Whole herbsDampness-transformingHerba Agastachis

Huo Xiang (Agastache / Patchouli)

A practical guide to Huo Xiang: what it is, how Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it, the classical formulas it appears in, and who should be careful with it.

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Last reviewed Oct 13, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin NameHerba Agastachis
Chinese Name & Pinyin 藿香 · Huo Xiang
Medicinal PartWhole herbs
The herbOfficial use is often Guang Huo Xiang, the aerial part of Pogostemon cablin. Tu Huo Xiang is Agastache rugosa. The essential oil is not the decoction piece. Do not boil it long.
Nature and channelsAcrid, slightly warm. Enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung. Acridity aromatically transforms turbid dampness. Slight warmth harmonizes the middle and resolves summerheat.
Pharmacopoeia lineAromatically transforms dampness. Harmonizes the middle and stops vomiting. Releases the exterior and resolves summerheat. Used for turbid damp in the middle, focal distention and vomiting, summer-damp exterior patterns, early damp-warmth, fever and fatigue, chest tightness, cold-damp shutting in summerheat, abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea, and deep-source nasal congestion with headache.
Pattern cuesFocal distention and vomiting. Summer-damp chest tightness. Vomiting and diarrhea. Nasal congestion. Greasy coating.
In this articleGuang Huo Xiang versus Tu Huo Xiang, Pei Lan, and Zi Su Ye. Why it is not boiled long. Why yin deficiency should skip it. Why oil is not the piece. Who should skip it.

What Is Huo Xiang?

On a modern prescription, Huo Xiang usually means Guang Huo Xiang (广藿香; Guǎng Huò Xiāng; Latin: Pogostemonis Herba; English: cablin patchouli herb). It is the dried aerial part of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. In Chinese medicine it is a dampness-transforming herb. Tu Huo Xiang is Agastache rugosa. Actions are close. The script should name which one. It is acrid and slightly warm, enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung channels, and its core actions are to aromatically transform dampness, harmonize the middle and stop vomiting, and release the exterior and resolve summerheat. In a decoction it should not be boiled long. It is not patchouli essential oil. Aroma-therapy doses are not decoction-piece doses. It is not Zi Su Ye. Perilla leaf leans toward wind-cold at the exterior. Huo Xiang leans toward turbid damp in the middle, and summer-damp vomiting and diarrhea. Use caution in yin-deficiency fire.

It is used most often for three patterns:

  • Turbid damp obstructing the middle — focal distention, vomiting, no appetite
  • Summer-damp exterior pattern — fever, fatigue, chest tightness
  • Cold-damp vomiting and diarrhea / deep-source nasal congestion with headache

The usual decoction dose is 3–10 g. Yin-deficiency dry cough and Stomach-yin deficiency with dry mouth are a poor match. Acrid-warm and aromatic, it is not a daily “summer perfume tea.” Fragrance without dampness dries yin.

When damp encumbers the spleen and stomach, or summer-damp attacks the exterior, chest tightness, nausea, and loose stools are common. Huo Xiang is acrid-warm and aromatic. It transforms, harmonizes, and resolves summerheat, which is why it appears in Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San. It is more fragrant-dry than it is moistening. A red tongue with little fluid and a dry throat get drier if more aroma is added.

Huo Xiang is not a catch-all dampness or anti-nausea herb. In yin-deficiency fire, or when damp-heat has already turned dry, using it alone can dry yin. Guang or Tu Huo Xiang should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Huo Xiang Agastache

Huo Xiang: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Herba Agastachis

Botanical Origin

The dried aerial part of Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et Mey.) O. Ktze. or Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. (Lamiaceae).

Production Regions

Guang Huo Xiang primarily produced in Guangdong and Hainan; Agastache primarily produced in Sichuan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is tender, green, and strongly aromatic.

Macroscopic Features

Stems square, leaves opposite, ovate with serrate margins; densely pubescent; intensely aromatic.

Authentic Regions and Quality Identification

Traditionally, high-quality Guang Huo Xiang comes from Guangdong and Hainan, while premium Tu Huo Xiang comes from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. However, quality also depends on harvesting and storage.

