Whole herbsDampness-transformingPogostemonis Herba

Guang Huo Xiang (Cablin Potchouli Herb)

Q: What is Guang Huo Xiang? Are Agastache and Pei Lan the same?

Official Guang Huo Xiang (广藿香) is the dried aerial part of Pogostemon cablin . The pharmacopoeial name is Pogostemonis Herba . It is mainly produced in Guangdong. Huo Xiang sometimes refers to a related species. Pei Lan is acrid-neutral: aromatically transforms dampness, arouses the Spleen and opens the appetite. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Guang Huo Xiang. Yin vacuity is contraindicated.

Q: What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Guang 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 damp turbidity obstructing the middle, epigastric oppression and vomiting, summerheat-damp exterior patterns, early damp-warm disease, fever with fatigue, chest oppression, cold-damp closed summerheat, abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea, and nasal congestion with headache. Acrid and slightly warm, it suits damp turbidity obstructing the middle—not yin vacuity, or absence of dampness.

Q: What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a dampness tea?

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 3–10 g . It is not a four-season “patchouli dampness tea.” Yin vacuity only dries further as it warms. Vomiting needs a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace gastroenterology assessment.

Q: How do you choose and store Guang Huo Xiang?

Choose lush stems and leaves, ovate leaves, gray-white down on both surfaces, a distinctive aroma and a slightly bitter taste . Moldy, scentless or dirty lots are discarded. Store cool and dry, protected from damp. Buy pharmacopoeial Guang Huo Xiang; do not replace aromatically transforming turbidity, harmonizing the middle and stopping vomiting, releasing the exterior and resolving summerheat with eupatorium by equal weight.

A practical guide to Guang 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 Name	Pogostemonis Herba
Chinese Name & Pinyin	廣藿香 · Guang Huo Xiang
Medicinal Part	Whole herbs
The herb	Guang Huo Xiang is the dried aerial part of Pogostemon cablin. Add it near the end. Pei Lan and Bai Dou Kou are different official drugs.
Nature and channels	Acrid, slightly warm. Enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung. Acrid slight warmth and aroma transform turbidity, stop vomiting, release the exterior, and resolve summerheat.
Pharmacopoeia line	Aromatically transforms turbidity. Harmonizes the middle and stops vomiting. Releases the exterior and resolves summerheat. Used for turbid dampness blocking the middle, focal distention and vomiting, summerheat-damp exterior patterns, early damp-warmth, fever and fatigue, chest tightness, cold-damp blocking summerheat, abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea, and sinus headache.
Pattern cues	Focal distention and vomiting. Summerheat-damp. Chest tightness. Abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea. Greasy coating.
In this article	Guang Huo Xiang versus Pei Lan, Bai Dou Kou, and Xiang Ru. Its place in Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San. Why it is added near the end. Why yin deficiency should skip it. Who should skip it.

What Is Guang Huo Xiang?

Guang Huo Xiang (广藿香; Guǎng Huò Xiāng; Latin: Pogostemonis Herba; English: patchouli) is the dried aerial part of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. In Chinese medicine it is a dampness-transforming herb. It is acrid and slightly warm, enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung channels, and its core actions are to aromatically transform turbidity, harmonize the middle and stop vomiting, and release the exterior and resolve summerheat. In a decoction it should be added near the end. Long boiling scatters the aroma. The pharmacopoeia drug is this patchouli, not any garden plant called huo xiang.

It is not Pei Lan. Eupatorium is acrid and neutral. It aromatically transforms dampness, arouses the spleen, and opens the appetite. Stopping vomiting is less specific. It is not Bai Dou Kou. Round cardamom is acrid-warm. It transforms dampness, moves qi, and warms the middle to stop vomiting, and leans toward easing the chest. Essential oil is not a decoction-piece dose. Yin deficiency with blood dryness, and no dampness, are a poor match. Summerheat-damp vomiting and early damp-warmth need pattern diagnosis.

It is used most often for three patterns:

Turbid dampness blocking the middle — focal distention and vomiting
Summerheat-damp exterior, early damp-warmth — fever, fatigue, chest tightness
Cold-damp blocking summerheat — abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea

The usual decoction dose is 3–10 g, added near the end. Acrid, slightly warm, and aromatic-dry, it is not a daily “dampness patchouli tea.” Drying when there is no dampness injures fluids.

When turbid dampness encumbers the spleen, or summerheat-damp is in the exterior, focal distention, vomiting, and chest tightness are common. Guang Huo Xiang is acrid and slightly warm. It transforms, stops vomiting, and resolves summerheat, which is why it appears in Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San. It is more aromatic-dry than it is moistening. A dry red tongue and constipation get drier if more is added.

