Roots and rhizomesQi-regulatingRhizoma Cyperi

Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome)

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

View Herb Profile →

Last reviewed Oct 13, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin NameRhizoma Cyperi
Chinese Name & Pinyin 香附 · Xiang Fu
Medicinal PartRoots and rhizomes
The herbXiang Fu is the dried, aromatic, jointed rhizome of Cyperus rotundus. Wu Yao and Chai Hu are different official drugs. Common forms: raw and vinegar-fried.
Nature and channelsAcrid, slightly bitter, slightly sweet, neutral. Enters the Liver, Spleen, and Sanjiao. Acridity moves. Bitterness drains. Sweetness harmonizes. Neutral nature is neither hot nor cold.
Pharmacopoeia lineCourses the Liver and resolves constraint. Moves qi and eases the middle. Regulates menstruation and relieves pain. Used for Liver constraint, flank distention, shan pain, breast distention, Spleen–Stomach qi stagnation, epigastric fullness, irregular menses, amenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea.
Pattern cuesFlank distention. Breast swelling. Focal fullness. Painful periods. Irregular menses. Wiry pulse.
In this articleXiang Fu versus Wu Yao, Chai Hu, and Chuan Xiong. Raw versus vinegar-fried. Why qi deficiency and pregnancy are cautions. Who should skip it.

What Is Xiang Fu?

Xiang Fu (香附; Xiāng Fù; Latin: Cyperi Rhizoma; English: cyperus rhizome / nut-grass rhizome) is the dried rhizome of Cyperus rotundus L. In Chinese medicine it is a qi-moving herb. It is acrid, slightly bitter, slightly sweet, and neutral, enters the Liver, Spleen, and Sanjiao channels, and its core actions are to course the Liver and resolve constraint, move qi and ease the middle, and regulate menstruation and relieve pain. Older texts call it “the commander of qi diseases, the marshal of gynecology.” It is not Wu Yao. Lindera is acrid-warm and disperses cold in the lower burner. Xiang Fu is neutral and more broadly courses the Liver and regulates menses. It is not Chai Hu. Bupleurum raises, disperses, and releases the exterior. Xiang Fu is specific for Liver–Spleen qi stagnation. Garden nut-grass roots are not the official piece. Vinegar-fried Xiang Fu enters the Liver more cleanly and is used more for pain and irregular periods.

It is used most often for three patterns:

  • Liver qi constraint — flank distention, breast distention, shan pain
  • Spleen–Stomach qi stagnation — focal fullness, no desire to eat
  • Irregular, painful, or absent periods — this needs pattern diagnosis, not a home “unblock-the-menses tea”

It is usually used raw or vinegar-fried. The usual decoction dose is 6–10 g. Qi deficiency with no stagnation, yin-deficiency blood-heat, and pregnancy are cautions. Acrid, dispersing, and qi-moving, it is not a daily menstrual rhizome tea.

When constraint fills the chest before a period, flank, breast, and abdominal distention are common. Xiang Fu is acrid and neutral. It courses, regulates, and stops pain, which is why it appears in Yue Ju Wan and Chai Hu Shu Gan San. It moves qi more than it tonifies. Shortness of breath, no desire to speak, and a pale weak pulse become more depleted if more movement is added.

Xiang Fu is not a catch-all Liver or menstrual herb. In qi deficiency or yin deficiency with no constraint, using it alone can consume qi and stir blood. Raw or vinegar-fried should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Xiang Fu Cyperus Rhizome

Xiang Fu: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Rhizoma Cyperi

Botanical Origin

The dried rhizome Cyperus rotundus L.(Cyperaceae)

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Hunan, Zhejiang, Shandong.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is large, firm, aromatic, and removed all the hairs.

Macroscopic Features

Fusiform, or slightly curve, 2~3.5cm long, 0.5~1cm diameter. Externally brown or black-brown, with irregular longitudinal wrinkles, and 6~10 obvious slightly raised ringed-joints, internode length is 2~6mm, joints have numerous brown hairs in the same direction, and remnants of root scars. Relatively smooth after removing the hairs, with thin and dense longitudinal ridges. Hard texture, the steam pieces have a horn-like fractured surface, brownish-yellow or brownish-red, sun-dried pieces have a powdery fractured surface, off-white; obvious ring-like lines from the endodermis, with a relatively deep-colored core, and scattered ‘vein spots’. Distinctively aromatic odor, slightly bitter taste.

