Introduction of Huò Xiānɡ: Agastache, Wrinkles Gianthyssop Herb
✵The article records the herb Agastache, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and its botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. and (2) Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et Mey.) O. Kuntze. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of the second species, as well as the macroscopic characteristics of the herb Agastache, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Herba Agastachis (Agastache)
Pinyin Name: Huò Xiānɡ
English Name: Agastache, Wrinkles Gianthyssop Herb
Latin Name:Herba Agastaches Property and Flavor: Slightly warm; pungent
Brief Introduction:Herba Agastachis is the dried aerial part of Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et Mey.) O. Kuntze., used similarly to Pogostemon cablin. It is commonly known as Herba Agastachis, Agastache, Cablin Patchouli Herb, Wrinkled Giant Hyssop Herb, or Huò Xiāng.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Herba Agastachis (Agastache) as the dried aerial part of (1) Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. or (2) Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et Mey.) O. Kuntze. Agastache rugosa is a perennial herb of the genus Agastache, family Lamiaceae (Labiatae, mint family), order Lamiales. The commonly used species is introduced below:
(2) Agastache rugosa (Fisch.et Mey.) O.Kuntze.
Botanical Description:Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et Mey.) O. Kuntze. is commonly known as Huò Xiāng. It is an annual or perennial herb, growing 40–110 cm tall. The stem is erect, quadrangular, slightly reddish, sparsely puberulent and glandular. Leaves are opposite; petioles are 1–4 cm long; leaf blades are elliptic-ovate to oval, 2–8 cm long and 1–5 cm wide; apex is acute or shortly acuminate; base is rounded or slightly cordate; margin is irregularly crenate, with rounded teeth; upper surface is glabrous or subglabrous, scattered with translucent glandular dots; lower surface is pubescent.
Inflorescences grow in clusters and form terminal racemes; flower bracts are large, linear (strap-shaped) or lanceolate, puberulent; the calyx is 5-lobed, with triangular lobes bearing longitudinal veins and glandular dots; the corolla is labiate, purple or white, about 8 mm long; the upper lip is quadrate or ovate (egg-shaped), with an emarginate (slightly notched) apex; the lower lip is 3-lobed, with short lateral lobes and a fan-shaped middle lobe; the margin of the middle lobe is undulate and serrulate; the corolla exterior is covered with fine pilose hairs; there are 4 stamens, didynamous, exserted beyond the corolla tube; the ovary is deeply 4-lobed; the style arises from the base center of the ovary and is exserted beyond the flower; the stigma is 2-lobed.
Nutlets are obovate-trigonous. Flowering occurs from June to July, and fruiting occurs from October to November.
Ecological Environment: This plant grows on hillsides, mountain slopes, or roadsides; it is commonly cultivated.
Growth Characteristics:Agastache rugosa prefers a warm and moist climate, exhibits slight cold tolerance, and can overwinter in the field in temperate zones. It is drought-sensitive. It can be grown in ordinary soil, but sandy loam with good drainage is preferable.
Characteristics of the Herb: The aerial part of the herb (the above-ground portion) is 30–90 cm long, often folded in half or cut and bundled. The stem is quadrangular, much-branched, with a diameter of 0.2–1 cm; it is ridged at the four corners, and the four sides are flat or grooved into broad furrows. The surface is dark green (sap-green), with longitudinal wrinkles and sparse trichomes; nodes are conspicuous and often bear leaf-scar remnants; internodes are 3–10 cm long. Mature stems are firm, hard, and brittle, breaking easily to reveal a white fracture surface with a hollow pith. Leaves are opposite; leaf blades are dark green and frequently wilted or fragmented. When flattened, intact leaves are ovate (egg-shaped), 2–8 cm long and 1–6 cm wide; the apex is acute or short-acuminate; the base is rounded or cordate; the margins are crenate; the upper surface is dark green, the lower surface is pale green, and both surfaces are sparsely pubescent. Spicate verticillasters sometimes occur at the stem apices and are russet (earthy brown). The herb has an aromatic fragrance and tastes mild and slightly cooling.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus albus, and Bacillus subtilis; (2) exhibits strong inhibitory activity against common pathogenic dermatophytes; (3) exhibits mildew resistance; (4) antagonizes calcium ions; (5) promotes digestion, among others.