  • Spotting Quality: Premium Huo Xiang features thick, purplish-brown stems and dark green leaves. It should be brittle and easy to snap, with a rich, mellow aromatic scent and a slight pungent taste when chewed.
  • Fresh vs. Dried: Fresh leaves are softer with a crisper scent, while the dried herb is easier to store and more common in pharmacies.
  • Beware of Look-alikes: It is sometimes confused with other mint family herbs like Bo He (Peppermint) or Jing Jie (Schizonepeta). However, those herbs have a sharp, cooling, or spicy scent, lacking the deep, earthy aroma unique to true Huo Xiang.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Acrid; Slightly warmSpleenStomachLung

1. Historical Records

Classic TCM texts have praised its digestive and damp-clearing benefits for centuries:

  • Ming Yi Bie Lu: Noted it can dispel "foul Qi" (bad energy/toxins) and relieve severe sudden stomach cramps.
  • Xin Xiu Ben Cao: Confirmed its use for sudden gastrointestinal distress and chest pain.
  • Ben Cao Gang Mu: Highlighted its ability to warm the middle, smooth out trapped Qi, fix bad breath, and settle an upset stomach.
  • De Pei Ben Cao: Mentioned key pairings: mixing it with clove helps cold-type hiccups, while pairing it with Hua Shi (Talcum) treats summer heat-related diarrhea.
  • Zhong Hua Ben Cao: Summarized its core modern TCM uses: transforming dampness, stopping nausea, and relieving summer heat.

2. Evolution of TCM Understanding

Different TCM masters often highlight different strengths of Huo Xiang:

  • Digestion First: Some doctors focus purely on its ability to clear "dampness" in the Spleen and Stomach, making it a go-to for bloating and poor appetite.
  • Cold Relief: Others highlight its ability to push out external "wind-cold," using it for stomach bugs triggered by catching a chill.
  • Qi Regulation: Some focus on its ability to move Qi to relieve a heavy, stuffy feeling in the chest.
  • The Takeaway: This shows that Huo Xiang is versatile, but it is highly targeted. It is best used for specific damp-cold stomach issues rather than a general cure-all.

Huo Xiang Agastache

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Aromatically transforms dampness, harmonizes the middle, and releases the exterior. Apply to damp-turbidity of the middle jiao, vomiting, summerheat-damp, and early-stage exterior dampness.

1. Primary Focus: Resolving Dampness and Waking the Spleen

  • Traditional Function: Huo Xiang (Patchouli) uses its warm and dispersing nature to clear "dampness" from the Spleen and Stomach, helping the digestive system get back to normal.
  • Target Symptoms: Perfect for a sluggish digestive system trapped by dampness. Symptoms include a heavy feeling in the chest, poor appetite, a sticky feeling in the mouth, loose stools, and overall body heaviness. It is especially useful during hot, humid weather or after eating too much greasy or cold food.
  • Common Pairings: Often paired with Cang Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome) to boost its damp-clearing power, or with Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel) to help move Qi and wake up the Spleen.
  • When to Avoid: Do not use if you have a Yin deficiency with internal fire (signs include chronic dryness and feeling hot). Its warm and drying nature can make these symptoms worse.

2. Secondary Focus: Harmonizing the Stomach and Stopping Nausea

  • Traditional Function: It helps regulate the flow of Qi in the middle of the body, pushing downward to stop nausea and vomiting caused by rebellious Stomach Qi.
  • Target Symptoms: Used for nausea and vomiting triggered by dampness or "foul Qi" (like a summer stomach bug or eating something slightly off).
  • Common Pairings: Frequently combined with Ban Xia (Pinellia) to stop nausea or Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit) to settle the stomach.
  • When to Avoid: If your vomiting is caused by Stomach Heat (indicated by severe dry mouth, bitter taste, and bad breath), Huo Xiang (Patchouli) is too warm and may worsen the condition.

