Bupleurum falcatum, commonly known as Chinese Thoroughwax, is a traditional herb in East Asian medicine, particularly within Chinese and Japanese herbal systems. Its roots, known as Chai Hu in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), have been used for centuries to "soothe the Liver" and "regulate Qi," which in TCM correlates with supporting the liver and gall bladder systems. In TCM theory, stagnation of Liver Qi is often linked to gall bladder dysfunction, such as biliary stasis or gallstones. Formulations containing Bupleurum are thought to help with symptoms such as hypochondriac pain, irritability, and digestive disturbances, which are interpreted as signs of gall bladder or liver disharmony.

While there is a robust historical tradition of using Bupleurum in this context, direct scientific evidence specifically demonstrating its efficacy for gall bladder health (e.g., preventing gallstones, improving bile flow, or treating gall bladder disease) is limited and mostly preclinical. Some studies have identified anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of Bupleurum saponins in animal models, but these findings do not directly establish benefits to the gall bladder in humans. Therefore, the primary justification for its use to support the gall bladder body system is traditional, with a moderate level of traditional evidence but limited direct scientific validation.