Introduction of Guang Huo Xiang: Cablin Patchouli Herb
✵The article records the herb Cablin Patchouli Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, botanical source—a single plant species: Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Herba Pogostemonis (Cablin Patchouli Herb)
Pinyin Name: Guǎnɡ Huò Xiānɡ
English Name: Cablin Patchouli Herb
Latin Name:Herba Pogostemonis Properties and Flavor: Slightly warm; pungent
Brief Introduction:Herba Pogostemonis is the dried aerial part of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth., used to resolve dampness, relieve nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea—especially in summer-heat disorders. The herb is commonly known as Herba Pogostemonis, Guǎnɡ Huò Xiānɡ.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Herba Pogostemonis (Cablin Patchouli Herb) as the dried aerial part of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth., a plant of the genus Pogostemon, family Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae, the mint family), order Lamiales. This widely used species is described below:
(1) Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth.
Botanical Description:Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. is commonly known as Mentha cablin Blanco or Guǎnɡ Huò Xiānɡ, Xiānɡ Zhī. It is an aromatic perennial herb or subshrub, growing up to 30–60 cm tall. The stem is erect; branches are tomentose; older stems become suberized. Leaves are opposite; petioles measure 2–4 cm long and are tomentose, emitting a distinctive light fragrance when crushed. Leaf blades are oval (egg-shaped) or oblong-oval, 5–10 cm long and 4–7.5 cm wide; the apex is mucronate or obtuse; the base is broad and blunt or cuneate and slightly asymmetrical; the margin is irregularly coarsely crenate; both surfaces are covered with trichomes—denser on the lower surface; veins are raised on the lower surface and slightly concave on the upper surface; some veins appear violet-red; the mesophyll is slightly protuberant on the upper surface, rendering the leaf surface uneven.
Inflorescences are dense verticillasters, sometimes with a disconnected base, forming terminal and axillary spikes 2–6 cm long and 1–1.5 cm in diameter, grow on peduncles. Floral bracts are ~13 mm long. The calyx is terete (tube-shaped). The corolla tube extends beyond the calyx; the limb is nearly bilabiate—the upper lip is 3-lobed, and the lower lip is entire. Four stamens project beyond the corolla; filaments are covered with beard-like hairs. Flowering occurs in April.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on hillsides, mountain slopes, and roadsides. It prefers a high-temperature, humid, and sunny environment. Growth slows markedly below 17 °C (62.6 °F), but the plant can tolerate brief exposure to 0 °C (32 °F). It is intolerant of drought and waterlogging. It thrives best in loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic sandy loam soil.
Growth Characteristics:Pogostemon cablin prefers a warm, humid climate and grows optimally in regions with a mean annual temperature of 24–25 °C (75.2–77 °F). Growth slows below 17 °C (62.6 °F); short-term exposure to 0 °C (32 °F) is tolerable. Annual rainfall should be abundant and evenly distributed—1,600–2,400 mm. The plant requires ample sunlight but needs moderate shade during the seedling stage and early establishment. Once new roots and leaves develop sufficiently, shading is gradually removed. Branches and leaves are brittle and prone to breakage during typhoons. Cultivation should be carried out in loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic sandy loam soil.
Characteristics of the Herb: The whole plant is 30–60 cm long, highly branched, with slightly curved branches. The stem is quadrangular and obtusely angled, 2–7 mm in diameter; internodes are 3–13 cm long. The cortex is taupe (grayish brown), sallow (grayish yellow), or reddish-brown. The herb is brittle and fractures easily, revealing a central pith; older basal stems are nearly cylindrical, 1–1.2 cm in diameter, and bear brown corky bark. Leaves are opposite, shriveled and often agglomerated into clumps; when flattened, leaf blades are oval (egg-shaped) or elliptic, 4–9 cm long and 3–7 cm wide; both surfaces are covered with ash-gray (grayish-white) tomentum; the apex is mucronate or obtuse; the base is cuneate or obtuse; the margin bears irregularly sized, blunt teeth; petioles are 2–4 cm long and pubescent. The herb has a distinctive aromatic odor and a slightly bitter taste.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Antimicrobial activity: Patchoulenone exhibits marked in vitro inhibitory effects against fungi including Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Rhizopus nigricans, as well as moderate inhibition against bacteria such as α-hemolytic streptococci. Fresh juice from Pogostemon cablin leaves also inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus albus, and Bacillus subtilis. Ear drops prepared from this fresh juice effectively treat acute experimental Staphylococcus aureus–induced external otitis in guinea pigs. Patchoulenone further suppresses Penicillium spp. and other molds and is used as a preservative in oral liquid formulations. (2) Calcium channel blockade.