Guang Huo Xiang is not a catch-all dampness or vomiting herb. In yin deficiency with blood dryness, or when there is no dampness, using it alone can aromatic-dry and injure fluids. Whether it belongs in Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Guang Huo Xiang: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Pogostemonis Herba

Botanical Origin

The dried aerial portion of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth.(Lamiaceae)

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the areas of Suixi and Guangzhou in Guangdong province.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material has grayish-green, numerous leaves, and potent aroma.

Macroscopic Features

Stem is slightly square, with branches, long and curved, 30~60cm long, about 0.2~0.7cm diameter; externally covered with soft hairs; brittle texture, easily broken; fractured surface center has pith; old stems are sub-cylindrical, 1~1.2cm in diameter, covered with grayish-white cortex. Opposing leaves wrinkled into lumps, oval or elliptical when flattened, 4~9cm long, 3~7cm wide; both sides covered with grayish-white hairs; apex is short pointy or blunt round; base is wedge-shaped or round, with uneven blunt teeth at the edges; thin leaf stem, 2~5cm long, covered with hairs. Distinctive aromatic odor; slightly bitter taste.

Authentic Regions and Quality Identification

Traditional texts highly value Guang Huo Xiang (Patchouli) grown in regions like Guangdong and Hainan. However, actual quality depends heavily on the harvest time and storage.

Good Quality: Look for thick, grayish-brown stems and whole, crisp leaves with a strong, distinct aroma. There should be no moldy or sour smells.
Common Mix-ups: It is sometimes confused with other plants in the same family, but those usually have a much weaker scent and noticeably different stem and leaf shapes.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Acrid; Slightly warmSpleenStomachLung

1. Historical Records in Ancient Herbologies

Ancient texts have long praised this herb:

Ming Yi Bie Lu noted its ability to treat swelling and dispel "bad Qi" or stomach upset.
Ben Cao Gang Mu highlighted its power to harmonize the stomach, clear away dampness, and relieve nausea caused by summer-heat and dampness.
De Pei Ben Cao specifically mentioned its use for clearing summer-heat and stopping severe digestive distress.

2. Evolution of Medicinal Understanding

Throughout history, different TCM practitioners have highlighted varying strengths of Guang Huo Xiang (Patchouli):

Southern Doctors: Focused on its dampness-resolving properties, using it for daily digestive care in humid climates.
Eastern Doctors: Emphasized its ability to relieve surface symptoms and stop vomiting, especially during hot, sticky summer weather.
Safety Note: Most agree that it should not be used alone if you have "Yin deficiency with fire" (internal heat without dampness), as its warm and spicy nature could make you feel too dry or overheated.

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 Harmonizing the Center

The traditional use of Guang Huo Xiang (Patchouli) focuses on resolving dampness in the body and harmonizing the Spleen and Stomach.

Common Scenarios: It is traditionally used for chest tightness, poor appetite, bloating after meals, a sticky feeling in the mouth, loose stools, and a thick, greasy tongue coating. These issues often worsen during summer or in humid environments.
Common Pairings: It is frequently combined with herbs like Cang Shu (Atractylodes) and Fu Ling (Poria) to enhance dampness removal, or Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel) and Sha Ren (Amonum Fruit) to regulate Qi and soothe the stomach.
When to Avoid: People with Yin deficiency and excessive fire (symptoms like dry mouth, hot hands and feet, or a red tongue with little coating) should not use it, as its warm and spicy nature can worsen internal heat.

2. Secondary Focus: Stopping Vomiting and Relieving the Exterior

It is also used to relieve nausea and vomiting while dispelling summer-dampness from the body's surface.

Common Scenarios: Nausea, vomiting, chest tightness, headaches, and heavy body sensations caused by summer-heat and dampness.
Common Pairings: For stopping vomiting, it pairs well with Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) and Ban Xia (Pinellia). To dispel exterior pathogens, it is often mixed with Zi Su Ye (Perilla Leaf).
When to Avoid: Do not use if you have a dry cough from Yin deficiency or no signs of dampness.

3. Common Herb Pairing

A classic TCM pairing is Guang Huo Xiang and Pei Lan (Eupatorium). While Guang Huo Xiang focuses on harmonizing the stomach and stopping vomiting, Pei Lan assists by clearing summer-heat and awakening the spleen. Together, they strongly resolve dampness and improve digestion. This pairing is excellent for poor appetite and mild nausea caused by dampness, but should only be used under professional TCM guidance.

