Pú Huáng (蒲黄), known in English as Cattail pollen (Typha angustifolia (pollen)), is a neutral, sweet Chinese herb from the Stop bleeding category. It enters the Liver and Spleen channels. Its main action: stops bleeding (charred — also invigorates Blood).
| Pinyin | Pú Huáng (Pu Huang) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 蒲黄 |
| English | Cattail pollen |
| Botanical name | Typha angustifolia (pollen) |
| Category | Stop bleeding |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Sweet |
| Channels | Liver, Spleen |
| Dosage | 3–9g (charred for stopping bleeding; raw for Blood stasis) |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; no clear indication without deficiency or stasis |
Actions
- Stops bleeding (charred — also invigorates Blood)
- Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis (raw)
- Promotes urination (raw)
Indications
- Bleeding without stasis (charred) or with stasis (raw)
- Post-partum Blood stasis pain
- Dysuria with Blood
How to remember Pú Huáng
Stop bleeding herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Liver channel: like most Stop bleeding herbs
- Learn by heart
- Neutral: unusual for Stop bleeding herbs (most are cool or cold)
- Sweet: unusual for Stop bleeding herbs (most are bitter)
- Spleen channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Pú Huáng
Other Stop bleeding herbs
- Sān Qī
- Ài Yè
- Dì Yú
- Huái Huā
- Bái Máo Gēn
- Xiān Hè Cǎo
- Bái Jí
- Qiàn Cǎo Gēn
- Dà Jì
- Xiǎo Jì
- Cè Bǎi Yè
- Ǒu Jié
- Fú Lóng Gān
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Pú Huáng?
Pú Huáng is neutral and sweet.
Which channels does Pú Huáng enter?
Pú Huáng enters the Liver and Spleen channels.
What are the actions of Pú Huáng?
Stops bleeding (charred — also invigorates Blood); Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis (raw); Promotes urination (raw).
What is Pú Huáng used for?
Bleeding without stasis (charred) or with stasis (raw); post-partum Blood stasis pain; dysuria with Blood.
Which formulas contain Pú Huáng?
Shào Fǔ Zhú Yū Tāng.
Practise Pú 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.