yuan hua

芫花·Flos Genkwa

Genkwa Flower

Toxic

Toxicity graded by American Dragon.

About yuan hua

Yuan Hua (芫花) is the flower bud of lilac daphne, recorded as Flos Genkwa. It is bitter and acrid in flavour, warm in temperature, and enters the Lung, Kidney and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the harsh expellants and marks it toxic.

Names

Pinyin	yuan hua
Chinese	芫花
Latin Name	Flos Genkwa
English Name	Genkwa Flower·lilac daphne flower bud
Japanese	genka
Korean	wonhwa

Classification

Category: Harsh Expellants
Channels: Lung, Large Intestine, Kidney
Flavour: Acrid, Bitter
Temperature: Warm
Part used: Flower
Family: Thymeleaceae
Species: daphne genkwa
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Drives out water, expels congested fluids and promotes urination

Harsh purgative and diuretic for fluid that has pooled in the abdomen, flanks or chest, causing fullness, distension and difficult breathing
Edema involving the five Zang organs

Transforms Phlegm and stops cough

Cough and wheezing
Chronic bronchitis where Damp and Cold predominate; can be taken on its own with sugar

Kills parasites (external)

Tinea, scabies and other parasitic skin conditions
Carbuncles and chilblains, applied externally

Combinations

gan sui
Fluid accumulating in the chest
gan sui + jing da ji + da zao
Strengthens its carminative action while guarding the Spleen and Stomach
xiong huang
Topically for tinea
gan cao
External wash for frostbite

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 1.5-3g; Powder: 1.5-3g in; Tincture: 0.1-1ml	1.5-3 g	—	0.1-1 ml	—	—

Cautions

caution Toxic: reserve for ascites and other Excess conditions, give only for short courses, and never use for self-treatment
pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy; the dried flowers have a documented history of use to bring on abortion
lactation Avoid while breastfeeding
caution Avoid when trying to conceive; animal work found it damaged the testes as well as the kidneys
contraindication Weak, depleted or elderly patients, and fluid accumulation that comes from deficiency rather than Excess; it removes fluid violently and saps strength with it
caution Its active compounds irritate skin and mucous membranes, so the raw material itself must be handled with care

Interactions

Incompatible with

gan cao Never combine with Gan Cao (licorice), a classically prohibited pair; this matters in practice because licorice appears in so many formulas