3. Common Herb Pairings: Synergistic Duos

  • Huo Xiang (Patchouli) + Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit): This is a classic duo. Huo Xiang (Patchouli) clears dampness and stops nausea, while Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit) opens the appetite and warms the Spleen. Together, they are excellent for poor appetite, nausea, and stomach upset caused by dampness blocking the digestive tract.
  • Note: Always consult a TCM practitioner before mixing herbs, especially if you tend to run hot.

Huo Xiang Agastache

Modern Research

Modern research offers useful context, but Traditional Chinese Medicine prescribes on whole-pattern diagnosis rather than isolated compounds.

(Note: Modern science primarily tests herbs in lab settings, which gives us chemical clues but doesn't fully replace traditional clinical wisdom.)

1. Main Chemical Components

Modern analysis shows that Huo Xiang is rich in essential oils (like patchouli alcohol and eugenol), alongside flavonoids and organic acids.

2. Modern Pharmacological Directions

Lab studies have explored a few main areas:

  • Antibacterial Effects: Test-tube studies suggest its essential oils can gently inhibit certain common digestive bacteria.
  • Gut Health: Animal tests show Huo Xiang extracts may help regulate intestinal movement and soothe stomach spasms.
  • Fluid Balance: Early animal models suggest it can influence how the body processes water and dampness.

3. Limitations of Modern Research

While interesting, laboratory data has limits:

  • Lab vs. Human Body: Animal and test-tube results do not perfectly reflect how the herb behaves in the human digestive system.
  • Extracts vs. Whole Herb: Labs often use isolated chemicals. Traditional TCM uses a brewed tea of the whole plant, where hundreds of compounds work together safely.
  • Standardization: Different labs use different extraction methods, so results can vary. We cannot judge the entire traditional power of Huo Xiang based on just one isolated chemical component.

Huo Xiang Agastache

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. Shared Traits

Huo Xiang (Patchouli) and Pei Lan (Eupatorium) are frequently mentioned together:

  • Both primarily resolve dampness and wake up the Spleen.
  • Both treat symptoms of dampness, like chest stuffiness, poor appetite, and fatigue.
  • Both are popular in summer wellness teas and often used together.
  • Both should be used with caution by people with Yin deficiency and internal heat.

2. Core Differences

  • Nature and Taste: Huo Xiang (Patchouli) is slightly warm and pungent. Pei Lan (Eupatorium) is neutral and pungent, meaning it is neither distinctly hot nor cold.
  • Primary Strengths: Huo Xiang (Patchouli) is much better at stopping nausea and regulating Qi. Pei Lan (Eupatorium) is milder and excels at freshening bad breath and clearing a sticky mouth.
  • Action Tendency: Huo Xiang (Patchouli) has an upward, dispersing energy that pushes dampness out and settles the stomach. Pei Lan (Eupatorium) is very gentle and works slowly on the middle digestion without a strong upward or downward push.
  • Target Scenarios: Use Huo Xiang (Patchouli) for heavier dampness with nausea (like summer stomach flus). Use Pei Lan (Eupatorium) for mild, chronic dampness presenting mainly as poor appetite and a sticky mouth.

3. A One-Sentence Summary

Huo Xiang (Patchouli) is your warm, go-to herb for stopping nausea and fighting heavy stomach dampness, while Pei Lan (Eupatorium) is a neutral, gentle option for fixing a sticky mouth and mild indigestion.

Huo Xiang Agastache

Classical Formulas Containing Huo Xiang

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

  • Synergy is Key: A formula is a balanced team. The healing power comes from how the herbs interact, so a single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effects.
  • Holistic Balance: The exact dosage and combination in a formula affect the entire body. Never try to mix or alter these formulas at home based on internet articles.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. Home Herbal Teas and Meals

  • Aromatic Digestion Tea:

    • Ingredients: 3g dried Huo Xiang (Patchouli), 2g Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel), 1 slice fresh ginger.
    • Method: Brew with boiling water, cover, and steep for 5 minutes.
    • Best For: Mild chest stuffiness, poor appetite, or slight summer nausea.
    • Avoid If: You have a hot stomach or Yin deficiency.
    • Frequency: Up to 3 times a week (one cup per time).

