Other names for bupleurum falcatum

Bupleurum Root
Chai Hu (Traditional Chinese Name)
Bupleurum Extract

Synopsis of bupleurum falcatum

Bupleurum falcatum is a slender-leaved herb native to East Asia, especially China, Korea, and Japan, and is one of the most revered herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is known as Chai Hu (柴胡). It belongs to the Apiaceae family and is prized for its ability to harmonize the liver, regulate qi (energy flow), and support immune, inflammatory, and stress responses. Its roots contain a range of active compounds, particularly saikosaponins, which exhibit anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, immune-modulating, and adaptogenic properties.

Bupleurum is used to:

• Support liver function and detoxification
• Regulate the immune system, especially during chronic or viral infections
• Reduce inflammation in liver and respiratory conditions
• Relieve symptoms of stress, tension, and hormonal imbalance
• Smooth the flow of liver qi, alleviating emotional symptoms such as irritability, mood swings, and PMS
• Help manage fevers, colds, and flus when paired with other herbs (as in the classical formula Xiao Chai Hu Tang)

It is typically administered as a decoction, tincture, or standardized extract, often in combination with skullcap, ginseng, licorice, and ginger.

Historical Use:

Bupleurum falcatum has been used for over 2,000 years in Chinese medicine, where it is a key ingredient in many classical formulas aimed at balancing the internal organs and treating alternating chills and fevers—a hallmark of shao yang disorders. The famous formula Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction), developed in the Han Dynasty, remains one of the most prescribed herbal combinations in East Asia for sub-acute infections, stress-related disorders, and liver stagnation.

In Japanese Kampo medicine, bupleurum is also foundational, appearing in formulas like Shosaiko-to, which is used for liver inflammation, immune disorders, and emotional dysregulation.

Though less known in Western herbalism until recent decades, bupleurum has gained recognition in integrative and functional medicine for its effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, inflammatory cytokines, and hepatoprotective enzymes.

Today, Bupleurum falcatum is used worldwide in adaptogenic, liver-support, immune-regulating, and women’s health formulations, often as a core herb for harmonizing stress, immunity, and liver energy in both acute and chronic conditions.

Bupleurum falcatum is used for these health conditions

Abdominal Pain (Traditional)
Acid Indigestion (Traditional)
Allergies (respiratory) (Traditional)
Anxiety (Traditional)
Autoimmune Disorders (Traditional)
Cancer (natural therapy for) (Traditional)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects) (Traditional)
Chills (Traditional)
Circulation (poor) (Traditional)
Cirrhosis of the Liver (Traditional)
Colds (general) (Traditional)
Congestion (bronchial) (Traditional)
Congestion (lungs) (Traditional)
Congestion (sinus) (Traditional)
Constipation (adults) (Traditional)
Convalescence (Traditional)
Diabetes (Traditional)
Digestion (poor) (Traditional)
Edema (Traditional)
Fatigue (Traditional)
Fever (Traditional)
Gall Bladder (sluggish or removed) (Traditional)
Gastritis (Traditional)
Hepatitis (Traditional)
Hypertension (Traditional)
Inflammation (Traditional)
Influenza (Traditional)
Liver Detoxification (Traditional)
Menopause (Traditional)
Migraine (Traditional)
Nephritis (Traditional)
Nervousness (Traditional)
Pain (general remedies for) (Traditional)
PMS (general) (Traditional)
Psoriasis (Traditional)
Rhinitis (Traditional)
Rhinitis, Allergic (Traditional)
Stress (Traditional)
Ulcers (Traditional)

bupleurum falcatum is used to support these body systems

Adrenal Cortex (Traditional)
Adrenal Glands (Traditional)
Blood (Traditional)
Digestive System (Traditional)
Gall Bladder (Traditional)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Traditional)
Glandular System (Traditional)
Hepatic System (Traditional)
Immune System (Traditional)
Intestinal System (Traditional)
Liver (Traditional)
Lymphatics (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
Spleen (Traditional)

Products containing bupleurum falcatum

Douglas Laboratories AdrenoMend™