Tiān Huā Fěn (天花粉), known in English as Trichosanthes root (Trichosanthes kirilowii (root)), is a cool, sweet and slightly bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Lung and Stomach channels. Its main action: clears Heat, generates fluids, relieves thirst.
| Pinyin | Tiān Huā Fěn (Tian Hua Fen) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 天花粉 |
| English | Trichosanthes root |
| Botanical name | Trichosanthes kirilowii (root) |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Sweet, Slightly bitter |
| Channels | Lung, Stomach |
| Dosage | 9–15g |
| Cautions | Spleen deficiency diarrhoea; pregnancy; incompatible with Fu Zi (18 incompatibilities) |
Actions
- Clears Heat, generates fluids, relieves thirst
- Clears Lung Heat, transforms phlegm
- Reduces swelling, expels pus
Indications
- Thirst and wasting from Lung/Stomach Heat
- Lung Heat with thick phlegm
- Abscesses not yet suppurated
How to remember Tiān Huā Fěn
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cool, Slightly bitter: like most Clear heat herbs
- Lung channel: from its action “Clears Lung Heat”
- Stomach channel: from its use for “Thirst and wasting from Lung/Stomach Heat”
- Learn by heart
- Sweet: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are bitter)
Formulas containing Tiān Huā Fěn
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- Huáng Bǎi
- Lóng Dǎn Cǎo
- Zhī Zǐ
- Jīn Yín Huā
- Lián Qiào
- Pú Gōng Yīng
- Lú Gēn
- Zhú Yè
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- Kǔ Shēn
- Qín Pí
- Bái Xiān Pí
- Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
- Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo
- Bǎn Lán Gēn
- Tǔ Fú Líng
- Shè Gān
- Dì Gǔ Pí
- Qīng Hāo
- Yín Chái Hú
- Hú Huáng Lián
- Mǔ Dān Pí
- Chì Sháo
- Xuán Shēn
- Shuǐ Niú Jiǎo
- Bái Wēi
- Bái Tóu Wēng
- Bài Jiàng Cǎo
- Yú Xīng Cǎo
- Shān Dòu Gēn
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Tiān Huā Fěn?
Tiān Huā Fěn is cool and sweet and slightly bitter.
Which channels does Tiān Huā Fěn enter?
Tiān Huā Fěn enters the Lung and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Tiān Huā Fěn?
Clears Heat, generates fluids, relieves thirst; Clears Lung Heat, transforms phlegm; Reduces swelling, expels pus.
What is Tiān Huā Fěn used for?
Thirst and wasting from Lung/Stomach Heat; Lung Heat with thick phlegm; abscesses not yet suppurated.
Which formulas contain Tiān Huā Fěn?
Shā Shēn Mài Dōng Tāng.
Practise Tiān Huā Fěn 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.