Fruits and seedsInterior-warmingFructus Foeniculi

Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel Fruit)

Q: What is Xiao Hui Xiang? Are Yan Xiao Hui Xiang, Ba Jiao Hui Xiang and Da Hui Xiang the same?

Official Xiao Hui Xiang (小茴香) is the dried ripe fruit of Foeniculum vulgare . The pharmacopoeial name is Foeniculi Fructus . Yan Xiao Hui Xiang is salt-fried to warm the Kidney, disperse cold and stop pain—cold shan and menstrual cold. Ba Jiao Hui Xiang (star anise, Da Hui Xiang) is the star-shaped fruit of Illicium verum, a separate monograph: warms Yang, disperses cold and moves qi to stop pain—not an equal swap. Do not use toxic Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) as either spice. Write Xiao Hui Xiang or Yan Xiao Hui Xiang.

Q: What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Xiao Hui Xiang?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Xiao Hui Xiang is acrid and warm , enters the Liver, Kidney, Spleen and Stomach channels, and acts to disperse cold and stop pain, and regulate qi and harmonize the Stomach . It is used for cold shan abdominal pain, testicular sagging, dysmenorrhea, cold pain in the lesser abdomen, epigastric-abdominal distending pain, and poor appetite with vomiting and diarrhea. Salt-fried fennel leans toward warming the Kidney, dispersing cold and stopping pain . Acrid-warm and aromatic, it suits cold congealing qi stagnation in the middle and lower burners—not Yin vacuity with flaming fire or exuberant damp-heat.

Q: What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a uterus-warming qi tea?

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 3–6 g . It is not a four-season “fennel warming tea.” Yin-vacuity dry mouth and damp-heat yellow discharge only grow drier. Cold shan and menstrual cold need a practitioner to name raw or salt-fried and a short course—stop when the pattern turns.

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

Forbid in Yin vacuity with flaming fire. Unsuitable in damp-heat Stomach pain and damp-heat dysmenorrhea. Pregnancy needs a practitioner; do not self-dose large amounts. Stop if dry mouth, sore throat or burning epigastrium appears. Do not mix with unidentified star anise or Japanese star anise.

Q: How do you choose and store Xiao Hui Xiang?

Choose plump yellow-green fruits with five ridges and a distinctive slightly sweet-acrid aroma . Debris-heavy, oily, moldy, moth-eaten and rancid lots are discarded. Store cool and dry. Buy pharmacopoeial Xiao Hui Xiang; do not replace dispersing cold, stopping pain and regulating qi to harmonize the Stomach with star anise or an unidentified spice by equal weight.

A practical guide to Xiao Hui Xiang: 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 Name	Fructus Foeniculi
Chinese Name & Pinyin	小茴香 · Xiao Hui Xiang
Medicinal Part	Fruits and seeds
The herb	Xiao Hui Xiang is the dried, yellow-green, aromatic fruit of fennel. Star anise and aniseed are not this drug. Common forms: raw and salt-fried.
Nature and channels	Acrid, warm. Enters the Liver, Kidney, Spleen, and Stomach. Acridity moves qi. Warmth disperses cold in the lower and middle burners.
Pharmacopoeia line	Disperses cold and relieves pain. Moves qi and harmonizes the stomach. Used for cold shan pain, a lopsided testicle, dysmenorrhea, cold lower-abdominal pain, epigastric distention, poor appetite, and vomiting or diarrhea.
Pattern cues	Cold lower-abdominal pain. Cold shan. Painful periods. Distention with vomiting or diarrhea. Pale tongue with white coating.
In this article	Fennel versus star anise, Wu Yao, and Rou Gui. Kitchen pinch versus decoction grams. Why yin-deficiency heat should skip it. Who should skip it.

What Is Xiao Hui Xiang?

Xiao Hui Xiang (小茴香; Xiǎo Huí Xiāng; Latin: Foeniculi Fructus; English: fennel fruit) is the dried ripe fruit of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. In Chinese medicine it is an interior-warming herb. It is acrid and warm, enters the Liver, Kidney, Spleen, and Stomach channels, and its core actions are to disperse cold and relieve pain, and to move qi and harmonize the stomach. It is not star anise (Da Hui Xiang / Ba Jiao). That is the fruit of Illicium verum, a different family and shape. It is not aniseed (Pimpinella anisum). The smell is close; it is not this official drug. Kitchen amounts are tiny. Decoction use is in grams. Do not scale hot-pot pinches up to medicinal weight. Salt-fried fennel warms the Kidney, disperses cold, and stops pain more clearly.