Authentic Regions and Quality Identification

While quality depends heavily on processing and storage, traditional texts often favor specific regions like Guangdong, Henan, and Zhejiang.

  • Regional Differences: Guangdong varieties tend to be firmer, while Zhejiang varieties often have a richer fragrance.
  • Quality Check: Good quality Xiang Fu is brownish-black with fine longitudinal wrinkles and obvious nodes. It should feel hard and crisp, revealing a yellowish-white interior when broken. It has a mild, fresh fragrance and a slightly bitter taste.
  • Fakes: Be mindful of similar-looking root herbs. Always check the distinct scent and cross-section to avoid mix-ups.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Acrid, Slightly bitter, Slightly sweet; NeutralLiverSpleenTriple Energizer

1. Historical Records

Classic herbal texts have well-documented its unique benefits:

  • Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: Mentions it helps clear chest heat and nourish the skin.
  • Ming Yi Bie Lu: Notes its mild tonifying effects.
  • Ben Cao Gang Mu: Famously crowned it the "commander of Qi diseases and the leader of gynecology," highlighting its exceptional ability to treat emotional blockages, energy stagnation, and women's health issues.

2. Evolution of TCM Understanding

Different ancient doctors highlighted different aspects of Xiang Fu:

  • Some praised its gentle nourishing qualities for long-term, low-dose use.
  • Others focused on its ability to clear heat and deeply rooted emotional stagnation.
  • The Consensus: It is a master at unblocking Qi, but it is not a "magic cure-all." Practitioners stress that it must be used carefully based on a person's specific body constitution, rather than blindly applied to all conditions.

Xiang Fu Cyperus Rhizome

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Moves qi, resolves depression, regulates menstruation, relieves pain. apply to stagnation of qi due to live depression, chest and abdominal swelling pain, indigestion, irregular menstrual periods, amenorrhea and dysmenorrheal, cold hernia pain, painful swollen breasts.

1. Primary Focus: Soothing Liver Qi

  • Traditional Function: Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome) is renowned for soothing Liver Qi. It helps clear energy blockages in the Liver meridians, relieving discomfort caused by emotional stress and stagnation.
  • Target Symptoms: Commonly used for chest and rib-side tightness, emotional depression, irritability, frequent sighing, and poor appetite. For women, it is a key herb for breast tenderness and irregular menstruation.
  • Common Pairings: It is often paired with Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root) to boost Qi circulation, Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel) to support digestive function, or Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage Rhizome) to regulate both Qi and blood.
  • When to Avoid: Do not use this herb on your own if you have Qi deficiency (marked by extreme fatigue or spontaneous sweating) or Yin deficiency (marked by dry mouth or hot flashes), as its moving nature can worsen these conditions.

2. Secondary Focus: Regulating Spleen and Stomach Qi Stagnation

  • Traditional Function: It helps clear blockages in the digestive system, promoting healthy Spleen and Stomach function.
  • Target Symptoms: Useful for abdominal bloating (especially when it worsens after meals), nausea, poor appetite, and sluggish or loose stools.
  • Common Pairings: Frequently combined with Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit) to harmonize the stomach, Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome) to gently tonify the digestive system, or Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven) to relieve food stagnation.
  • When to Avoid: Avoid using Xiang Fu if you have a cold Spleen/Stomach (where stomach pain feels better with warmth and pressure) or Damp-Heat (indicated by a bitter taste and a thick, greasy tongue coating).

3. Common Herb Pairings: Synergistic Duos

  • A classic TCM combination is Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome) and Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel).
  • Why it works: Chen Pi is excellent at drying dampness and regulating Spleen Qi, while Xiang Fu soothes Liver Qi. Together, they effectively treat conditions where emotional stress (Liver) negatively impacts digestion (Stomach), causing chest tightness, bloating, and poor appetite.
  • Note: Herbal pairings require a practitioner's guidance to adjust ratios based on your specific constitution.