Medicinal Efficacy: Aromatic, resolving turbidity and dampness; invigorating the spleen and promoting appetite; arresting vomiting; releasing the exterior and dispelling summer-heat. It is indicated for: turbid-damp obstruction of the middle jiao; nausea and vomiting (including epigastric vomiting); anorexia; fatigue and heaviness due to damp-heat; chest tightness and discomfort; nausea and chest oppression; cold-damp or summer-heat disorders; abdominal pain and diarrhea; vomiting and diarrhea; rhinosinusitis (acute and chronic); headache; exogenous damp-heat–induced chills and fever with headache; fever and drowsiness at the onset of damp-warm syndrome; and tinea manuum and tinea pedis.
Administration of Herba Pogostemonis (Guǎnɡ Huò Xiānɡ):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Herba Pogostemonis (Guǎnɡ Huò Xiānɡ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–9 grams dried herb; (2) Internally: water decoction, 5–10 grams; fresh herb dosage is doubled. Avoid prolonged boiling—add late in decoction or use in pills or powders. External use: As appropriate—gargle or mouthwash with decoction; soak affected areas; or apply finely powdered herb topically.
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1.Introduction of Guang Huo Xiang: Cablin Patchouli Herb
✵The article records the herb Cablin Patchouli Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, botanical source—a single plant species: Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Guǎnɡ Huò Xiānɡ
Botanical Description: Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. is commonly known as Mentha cablin Blanco or Guǎnɡ Huò Xiānɡ, Xiānɡ Zhī. It is an aromatic perennial herb or subshrub, growing up to 30–60 cm tall. The stem is erect; branches are tomentose; older stems become suberized. Leaves are opposite; petioles measure 2–4 cm long and are tomentose, emitting a distinctive light fragrance when crushed. Leaf blades are oval (egg-shaped) or oblong-oval, 5–10 cm long and 4–7.5 cm wide; the apex is mucronate or obtuse; the base is broad and blunt or cuneate and slightly asymmetrical; the margin is irregularly coarsely crenate; both surfaces are covered with trichomes—denser on the lower surface; veins are raised on the lower surface and slightly concave on the upper surface; some veins appear violet-red; the mesophyll is slightly protuberant on the upper surface, rendering the leaf surface uneven.
Inflorescences are dense verticillasters, sometimes with a disconnected base, forming terminal and axillary spikes 2–6 cm long and 1–1.5 cm in diameter, grow on peduncles. Floral bracts are ~13 mm long. The calyx is terete (tube-shaped). The corolla tube extends beyond the calyx; the limb is nearly bilabiate—the upper lip is 3-lobed, and the lower lip is entire. Four stamens project beyond the corolla; filaments are covered with beard-like hairs. Flowering occurs in April.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on hillsides, mountain slopes, and roadsides. It prefers a high-temperature, humid, and sunny environment. Growth slows markedly below 17 °C (62.6 °F), but the plant can tolerate brief exposure to 0 °C (32 °F). It is intolerant of drought and waterlogging. It thrives best in loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic sandy loam soil.
Characteristics of the Herb: The whole plant is 30–60 cm long, highly branched, with slightly curved branches. The stem is quadrangular and obtusely angled, 2–7 mm in diameter; internodes are 3–13 cm long. The cortex is taupe (grayish brown), sallow (grayish yellow), or reddish-brown. The herb is brittle and fractures easily, revealing a central pith; older basal stems are nearly cylindrical, 1–1.2 cm in diameter, and bear brown corky bark. Leaves are opposite, shriveled and often agglomerated into clumps; when flattened, leaf blades are oval (egg-shaped) or elliptic, 4–9 cm long and 3–7 cm wide; both surfaces are covered with ash-gray (grayish-white) tomentum; the apex is mucronate or obtuse; the base is cuneate or obtuse; the margin bears irregularly sized, blunt teeth; petioles are 2–4 cm long and pubescent. The herb has a distinctive aromatic odor and a slightly bitter taste.
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