Huoxiang is a highly valuable traditional Chinese medicine, and I believe most people are familiar with Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, which is considered a must-have remedy for colds and fevers, although it doesn't smell very pleasant. Now let's learn more about the medicinal uses of Huoxiang.
Benefits and Functions of Huoxiang
1. Clears summer heat
Huoxiang has the ability to clear summer heat and is effective in treating symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, and fainting caused by heatstroke.
2. Promotes qi circulation and relieves pain
Huoxiang can also be used to treat symptoms of qi stagnation and stomach pain. It is beneficial for relieving bloating, stomach pain, loss of appetite, and belching after meals.
3. Stops diarrhea
Huoxiang has the ability to stop diarrhea and is effective in treating abdominal pain and diarrhea caused by enteritis, heatstroke, and dietary irregularities. It can also be used for abdominal distension and diarrhea caused by food poisoning, as well as for malaria and dysentery.
4. Reduces heat and fever
Suitable for treating symptoms such as chills, fever, headache, and epigastric fullness caused by external wind-cold invasion or internal injury from cold in the summer.
Applications of Huoxiang
1. External hemorrhoids
Use two bottles of Huoxiang Zhengqi Water mixed with one liter of cold boiled water. Soak a cotton pad in the solution and apply it to the affected area twice a day during the inflammation period. This has anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and shrinking effects.
2. Vitiligo
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that vitiligo is caused by the invasion of wind and dampness into the hair follicles, resulting in stagnation of qi and blood. Huoxiang Zhengqi Water can promote qi circulation and unblock the hair follicles. Use a clean cloth dipped in Huoxiang Zhengqi Water to apply to the affected area with slight pressure until the skin becomes slightly red. Repeat this process twice a day.
3. Fungal infections
Huoxiang can be used to treat fungal infections such as tinea manus, tinea pedis, and tinea cruris. It has inhibitory effects on fungi. Apply Huoxiang Zhengqi Liquid, which contains Huoxiang, to the affected area for one to two times a day for better results.
Combining Huoxiang with Other Herbs
1. Huoxiang combined with Banxia (Pinellia ternata)
Huoxiang can dispel dampness, invigorate the spleen, regulate qi, and relieve nausea, while Banxia can dry dampness, transform phlegm, regulate the stomach, and relieve nausea. When these two herbs are combined, they can eliminate spleen and stomach cold-dampness and stop vomiting. This combination is used to treat symptoms such as epigastric distension, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea caused by spleen and stomach cold-dampness.
2. Huoxiang combined with Peilan (Agastache rugosa)
Huoxiang has a warm and aromatic nature, and can dispel external pathogens, transform dampness, invigorate the spleen, open the appetite, and regulate the middle burner. Peilan has a mild and aromatic nature, can invigorate the spleen, transform dampness, and relieve summer heat. When these two herbs are combined, they have better effects in clearing heat and dampness, invigorating the spleen, and regulating the middle burner. This combination is used to treat symptoms such as summer heat-induced fatigue, obstruction by dampness and turbidity, epigastric distension, nausea, vomiting, and sticky mouth.
3. Huoxiang combined with Sharen (Amomum villosum)
Huoxiang can dispel turbidity and stop vomiting, while Sharen can warm the middle burner, promote qi circulation, and stabilize the fetus. When these two herbs are combined, they have the effects of warming the middle burner, regulating qi, stopping vomiting, and stabilizing the fetus. This combination is used to treat symptoms such as pregnancy-induced morning sickness, stagnation of qi with epigastric distension, and poor appetite.
These combinations of Huoxiang with other herbs can effectively alleviate gastrointestinal diseases, help relieve heatstroke, and have the ability to clear heat, detoxify, and resolve phlegm.
