Deficiency, Qi collapse (prolapse) with hemorrhoids, vaginal discharge, bleeding or exhaustion

Disperses Wind-Heat and resolves Phlegm and congestion

Wind-Heat

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with Yin Deficiency cough.
  • Contraindicated for those with Yin and/or Fluid Deficiency (severe Yin Damage).
  • Contraindicated for those with Liver Fire or Yang Rising ascending to the head.
  • This herb may cause nausea or vomiting. To counteract, use smaller dosage.
  • Do not use alone continuously.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
Zhi Ban Xia

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
Zhi Ban Xia

Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi
Rz. Zingiberis
Gan Jiang

Heat in the Shao Yang.

Restores the normal functioning of the Liver and Gallbladder.

Heat in the Womb with fever, chills and delirium.

Shao Yang disorders with alternating chills and fever and a sensation of fullness in the hypochondria and chest.

Shao Yang disorders with Cold predominating.

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
Zhi Ban Xia

Gypsum
Shi Gao
Rz. Anemarrhenae
Zhi Mu

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
Zhi Ban Xia

Fr. Citri Aurantii Immaturus
Zhi Shi
Rx. Paeoniae Rubra
Chi Shao

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
Zhi Ban Xia

Ginseng
Ren Shen
Rx. Glycyrrhizae
Gan Cao

Shao Yang disorders with Heat predominating.

Shao Yang disorder that is primarily Excess.

Weak patients.

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
Zhi Ban Xia

Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rx. Dichroae
Chang Shan
(Hb. Artemisiae Annuae)
(Qing Hao)
(Sm. Arecae)
(Bing Lang)
(Fr. Tsaoko)
(Cao Guo)

Rx. Gentianae Macrocephalae
Qin Jiao
Cx. Lycii
Di Gu Pi
Hb. Artemisiae Annuae
Qing Hao

Shao Yang Heat.

Malaria.

Deficiency consumption with steaming bones and tidal fever.

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

Liver Blood Deficiency with Liver Qi Stagnation.

Vertigo, dizziness and thoracic and costal pain due to Liver Qi Stagnation.

Harmonizes the Blood for irregular menstruation.

Fortifies Qi.

Rx, Peucedani
Qian Hu

Hb. Menthae
Bo He

Fr. Aurantii
Zhi Ke

Wind-Heat constraining the Lungs leading to a stifling sensation in the chest and a productive cough.

Emotional depression, a stifling sensation in the chest and irregular menstruation due to Liver Blood Stagnation and Deficiency.

Stifling sensation in the chest, abdominal pain, poor appetite and irregular bowel movements.

Rx. Gentianae
Long Dan Cao
Fr. Gardeniae
Zhi Zi

Per. Citri Reticulatae Viride
Qing Pi

Rx. Glycyrrhizae
Gan Cao

Excess Heat in the Liver and/or Gallbladder channels.

Intercostal pain due to Qi obstruction in the Liver channel.

Hepatitis and upper right quadrant pain.

Wind-Heat fever.

Rx. Astragali
Huang Qi

Rz. seu Rz. Notopterygii
Qiang Huo
Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng

Rz. Cyperi
Xiang Fu
Fr. Aurantii
Zhi Ke
Per. Citri Reticulatae Viride
Qing Pi

Raises the Clear Yang due to abnormal descent of Qi.

Spleen Deficiency Dampness.

Liver Qi Stagnation.

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rx. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

Rx. Astragali
Huang Qi
Rz. Cimicifugae
Sheng Ma
(Rx. Ginseng)
(Ren Shen)

Rx. Puerariae
Ge Gen

Central Qi Sinking.

Central Qi Sinking.

Wind-Heat with neck and shoulder pain.

Rz. Cyperi
Xiang Fu
Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong
Fr. Aurantii
Zhi Ke

Rx. Dichroae
Chang Shan

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rx. Paeoniae Alba

Bai Shao

Fr. Gardeniae
Zhi Zi

Rx. et Rz. Rhei
Da Huang

Liver Qi Stagnation.

Malarial disorders.

Combined Shao Yang and Yang Ming syndromes.

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rx. Puerariae

Ge Gen

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Hb. Menthae
Bo He

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong
Fr. Aurantii
Zhi Ke

Shao Yang Stage with fever.

Liver Qi Stagnation with stress and emotional distress.

Liver Qi Stagnation with hypochondriac fullness and pain.

Rz. Cyperi
Xiang Fu
Rx. Paeoniae Alba

Bai Shao

Fr. Citri Aurantii Immaturus
Zhi Shi

Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong
Rz. Cyperi
Xiang Fu
Rx. Paeoniae Alba

Bai Shao

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Fr. Gardeniae
Zhi Zi

Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng
Sm. Cassiae
Jue Ming Zi

Liver Qi Stagnation with cold extremities.

Migraine headache due to Shao Yang Fire.

Eye disorders due to Liver Fire Rising with redness, swelling and pain.

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rz. Cyperi
Xiang Fu
Cx. Moutan
Mu Dan Pi

Hb. Artemisiae Scopariae
Yin Chen Hao
Rx. et Rz.
Rhei
Da Huang
Fr. Gardeniae
Zhi Zi

RZ. Cimicifugae
Sheng Ma

Irregular menstruation with pain and cramps.

Jaundice due Damp-Heat in the Liver and Gallbladder.

Viral hepatitis, cough with difficult to expectorate Phlegm and chronic bronchitis.

  1. Northern Bupleurum Bei Chai Hu is harder and more effective in resolving the Shao Yang and reducing Heat. It is used to treat External Wind-Heat.
  2. Southern Bupleurum Nan Chai Hu is relatively thin and soft and is more effective in spreading Liver Qi and relieving Stagnation.
  3. This herb treats Heat from Deficiency, gynecological problems, boils, furuncles and eye and ear diseases.
  4. It is one of the most important of the Cold herbs. It relaxes Liver tension, calms Wind, cools Fire, and is thus used to treat convulsions, muscle tension, lumps, tumors, skin ailments, digestive disturbances, Lung Heat, menstrual irregularity and Excess bleeding due to Heat. It may release pent-up anger and Heat. Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao moderates this effect.
  5. Bupleurum is the primary herb in harmonization therapies.
  6. It immediately stimulates the immune system.
  7. It is good for all types of toxicosis, especially Liver/Gallbladder infections.
  8. It is good for allergies.
  9. Large doses have been used to treat malaria and blackwater fever.
  10. Spring Bupleurum Chun Chai Hu is dispersing and draining and is good for spreading Liver Qi.
  11. Dry-fried Bupleurum Chao Chai Hu is less cool but is better able to lift clear Yang.
  12. Vinegar Bupleurum Cu Cha Hu has an enhanced ability to soothe the Liver, harmonize the Blood and stop pain.
  13. For topical application, use raw.
  14. For Internal conditions, roast in sake.
  15. For Phlegm and Heat, roast in honey water.
  16. For Liver and Gall Bladder Fire, roast in pork gall bladder water.