Jiāng Huáng (姜黄), known in English as Turmeric rhizome (Curcuma longa), is a warm, acrid and bitter Chinese herb from the Invigorate blood category. It enters the Spleen and Liver channels. Its main action: invigorates Blood, moves qi, relieves pain.
| Pinyin | Jiāng Huáng (Jiang Huang) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 姜黄 |
| English | Turmeric rhizome |
| Botanical name | Curcuma longa |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid, Bitter |
| Channels | Spleen, Liver |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; no Blood stasis |
Actions
- Invigorates Blood, moves qi, relieves pain
- Expels Wind-Damp, unblocks channels — especially shoulder
Indications
- Blood and qi stasis pain
- Shoulder and arm pain from Wind-Damp
- Menstrual pain
- Trauma
How to remember Jiāng Huáng
Invigorate blood herbs are mostly bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Bitter, Liver channel: like most Invigorate blood herbs
- Learn by heart
- Warm: Invigorate blood herbs vary in nature
- Acrid: unusual for Invigorate blood herbs (most are bitter)
- Spleen channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
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
- Huái Niú Xī
- 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 Jiāng Huáng?
Jiāng Huáng is warm and acrid and bitter.
Which channels does Jiāng Huáng enter?
Jiāng Huáng enters the Spleen and Liver channels.
What are the actions of Jiāng Huáng?
Invigorates Blood, moves qi, relieves pain; Expels Wind-Damp, unblocks channels — especially shoulder.
What is Jiāng Huáng used for?
Blood and qi stasis pain; shoulder and arm pain from Wind-Damp; menstrual pain; trauma.
Practise Jiāng Huáng 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.