Lú Huì (芦荟), known in English as Aloe (Aloe vera (dried juice)), is a cold, bitter Chinese herb from the Drain downward category. It enters the Liver, Stomach and Large Intestine channels. Its main action: purges downward, unblocks bowels.
| Pinyin | Lú Huì (Lu Hui) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 芦荟 |
| English | Aloe |
| Botanical name | Aloe vera (dried juice) |
| Category | Drain downward |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine |
| Dosage | 2–5g (in pills or powders) |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; Spleen and Stomach deficiency; diarrhoea |
Actions
- Purges downward, unblocks bowels
- Clears Liver, drains Fire
- Kills parasites, treats childhood nutritional impairment
Indications
- Heat constipation
- Liver Fire with irritability, dizziness and convulsions
- Childhood nutritional impairment with parasites
- Ringworm (topical)
How to remember Lú Huì
Drain downward herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Large Intestine and Stomach channels.
- You can work these out
- Cold, Bitter, Stomach channel: like most Drain downward herbs
- Liver channel: from its action “Clears Liver”
- Large Intestine channel: from its action “unblocks bowels”
Other Drain downward herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Lú Huì?
Lú Huì is cold and bitter.
Which channels does Lú Huì enter?
Lú Huì enters the Liver, Stomach and Large Intestine channels.
What are the actions of Lú Huì?
Purges downward, unblocks bowels; Clears Liver, drains Fire; Kills parasites, treats childhood nutritional impairment.
What is Lú Huì used for?
Heat constipation; Liver Fire with irritability, dizziness and convulsions; childhood nutritional impairment with parasites; ringworm (topical).
Practise Lú Huì 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.