Xuan Fu Hua (旋覆花) is the flower of inula, a plant of the daisy family, recorded as Flos Inulae. It is bitter, acrid and salty in flavour, slightly warm, and enters the Lung, Liver, Spleen and Stomach channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that transform Phlegm-Cold.

Pinyin

xuan fu hua

Chinese

旋覆花

Latin Name

Flos Inulae

English Name

Inula Flower

Japanese

senpukuka

Korean

seonbokhwa

Actions and indications

Expels Phlegm and moves retained water

Phlegm accumulating in the Lungs with rebellious Qi
Phlegm and thin fluids collecting in the chest: cough or wheezing with abundant white or yellow sputum and fullness of the chest and diaphragm
Mainly for Cold patterns, though usable for Hot patterns with suitable herbs
Phlegm-Damp

Descends Qi and stops vomiting

Vomiting, hiccups and belching
Nausea and acid reflux from rebellious Stomach Qi with Phlegm

Directs Lung Qi downward and calms wheezing

Cough driven by rising Qi rather than by dryness

Softens hardness below the ribs

Localised distension and hardness under the ribs from Phlegm and stagnant Qi

Combinations

zhi ban xia + xi xin + xing ren

Cold and Phlegm invading the Lungs, with wheezing and cough

fu shi

Phlegm-Heat with a tight chest and a cough bringing up sticky sputum that is hard to expectorate

jie geng + sang bai pi + huang qin + da huan

Phlegm-Heat with wheezing and cough

zhi ban xia

Congested fluids causing a distended epigastrium, cough, wheezing and vomiting

dai zhe shi + ren shen + zhi ban xia

Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold with accumulated turbid Phlegm, causing incessant belching, hiccup or vomiting

huang lian + zhu ru

Stomach Heat with vomiting

mu xiang + shen qu + bai zhu

Belching, indigestion and a distended epigastrium

sheng jiang + zhi ban xia + ma huang

Exterior patterns with accumulated Phlegm

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 3-12g; Tincture: 2-4ml

3-12 g

—

2-4 ml

—

Cautions

contraindication Dry cough from Yin deficiency, as in tuberculosis, where it can worsen dryness

contraindication Cough from Wind-Heat

contraindication Loose stools in debilitated patients or from Spleen deficiency

caution Its fine hairs irritate the throat and can set off coughing; always decoct it wrapped in cloth

caution Sensitivity to the daisy family (Asteraceae)

pregnancy A strongly descending herb: use in pregnancy only under qualified supervision

caution Long-term use only under qualified supervision

Interactions

Drug interactions

Diuretics (chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, bumetanide, torsemide): more water and electrolytes may be lost
Anti-emetic, prokinetic or acid-suppressing medicines: their uses overlap, so a practitioner should know about both (coordination of care, no documented interaction)

xuan fu hua

About xuan fu hua

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Expels Phlegm and moves retained water

Descends Qi and stops vomiting

Directs Lung Qi downward and calms wheezing

Softens hardness below the ribs

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

About xuan fu hua

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Expels Phlegm and moves retained water

Descends Qi and stops vomiting

Directs Lung Qi downward and calms wheezing

Softens hardness below the ribs

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Related

Used in 2 formulas