Agastache (huo xiang)
Agastache rugosa · 藿香
Herbs & Roots. Chinese Medicine.
Also called Huo xiang, Korean mint, Wrinkled giant hyssop
Pinyin: Huò Xiāng
Essential oil can irritateA minty herb used in Chinese medicine for upset stomach, nausea, and early colds with damp heat.
Did you know? Korean mint is a garden herb with a strong minty smell, and it is used in teas and as a flavoring in Korean and Chinese kitchens.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Nausea & upset stomach. Used for nausea and stomach upset in tradition. Human trials are few.Traditional proof
- Fever. Used in early colds with chills and fever in Chinese formulas. Human proof is limited.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Chinese medicine uses huo xiang to dry dampness, settle an upset stomach, and ease early colds that come with summer heat. It is in many formulas for summer illness.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Carminative, Diaphoretic, Antimicrobial. Energy: warming.
- Chinese medicine
- 藿香 Aromatic, transform dampness. Nature: warm. Flavour: pungent. Enters the Spleen, Stomach and Lung channels.
How people take it
Dried herb is used at about 3 to 10 grams per decoction. For tea, steep a small handful of dried leaves in hot water.
Tea, decoction, tincture and essential oil.
Where to get it
Grown in China, Korea, and Japan, and in gardens elsewhere. Sold as dried herb, tea, and in cold formulas, and as essential oil.
Be careful
Generally safe in tea and food amounts. Essential oil is strong and can irritate skin or the stomach. Ask a clinician before use in pregnancy.
Avoid if: pregnancy.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Paired with magnolia bark in summer damp formulas for bloating and nausea.
- Works well together
Both are used for nausea and phlegm in Chinese stomach formulas.
The honest take
Agastache is a traditional aromatic herb for upset stomach and summer colds. Human trials are few, and most proof is tradition. It is low risk in tea and food amounts, but its essential oil is strong.