It is used most often for three patterns:

Cold shan / cold lower-abdominal pain — a testicle that hangs to one side
Cold menstrual pain
Stomach-cold qi stagnation — epigastric distention, poor appetite, vomiting and diarrhea

The usual decoction dose is 3–6 g. Yin-deficiency fire is a contraindication. Acrid-warm and aromatic, it is not a daily “warm-the-uterus seed tea.” Sudden hernia or scrotal pain needs a clinic first. Fennel is not enough.

When Liver and Kidney are deficient-cold and cold binds qi, lower-abdominal pain, shan pain, and bloating are common. Xiao Hui Xiang is acrid-warm. It disperses, moves, and harmonizes the stomach, which is why it appears in Nuan Gan Jian. It warms and disperses more than it moistens. A dry red tongue and constipation get drier if more fragrance is added.

Xiao Hui Xiang is not a catch-all warming pain spice. In yin-deficiency fire or excess-heat constipation, using it alone can assist dryness and damage yin. Raw or salt-fried should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Xiao Hui Xiang: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Fructus Foeniculi

Botanical Origin

The dried mature fruit of Foeniculum vulgare Mill.(Apiaceae)

Production Regions

Originally produced in Europe, in China, primarily produced in the provinces of Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Sichuan.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is large, full, yellowish-green, with potent aroma.

Macroscopic Features

Cremocarp, cylindrical, some are slightly curved, 2 ends are slightly pointed, 4~8mm long, 1.5~2.5mm diameter. Externally yellowish-green or pale yellow, apex has remnants of yellowish-brown raised style base, base sometimes has tiny fruit stems. Cut fruit is long elliptical, back has 5 longitudinal ridges, and joined surface is flat and relatively wide. Horizontal cut surface is slightly pentagonal, 4 edges of back side are about same length. Distinctively aromatic odor, slightly sweet, acrid taste.

Authentic Regions and Quality Identification

While grown in many places, regions like Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Shaanxi are known for producing high-quality yields.

Quality Check: Good quality raw Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) seeds are plump, yellowish-green, and have five distinct ridges. When rubbed, they release a strong, sweet, and spicy aroma. Salt-processed seeds are darker with a richer, slightly salty scent.
Fakes: Be cautious of similar-looking seeds from the same plant family that lack the signature sweet-spicy fragrance.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Acrid; WarmLiverKidneySpleenStomach

1. Historical Records

Classic herbal texts have well-documented its specific benefits:

Ben Cao Gang Mu: Notes that it works well when paired with wine or salt, effectively treating lower abdominal pain and "opening the stomach" to improve appetite.
De Pei Ben Cao: Highlights that preparing it with salt directs its warming effects to the Kidneys, while preparing it with wine directs it to the Stomach.

2. Evolution of TCM Understanding

Over time, TCM practitioners have highlighted two main ways to use this herb:

Warming the Lower Body: Some focus on its ability to warm the Liver and Kidneys, making it excellent for lower abdominal cold and pain.
Soothing Digestion: Others focus on its ability to move Stomach Qi, using it to relieve bloating and poor appetite caused by a "cold" digestive system.
The Consensus: Because it is a warming herb, doctors agree it should not be used by individuals with Yin deficiency (those who often feel excessively hot, dry, or thirsty).

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Opens appetite, moves qi, disperses cold, benefits intestinal tract. Apply to cold in middle-jiao, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal cold pain, hernia pain, testicle swelling and pain, spleen and stomach qi stagnation, abdominal swelling fullness and pain.

