Cyperus Rhizome
香附 · xiāng fù
Moves qi for period pain, irritability, and chest tightness
Properties
NeutralNeutral botanicalAcrid, Bitter, Sweet
Concerns
What it does
Xiang fu targets Liver qi, your body's vital energy, when it becomes constrained, causing emotional tension, rib-side pain, and period irregularities that worsen with stress. Its neutral nature lets it spread qi without worsening heat or cold. Classical texts called it the commander-in-chief of qi disorders. Appears in Bupleurum Spread the Liver (Chai Hu Shu Gan San).
Safety
- Not for qi deficiency without stagnation; dispersing where nothing is stuck depletes qi.
- Contraindicated in yin deficiency with heat or heat in the blood.
- Aromatic and drying; long-term use may injure yin.
How to take it
Decoct 6–12g of dried cyperus rhizome in 4 cups water for 30 minutes. Often combined with bupleurum, white peony, or chuanxiong for Liver qi stagnation.
Best used in a formula targeting emotional tension or stress-related period pain
Follow the product label for the formula containing xiang fu. Used in qi-regulating and gynecological formula products.
Look for it in Liver qi or menstrual support formula products
Where it comes from
Cyperus rotundus (nut grass) is considered an invasive weed in most of the world, but in TCM it is among the most valued and widely dispensed herbs. The Grand Materia Medica calls it 'the commander-in-chief of qi disorders, and for gynecology, the supreme leader.' The rhizome is prepared multiple ways, including wine-fried, vinegar-fried, and ginger juice-fried, to direct its actions to different organ systems.