Xiang Fu Cyperus Rhizome

Modern Research

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

(Note: Modern scientific research on herbs is still evolving and is mainly for reference, not clinical medical advice.)

1. Main Chemical Components

Science shows that Xiang Fu contains essential oils, flavonoids, and terpenes.

  • The essential oils (like cyperene and cyperone) give the herb its distinct scent.
  • Lab Observations: Test-tube studies show mild antioxidant properties. Animal studies suggest its extracts might help reduce stress-induced behavioral changes, hinting at its traditional use for emotional balance. However, large-scale human trials are still limited.

2. Modern Pharmacological Directions

Current research is mostly looking into how Xiang Fu affects the body's energy-related physiological markers, its potential to gently regulate inflammation, and how it might interact with neurotransmitters linked to mood. Most of this is still in the early laboratory phases.

3. Limitations of Modern Research

  • Lab vs. Life: Test-tube and animal results do not automatically translate to human health benefits.
  • Dose Disconnect: Labs often use highly concentrated extracts, which behave very differently from the low-dose, traditionally brewed herbal teas used in TCM.
  • Holistic Synergy: You cannot judge a TCM herb by a single chemical component. Xiang Fu works because of a complex, natural blend of compounds acting together.

Xiang Fu Cyperus Rhizome

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. Shared Traits with Similar Herbs

When comparing Xiang Fu to Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root):

  • Both are primarily used to regulate Qi and relieve stagnation.
  • Both are frequently found in formulas treating emotional stress and digestive discomfort.

2. Core Differences

  • Temperature and Nature: Xiang Fu is neutral and mild, making it very gentle. Chai Hu is slightly cold and has a more clearing, heat-releasing nature.
  • Core Focus: Xiang Fu excels at unblocking systemic Qi and supporting digestion. Chai Hu specializes in releasing exterior pathogens (like those causing chills and fever) and lifting the body's Yang energy upward.
  • Action Direction: Xiang Fu focuses on gently unblocking and dispersing trapped energy without being too aggressive. Chai Hu pushes energy outward to the surface and lifts it upward.
  • When to Avoid: Xiang Fu is not suited for pure deficiency conditions. Chai Hu should be avoided by those with Yin deficiency or hyperactive Liver Yang (which causes severe headaches or dizziness).

3. A One-Sentence Summary

Xiang Fu is a mild, neutral herb that gently unblocks systemic Qi and emotional stress, while Chai Hu is a cooler herb that disperses exterior illnesses and lifts Yang energy.

Xiang Fu Cyperus Rhizome

Classical Formulas Containing Xiang Fu

+4 more

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

  • Xiang Fu Rose Tea:
    • Ingredients: 3g raw Xiang Fu, 2g Mei Gui Hua (Rose Buds).
    • Method: Rinse the herbs, place them in a cup, and steep with boiling water for 10 minutes.
    • Best For: Mild emotional stress, chest tightness, or seasonal mood shifts.
    • Frequency: Drink 2 to 3 times a week; avoid continuous long-term use.
    • Avoid If: You are pregnant, have heavy menstrual bleeding, or show signs of Yin deficiency. Always consult a professional before adding medicinal herbs to your routine.

2. Preparation Differences

  • Raw vs. Processed: Raw Xiang Fu is best for general Qi stagnation and reducing nodules. Vinegar-processed Xiang Fu is much stronger for soothing Liver tension and pain (ideal for emotional and rib pain). Wine-processed Xiang Fu is better suited for digestive discomfort.
  • Cooking Tip: When preparing a decoction at home, Xiang Fu does not require special steps like pre-boiling and can be cooked normally alongside other herbs.