1. Primary Focus: Warming the Kidneys and Liver

Traditional Function: Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) is highly regarded for warming the Kidneys and Liver, as well as scattering cold and relieving pain. It specifically targets discomfort caused by "cold" deficiency in the lower body (the Lower Jiao).
Target Symptoms: Commonly used for hernia-like pain (such as pulling, cold pain radiating to the lower abdomen or groin), lower abdominal cold pain, and cold, aching lower back and knees.
Common Pairings: It is often paired with herbs like Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit) or Li Zhi He (Lychee Seed) to enhance its cold-scattering and Qi-moving effects.
When to Avoid: Do not use this herb on your own if you have Yin deficiency with excessive heat, or hernia pain caused by Damp-Heat, as its warming nature can make internal heat worse.

2. Secondary Focus: Moving Qi and Harmonizing the Stomach

Traditional Function: It helps move stagnant Qi, harmonize the Stomach, stimulate the appetite, and stop nausea. It is great for a digestive system that is both "cold" and sluggish.
Target Symptoms: Useful for stomach bloating, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, a bland taste in the mouth, or a feeling of a "blockage" in the stomach after eating.
Common Pairings: Frequently combined with Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit) or Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel) to boost its ability to regulate digestion.
When to Avoid: Avoid using it if your stomach pain or acid reflux is caused by intense Stomach Fire, as the warm and drying nature of the herb will aggravate the stomach.

3. Common Herb Pairings: Synergistic Duos

A classic TCM pairing is Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) and Wu Yao (Lindera Root).
Why it works: Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) is warm and specializes in warming the lower body and scattering cold. Wu Yao (Lindera Root) is also warm but is better at moving Qi throughout the entire body. Together, they strongly relieve pain and clear cold-stagnation in the lower abdomen.
Note: Herbal combinations should be guided by a TCM practitioner based on your specific body type.

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 Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) is rich in essential oils, such as anethole and fenchone, alongside flavonoids and fatty acids. Test-tube and animal studies suggest these essential oils may gently regulate intestinal muscle contractions and offer mild pain relief. However, robust human clinical trials are still limited.

2. Modern Pharmacological Directions

Current laboratory research primarily focuses on the herb's essential oils. Observations show these oils might help relax spasms in isolated intestinal tissues. While promising for digestive comfort, these lab results still need more human studies to confirm their real-world effects.

3. Limitations of Modern Research

Lab vs. Life: Results from test tubes and animal models cannot be directly applied to humans.
Dose Differences: Modern labs often use highly concentrated extracts or isolated compounds. This is very different from drinking a traditional, low-dose herbal tea.
Holistic Synergy: In TCM, the healing effect comes from the whole plant working together, not just one single extracted chemical.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. Shared Traits with Similar Herbs

When comparing Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) to Wu Yao (Lindera Root):

Both are warm and spicy herbs.
Both are used to scatter cold, unblock Qi, and relieve pain.
Both are common choices for treating digestive discomfort or lower body pain caused by cold and stagnation.

2. Core Differences

Core Focus: Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) specializes in warming the Kidneys and Liver (the lower body) and harmonizing the Stomach. Wu Yao (Lindera Root) is a broader Qi-moving herb that relieves pain anywhere from the chest down to the abdomen.
Action Direction: Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) focuses on unblocking stagnation specifically in the lower abdomen. Wu Yao (Lindera Root) moves Qi systemically throughout the whole body.
Target Symptoms: Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) is best for lower abdominal cold, groin pain, and stomach bloating that feels better with warmth. Wu Yao (Lindera Root) is better for widespread chest, rib, and abdominal pain where trapped Qi is the main issue.
When to Avoid: Both should be avoided if you have internal heat. Wu Yao (Lindera Root) should also be strictly avoided if you have Qi deficiency (like a prolapse) combined with heat.

3. A One-Sentence Summary

Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) is your warming choice for lower abdominal cold and sluggish digestion, while Wu Yao (Lindera Root) is your go-to for moving trapped Qi and relieving pain all over the body.

