Bupleurum is a commonly known Chinese herb with numerous benefits and uses. It clears deficiency heat and is used for treating colds with fever, alternating chills and fever, malaria, liver qi stagnation, chest and rib distension pain, rectal prolapse, uterine prolapse, and irregular menstruation. So what are the specific benefits and uses of Bupleurum? Let's explore them below.
Functions of Bupleurum
Properties: Bitter, neutral. Meridian tropism: Liver and Gallbladder meridians.
Primary functions: Dispels heat, raises yang, and soothes the liver. Indicated for: Colds with fever, alternating chills and fever, malaria, liver qi stagnation, chest and rib distension pain, rectal prolapse, uterine prolapse, and irregular menstruation.Promotes sweating, reduces fever, soothes the liver, relieves depression, and raises yang.
Harmonizes the Shaoyang Channel
This herb is bitter and cool, entering the Shaoyang channel. The Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica states: "It treats cold and heat pathogenic factors." The Pearl Sack states: "To eliminate alternating chills and fever, gallbladder obstruction—only Bupleurum root can remove it."The Commentary on the Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica further notes: "Bupleurum is the primary exterior-releasing herb for the Shaoyang channel. The Shaoyang channel governs the half-exterior, half-interior region. When Shaoyang channels are affected by pathogens, cold manifests when pathogens accumulate in the yin aspect, while heat manifests when pathogens accumulate in the yang aspect. Bupleurum is the specific herb for Shaoyang disorders. Its nature is light and clear, its bitter taste is mild, and it penetrates to expel exterior pathogens from the half-exterior, half-interior region, facilitating resolution from the exterior. Thus, it possesses the efficacy of harmonizing Shaoyang."For instance, in Zhang Zhongjing's Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders: Differentiating Shaoyang Disease Pulses, Signs, and Treatment, the Minor Bupleurum Decoction is indicated for treating cold damage on the fifth or sixth day, wind-stroke, alternating chills and fever, fullness and discomfort in the chest and ribs,silent and unwilling to eat, restlessness with a tendency to vomit, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, and dizziness. The tongue coating is thin and white, and the pulse is string-like. This indicates pathogenic factors in the Shaoyang layer, between the exterior and interior, where the pivotal mechanism is impaired and the struggle between righteous and pathogenic qi occurs.Chaihu (Bupleurum) ascends to clear and disperse, Yu Jiang (Sapindus) penetrates the exterior, Huang Qin (Scutellaria) clears Shaoyang's ministerial fire, assisted by Ren Shen (Ginseng), Gan Cao (Licorice), Sheng Jiang (Ginger), and Da Zao (Jujube). This unblocks the upper burner, allows body fluids to descend, harmonizes stomach qi, induces perspiration, and resolves the condition (Treatise on Cold Damage).
Liver-Soothing and Stomach-Harmonizing
This herb is bitter, pungent, and cool, entering the Liver, Gallbladder, and Triple Energizer meridians. The Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica states: "It treats qi stagnation in the heart, abdomen, intestines, and stomach, as well as food accumulation." Li Gao notes: "Bupleurum drains liver fire." Thus, it possesses liver-soothing and stomach-harmonizing effects, commonly used for heart-abdominal qi stagnation, food accumulation, promoting new growth by expelling the old, and treating costal pain and abdominal distension.
Lifting Yang and Raising Collapsed Qi
This herb possesses a light and clear nature, primarily ascending and dispersing. The Compendium of Materia Medica states: "It treats the sinking of yang qi." The Correct Meaning of Materia Medica also notes: "In summary, Chaihu's primary indications are: one, deficiency of the righteous qi, where clear qi sinks into the yang aspect—it lifts and raises it, restoring its proper place so that the middle qi naturally revives." Thus, it possesses the efficacy of lifting yang and raising collapsed qi.It treats sinking of central qi, chronic diarrhea with rectal prolapse, uterine prolapse, and similar conditions. It is often combined with qi-tonifying and yang-lifting herbs like Astragalus and Ginseng, as seen in the Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang formula.
Liver-Soothing and Depression-Relieving
This herb is bitter and cool in nature, entering the Liver meridian. The Four Sounds Materia Medica states: "It treats phlegm accumulation and fullness in the chest and flanks."The Dian Nan Materia Medica notes: "It regulates stagnant qi in the liver meridian, alleviates spasmodic pain in the left flank, treats menstrual disorders due to blood heat, and regulates menstruation." The Pharmacological Interpretation states: "Its slightly bitter taste primarily disperses liver qi." Thus, this herb can regulate liver qi and resolve liver stagnation. It is indicated for conditions involving stagnation, irregular menstruation, and heat entering the blood chamber.
For liver qi stagnation causing flank pain, combine with Cyperus rhizome and Citrus peel, as in the formula Bupleurum Liver-Regulating Powder. For liver qi stagnation with blood deficiency manifesting as flank pain and irregular menstruation, often combine with Angelica root and White peony root, as in the formula Free and Easy Wanderer Powder.
Clearing and Draining Excessive Fire
This herb's bitter and cool nature clears heat and drains fire. Entering the Liver, Gallbladder, and Triple Energizer meridians, it clears and drains excessive fire. It is commonly used for headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and tinnitus or deafness.
Dispels Wind and Removes Bi Syndrome
This herb is classified as a wind-dispelling agent. Wind is considered the root of all diseases; when wind is eliminated, dampness also dissipates.As recorded in the Compendium of Famous Physicians' Prescriptions: "It removes dampness-induced arthralgia and stiffness." Thus, it possesses the efficacy of dispelling wind and removing arthralgia. When symptoms manifest as heavy limbs, numb skin, or fixed joint pain aggravated by damp weather, this indicates arthralgia caused by wind-cold-damp pathogens invading the joints and meridians, with dampness being the predominant factor.Chaihu (Bupleurum) may be selected to dispel wind, overcome dampness, and eliminate arthralgia. Its bitter nature drains, while its pungent quality disperses and reduces fever. For treating common cold with fever, it may be combined with licorice to form Chaihu Powder.This herb excels at resolving pathogens in the half-exterior, half-interior stage, making it essential for treating Shaoyang syndrome. It addresses cold-heat fluctuations, chest and rib discomfort, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, and dizziness when cold pathogens affect the Shaoyang channel. Often combined with Scutellaria and Pinellia, as in Minor Bupleurum Decoction. Effects of Bupleurum Reduces fever and combats inflammation