Chai Hu

Latin name: Bupleurum

Chai Hu Also Known As: Bei Chai Hu, Chi Hu, Chinese Thoroughwax, Hare's Ear Root, Sho-saiko-to, Shrubby Hare's-ear, Sickle-leaf Hare's-ear, Thoroughwax. Bupleurum chinense; Bupleurum exaltatum; Bupleurum falcatum; Bupleurum fruticosum; Bupleurum longifolium; Bupleurum multinerve; Bupleurum octoradiatum; Bupleurum rotundifolium; Bupleurum scorzonerifolium.

Properties: BITTER, PUNGENT - COOL

Dosage: 3 - 12g.

Meridians/Channels: GALLBLADDER, LIVER, PERICARDIUM, SAN JIAO

• clears less yang disorders - fever, chills, bitter taste, irritable, vomiting
• liver Qi stagnation - vertigo, menstrual disorder, chest pain, bloating
• spleen and stomach deficiency - prolapsed organ, diarrhea, hemorrhoids

Also Used For: Orally, Chai Hu / Bupleurum is used for fevers, flu, the common cold, cough, fatigue, headache, tinnitus, liver disorders, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), dysmenorrhea, depression, anorexia, cancer, inflammation, lung congestion, malaria, angina, epilepsy, pain, muscle cramps, rheumatism, asthma, bronchitis, indigestion, ulcers, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, constipation, as a sedative, antioxidant, antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral, as an immune stimulant, and for reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It is also used orally for increasing sweating, as a protectant against kidney problems, a liver tonic, and a spleen and stomach toner. In combination, Chai Hu / Bupleurum is used in many herbal formulas. It is included in a Chinese herbal formula used for treating thrombocytopenic purpura and in a Japanese herbal formula (Sho-saiko-to, TJ-9, Xiao-chai-hu-tang) used for various chronic liver diseases. Bupleurum is used orally in combination with Panax ginseng and licorice to help stimulate adrenal gland function, particularly in patients with a history of long-term corticosteroid use.