Classical Formulas Containing Xiao Hui Xiang

Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang

少腹逐瘀湯Sovereign

Formula CategoryBlood-Invigorating FormulasPrimary PatternBlood StasisPrimary FunctionInvigorate Blood in lower abdomen, warm menses, stop painRelated ConditionsDysmenorrhea·Abdominal Pain·Irregular Menstruation·Cold Limbs

View Formula Profile Read Complete Guide

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

Fennel and Ginger Congee:
- Ingredients: 3g Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) powder, 5g fresh ginger (shredded), 50g rice.
- Method: Wash the rice and boil it in water. When the porridge is almost done, stir in the fennel powder and ginger, and simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Best For: Cold stomach pain, poor appetite, or mild bloating from catching a chill.
- Avoid If: You have strong Stomach Fire or Yin deficiency. Eat 1-2 times a week max.
Fennel and Mutton Soup:
- Ingredients: 5g Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel), 100g mutton, 3 slices of ginger.
- Method: Blanch the mutton, then simmer it in a clay pot with the fennel and ginger for 1.5 hours. Add a pinch of salt.
- Best For: Lower abdominal cold, cold aching knees, or freezing hands and feet in winter.
- Avoid If: You have Damp-Heat, a fever, or a cold. Enjoy 1-2 times a month during winter.

2. Preparation Differences

Raw vs. Salt-Processed: Raw Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) is better for moving Stomach Qi and soothing digestion. Salt-processed Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) is specifically designed to send the warming energy down into the Kidneys to treat lower back cold and hernia pain.
Cooking Tip: It can be boiled normally with other herbs; it does not need special pre-boiling.

3. Dosage and Usage Cycles

Dosage: Clinical doses range from 3 to 6 grams. For home food therapy, strictly use 1 to 3 grams.
Duration: Do not use it continuously for long periods. If your digestion or cold symptoms do not improve, see a doctor.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

Yin Deficiency / Internal Heat: If you experience dry mouth, hot palms/soles, or night sweats, this herb will make you feel uncomfortably hot and dry.
Vulnerable Populations: Pregnant women must be very cautious and consult a doctor. Nursing mothers, children, and the elderly should only use it under professional guidance.
Allergies: Avoid if you are allergic to plants in the celery/carrot family.
Organ Health: Consult a doctor if you have liver or kidney issues to avoid unnecessary strain.

2. Medication Interactions and Dietary Notes

Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) may interact with blood thinners (increasing bleeding risk), blood pressure medications (causing pressure to drop too low), diabetes medications, and sedatives. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking prescription drugs.
Avoid blindly mixing medicinal herbs with modern pharmaceuticals.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose

Signs of Overuse: Taking too much can cause "heat" symptoms like dry mouth, sore throat, or constipation. Some people might get allergic rashes or itching.
Emergency: If you experience severe allergic reactions, trouble breathing, persistent vomiting, or rapid worsening of symptoms, stop use immediately and seek emergency medical care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Xiao Hui Xiang

What is Xiao Hui Xiang? Are Yan Xiao Hui Xiang, Ba Jiao Hui Xiang and Da Hui Xiang the same?

Official Xiao Hui Xiang (小茴香) is the dried ripe fruit of Foeniculum vulgare. The pharmacopoeial name is Foeniculi Fructus. Yan Xiao Hui Xiang is salt-fried to warm the Kidney, disperse cold and stop pain—cold shan and menstrual cold. Ba Jiao Hui Xiang (star anise, Da Hui Xiang) is the star-shaped fruit of Illicium verum, a separate monograph: warms Yang, disperses cold and moves qi to stop pain—not an equal swap. Do not use toxic Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) as either spice. Write Xiao Hui Xiang or Yan Xiao Hui Xiang.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Xiao Hui Xiang?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Xiao Hui Xiang is acrid and warm, enters the Liver, Kidney, Spleen and Stomach channels, and acts to disperse cold and stop pain, and regulate qi and harmonize the Stomach. It is used for cold shan abdominal pain, testicular sagging, dysmenorrhea, cold pain in the lesser abdomen, epigastric-abdominal distending pain, and poor appetite with vomiting and diarrhea. Salt-fried fennel leans toward warming the Kidney, dispersing cold and stopping pain. Acrid-warm and aromatic, it suits cold congealing qi stagnation in the middle and lower burners—not Yin vacuity with flaming fire or exuberant damp-heat.

How do you choose raw versus salt-fried? Can kitchen seasoning replace the medicine?

Epigastric distention and Stomach-cold vomit-diarrhea more often use raw fennel; cold shan, cold testicular sagging and menstrual-cold pain more often use Yan Xiao Hui Xiang. A kitchen pinch is not the pharmacopoeial 3–6 g in decoction. Use caution with Apiaceae allergy (celery, carrot).