  • Soothing Stomach Porridge:

    • Ingredients: 10g fresh Huo Xiang (Patchouli) (or 5g dried), 50g rice.
    • Method: Cook the rice into a porridge. About 5 minutes before it is done, stir in the fresh herb (or drop in a gauze bag of the dried herb).
    • Best For: Mild diarrhea and poor appetite from dampness.
    • Frequency: Once every two weeks. Small bowls only.

2. Preparation Differences

  • Fresh vs. Dried: Dried Huo Xiang (Patchouli) has a stronger scent and better damp-clearing power for medical use. Fresh Huo Xiang (Patchouli) is milder, fresher, and better for gentle, daily wellness.
  • Brewing Rule: When boiling this herb in a tea or soup, always add it during the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking. Boiling it too long destroys its essential oils.

3. Dosage and Usage Cycles

  • Dosage: Standard medical doses range from 3 to 10g for dried herbs (up to 15g for fresh). Home tea doses should stay on the lower end.
  • Cycle: Do not use it continuously. Stop after one week, or as soon as your symptoms disappear. For long-term gut issues, see a professional.
Huo Xiang Agastache

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

  • Heat Constitutions: If you have Stomach Fire (intense thirst, bad breath, severe hunger) or Yin deficiency (night sweats, dry mouth), avoid this herb as it is too warming and drying.
  • Pregnancy and Nursing: Only use under strict professional guidance.
  • Vulnerable Populations: Children and the elderly need lower doses and must consult a doctor first.
  • Liver/Kidney Issues: Check with your doctor to avoid adding stress to these organs.
  • Allergies: If you are allergic to mint-family plants, you might react to this herb.

2. Medication Interactions and Dietary Notes

  • Interactions: While there are no severe known interactions, always consult your doctor if you take blood thinners, blood pressure medication, or sedatives.
  • Dietary Rules: When taking this herb, avoid heavy, greasy, icy, or excessively spicy foods, as they will fight the herb's ability to heal your Spleen.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risks

  • Overdose: Generally safe, but taking too much can cause dry mouth, a bitter taste, or irritability—especially if your body already runs hot.
  • Emergency: Stop immediately and seek medical help if you experience a rash, shortness of breath, continuous vomiting, or rapidly worsening symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions About Huo Xiang

