Pharmaceutical Name

Herba Elsholtziae

Botanical Name

1. Elsholtzia splendens Nakai ex F. Maekawa

Common Name

Elshotzia, Aromatic madder

Source of Earliest Record

Mingyi Bielu

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations

The entire plant, when it is ripe, is gathered, dried in the sunshine and cut into pieces.

Properties & Taste

Pungent and slightly warm

Meridians

Lung and stomach

Functions

1. To promote diaphoresis and release the exterior; 2. To resolve dampness and harmonize the spleen and stomach; 3. To promote water metabolism and release edema

Indications & Combinations

1. Wind-cold exterior syndrome occurring in the summer season manifested as chills, fever, headache, absence of sweating, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Elsholtzia (Xiangru) is used with Hyacinth bean (Biandou). 2. Edema and dysuria. Elsholtzia (Xiangru) is used with White atractylodes (Baizhu).

Dosage

3-10 g

Cautions & Contraindications

This herb is contraindicated in deficiency exterior syndrome with sweating.