Modern Research

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

1. Key Chemical Components

Modern labs have identified that the main active ingredients in Guang Huo Xiang (Patchouli) are its essential oils, including patchouli alcohol and eucalyptol, alongside flavonoids.

Lab Observations: In test tubes, these oils show some mild ability to inhibit common digestive bacteria. In animal studies, extracts have been shown to help regulate digestive tract movements.

2. Modern Research Directions

Current pharmacological studies mainly focus on how the essential oils regulate the gastrointestinal tract and relax smooth muscles. Researchers are trying to map these physical findings to the traditional TCM concept of "resolving dampness" to better understand how it soothes the stomach.

3. Limitations of Modern Research

While modern science provides good insights, it has its limits:

Lab vs. Human: Test tube and animal results don't automatically translate to human experiences.
Extracts vs. Whole Herbs: Labs often use highly concentrated extracts, which are vastly different from drinking a traditional herbal tea decoction.
Synergy: You can't judge the whole herb by just one chemical compound. The traditional healing power of Guang Huo Xiang (Patchouli) comes from how all its natural components work together.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. Shared Traits with Similar Herbs

Guang Huo Xiang is often compared with Zi Su (Perilla).

Both resolve dampness, harmonize the center, and stop vomiting.
Both are traditionally used for summer-dampness and related stomach discomforts (like nausea and chest tightness).
Both require caution for individuals with Yin deficiency and internal heat.

2. Core Differences

Properties: Guang Huo Xiang is slightly warm and mild, while Zi Su is warmer with a stronger dispersing power.
Primary Focus: Guang Huo Xiang is a master at resolving dampness for digestive issues (poor appetite, sticky mouth). Zi Su excels at dispelling cold (great for wind-cold symptoms like headaches and body aches) and can also calm the fetus during pregnancy—a unique benefit Guang Huo Xiang lacks.
Action Tendency: Guang Huo Xiang harmonizes the stomach gently, while Zi Su disperses exterior cold aggressively.
Contraindications: Zi Su is not suitable for people with Qi deficiency (those who sweat easily and feel fatigued), whereas Guang Huo Xiang is generally safer for them.
Usage Scenarios: Guang Huo Xiang is better for daily summer dampness and digestion, while Zi Su is often used for early-stage cold relief or pregnancy-related Qi stagnation.

3. One-Sentence Summary

Simply put, Guang Huo Xiang is better for resolving dampness and soothing the stomach, while Zi Su is better for dispelling cold and calming the fetus; they cannot simply replace each other.

Classical Formulas Containing Guang 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 Diet or Tea

Recipe Idea: Guang Huo Xiang and Chen Pi Tea

Ingredients: 3g Guang Huo Xiang slices, 2g Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel), 1 slice of fresh ginger.
Method: Place all ingredients in a cup, pour boiling water over them, and steep for 5 minutes.
Best For: Relieving poor appetite, a sticky mouth, and mild nausea during humid weather.
Frequency: 1 to 2 times a week (do not drink continuously long-term).
Note: Buy quality medicinal slices from certified pharmacies, and avoid this tea if you have Yin deficiency (dry mouth, internal heat) or are pregnant without a doctor's approval.

2. Decoction and Processing Differences

When brewing traditional herbal medicine at home, Guang Huo Xiang should be added near the end. Boil your other herbs first (after a 30-minute soak, boil for 20 minutes), then add Guang Huo Xiang for the final 5 to 10 minutes. Boiling it for too long will destroy its essential oils and weaken its effects. Remember, dietary dosages cannot be swapped with clinical prescription dosages.

3. Dosage and Usage Cycle

Clinical Dosage: Typically 3 to 10 grams in prescriptions.
Dietary Dosage: Usually 3 to 5 grams for mild wellness relief.
Cycle: Do not use continuously for more than 3 days. If symptoms persist or worsen, consult a doctor.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Unsuitable Groups

Yin Deficiency: People with dry mouth, hot hands/feet, and a red tongue should avoid self-use.
Special Populations: Pregnant and breastfeeding women must consult a doctor. Children and seniors need adjusted dosages under professional guidance.
Health Conditions: Those with liver/kidney issues or allergies to the mint family should avoid it.

2. Drug Interactions and Dietary Notes

While there is no strict evidence of it "clashing" with everyday foods, Guang Huo Xiang may interact with certain medications (like blood thinners, blood pressure drugs, diabetes meds, or sedatives) by affecting how they are absorbed. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are on medication, and try to leave a time gap between taking Western medicine and herbal teas.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risks

At normal doses, side effects are very rare, though some might experience mild digestive upset. Taking too much can lead to dry mouth, dizziness, or irritability. Safety Note: If you experience severe allergic reactions, persistent vomiting, breathing difficulties, or a sudden worsening of symptoms, stop immediately and seek medical attention. Do not attempt to treat severe symptoms on your own.

