Xiāng Rú (香薷), known in English as Mosla herb (Mosla chinensis), is a warm, acrid Chinese herb from the Release exterior (Cold) category. It enters the Lung and Stomach channels. Its main action: induces sweating, releases exterior — summer.
| Pinyin | Xiāng Rú (Xiang Ru) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 香薷 |
| English | Mosla herb |
| Botanical name | Mosla chinensis |
| Category | Release exterior (Cold) |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid |
| Channels | Lung, Stomach |
| Dosage | 3–10g |
| Cautions | Exterior deficiency with sweating; summer-Heat with sweating |
Actions
- Induces sweating, releases exterior — summer
- Transforms Damp, harmonises Middle Jiao
- Promotes urination, reduces oedema
Indications
- Summer exterior Cold with Damp: chills, fever, headache, no sweating, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea
- Oedema with difficult urination
How to remember Xiāng Rú
Release exterior (Cold) herbs are mostly warm or hot and acrid, and most enter the Lung channel.
- You can work these out
- Warm, Acrid: like most Release exterior (Cold) herbs
- Lung channel: from its action “Induces sweating”
- Stomach channel: from its action “harmonises Middle Jiao”
Formulas containing Xiāng Rú
Other Release exterior (Cold) herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Xiāng Rú?
Xiāng Rú is warm and acrid.
Which channels does Xiāng Rú enter?
Xiāng Rú enters the Lung and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Xiāng Rú?
Induces sweating, releases exterior — summer; Transforms Damp, harmonises Middle Jiao; Promotes urination, reduces oedema.
What is Xiāng Rú used for?
Summer exterior Cold with Damp: chills, fever, headache, no sweating, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea; oedema with difficult urination.
Which formulas contain Xiāng Rú?
Xiāng Rú Sǎn.
Practise Xiāng Rú 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.