3. Dosage and Usage Cycles

  • Dosage: Clinical prescriptions usually range from 6 to 10 grams. For home dietary use, keep the dose strictly under 3 grams to avoid over-stimulating your system.
  • Duration: Do not use this herb continuously for more than one month. If your symptoms persist, seek professional medical advice. Children and the elderly should use significantly reduced doses.
Xiang Fu Cyperus Rhizome

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

  • Specific Conditions: Individuals with pure deficiency (e.g., severe fatigue, chronic dry mouth) or pure excess (e.g., severe acute indigestion, Damp-Heat) should avoid using this herb without supervision.
  • Vulnerable Populations: Pregnant or nursing women must consult a doctor before use. Children, the elderly, and those with liver or kidney dysfunction require caution and adjusted doses.
  • Allergies: Avoid if you have a known allergy to plants in the sedge family.

2. Medication Interactions and Dietary Notes

  • Xiang Fu may interact with certain prescription medications. For example, it might increase bleeding risks if taken with blood thinners, enhance the effects of blood pressure medications leading to low blood pressure, or amplify the effects of sedatives.
  • Always inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are using this herb alongside modern medications.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose

  • Signs of Overuse: Taking too much can lead to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or fatigue.
  • Emergency: If you experience severe allergic reactions (such as rash, itching, or shortness of breath), continuous vomiting, or sudden worsening of symptoms, stop using the herb immediately and seek emergency medical care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Xiang Fu

What is Xiang Fu? Are Cu Xiang Fu, Si Zhi Xiang Fu and Wu Yao the same?
Official Xiang Fu (香附) is the dried rhizome of Cyperus rotundus. The pharmacopoeial name is Cyperi Rhizoma. Cu Xiang Fu is vinegar-fried to strengthen soothing the Liver and stopping pain—the form most prescriptions expect. Si Zhi Xiang Fu is processed with wine, vinegar, boy’s urine and salt, leaning toward moving qi and regulating menses. Wu Yao is Lindera tuber: acrid-warm, moves qi and warms the Kidney—not Cyperus. Classics call it the commander of qi diseases and a leading gynecologic herb. Write Xiang Fu or Cu Xiang Fu.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Xiang Fu?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Xiang Fu is acrid, slightly bitter, slightly sweet and neutral, enters the Liver, Spleen and Triple Burner channels, and acts to soothe the Liver and resolve depression, regulate qi and ease the middle, and regulate menses and stop pain. It is used for Liver depression qi stagnation, chest-flank distending pain, shan pain, breast distending pain, Spleen-Stomach qi stagnation, epigastric-abdominal fullness and pain, irregular menses, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea. Acrid-dispersing, bitter-draining, sweet-moderating and neutral, it suits excess qi stagnation—not qi vacuity without stagnation or Yin vacuity with Blood heat.
How do you choose raw, vinegar-fried and charred Xiang Fu?
Regulating qi and easing the middle more often uses raw Xiang Fu; soothing the Liver, stopping pain and dysmenorrhea more often use Cu Xiang Fu; flooding occasionally uses the charred form. Do not decoct long, lest the volatile oil be lost. Fine root hairs should be cleaned off.
What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a Liver-soothing menstrual tea?
The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 6–10 g. It is not a four-season “Xiang Fu depression tea.” Qi vacuity without stagnation and early menses from Blood heat only grow more depleted. Liver-depression flank pain and dysmenorrhea need a practitioner to name vinegar processing and a short course; classics warn that used alone, large or long it consumes qi and damages Blood.
What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?
Use caution or forbid in qi vacuity without stagnation and in Yin vacuity with Blood heat. Pregnancy needs a practitioner; do not self-dose large moving-qi amounts. Early menses from Blood heat should not use it alone. Stop if dizziness or a sudden increase in menstrual volume appears.
Can Xiang Fu soothe the Liver, regulate qi and regulate menses?
It can help Liver depression qi stagnation. The six depressions with chest-diaphragm fullness join chuanxiong, Atractylodes, medicated leaven and Gardenia in Yue Ju Wan. Flank pain joins Bupleurum, bitter orange, peony and chuanxiong in Chai Hu Shu Gan San. Stomach-cold pain joins galangal in Liang Fu Wan. Exterior attack with qi stagnation joins perilla leaf and tangerine peel in Xiang Su San. It soothes the Liver, regulates qi and regulates menses—not a specific for every low mood, every dysmenorrhea or every bloating. Acute abdomen and amenorrhea need organic causes ruled out.
Can Xiang Fu be drunk daily as a mood, breast-enhancing or menstrual tea?
Liver depression qi stagnation and premenstrual distending pain may enter a short formula; qi vacuity and Blood heat only empty further. “Xiang Fu enlarges the breast and regulates menses” does not replace gynecologic and mood assessment. Soothing the Liver and regulating menses should name Cu Xiang Fu 6–10 g.
How do you choose among Xiang Fu, Chai Hu, Wu Yao, Mu Xiang and Chuan Xiong?
Cyperus is acrid, slightly bitter, slightly sweet and neutral: soothes the Liver, resolves depression, regulates qi, eases the middle, regulates menses and stops pain—Liver-Spleen-Triple Burner, commander of qi diseases and a gynecologic staple. Bupleurum is bitter-acrid and slightly cold: soothes the Liver, raises Yang and harmonizes to abate fever—Shaoyang and upbearing. Lindera is acrid-warm: moves qi, stops pain and warms the Kidney to disperse cold—lower-burner cold congealing. Aucklandia is acrid-bitter-warm: moves qi, stops pain and fortifies the Spleen to disperse food—middle burner. Chuanxiong is acrid-warm: invigorates Blood, moves qi and dispels wind to stop pain—the qi herb within Blood. Liver depression and menses favor Xiang Fu and Chai Hu; cold shan in the lower burner favors Wu Yao; epigastric food stagnation favors Mu Xiang; headache with stasis favors Chuan Xiong. They may be paired; all are wrong as pure dispersing agents in qi vacuity without stagnation or Yin vacuity with Blood heat.
Which herbs is Xiang Fu combined with? What are the representative formulas?
The six depressions join chuanxiong, Atractylodes, medicated leaven and Gardenia in Yue Ju Wan. Liver-depression flank pain joins Bupleurum, bitter orange, peony and chuanxiong in Chai Hu Shu Gan San. Stomach-cold pain joins galangal in Liang Fu Wan. Write Cu Xiang Fu or raw Xiang Fu; do not pass an equal weight of Wu Yao as a menstrual regulator.
How do you choose and store Xiang Fu?
Choose spindle-shaped beaded rhizomes, hair cleaned off, a white or brown-yellow fracture and a dense aroma. Hairy, hollow, moldy, moth-eaten and scentless lots are inferior. Store cool and dry against moths. Buy pharmacopoeial Xiang Fu or Cu Xiang Fu; do not replace soothing the Liver, resolving depression and regulating menses to stop pain with an unidentified sedge root by equal weight.