Medicinal Efficacy: Regulates the middle jiao, dispels turbidity, resolves dampness, expels summer-heat, releases the exterior, transforms dampness, and harmonizes the stomach. It is indicated for cold-damp or summer-heat-damp syndromes, summer-cold, cephalalgia (headache), chest and epigastric distension and fullness, nausea and diarrhea, pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, malaria, dysentery, rhinosinusitis (acute and chronic), halitosis (bad breath), and tinea pedis/manuum.
Administration of Herba Agastaches (Huò Xiānɡ):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Herba Agastaches (Huò Xiānɡ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: water decoction, 1.5–3 qian (approximately 4.5–9 grams); or prepared as pills or powder. External use: mouthwash prepared from decoction; or charred herb (with properties preserved), ground finely into powder and applied topically. (2) Internally: water decoction, 6–10 grams; or prepared as pills or powder. External use: appropriate amount—wash affected area with decoction, or apply finely powdered herb topically.
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References:
1.Introduction of Huò Xiānɡ: Agastache, Wrinkles Gianthyssop Herb
✵The article records the herb Agastache, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and its botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. and (2) Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et Mey.) O. Kuntze. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of the second species, as well as the macroscopic characteristics of the herb Agastache, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Huò Xiānɡ
Botanical Description: Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et Mey.) O. Kuntze. is commonly known as Huò Xiāng. It is an annual or perennial herb, growing 40–110 cm tall. The stem is erect, quadrangular, slightly reddish, sparsely puberulent and glandular. Leaves are opposite; petioles are 1–4 cm long; leaf blades are elliptic-ovate to oval, 2–8 cm long and 1–5 cm wide; apex is acute or shortly acuminate; base is rounded or slightly cordate; margin is irregularly crenate, with rounded teeth; upper surface is glabrous or subglabrous, scattered with translucent glandular dots; lower surface is pubescent.
Inflorescences grow in clusters and form terminal racemes; flower bracts are large, linear (strap-shaped) or lanceolate, puberulent; the calyx is 5-lobed, with triangular lobes bearing longitudinal veins and glandular dots; the corolla is labiate, purple or white, about 8 mm long; the upper lip is quadrate or ovate (egg-shaped), with an emarginate (slightly notched) apex; the lower lip is 3-lobed, with short lateral lobes and a fan-shaped middle lobe; the margin of the middle lobe is undulate and serrulate; the corolla exterior is covered with fine pilose hairs; there are 4 stamens, didynamous, exserted beyond the corolla tube; the ovary is deeply 4-lobed; the style arises from the base center of the ovary and is exserted beyond the flower; the stigma is 2-lobed.
Ecological Environment: This plant grows on hillsides, mountain slopes, or roadsides; it is commonly cultivated.
Characteristics of the Herb: The aerial part of the herb (the above-ground portion) is 30–90 cm long, often folded in half or cut and bundled. The stem is quadrangular, much-branched, with a diameter of 0.2–1 cm; it is ridged at the four corners, and the four sides are flat or grooved into broad furrows. The surface is dark green (sap-green), with longitudinal wrinkles and sparse trichomes; nodes are conspicuous and often bear leaf-scar remnants; internodes are 3–10 cm long. Mature stems are firm, hard, and brittle, breaking easily to reveal a white fracture surface with a hollow pith. Leaves are opposite; leaf blades are dark green and frequently wilted or fragmented. When flattened, intact leaves are ovate (egg-shaped), 2–8 cm long and 1–6 cm wide; the apex is acute or short-acuminate; the base is rounded or cordate; the margins are crenate; the upper surface is dark green, the lower surface is pale green, and both surfaces are sparsely pubescent. Spicate verticillasters sometimes occur at the stem apices and are russet (earthy brown). The herb has an aromatic fragrance and tastes mild and slightly cooling.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus albus, and Bacillus subtilis; (2) exhibits strong inhibitory activity against common pathogenic dermatophytes; (3) exhibits mildew resistance; (4) antagonizes calcium ions; (5) promotes digestion, among others.
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