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INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: XIANG FU - 香附 - RHIZOMA CYPERI - NUT-GRASS RHIZOME

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Rhizoma Cyperi
Common English:	Nut-Grass Rhizome Cyperus Purple Nutsedge Root

PROPERTIES

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Acrid Slightly Bitter Slightly Sweet	Neutral	Liver San Jiao Gallbladder (Stomach)	6-14g Tincture: 2-4ml

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions

Indications/Syndromes

Spreads and regulates Liver Qi

Liver Qi Stagnation with hypochondriac pain and epigastric distention

Disharmony between the Liver and Spleen

Regulates menstruation and alleviates pain

Gynecological disorders due to Liver Qi Stagnation with dysmenorrhea or irregular menstruation

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated in those with Qi Deficiency without Stagnation.
Contraindicated in those with Yin Deficiency with Heat signs.
Contraindicated in those with Heat in the Blood.
Use caution in those with constipation.
Use caution during pregnancy.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao	Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang Fr. Citri Sarcodactylis Fo Shou (Fr. Amomi) (Sha Ren) (Massa Medicata Fermentata) (Shen Qu)	Rx. Linderae Wu Yao Fr. Foeniculi Xiao Hui Xiang
Pain and distention in the chest and flanks.	Epigastric and abdominal pain, indigestion, vomiting and diarrhea due to Qi Obstruction of the Liver and Spleen.	Pain, distention, and prolapse in the lower abdomen due to Cold and Qi Obstruction of the Liver and Kidneys. Hernial pain due to Cold.
Rz. Alpiniae Officinarum Gao Liang Jiang	Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu	Caul. Perillae Zi Su Geng
Epigastric and hypochondriac pain due to Liver Qi Stagnation with Cold congealing in the Stomach.	Indigestion, pain and distention in the flanks and abdomen, nausea, vomiting and acid regurgitation.	Fullness, distention, and discomfort in the epigastrium and abdomen due to Liver attacking the Spleen. Morning sickness.
Fol. Perillae Zi Su Ye	Flos Inulae Xuan Fu Hua	Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong
Nasal congestion, epigastric and abdominal distention and discomfort associated with externally contracted disorders.	Thin mucus in the hypochondria.	Irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea due to Qi and Blood Stasis.
Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu Fr. Trichosanthis Gua Lou	Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu	Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu
Breast masses that swell around the time of the menstrual flow.	Disordered period.	Qi Stagnation and menstrual irregularity.
Fr. Amomi Sha Ren Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang	Rx. Linderae Wu Yao	Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui
Ulcer and digestive disturbance.	Unblocks Qi in both the Qi and Blood levels, releases constraint from the Liver and Gallbladder, descends Qi in the chest and abdomen and warms Qi which has been slowed by pathogenic Cold. Painful, Cold Qi leading to abdominal distention, borborygmus and diarrhea. Qi and Blood Stagnation with menstrual irregularity, pain in the lower abdomen and generalized pain and distention throughout the body.	Tonifies the Blood and moves Qi, for premenstrual symptoms, menstrual pain and irregular menstruation.
Faeces Trogopterori Wu Ling Zhi Pollen Typhae Pu Huang Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo	Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong	Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
Dysmenorrhea.	Qi Stagnation combined with Blood Stasis.	Treats everything from Liver Qi Stagnation to Deep Blood Stasis with pain anywhere in the body including stabbing chest pain, distending pain in the breast, Cold pain in the epigastrium, pain due to bulging disorder in the lower body and dysmenorrhea.
Lignum Santali Albi Tan Xiang	Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao Fr. Aurantii Zhi Ke	Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao Rx. Curcumae Yu Jin Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po
Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Liver and Spleen to treat Liver QI Stagnation causing Spleen and Stomach disharmony with a stifling sensation in the chest and flanks, belching, sighing, loss of appetite and epigastric pain.	Hypochondriac pain.	Stress and emotional disturbance.
Rz. Alpiniae Officinarum Gao Liang Jiang Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang Fr. Toosendan Chuan Lian Zi Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao	Rz. Alpiniae Officinarum Gao Liang Jiang Bul. Lilii Bai He Rx. Linderae Wu Yao Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Dan Shen Lignum Santali Albi Tan Xiang Fr. Amomi Sha Ren	Concha Arcae Wa Leng Zi Endoconcha Sepiae Hai Piao Xiao Bul. Fritillariae Thunbergii Zhe Bei Mu
Stomach pain caused by stress.	Epigastric pain due to alternating Cold and Heat.	Acid regurgitation.
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu	Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu Per. Citri Reticulatae Viride Qing Pi Sm. Vaccariae Wang Bu Liu Xing Fr. Trichosanthis Gua Lou
Irregular menstruation with breast distention and abdominal pain.	Breast distention or breast nodules.

NOTES

The neutral property of this herb, together with its ability to disperse and harmonize, account for its widespread use.
This is one of the most commonly used analgesics for abdominal pain, especially upper abdominal pain.
This herb is used in combination with either Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu or Rx. Linderae Wu Yao but not both for menstrual problems related to Liver tension.
This herb disperses and spreads stagnant Liver and Stomach Qi and is therefore best for problems involving emotional Stagnation (irritability), epigastric and hypochondriac distention and pain and menstrual problems (best when there is scanty bleeding).
This herb is said to treat melancholy.
Both Xiang Fu and Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang are bitter, acrid, promote the flow of Qi, stop pain and most importantly enter the San Jiao channel. Mu Xiang mobilizes clumped Qi in the Stomach and Intestine channels and reduces Food Stagnation. It is used for epigastric fullness, abdominal distention and diarrhea. Xiang Fu dredges and disperses Qi Stagnation in the Stomach and Liver and is especially good at relieving Liver Qi Stagnation, regulating menstruation and stopping pain. It is used for emotional constraint, distending pain in the ribs and flanks and irregular menstruation.
Processed Cyperus Zhi Xiang Fu is most effective at dredging the Liver and alleviating pain.
Black Cyperus Hei Xiang Fu is able to enter the Liver Blood level to harmonize Blood and stop bleeding to treat irregular menstrual bleeding.
Dry-fried Cyperus Chao Xiang Fu regulates pain due to Qi Stagnation.
Four (Substance) Prepared Cyperus Si Zhi Xiang Fu is less likely to exhaust Qi and dry the Yin and Yang fluids. It is better able to promote the flow of Qi , unblock the collaterals, reduce accumulation and alleviate pain to treat deficient patients with pathogenic obstruction.