Huā Jiāo (花椒), known in English as Sichuan pepper (Zanthoxylum bungeanum), is a warm, acrid Chinese herb from the Warm interior category. It enters the Spleen, Stomach and Kidney channels. Its main action: warms Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, relieves pain.
| Pinyin | Huā Jiāo (Hua Jiao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 花椒 |
| English | Sichuan pepper |
| Botanical name | Zanthoxylum bungeanum |
| Category | Warm interior |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid |
| Channels | Spleen, Stomach, Kidney |
| Dosage | 3–6g |
| Cautions | Yin deficiency with Heat; pregnancy |
Actions
- Warms Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, relieves pain
- Kills parasites
- Dries Damp
Indications
- Abdominal Cold pain
- Cold-Damp diarrhoea
- Roundworm
- Cold-Damp skin conditions (topical)
How to remember Huā Jiāo
Warm interior herbs are mostly warm or hot and acrid, and most enter the Stomach, Spleen and Kidney channels.
- You can work these out
- Warm, Acrid, Kidney channel: like most Warm interior herbs
- Spleen and Stomach channels: from its action “Warms Middle Jiao”
Other Warm interior herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Huā Jiāo?
Huā Jiāo is warm and acrid.
Which channels does Huā Jiāo enter?
Huā Jiāo enters the Spleen, Stomach and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Huā Jiāo?
Warms Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, relieves pain; Kills parasites; Dries Damp.
What is Huā Jiāo used for?
Abdominal Cold pain; Cold-Damp diarrhoea; roundworm; Cold-Damp skin conditions (topical).
Practise Huā Jiāo 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.