What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a uterus-warming qi tea?

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 3–6 g. It is not a four-season “fennel warming tea.” Yin-vacuity dry mouth and damp-heat yellow discharge only grow drier. Cold shan and menstrual cold need a practitioner to name raw or salt-fried and a short course—stop when the pattern turns.

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

Forbid in Yin vacuity with flaming fire. Unsuitable in damp-heat Stomach pain and damp-heat dysmenorrhea. Pregnancy needs a practitioner; do not self-dose large amounts. Stop if dry mouth, sore throat or burning epigastrium appears. Do not mix with unidentified star anise or Japanese star anise.

Can Xiao Hui Xiang disperse cold, stop pain and harmonize the Stomach?

It can help cold congealing in the middle and lower burners. Cold shan with lesser-abdominal pain joins Lindera, Aucklandia, green tangerine peel, galangal and Toosendan in Tian Tai Wu Yao San. Liver-cold shan pain joins angelica, Lycium, Cinnamon Bark, Lindera, Poria and fresh ginger in Nuan Gan Jian. Stomach-cold distending pain may join dried ginger and Aucklandia. Acrid-warm, it disperses cold and regulates qi—not a specific for every hernia, every dysmenorrhea or every bloating. A hot red swollen scrotum and acute abdomen are emergencies.

Can Xiao Hui Xiang be drunk daily as a lactation-stopping, uterus-warming or anti-bloat tea?

Stomach-cold distention and lesser-abdominal cold pain may enter a short formula; Yin vacuity and damp-heat only grow more fiery. “Fennel dries milk and warms the uterus” does not replace gynecologic and lactation assessment. Dispersing cold and regulating qi should name Xiao Hui Xiang 3–6 g; do not substitute an equal weight of star anise.

How do you choose among Xiao Hui Xiang, Ba Jiao Hui Xiang, Wu Yao, Wu Zhu Yu and Gan Jiang?

Fennel is acrid-warm: disperses cold, stops pain, regulates qi and harmonizes the Stomach—Liver-Kidney-Spleen-Stomach, specific for middle- and lower-burner cold shan and Stomach cold. Star anise is acrid-warm: warms Yang, disperses cold and moves qi to stop pain—a separate star-shaped fruit, leaning toward Kidney-vacuity lumbar pain and Stomach cold. Lindera is acrid-warm: moves qi, stops pain and warms the Kidney—stronger at penetrating the lower burner. Evodia is acrid-bitter-hot and slightly toxic: disperses cold, directs counterflow downward and assists Yang to stop diarrhea—Jueyin cold vomiting, small dose only. Dried ginger is acrid-hot: warms the middle, restores Yang and transforms rheum—Spleen-Stomach-Lung. Cold shan favors Xiao Hui Xiang and Wu Yao; vertex cold vomiting favors Wu Zhu Yu; middle-cold vomit-diarrhea favors Gan Jiang. They may be paired; all are wrong as pure acrid warmth in Yin vacuity with fire, and star anise must not stand in for fennel.

Which herbs is Xiao Hui Xiang combined with? What are the representative formulas?

Cold shan joins Lindera, Aucklandia, green tangerine peel, galangal, areca and Toosendan in Tian Tai Wu Yao San. Liver-cold shan pain joins angelica, Lycium, Poria, Lindera, Cinnamon Bark and fresh ginger in Nuan Gan Jian. Write Xiao Hui Xiang or Yan Xiao Hui Xiang 3–6 g; do not dispense star anise or Japanese star anise.

How do you choose and store Xiao Hui Xiang?

Choose plump yellow-green fruits with five ridges and a distinctive slightly sweet-acrid aroma. Debris-heavy, oily, moldy, moth-eaten and rancid lots are discarded. Store cool and dry. Buy pharmacopoeial Xiao Hui Xiang; do not replace dispersing cold, stopping pain and regulating qi to harmonize the Stomach with star anise or an unidentified spice by equal weight.

Related Products

Hoi Tin Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Drive Out Blood Stasis in the Lower Abdomen Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $27.71

Nong's Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang Extract Granules | Traditional Herbal Balance Series HJMEDICAL

Nong's Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Drive Out Blood Stasis in the Lower Abdomen Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $44.83

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.