Bupleurum Root – 1 lb (454 g)

Bupleurum Root, known in Chinese as 柴胡 (Cháihú) and scientifically as Radix Bupleuri, 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 Bupleurum Root carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Bupleurum 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, Bupleurum Root provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Bupleurum 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 Bupleurum 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 Zi Hu, Di Xun, Ru Cao, and Chai Cao. It is the root of Bupleurum chinense DC. or Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd., plants of the Apiaceae family. The former is commonly called “Northern Bupleurum,” mainly produced in Hebei, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Henan, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Gansu; the latter is called “Southern Bupleurum,” mainly produced in Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Jiangsu, and Anhui. It is harvested in spring and autumn, with stems, leaves, and dirt removed, then dried.

[Properties] Bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature. Enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians.

[Actions] Harmonizes the exterior and interior, soothes the Liver and relieves depression, raises Yang Qi.

[Applications]
1. Used for exterior syndrome with fever. For external wind-cold invasion with aversion to cold, high fever, headache, body aches, and no sweating, often combined with Qiang Huo, Du Huo, Chuan Xiong, etc., as in the formula Baidu San; for external wind-warmth with fever and headache, no aversion to cold but thirst, often combined with Ge Gen, Zhi Mu, Huang Qin, etc., as in Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang.
2. Used for Shaoyang syndrome with alternating chills and fever. When the pathogenic factor is in Shaoyang, half exterior and half interior, with alternating chills and fever, chest and hypochondriac fullness and distension, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, dizziness, often combined with Huang Qin and Ban Xia, as in Xiao Chai Hu Tang. Also used for malaria with alternating chills and fever; can be added to antimalarial formulas such as Qing Pi Yin.
3. Used for Liver Qi stagnation with hypochondriac distension and pain, irregular menstruation. For Liver Qi stagnation causing hypochondriac pain, often combined with Bai Shao, Chuan Xiong, Zhi Ke, as in Chai Hu Shu Gan San; for Liver Qi stagnation with blood deficiency, distension in both hypochondria, headache, dizziness, irregular menstruation, breast distension, often combined with Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Bai Zhu, as in Xiao Yao San; if accompanied by vexation, dry mouth, add Dan Pi and Zhi Zi, as in Dan Zhi Xiao Yao Wan; for chronic hypochondriac pain due to blood stasis in the collaterals, often combined with Dang Gui, Hong Hua, Tao Ren, as in Fu Yuan Huo Xue Tang.
4. Used for prolapse of rectum and uterus due to middle Qi deficiency and sinking of clear Yang, as well as shortness of breath and fatigue, often combined with Sheng Ma and Huang Qi, as in Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 3–10 g; or used in pills or powders. For reducing fever, use raw and in larger doses; for soothing the Liver, use vinegar-fried and in moderate doses; for raising Yang, use raw and in smaller doses.

[Cautions] Use with caution in cases of true Yin deficiency, Liver Yang rising, and internal Liver Wind.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: Radix Bupleuri contains saikosaponins a, b, c, d, as well as α-spinasterol, stigmasterol, calenduladiol, and small amounts of volatile oil. Bupleurum scorzonerifolium contains saikosaponins a, c, d and volatile oil.
2. Pharmacological effects: Radix Bupleuri has notable antipyretic, sedative, anticonvulsant, analgesic, and antitussive effects; the anti-inflammatory potency of saikosaponins is similar to prednisone, with stronger anti-granuloma proliferation than anti-exudation effects; it has hepatoprotective, choleretic, and anti-gastric ulcer effects; saikosaponins reduce blood lipids, with a more significant effect on triglycerides than cholesterol; Bupleurum polysaccharides enhance humoral and cellular immunity and increase protein biosynthesis in rats; saikosaponin d administered intraperitoneally or orally significantly inhibits transplanted sarcoma S180, P388, and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in mice; decoctions inhibit hemolytic streptococcus, Vibrio cholerae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Leptospira, and also inhibit influenza virus and hemorrhagic fever virus.
3. Clinical reports: 1) Fever: Northern Bupleurum distilled infusion 2–4 ml intramuscularly, repeated as needed. In 57 acute fever cases, 17 markedly effective, 23 effective, 17 ineffective. [Hunan Medical Journal, 1984,(1):45] 2) Plum-pit Qi: Bupleurum injection 2 ml into Tiantu acupoint, once daily or every other day, 4 times per course. In 25 cases, 15 cured, 6 improved, 4 ineffective. [Journal of Zhejiang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1987,(6):52] 3) Epidemic parotitis: Bupleurum injection (1 ml equivalent to 1 g raw herb) 2 ml; for patients over 10 years old, 3 ml each time, twice daily intramuscular injection. In 28 cases, 27 cured. [New Chinese Medicine, 1986,(6):14] 4) Hyperlipidemia: lipid-lowering preparation made from dry Bupleurum and Luo Han Guo, 20 ml orally each time (equivalent to 3 g Bupleurum), three times daily. In 86 cases, triglycerides significantly reduced by 1.06±0.132 mmol/L on average, a 39.7% decrease; cholesterol reduction was not significant. [Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1988,(2):62] 5) Toothache: injection into Quchi acupoint (bilateral), after obtaining Qi sensation, 5 ml Bupleurum injection once daily for 6 days; auricular points Shenmen, Stomach, Sympathetic pressed with Wang Bu Liu Xing seeds 3–5 times daily for 1–2 minutes each; medication changed every 2–3 days until pain disappeared. In 34 cases, 26 cured (76.5%), 6 markedly effective (17.6%), 2 improved (5.9%), total effective rate 100%. [Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 2003, 23(8):465] 6) Psoriasis: Bupleurum injection 4 ml plus vitamin B12 injection 1000 μg intramuscularly once daily, combined with oral Yujin Yin Xie Pian, 4 tablets three times daily for 10 days per course. In 63 cases, 50 cured (79.4%), 13 ineffective (20.6%). [Xinjiang Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2001, 19(2):30]