What is Huo Xiang? Are Guang Huo Xiang, Tu Huo Xiang and Pei Lan the same?
The official drug is Guang Huo Xiang, the dried aerial part of Pogostemon cablin. The pharmacopoeial name is Pogostemonis Herba. Prescriptions often write Huo Xiang. Tu Huo Xiang is Agastache rugosa: lighter aroma and weaker action, a regional substitute. Pei Lan is acrid-neutral: aromatically transforms damp, awakens the Spleen, opens the appetite, releases the exterior and resolves summerheat. It is not kitchen basil or essential oil as a decoction. Forbid in Yin vacuity.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Huo Xiang?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Guang Huo Xiang is acrid and slightly warm, enters the Spleen, Stomach and Lung channels, and acts to aromatically transform turbidity, harmonize the middle and stop vomiting, release the exterior and resolve summerheat. It is used for turbid damp obstructing the middle with focal fullness and vomiting, summerheat-damp exterior patterns, early damp-warmth, fever with fatigue, chest oppression, cold-damp shutting summerheat, abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea, and sinus headache. Acrid-aromatic and slightly warm, it suits turbid damp in the middle and summerheat-damp—not Yin-vacuity fire or Stomach-heat vomiting.
How do you choose fresh versus dry Huo Xiang? Should it be added late?
Summerheat-damp vomiting and diarrhea and transforming turbidity to resolve summerheat are stronger with the fresh herb; the dose may be doubled. Pharmacies usually stock the dry herb. Keep the volatile oil by adding near the end or decocting briefly; long boiling loses the aroma. Leaf leans toward transforming damp and resolving summerheat; stem leans toward harmonizing the middle and moving qi. Do not take patchouli essential oil as a decoction.
What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a summerheat-and-vomiting tea?
The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 3–10 g; do not decoct long. It is not a four-season “Huo Xiang Zheng Qi tea.” Yin vacuity only grows drier with aroma. Summerheat-damp vomiting and diarrhea need a practitioner to name a short course; patent Huo Xiang Zheng Qi may contain ethanol and other excipients—read the label; it does not replace assessment of dehydration.
What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?
Forbid in Yin vacuity. Use caution as a single herb in Stomach-heat vomiting and wind-heat sore throat. Pregnancy with summerheat-damp vomiting may be assessed by a practitioner for a short course; it is not an unpatterned calm-fetus drug. Stop if dry mouth and throat or nosebleed appear. Severe vomiting and diarrhea with dehydration and high fever with convulsions are emergencies.
Can Huo Xiang transform damp, stop vomiting and resolve summerheat?
It can help turbid damp obstructing the middle and externally contracted summerheat-damp. External cold with internal damp, vomiting and diarrhea join Perilla, Magnolia bark, Pinellia and tangerine peel in Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San. Damp obstruction vomiting joins Pinellia and fresh ginger. Sinusitis may join Bai Zhi and Xanthium. It aromatically transforms turbidity, harmonizes the middle, stops vomiting, releases the exterior and resolves summerheat—not a specific for every cold, every morning sickness or every diarrhea.
Can Huo Xiang be drunk daily as a heatstroke, bad-breath or Stomach tea?
Summerheat-damp focal fullness and turbid-damp vomiting may enter a short formula; Yin-vacuity fire only grows drier as it warms. “Huo Xiang prevents heatstroke and clears bad breath” does not replace heatstroke and oral assessment. Aromatically transforming turbidity, harmonizing the middle and stopping vomiting should name Huo Xiang (Guang Huo Xiang) 3–10 g.
How do you choose among Huo Xiang, Pei Lan, Zi Su Ye, Cang Zhu and Hou Po?
Patchouli is acrid and slightly warm: aromatically transforms turbidity, harmonizes the middle, stops vomiting, releases the exterior and resolves summerheat—stronger at stopping vomiting. Eupatorium is acrid-neutral: aromatically transforms damp, awakens the Spleen and resolves summerheat—sweet-sticky mouth. Perilla leaf is acrid-warm: releases the exterior, disperses cold, moves qi, harmonizes the Stomach and resolves fish-crab toxin. Atractylodes is acrid-bitter-warm: dries damp, strengthens Spleen, expels wind and disperses cold. Magnolia bark is bitter-acrid-warm: dries damp, dissolves phlegm and downbears qi to eliminate fullness. Summerheat-damp vomiting and diarrhea favor Huo Xiang; damp-warmth with a sweet mouth favors Pei Lan; wind-cold with vomiting favors Su Ye; Spleen damp heaviness favors Cang Zhu; epigastric-abdominal fullness favors Hou Po. They may be paired (Huo Xiang Zheng Qi); Yin vacuity forbids large Huo Xiang, Cang Zhu and Hou Po.
Which herbs is Huo Xiang combined with? What are the representative formulas?
External cold with internal damp, vomiting and diarrhea joins Perilla, Magnolia bark, Pinellia, tangerine peel, Atractylodes and Poria in Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San. Damp-obstruction vomiting joins Pinellia and fresh ginger. Write Huo Xiang or Guang Huo Xiang 3–10 g, preferably added near the end.
How do you choose and store Huo Xiang?
Choose firm stems with a green break, thick soft leaves and a strong distinctive aroma; Shipai Guang Huo Xiang is often preferred. Lots that have lost aroma or have withered moldy leaves are discarded. Store cool and dry against damp. Buy pharmacopoeial Guang Huo Xiang; do not replace aromatically transforming turbidity, harmonizing the middle and stopping vomiting with mint, basil or an unidentified fragrant herb by equal weight.

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Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.

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Huo Xiang (Agastache): Transform Dampness, Stop Vomiting, and Resolve Summerheat