Radix Bupleuri (bupleurum root) ( Chai Hu)

[Guest guest]

I know people around here who swear by this herb. It's cleared up some

long-standing liver problems that nothing else has been able to take care of.

 

Wicke classifies it as an herb that Relieves Wind Heat. Its energy is slightly

cool, and it has a bitter, slightly spicy taste. It has an affinity for the

Liver, Gallbladder, Pericardium, and Triple Heater.

 

It has a number of actions. For one thing it " raises the Yang Qi in patterns of

Spleen or Stomach Qi Deficiency " . (Wicke, vol. 2, p. 35) For this reason you

want to use it cautiously in conditions of Rising Liver Yang.

 

It relieves Heat in ShaoYang-stage Evil. That's the one after the TaiYang-stage.

In the TaiYang-stage Evil, the evil is still completely Exterior. In the

ShaoYang-stage, it's penetrated into the body and is part Exterior and part

Interior. The person is starting to have Interior symptoms like stomach upset

and vomiting.

 

The ShaoYang-stage also is characterized by Stagnation problems. This brings us

to another property of the herb. It " relaxes constrained Liver Qi.

 

Wicke says, " Although classified as an herb to relieve Wind Heat, Rx Bupleuri is

most commonly considered as being the primary herb for dredging the Liver Qi. It

is used together with other herbs to regulate Liver Qi and invigorate the Blood.

Its actions are analogous to opening the door of the Liver to let the other

herbs inside for housecleaning purposes. Because the Liver is the Organ which

may store anger, temporary reactions to Rx Bupleuri may include explosive

outburst of anger, headaches and/or nausea. Rarely do these unpleasant

detoxification reactions last more than several days. " (vol. 2, p. 34)

 

This anger can be a reaction to many of the liver cleaning herbs like bupleurum,

milk thistle, etc. and to exercises, massage, and acupuncture/ acupressure to

get the Stagnant Liver Qi moving. They are not creating the anger. It's been

locked up in the Liver creating problems and causing Liver problems to snowball.

It's bringing it out to consciousness so it can be let go of. This can be a

rather intense reaction, but it is temporary.

 

I want to call your attention to something Wicke said. " Its actions are

analogous to opening the door of the Liver to let the other herbs inside for

housecleaning purposes. " Later on this statement will come to have special

meaning for you as you discover another use for Radix Bupleuri.

 

Victoria

 

 

 

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