Related Products

Nong's Xiang Fu Concentrated GranulesNong's Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome) Single Herb 5:1 Concentrated Granules $42.69 Hoi Tin Yue Ju Wan Extract GranulesHoi Tin Yue Ju Wan (Escape Restraint Formula) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $24.93 Nong's Yue Ju Wan Extract GranulesNong's Yue Ju Wan (Escape Restraint Formula) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $34.13 Hoi Tin Chai Hu Shu Gan San Extract GranulesHoi Tin Chai Hu Shu Gan San (Bupleurum Liver-Soothing Powder) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $24.93 Hoi Tin Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang GranulesHoi Tin Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang (Bupleurum Liver-Soothing Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $24.93 Nong's Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang Extract GranulesNong's Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang (Bupleurum Liver-Soothing Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $56.60 Nong's Gu Jing Wan Extract GranulesNong's Gu Jing Wan (Stabilize the Menses Formula) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $83.35 Nong's Tiao Jing Wan Extract GranulesNong's Tiao Jing Wan (Menstruation-Regulating Formula) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $51.25

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.

More Chinese Herbs

View all 

View all 

© 2026 HJMEDICAL, Powered by Shopify

  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Bancontact
  • Google Pay
  • Mastercard
  • MB WAY
  • PayPal
  • Shop Pay
  • Union Pay
  • Visa

Login

Forgot your password?

Don't have an account yet?
Create account

Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome): Soothe the Liver, Regulate Qi, and Ease Menstrual Pain