Quick Facts
| Latin Name | Herba Agastachis |
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| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 藿香 · Huo Xiang |
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| Medicinal Part | Whole herbs |
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| Efficacy Category | Dampness-transforming |
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| Botanical Origin | The dried aerial part of Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et Mey.) O. Ktze. or Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. (Lamiaceae). |
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| Nature & Flavour | Acrid; Slightly warm |
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| Channels Entered | Spleen, Stomach, Lung |
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What Is Huo Xiang?
Huo Xiang (Agastache / Patchouli) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Guang Huo Xiang primarily produced in Guangdong and Hainan; Agastache primarily produced in Sichuan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Nature & Flavour: Acrid; Slightly warm
Channels Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Lung
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.
Traditional TCM Properties
Acrid; Slightly warmSpleenStomachLung
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.
Classical Formulas Containing Huo Xiang
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Learn More About Huo Xiang
Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Huo Xiang.
Read the Huo Xiang 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.
