Huái Niú Xī (怀牛膝), known in English as Achyranthes root (Achyranthes bidentata), is a neutral, bitter and sour Chinese herb from the Invigorate blood category. It enters the Liver and Kidney channels. Its main action: tonifies Liver and Kidney, strengthens sinews and bones.
| Pinyin | Huái Niú Xī (Huai Niu Xi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 怀牛膝 |
| English | Achyranthes root |
| Botanical name | Achyranthes bidentata |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Bitter, Sour |
| Channels | Liver, Kidney |
| Dosage | 6–15g |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; menorrhagia; Spleen deficiency diarrhoea |
Actions
- Tonifies Liver and Kidney, strengthens sinews and bones
- Leads Blood downward
- Promotes urination, unblocks dysuria
- Invigorates Blood (milder than Chuan Niu Xi)
Indications
- Liver and Kidney deficiency with weak knees
- Yin deficiency with ascending Fire
- Dysuria
- Blood stasis
How to remember Huái Niú Xī
Invigorate blood herbs are mostly bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Bitter: like most Invigorate blood herbs
- Liver and Kidney channels: from its action “Tonifies Liver and Kidney”
- Learn by heart
- Neutral: Invigorate blood herbs vary in nature
- Sour: unusual for Invigorate blood herbs (most are bitter)
Formulas containing Huái Niú Xī
Other Invigorate blood herbs
- Dān Shēn
- Chuān Xiōng
- Hóng Huā
- Táo Rén
- É Zhú
- Sān Léng
- Rǔ Xiāng
- Mò Yào
- Yán Hú Suǒ
- Chuān Niú Xī
- Jiāng Huáng
- Yù Jīn
- Zé Lán
- Yì Mǔ Cǎo
- Wáng Bù Liú Xíng
- Jī Xuè Téng
- Gǔ Suì Bǔ
- Wǔ Líng Zhī
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Huái Niú Xī?
Huái Niú Xī is neutral and bitter and sour.
Which channels does Huái Niú Xī enter?
Huái Niú Xī enters the Liver and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Huái Niú Xī?
Tonifies Liver and Kidney, strengthens sinews and bones; Leads Blood downward; Promotes urination, unblocks dysuria; Invigorates Blood (milder than Chuan Niu Xi).
What is Huái Niú Xī used for?
Liver and Kidney deficiency with weak knees; Yin deficiency with ascending Fire; dysuria; Blood stasis.
Which formulas contain Huái Niú Xī?
Yù Nǚ Jiān and Zhèn Gān Xī Fēng Tāng.
Practise Huái Niú Xī 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.