Rǔ Xiāng (乳香), known in English as Frankincense (Boswellia carterii), is a warm, acrid and bitter Chinese herb from the Invigorate blood category. It enters the Heart, Liver and Spleen channels. Its main action: invigorates Blood, moves qi, relieves pain.
| Pinyin | Rǔ Xiāng (Ru Xiang) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 乳香 |
| English | Frankincense |
| Botanical name | Boswellia carterii |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid, Bitter |
| Channels | Heart, Liver, Spleen |
| Dosage | 3–9g (pill/powder 0.6–1.5g) |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; no Blood stasis; nausea when taken internally |
Actions
- Invigorates Blood, moves qi, relieves pain
- Reduces swelling, promotes healing (topical and internal)
Indications
- Blood and qi stasis pain — chest Bi, epigastric, menstrual, trauma
- Non-healing sores
How to remember Rǔ Xiāng
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)
- Heart and Spleen channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
Formulas containing Rǔ Xiāng
Other Invigorate blood herbs
- Dān Shēn
- Chuān Xiōng
- Hóng Huā
- Táo Rén
- É Zhú
- Sān Léng
- Mò Yào
- Yán Hú Suǒ
- Chuān Niú Xī
- Huái 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 Rǔ Xiāng?
Rǔ Xiāng is warm and acrid and bitter.
Which channels does Rǔ Xiāng enter?
Rǔ Xiāng enters the Heart, Liver and Spleen channels.
What are the actions of Rǔ Xiāng?
Invigorates Blood, moves qi, relieves pain; Reduces swelling, promotes healing (topical and internal).
What is Rǔ Xiāng used for?
Blood and qi stasis pain — chest Bi, epigastric, menstrual, trauma; non-healing sores.
Which formulas contain Rǔ Xiāng?
Juān Bì Tāng.
Practise Rǔ Xiāng 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.