Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Medicine for Dispelling Dampness - (guang) Huo Xiang
                                       
                                 
                                          Huo Xiang
   
                                         Agastache
                                   Herba  Agastachis

This herb is the whole plant of the perennial herbs, Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. or Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et
Mey.) O. Ktze. (Family Labiaceae), chiefly produced in Guangdong Province and distributed in most parts of China. It
is collected in summer and autumn when it is luxuriating, used the fresh or dried in shade, cut into segments, used
unprepared.
Properties: Being pungent in flavour, slightly warm in nature, it mainly acts on the spleen, stomach, and lung channels.
The fragrant flavour benefits to eliminate dampness, regulate the functions of stomach and spleen and arrest vomiting,
and the pungent flavour can disperse pathogens and relieve exterior syndrome and summer heat. The herb being
pungent but not intenseness, and slightly warm but not dryness; it is often used to eliminate pathogenic dampness and
relieve exterior syndromes of dampness retention in the middle jiao and affection by summer-dampness.
Effects: Eliminating dampness, arresting vomiting, relieving exterior syndrome and summer heat.
Indications:
1. For dampness retention in the middle jiao, manifested as poor appetite, oppressive chest, and greasy tongue coating,
it is often used in combination with aromatic herbs for resolving dampness, such as Pei Lan (eupatorium) and Cang Zhu
(atractylodes rhizome).
2. For the syndromes of the interior impairment by summer heat or by cold, manifested as vomiting, diarrhea, aversion
to cold, fever, it is often used in combination with the drugs for relieving exterior syndrome and eliminating dampness:
such as Zi Su (perilla leaf) and Hou Pu (magnolia bark), known as Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San (Powder of Agastache for
Restoring Health).
3. For dampness retention in the middle jiao, adverse flow of stomach qi, it is used with Pei Lan (eupatorium), Hou Pu
(magnolia bark). In case of vomiting due to damp-heat, it is used with the drugs for clearing away heat, dampness and
arresting vomiting, such as Huang Lian (coptis root), Zhu Ru (bamboo shavings), etc.
Dosage and Administration: 5~10g. Double the dose when use fresh herb.
Modern Researches: The volatile oils contained in it can promote the gastric secretion and improve digestion. It is
antispasmodic to the gastrointestinal tract.
The herb also possesses slightly diaphoretic action and inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Diplococcus
pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Shigella dysenteriae.