Aucklandia Root – 1 lb (454 g)

Aucklandia Root, known in Chinese as 木香 (Mùxiāng) and scientifically as Radix Aucklandiae, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Aucklandia Root carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Aucklandia Root helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Aucklandia Root provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Aucklandia Root has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Aucklandia Root, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Mi Xiang, Wu Mu Xiang, Nan Mu Xiang, and Guang Mu Xiang. It is the root of Aucklandia lappa Decne., a plant of the Asteraceae family. It is cultivated in Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guangxi provinces. Harvested in autumn and winter, the roots are dug up, cleaned of soil and fine roots, cut into sections, and larger pieces are split longitudinally into segments. After drying, the coarse bark is removed by pounding.

[Properties] Pungent and bitter in taste, warm in nature. Enters the spleen, stomach, large intestine, triple burner, and gallbladder meridians.

[Actions] Promotes the movement of qi and relieves pain; strengthens the spleen and aids digestion.

[Applications]
1. Used for qi stagnation in the spleen and stomach or liver qi stagnation causing distending pain in the chest, hypochondrium, epigastrium, and abdomen. For spleen and stomach qi stagnation with epigastric and abdominal distension and pain, it can be combined with Sha Ren (Amomum villosum) and Huo Xiang (Agastache rugosa), as in the formula Muxiang Tiaoqi San (木香调气散). For spleen qi deficiency with qi stagnation, epigastric and abdominal fullness, poor appetite, and loose stools, it can be combined with Ren Shen (Ginseng), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala), and Sha Ren, as in Xiang Sha Liu Jun Wan (香砂六君丸). For food stagnation in the middle burner with epigastric fullness and abdominal pain, it can be combined with Chen Pi (Citrus peel), Ban Xia (Pinellia ternata), and Zhi Shi (Citrus aurantium), as in Muxiang Huazhi Tang (木香化滞汤). For cold congealing in the middle burner with qi stagnation and food accumulation, it can be combined with Gan Jiang (dried ginger), Zhi Shi, and Bai Zhu, as in Muxiang Ganjiang Zhishi Wan (木香干姜枳术丸). For liver qi stagnation with hypochondriac pain or jaundice, it can be combined with Yu Jin (Curcuma), Chuan Bian Lian Zi (Melia toosendan), Da Huang (Rheum), and Yin Chen (Artemisia capillaris).
2. Used for diarrhea and dysentery with tenesmus and sensation of incomplete evacuation. For damp-heat downward invasion causing diarrhea and dysentery, often combined with Huang Lian (Coptis), as in Xiang Lian Wan (香连丸). For food accumulation causing constipation or persistent dysentery, often combined with Bing Lang (Areca seed), Zhi Shi, Qing Pi (unripe tangerine peel), and Da Huang, as in Muxiang Bing Lang Wan (木香槟榔丸).
3. Used for hernia pain. For cold stagnation in the liver channel causing lower abdominal pain radiating to the testicles or dragging pain, often combined with Chuan Lian Zi (Melia toosendan), Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia rutaecarpa), and Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel), as in Dao Qi Tang (导气汤). For small intestine hernia with bladder dragging sensation and chronic cases unresponsive to treatment, it can be combined with Chuan Lian Zi, fried Li Zhi He (lychee seed), and fried Qing Mu Xiang, as in Muxiang Lian Zi San (木香楝子散).
4. Used for qi stagnation and blood stasis causing abdominal masses and pain, often combined with San Leng (Sparganium), E Zhu (Curcuma zedoaria), Qing Pi, Ru Xiang (Frankincense), and Mo Yao (Myrrh), as in Muxiang Nao Sha Jian Wan (木香硇砂煎丸). For cold congealing causing hard, distended, and painful abdomen, it can be combined with San Leng, Hou Po (Magnolia bark), Zhi Shi, and processed E Zhu, as in Muxiang Shun Qi San (木香顺气散).
5. Used for qi stagnation and blood stasis causing chest pain due to yang deficiency in the chest, it can be combined with Yu Jin, Gua Lou (Trichosanthes fruit), and Gui Zhi (Cinnamon twig). For cold congealing and qi stagnation causing heart and abdominal pain, it can be combined with Chi Shao (Red peony root), Jiang Huang (Turmeric), and Ding Xiang (Clove), as in Er Xiang San (二香散).
Additionally, this herb combined with Xuan Hu (Corydalis), Niu Xi (Achyranthes), Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis), and Bai Shao (White peony root) can be used to treat dysmenorrhea caused by emotional distress, liver qi stagnation, and blood stasis in women.
This herb has an aromatic nature that can awaken the spleen and stimulate appetite, so it is commonly used in tonic formulas to reduce the greasy and stomach-inhibiting effects of tonics, as in Gui Pi Tang (归脾汤).

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decocted, 1.5–6 g; can be used in pills or powders. Raw herb has a stronger qi-moving effect; roasted herb has a milder qi-moving effect and is more often used to stop diarrhea.

[Cautions] This herb is pungent, warm, aromatic, and drying, which can easily injure yin and body fluids. Use with caution in cases of yin deficiency, fluid depletion, or excessive internal heat.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: Radix Aucklandiae contains volatile oils, with main components including costunolide, α-violetone, β-caryophyllene, costus lactone, costunolide lactone, costol, costic acid, α-costene, β-costene, costunolide, camphene, myrcene, dehydrocostunolide, dihydrodehydrocostunolide, among others. It also contains alkaloids, resins, inulin, β-sitosterol, and betulin.
2. Pharmacological effects: Decoctions of Radix Aucklandiae act on the vagus nerve to stimulate contraction and increase motility of the large intestine smooth muscle in animals, relieving abdominal pain caused by gastrointestinal bloating. It reduces tension in isolated intestinal segments and antagonizes acetylcholine-induced contractions. It promotes gastric juice secretion and aids digestion. Alkaloids from the herb have significant antispasmodic effects on bronchial and small intestinal smooth muscle. It exhibits inhibitory effects against Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli, and various fungi. It also has diuretic effects and promotes fibrinolysis.
3. Clinical reports:
1) Acute diarrhea: 10 g Guang Mu Xiang (Radix Aucklandiae), 30 g Ku Shen (Sophora flavescens), decocted and taken orally once daily. In 96 cases treated, total effective rate was 97.9%. [Hubei Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1992,(6):9]
2) Acute bacillary dysentery: 10 g Radix Aucklandiae, 20 g Ku Shen, 20 g Di Yu (Sanguisorba officinalis), decocted and taken orally; rehydration for dehydration. In 98 cases, average treatment time was 2.21 days; 85 cured (86.7%), 11 effective (11.3%), 2 ineffective (2.0%), total effective rate 97.9%, significantly better than control group. [Shizhen National Medicine, 2003,14(7):416]
3) Paralytic intestinal obstruction: 10 g raw Radix Aucklandiae, double-boiled, 150 ml decoction administered via gastric tube. In 32 cases, 6 showed effect at 2 hours, 9 at 3 hours, 11 at 4 hours, 6 at 5 hours. [Journal of Zhejiang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1996,20(3):17]
4) Acute lumbar sprain: equal parts Radix Aucklandiae and Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong), ground into fine powder, taken with yellow wine 6 g twice daily. In 122 cases, all cured. [Xinjiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1989,(3):35]