Quick Facts
| Latin Name | Flos Sophorae |
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| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 槐花 · Huai Hua |
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| Medicinal Part | Flowers |
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| Efficacy Category | Hemostatic |
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| Botanical Origin | The dried flower and flower bud of Sophora japonica L.(Fabacaea) |
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| Nature & Flavour | Bitter; Slightly cold |
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| Channels Entered | Liver, Large Intestine |
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What Is Huai Hua?
Huai Hua (Sophora Flower) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong.
Nature & Flavour: Bitter; Slightly cold
Channels Entered: Liver, Large Intestine
Huai Hua: Materia Medica Profile
Identification & Quality Standard
Flos Sophorae
Botanical Origin
The dried flower and flower bud of Sophora japonica L.(Fabacaea)
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is yellowish-green, large, tight.
Macroscopic Features
Wrinkled and rolled, petals often fell off; intact flower has bell-like calyx, yellowish-green; petal is yellowish white or yellow. Light in weight; slightly bitter taste. Flower bud (huai mi) is oval or elliptical shape, with yellowish-green calyx; top is yellowish-white patel of non-opened flower; externally yellowish-brown. Light in weight. Slightly bitter and astringent taste.
Traditional TCM Properties
Bitter; Slightly coldLiverLarge Intestine
Traditional Functions
Cools blood, stops blood, clears the liver, drains fire. Apply to hemafecia due to intestinal wind, hemorrhoid hemorrhage, hematodiarrhea, hematuria, bloody stranguria, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, hematemesis, non-traumatic hemorrhage, headache due to live fire, conjunctival congestion ans swellingpain, throat impediment, aphonia, abscess and sore.
How Huai Hua Is Used in TCM
In the Chinese materia medica, Huai Hua is classified among the Hemostatic herbs. It appears in 1 classical formulas in our library.
Formulas containing Huai Hua are traditionally used for:
Abdominal PainConstipation
Classical Formulas Containing Huai Hua
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Huai Hua? Are Huai Mi, Huai Jiao and black-locust flowers the same?
Official Huai Hua (槐花) is the dried flower and flower bud of Sophora japonica. The pharmacopoeial name is Sophorae Flos. Open flowers are called Huai Hua; unopened buds are Huai Mi—same monograph. Huai Jiao is the mature fruit: clears heat, drains fire, cools Blood, stops bleeding and moistens the intestines—not equal-weight buds. Black-locust flowers (Robinia) are a food flower, not pharmacopoeial Huai Hua. Write Huai Hua, Huai Mi or fried Huai Hua. Use caution in Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Huai Hua?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Huai Hua is bitter and slightly cold, enters the Liver and Large Intestine channels, and acts to cool the Blood and stop bleeding, clear the Liver and drain fire. It is used for blood in the stool, hemorrhoidal bleeding, bloody dysentery, flooding and spotting, vomiting of blood, nosebleed, Liver-heat red eyes, and headache with dizziness. Bitter and slightly cold, it suits Large-Intestine blood heat and Liver fire—not Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold, or yin-vacuity fever without excess fire.
How do you choose raw versus fried Huai Hua? Can Huai Jiao replace it?
Clearing the Liver and draining fire more often use the raw flower. Cooling Blood, stopping bleeding, stool blood and hemorrhoidal bleeding more often use fried Huai Hua. Huai Jiao clears heat, drains fire and also moistens the intestines—useful for swollen hemorrhoids with constipation, but not an equal-weight hemostatic substitute. Do not treat black-locust salad flowers as the pharmacopoeial dose.
Learn More About Huai Hua
Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Huai Hua.
Read the Huai Hua Guide →
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.
