Jú Huā (菊花), known in English as Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium), is a cool, sweet and bitter Chinese herb from the Release exterior (Heat) category. It enters the Lung and Liver channels. Its main action: disperses Wind-Heat, clears eyes.
| Pinyin | Jú Huā (Ju Hua) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 菊花 |
| English | Chrysanthemum |
| Botanical name | Chrysanthemum morifolium |
| Category | Release exterior (Heat) |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Sweet, Bitter |
| Channels | Lung, Liver |
| Dosage | 9–15g |
| Cautions | Qi deficiency; Cold patterns |
Actions
- Disperses Wind-Heat, clears eyes
- Calms Liver, extinguishes Wind
- Clears Heat, resolves toxicity
Indications
- Wind-Heat with red eyes
- Liver Yang rising headache
- Early-stage carbuncles
How to remember Jú Huā
Release exterior (Heat) herbs are mostly cool or cold, acrid and sweet, and most enter the Lung and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cool, Sweet, Lung channel: like most Release exterior (Heat) herbs
- Liver channel: from its action “Calms Liver”
- Learn by heart
- Bitter: unusual for Release exterior (Heat) herbs (most are acrid or sweet)
Formulas containing Jú Huā
Other Release exterior (Heat) herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Jú Huā?
Jú Huā is cool and sweet and bitter.
Which channels does Jú Huā enter?
Jú Huā enters the Lung and Liver channels.
What are the actions of Jú Huā?
Disperses Wind-Heat, clears eyes; Calms Liver, extinguishes Wind; Clears Heat, resolves toxicity.
What is Jú Huā used for?
Wind-Heat with red eyes; Liver Yang rising headache; early-stage carbuncles.
Which formulas contain Jú Huā?
Sāng Jú Yǐn and Qǐ Jú Dì Huáng Wán.
Practise Jú Huā 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.