hu zhang

Name: hu zhang
Creator: Bencao Index

虎杖·Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati

Bushy Knotweed Rhizome

About hu zhang

Hu Zhang (虎杖) is the rhizome of giant knotweed, recorded as Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati. It is bitter in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Liver, Gallbladder and Lung channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that invigorate the Blood.

Names

Pinyin	hu zhang
Chinese	虎杖
Latin Name	Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati
English Name	Bushy Knotweed Rhizome·giant knotweed rhizome
Japanese	kojyo·kojyo, itadori
Korean	hojang

Classification

Category: Invigorate the Blood
Channels: Lung, Gallbladder, Liver
Flavour: Bitter
Temperature: Cold
Family: Polygonaceae
Species: Polygonum cuspidatum
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis, unblocks the channels and relieves pain

Amenorrhea or painful periods from Blood stasis
Abdominal pain after childbirth
Pain from traumatic injury
Wind-Damp Bi with joint pain

Clears Heat and resolves Damp

Jaundice from Damp-Heat
Cloudy vaginal discharge from Damp-Heat
Turbid, painful urination (Lin syndrome)

Clears toxins and reduces swelling

Toxic sores, carbuncles, burns and scalds, used internally or on the skin

Drains Heat, transforms Phlegm and stops cough

Cough from Heat or Phlegm in the Lungs, including chronic cough
Constipation from knotted Heat

Combinations

yi mu cao + dan shen + qian cao gen
Blood Stasis with amenorrhea and painful menstruation
ji xue teng + xi he liu
Bi Pain
dang gui + hong hua
Trauma pain
yin chen hao + jin qian cao + zhi zi + da huang
Damp-Heat jaundice
yi yi ren + bi xie
Turbid Damp vaginal discharge
mu xiang + zhi ke
Stones in the urinary tract or biliary tract
jin qian cao
Stones of the biliary or urinary system
jin yin hua + lian qiao
Resolves toxicity
sesame oil
Burns, using the fresh herb topically
huang qin + jin yin hua + pi pa ye
Lung Heat cough
ru xiang + mo yao + hong hua
Sports and traumatic injuries
yu jin + ji nei jin + hai jin sha + jin qian cao + chuan lian zi + yan hu suo
Gallstones
jin yin hua + lian qiao + pu gong ying
Internal organ abscesses. Snakebite, as a paste applied to the skin

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 8-30g; Tincture: 2-4ml	8-30 g	—	2-4 ml	—	—

Cautions

pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy, as a strongly Blood-moving herb
caution Pair with tonifying herbs so that it does no harm
caution Reported side effects include a dry mouth, bitter taste, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea
caution Weak Spleen and Stomach, loose stools, or no genuine stasis or Damp-Heat: its bitter, cold, draining nature can upset the digestion

Interactions

Drug interactions

Antidiabetic medicines, including insulin and sulfonylureas such as glyburide, glipizide and tolbutamide: the effects may combine and push blood sugar too low

Link to this herb

Paste any of these. The wording inside the link is the part that matters — it tells a search engine what this page is about, so it is filled in for you.

HTML

<a href="https://bencaoindex.com/herbs/hu-zhang/">hu zhang 虎杖</a> — Bencao Index

Markdown

[hu zhang 虎杖](https://bencaoindex.com/herbs/hu-zhang/) — Bencao Index

With our badge

<a href="https://bencaoindex.com/herbs/hu-zhang/"><img src="https://bencaoindex.com/badges/bencao-index-160.svg" alt="Bencao Index" width="160" height="40"></a>

Free to use with a visible link back. This herb is also available as XML. See link to us for banners, the feed, and the terms.

Support

Bencao Index is free to use and free of advertising, and is paid for by one practitioner.

Make a donation