INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: QIAN HU - 前胡 - RADIX PEUCEDANI

Pharmaceutical Latin: Radix Peucedani
Common English: Peucedanum Root
Hogfennel Root
Asian Masterwort Root

CATEGORY

Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing: Herbs that Cool and Transform Phlegm-Heat

PROPERTIES

Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Bitter
Acrid
Slightly Cold
(Cold)
Lung
(Spleen)
3-10g
Tincture: 2-4ml

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS:

Actions Indications/Syndromes

Expels Phlegm and descends Qi

Lung Heat (cough, wheezing, thick Phlegm, tight chest)

Expels Wind-Heat

Wind-Heat with a headache and coughing (most suitable when Wind-Heat constrains the Lungs)

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with cough due to Yin Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for those with cough or wheezing due to Cold Phlegm.
  • Contraindicated during pregnancy.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
  • Counteracts Rz. et Rx. Veratri Nigri Li Lu.
  • Counteracts Fr. Gleditsiae Zao Jiao.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • Use with caution for patients taking anticoagulants such as heparin, warfarin (Coumadin) and enoxaparin (Lovenox) or antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin, dipyridamole (Persantine) and clopidogrel (Plavix) as concurrent use may have an additive or synergistic effect.

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Cx. Mori
Sang Bai Pi
Sm. Armeniacae
Xing Ren
Bul. Fritillariae
Bei Mu

Rz. Cynanchi Stauntonii
Bai Qian

 

Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu

Lung Heat with coughing of thick sputum, stifling sensation in the chest, and irritability.

Cough due Wind Invasion affecting the Lungs.

Wind-Heat constraining the Lungs, leading to a stifling sensation in the chest and cough with profuse sputum.

Rx. Platycodi
Jie Geng
Fr. Arctii
Niu Bang Zi
Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis
Bo He

Headache, fever, nasal congestion, rhinitis, and cough due to external Wind-Heat.

 

 

NOTES

  1. This is one of the best herbs for treating Hot Phlegm. It is primarily used in acute conditions.
  2. It is combined with warming herbs for treating Cold Phlegm.
  3. It is good for grogginess and congestion upon waking.
  4. Rx. Peucedani Qian Hu and Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu both dispel Wind and relieve the stifling sensation and distention in the chest and epigastrium. Qian Hu transforms Phlegm and descends Qi and is used for more obvious symptoms of cough due to external Wind Invasion. Chai Hu releases the exterior, spreads Liver Qi and is used for malarial disorders due to external invasion. They can be used together for external invasion with cough, rebellious Qi, thick sputum and/or malarial disorders. Most sources include only Wind-Heat.
  5. Both Qian Hu and Sm. Armeniacae Xing Ren enter the Lung channel and descend Qi. Qian Hu is cool, drains Lung Heat and expels Wind-Heat to treat sticky, yellow Phlegm. Xing Ren is warm and dispels Wind-Cold while alleviating wheezing with copious white Phlegm.
  6. Prepared Peucedani Root Zhi Qian Hu is better at moistening to treat dry cough.
  7. Dry-fried Peucedani Root Chao Qian Hu is less cold and better able to harmonize the Stomach.