Huo Xiang – AiQUIN.com

Agastache, Huò Xiāng, 藿香, Herba Pogostemonis

Disclaimer For educational purposes only. Do not use as medical advice

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Health Benefits

For: Vomiting • Nausea • Diarrhea • Stomach ache • Topical mosquito repellent

Attributes: Antiemetic • Anti-Inflammatory • Antifungal • Antibiotic • Antitumor • Antioxidative • Antimicrobial • Antibacterial • Antiviral • Insecticidal • Sedative

Products (online examples)

Research (sample)

Articles:

Gastrointestinal: Effects of herba Pogostemonis on gastrointestinal tract
Antimicrobial: Studies on the anti-enteropathogenic bacteria action of Herba Pogostemonis extracts
Salmonella: Composition of Herba Pogostemonis water extract and protection of infected mice against Salmonella Typhimurium-induced liver damage and mortality by stimulation of innate immune cells
Gastric ulcers: The gastroprotective effect of pogostone from Pogostemonis Herba against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats
Anti-allergy: Experimental study on antinociceptive and anti-allergy effects of patchouli oil
Motion sickness: Three statistical experimental designs for enhancing yield of active compounds from herbal medicines and anti-motion sickness bioactivity.
Acute lung injury: Protective effects of patchouli alcohol isolated from Pogostemon cablin on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice
Anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidative, antiemetic, sedative: Availability, Pharmaceutics, Security, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacological Activities of Patchouli Alcoho

Constituents:

Sesquiterpenes • Pogostone • Seychellene • Sesquiterpenols • Patchouli alcohol • Anethole • Limonene • Methychavicol • Anisaldehyde • Patchouli alcohol • Eugenol • Pogostol

Photos (Click to enlarge)

Fun Facts

Other Names: Korean mint • Patchouli • Blue licorice • Purple giant hyssop • Indian mint • Banga (Korean) • Pogostemonis
Plant Family: Labiatae (Mint)

Species

Two plants are used for Huo Xiang:• Pogostemonis Herba (Guang Huo Xiang): Also call Patchouli.

• Agastaches Rugosa (Tu Huo Xiang): Also call Korean mint

Literature tend to point to Pogostemonis as being more potent and effective while Agastaches is considered less aromatic and less potent. However, Agastaches is more common in the U.S.

Growth

Agastache rugosa is in the USDA Plant Database. Drill down via USDA Interactive Map:

USA: Not found in the wild. USDA Zones: 4-9

World: Korea, China, Japan, Russian Primorye, India, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Habitats: ‎Moist grasslands, valleys, banks of streams, rivers, ponds.

Category: Aromatic Transform Damp

English: Agastache Pinyin: Huo Xiang Pharmaceutical: Herba Pogostemonis

Organs: Lung • Spleen • Stomach Temperature: Slightly Warm

Taste: Pungent Toxicity: None noted

Patterns: Dampness • Blockage of Middle Burner • Vomiting

Actions: Stop vomiting • Harmonize the middle burner • Transform Dampness • Relieve nausea • Release exterior wind cold

Indications: White, moist tongue • Nausea • Vomiting

Contraindications: Heat yin deficiency • Stomach fire • Mint allergy

Typical Dosage: 4.5 g to 9 g • Cook less than 15 minutes. Guidelines

Parts Used: Root • Leaves

Other:

Combine With	Purpose
Ban Xia + Cang Zhu	Dampness blocking the middle burner: nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, diarrhea, and poor appetite
Bai Zhu + Dang Shen	Spleen and stomach deficiency: vomiting and diarrhea
Zi Su Ye + Hou Po	Wind cold and dampness blocking the middle burner: fever and chills, chest heaviness, nausea and cough
Sha Ren	Morning sickness
Pei Lan	Damp summer-heat: fatigue, nausea, heaviness in chest
Huang Qin + Lian Qiao + Hua Shi	Fever, lethargic, dark urine, abdominal distention, general body aches
Huang Lian + Zhu Ru	Damp heat vomiting

Formulas with Huo Xiang

Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan • Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San • Xie Huang San

Alert

Be cautions with all medicine.

Do not use with mint allergy

Potential Drug Interactions

Herbal medicine may interact negatively with pharma drugs and other herbs. Examples below:

Herbs: None noted

Pharma Drugs:None noted

Information in this post came from many sources, including class notes, practitioners, websites, webinars, books, magazines, and editor's personal experience. While the original source often came from historical Chinese texts, variations may result from the numerous English translations. Always consult a doctor prior to using these drugs. The information here is strictly for educational purposes.

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