Individual Herbs Notebook

Xi Xin

Pharmaceutical: Herba cum Radix Asari
Taxonomy: Asarum sieboldii

Other names: Chinese Wild Ginger

Category: Herbs that Release the Exterior



Properties: Pungent, warm, slightly toxic

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Lung, Kidney and Heart


Traditional Actions/Indications:
  1. Releases Exterior Wind and Cold
    As an adjunctive for any exterior Wind-Cold especially with Dampness in Lung or underlying Yang Deficiency
    Frequently used for Wind-Cold when the dominant symptoms are head and body aches
  2. Disperses Wind-Cold and Internal Cold and alleviates pain
    Pain due to Wind and/or Cold anywhere in the body, particularly headache, painful obstruction, abdominal pain or headache due to obstruction of Fluids and Blood by Cold, often with anhydrous Wind-Cold-Damp Bipain
  3. Warms the Lungs and transforms Phlegm and Thin Mucus (circulates water)
    Cough and Qi which surges upward and fullness in the chest in the chest with continuous cough from clumped Qi in the chest and diaphragm marked by copious, watery sputum due to Phlegm-Damp or Wind-Cold with congested fluids
  4. Disperses and unblocks the Qi of the nasal orifices (clears the orifices of the head)
    Nasal congestion
    Oral pathology
    Loss of consciousness
  5. Promotes healing of oral ulcerations
    Oral lesions or ulcerations
  6. Relieves toothache
    Toothache
  7. Aids fasting
    Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light and prolong life. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).

Suggested Daily Dosage: 1-3g in decoction.


Cautions: Traditionally contraindicated for headache due to hyperactivity of yang caused by yin deficiency and dry cough caused by lung dryness hurting yin. It is incompatible with Li Lu.

While not prohibited in the UK, the RCHM has enacted a voluntary ban by use due to possible fears of aristolochic acid. It is usually substituted with Gui Zhi and Qiang Huo for channel problems, Zi Su Ye and Bai Qian for lung issues, Gao Ban and Bai Zhi for treating the head and Cong Bai and Bai Zhi for the sinuses.


Appears in 36 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Research Links & References: (click to display)