WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

 It is the rhizome of Cyperus rotundus L., family Cyperaceae. The rhizomes are dug and collected in autumn. After the fibrous roots are burned away, they are pulverized or sliced and thendried in the sunshine. The raw or stir-baked with vinegar can be used.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Pungent , slightly bitter, slightly sweet and neutral; relate to the liver, spleen and triple energizer meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Soothe liver to regulate qi; regulate menstruation to relieve pain.

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1. Liver depression with Qi stagnation resulting  in pain syndromes     For distending pain in the hypochondrium, it is usually combined with Chaihu, Zhiqiao and Baishao, such as Chaihu Shugan Powder; for mass and distending pain in breast, with Chaihu, Gualou and Juye; for hernia of cold type with abdominal pain, with Xiaohuixiang and Wuyao.

2. Epigastric pain      Forepigastric distending pain due to congealing cold and qi stagnation, it is  used with Gaoliangjiang in Liangfu Pills.

3. Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea      It is the essential medicinal for regulating menstruation. It treats irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea due to liver qi stagnation, in combination with Danggui, Chaihu and Chuanxiong.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 6-9g. The stir-baked with vinegar are good at soothing liver, relievingdepression and regulating menstruation. The stir-baked with liquor are used for warming meridians to disperse cold and relieve pain.

[ Medicinal Comparison ]: Similarties: Muxiang,Wuyao and Xiangfu can all promote qi flow to relieve pain and so treat qi stagnation with pain.

Differences: Muxiang can promote qi flow of spleen, stomach and large intestine and also soothe stagnant qi of liver and gallbladder, so it is effective for qi stagnation due to different factors and dysentery with abdominal pain. Wuyao  has strong powder to disperse cold and can also warm kidney , so it is very effective for comgealing cold and qi stagnation causing pain in chest and abdomen and frequent urination and enuresis due to insufficiency of kidney-yang. Xiangfu is mild to promote qi flow, but very effective for soothing liver to disperse depression and regulating menstruation to relieve pain, so it is  usually used for liver depression and qi stagnation and also menstrual disorders.

 香附为莎草科植物莎草 Cyperus rotundus L．的干燥根茎。全国大部分地区均产，主产于广东、河南、四川、浙江、山东等地。秋季采挖，燎去毛须，置沸水中略煮或蒸透后晒干，或燎后直接晒干。生用，或醋炙用。用时碾碎。