Elsholtzia (Xiangru)
Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Elsholtziae
Botanical Name: 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.