Fù Zǐ (附子), known in English as Prepared aconite (Aconitum carmichaelii), is a hot, acrid and sweet Chinese herb from the Warm interior category. It enters the Heart, Kidney and Spleen channels. Its main action: rescues devastated Yang, stops shock.
| Pinyin | Fù Zǐ (Fu Zi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 附子 |
| English | Prepared aconite |
| Botanical name | Aconitum carmichaelii |
| Category | Warm interior |
| Nature | Hot |
| Flavour | Acrid, Sweet |
| Channels | Heart, Kidney, Spleen |
| Dosage | 3–15g (decoct 30–60 min first) |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; Heat or Yin deficiency; incompatible with Banxia, Gualou, Beimu, Bailian, Baiji — the 18 incompatibilities |
Actions
- Rescues devastated Yang, stops shock
- Warms Kidney Yang, disperses Cold-Damp
- Warms channels, relieves Bi pain
Indications
- Yang collapse with cold extremities and faint pulse
- Kidney Yang deficiency
- Cold-Damp Bi
- Heart Yang deficiency
How to remember Fù Zǐ
Warm interior herbs are mostly warm or hot and acrid, and most enter the Stomach, Spleen and Kidney channels.
- You can work these out
- Hot, Acrid, Spleen channel: like most Warm interior herbs
- Heart channel: from its use for “Heart Yang deficiency”
- Kidney channel: from its action “Warms Kidney Yang”
- Learn by heart
- Sweet: unusual for Warm interior herbs (most are acrid)
Formulas containing Fù Zǐ
Other Warm interior herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Fù Zǐ?
Fù Zǐ is hot and acrid and sweet.
Which channels does Fù Zǐ enter?
Fù Zǐ enters the Heart, Kidney and Spleen channels.
What are the actions of Fù Zǐ?
Rescues devastated Yang, stops shock; Warms Kidney Yang, disperses Cold-Damp; Warms channels, relieves Bi pain.
What is Fù Zǐ used for?
Yang collapse with cold extremities and faint pulse; Kidney Yang deficiency; Cold-Damp Bi; Heart Yang deficiency.
Which formulas contain Fù Zǐ?
Jīn Guì Shèn Qì Wán, Sì Nì Tāng, Zhēn Wǔ Tāng, Yòu Guī Wán, Huáng Tǔ Tāng and Wū Méi Wán.
Practise Fù Zǐ and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.