ju hua

菊花·Flos Chrysanthemi

Chrysanthemum Flower

About ju hua

Ju Hua (菊花) is the flower of chrysanthemum, recorded as Flos Chrysanthemi. It is sweet and bitter in flavour, slightly cold, and enters the Liver and Lung channels. The catalogue files it among the cool, acrid herbs that release the Exterior.

Names

Pinyinju hua
Chinese菊花
Latin NameFlos Chrysanthemi
English NameChrysanthemum Flower
Japanesekikuka
Koreankukhwa

Classification

Channels
Lung, Liver
Flavour
Sweet, Bitter
Temperature
Slightly Cold
Part used
Flower
Family
Asteraceae
Species
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Disperses Wind and clears Heat

  • Early Wind-Heat, as in a common cold or Warm disease, with fever, headache and a mild sore throat; classically paired with Sang Ye

Calms the Liver and brightens the eyes

  • Red, dry, swollen or painful eyes from Wind-Heat in the Liver channel or rising Liver Yang
  • Floaters, blurred vision or dizziness when Liver and Kidney Yin are depleted
  • Heatstroke on a background of Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency

Calms Liver Yang and extinguishes Wind

  • Liver Wind with headache, dizziness and deafness
  • Rising Liver Yang from deficient Liver and Kidney Yin
  • More severe internal Wind, combined with heavier anchoring herbs such as Ling Yang Jiao and Gou Teng
  • Hypertension

Resolves toxicity

  • Toxic sores and swellings, a minor use, mainly in the early stage

Moves Heart Qi and Blood and promotes circulation

  • Stagnant Qi and Blood of the Heart

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 4.5-20g; Tincture: 2-5ml4.5-20 g2-5 ml

Cautions