Frequently Asked Questions About Guang Huo Xiang

What is Guang Huo Xiang? Are Agastache and Pei Lan the same?

Official Guang Huo Xiang (广藿香) is the dried aerial part of Pogostemon cablin. The pharmacopoeial name is Pogostemonis Herba. It is mainly produced in Guangdong. Huo Xiang sometimes refers to a related species. Pei Lan is acrid-neutral: aromatically transforms dampness, arouses the Spleen and opens the appetite. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Guang Huo Xiang. Yin vacuity is contraindicated.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Guang 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 damp turbidity obstructing the middle, epigastric oppression and vomiting, summerheat-damp exterior patterns, early damp-warm disease, fever with fatigue, chest oppression, cold-damp closed summerheat, abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea, and nasal congestion with headache. Acrid and slightly warm, it suits damp turbidity obstructing the middle—not yin vacuity, or absence of dampness.

How do you choose dried versus fresh herb? Can Pei Lan replace it?

Dried herb is stronger for aromatically transforming turbidity. Fresh herb is purer for resolving summerheat. Eupatorium leans to arousing the Spleen and opening the appetite; it cannot replace stopping vomiting by equal weight. Commercial patchouli tea is not equal-weight pieces.

What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a dampness tea?

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 3–10 g. It is not a four-season “patchouli dampness tea.” Yin vacuity only dries further as it warms. Vomiting needs a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace gastroenterology assessment.

What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?

Contraindicated in yin vacuity. Use caution with large doses without damp-heat. Pregnancy needs a practitioner’s assessment. Stop if dry mouth or constipation appears. Unrelenting vomiting and abdominal pain need medical care.

Can Guang Huo Xiang aromatically transform turbidity, harmonize the middle and stop vomiting, release the exterior and resolve summerheat?

It can help damp turbidity obstructing the middle with vomiting, and summerheat-damp exterior patterns. It joins perilla leaf, pinellia and tangerine peel in Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San. It aromatically transforms turbidity, harmonizes the middle and stops vomiting, releases the exterior and resolves summerheat—not a specific for every vomiting or every summerheat.

Can Guang Huo Xiang be drunk daily as a dampness, vomiting or summerheat tea?

Damp turbidity obstructing the middle may enter a short formula; yin vacuity only dries further as it warms. “Patchouli must transform dampness” does not replace assessment. Aromatically transforming turbidity, harmonizing the middle and stopping vomiting should name 3–10 g.

How do you choose among Guang Huo Xiang, Pei Lan, Zi Su Ye, Bai Dou Kou and Ban Xia?

Patchouli is acrid and slightly warm: aromatically transforms turbidity, harmonizes the middle and stops vomiting, releases the exterior and resolves summerheat—damp turbidity obstructing the middle and summerheat-damp. Eupatorium is acrid-neutral: aromatically transforms dampness, arouses the Spleen and opens the appetite—dampness encumbering the Spleen and Stomach. Perilla leaf is acrid-warm: releases the exterior, disperses cold, moves qi and harmonizes the Stomach—wind-cold. Cardamom is acrid-warm: transforms dampness, moves qi, warms the middle and stops vomiting—damp obstruction with qi stagnation. Pinellia is acrid-warm: dries dampness, transforms phlegm, descends counterflow and stops vomiting—phlegm-damp vomiting. Damp turbidity favors Guang Huo Xiang; dampness encumbering favors Pei Lan; wind-cold favors Zi Su Ye; qi stagnation favors Bai Dou Kou; phlegm-damp favors Ban Xia. They may be paired after pattern differentiation; yin vacuity forbids large Guang Huo Xiang and Ban Xia.

Which herbs is Guang Huo Xiang combined with? What are the representative formulas?

Damp turbidity obstructing the middle joins perilla leaf, pinellia, tangerine peel and atractylodes in Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San. Write Guang Huo Xiang 3–10 g; do not replace stopping vomiting with eupatorium by equal weight.

How do you choose and store Guang Huo Xiang?

Choose lush stems and leaves, ovate leaves, gray-white down on both surfaces, a distinctive aroma and a slightly bitter taste. Moldy, scentless or dirty lots are discarded. Store cool and dry, protected from damp. Buy pharmacopoeial Guang Huo Xiang; do not replace aromatically transforming turbidity, harmonizing the middle and stopping vomiting, releasing the exterior and resolving summerheat with eupatorium 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.