Yán Hú Suǒ (延胡索), known in English as Corydalis rhizome (Corydalis yanhusuo), 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 — one of the strongest analgesics in materia medica.
| Pinyin | Yán Hú Suǒ (Yan Hu Suo) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 延胡索 |
| English | Corydalis rhizome |
| Botanical name | Corydalis yanhusuo |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid, Bitter |
| Channels | Heart, Liver, Spleen |
| Dosage | 3–9g (powder 1.5–3g) |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; no Blood stasis; large doses cause dizziness |
Actions
- Invigorates Blood, moves qi, relieves pain — one of the strongest analgesics in materia medica
Indications
- Pain from Blood and qi stasis anywhere: epigastric, chest, hernia, menstrual, traumatic
How to remember Yán Hú Suǒ
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 Yán Hú Suǒ
Other Invigorate blood herbs
- Dān Shēn
- Chuān Xiōng
- Hóng Huā
- Táo Rén
- É Zhú
- Sān Léng
- Rǔ Xiāng
- Mò Yào
- 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 Yán Hú Suǒ?
Yán Hú Suǒ is warm and acrid and bitter.
Which channels does Yán Hú Suǒ enter?
Yán Hú Suǒ enters the Heart, Liver and Spleen channels.
What are the actions of Yán Hú Suǒ?
Invigorates Blood, moves qi, relieves pain — one of the strongest analgesics in materia medica.
What is Yán Hú Suǒ used for?
Pain from Blood and qi stasis anywhere: epigastric, chest, hernia, menstrual, traumatic.
Which formulas contain Yán Hú Suǒ?
Jīn Líng Zǐ Sǎn, Shào Fǔ Zhú Yū Tāng and Gé Xià Zhú Yū Tāng.
Practise Yán Hú Suǒ 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.