Chai Hu
Bupleuri Radix
acrid, bitter, cool
PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Release the Exterior for Heat Attacks
CLASSICAL MANIFESTATIONS:
- Common cold
- Fever
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Bitter taste
- Chest pressure
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Rib side pain
- Moodiness
- Menorrhagia
- Metrorrhagia
- Amenorrhea
- Dysmenorrhea
- Hemorrhoids
- Prolapse
- Vaginal discharge
- Bleeding disorders
- Fatigue
Chai Hu is acrid to break up, bitter to drain out, and cool to treat heat patterns. It enters the gallbladder, liver, san jiao, and pericardium systems.
Liver qi stagnation patterns are associated with many symptoms and pathologies. Since Chai Hu is a key herb for improving functions of the liver it can be used for many of these conditions. When liver phase II functions are compromised there will be resulting liver blood stagnation patterns when affect the menstrual cycle in particular.
Channels: gallbladder, liver, san jiao, pericardium
COMMON APPLICATIONS AND CLINICAL POSSIBILITIES:
- Rib pain
- Biliary congestion
- Migraines
- Indigestion
- Abdominal distention
- Hemorrhoids
- Varicosity in the anus due to blood stagnation
- Jaundice
- Common cold
- Irritability
- Sympathetic nervous system dominance due to liver phase II abnormal function
- Lactation difficulties
- Antimicrobial
- Dysglycemia
- Gluconeogenesis
- Glycogenolysis
- Warts
- Hepatitis
Formulas:
- Bu Zong Yi Qi Tang
- Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang
- Chai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Tang
- Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang
- Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang
- Chai Hu Qing Gan Tang
- Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang
- Chai Hu Shu Gan San
- Da Chai Hu Tang
- Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
- Ding Jing Tang
- Fu Yuan Huo Xue Tang
- Hei Xiao Yao San
- Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
- Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
- Ming Mu Di Huang Wan
- Ping Gan Kai Yu Zhi Xue Tang
- Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin
- Ren Shen Bai Du San
- Shi Wei Bai Du San
- Shu Gan Tang
- Si Ni San
- Wan Dai Tang
- Xia Ru Yong Quan San
- Xiao Chai Hu Tang
- Xiao Yao San
- Xuan Yu Tong Jing Tang
- Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
- Yi Gan San
Contraindications: Chai Hu should not be given to patients that present with damaged yin patterns or if they have patterns of liver yang rising
Zoo Image: a polar bear is sitting on a yang qi stool with liver and spleen boxing gloves while the constrained liver dog fetches the shaoyang Frisbee