Xiǎo Huí Xiāng (小茴香), known in English as Fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare), is a warm, acrid Chinese herb from the Warm interior category. It enters the Liver, Kidney, Spleen and Stomach channels. Its main action: warms Liver and Kidney, disperses Cold, relieves pain.
| Pinyin | Xiǎo Huí Xiāng (Xiao Hui Xiang) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 小茴香 |
| English | Fennel seed |
| Botanical name | Foeniculum vulgare |
| Category | Warm interior |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid |
| Channels | Liver, Kidney, Spleen, Stomach |
| Dosage | 3–6g |
| Cautions | Yin deficiency with Heat; Heat patterns |
Actions
- Warms Liver and Kidney, disperses Cold, relieves pain
- Warms Middle Jiao, regulates qi
Indications
- Cold hernial pain
- Cold dysmenorrhoea
- Cold epigastric or flank pain
- Vomiting
How to remember Xiǎo Huí Xiāng
Warm interior herbs are mostly warm or hot and acrid, and most enter the Stomach, Spleen and Kidney channels.
- You can work these out
- Warm, Acrid: like most Warm interior herbs
- Liver and Kidney channels: from its action “Warms Liver and Kidney”
- Spleen and Stomach channels: from its action “Warms Middle Jiao”
Formulas containing Xiǎo Huí Xiāng
Other Warm interior herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Xiǎo Huí Xiāng?
Xiǎo Huí Xiāng is warm and acrid.
Which channels does Xiǎo Huí Xiāng enter?
Xiǎo Huí Xiāng enters the Liver, Kidney, Spleen and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Xiǎo Huí Xiāng?
Warms Liver and Kidney, disperses Cold, relieves pain; Warms Middle Jiao, regulates qi.
What is Xiǎo Huí Xiāng used for?
Cold hernial pain; cold dysmenorrhoea; cold epigastric or flank pain; vomiting.
Which formulas contain Xiǎo Huí Xiāng?
Shào Fǔ Zhú Yū Tāng and Nuǎn Gān Jiān.
Practise Xiǎo Huí 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.