Typhae Pollen
Aliases：Pú Lí Huā Fěn (Cattail Pollen); Pú Huā (Cattail Flower); Pú Bàng Huā Fěn (Cattail Club Pollen); Pú Cǎo Huáng (Cattail Yellow); Shēng Pú Huáng (Raw Puhuang); Cǎo Pú Huáng (Grass Puhuang); Shuǐ Là Zhú (Water Candle); Máo Là Zhú (Hairy Candle); Pú Cǎo (Cattail); Xiāng Pú (Fragrant Cattail).
Pú Huáng (Cattail Pollen) is a Chinese medicinal substance. It is the dried pollen of Typha angustifolia L., Typha orientalis Presl, or related species of the Typhaceae family. It is a yellow powder, light in weight, floating on water when placed in it, with a smooth and slippery texture when rubbed between fingers, and has a faint odor and bland taste.
Efficacy & Actions
Stops bleeding, resolves stasis, and treats strangury.
Indications
Used for hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, traumatic bleeding, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea, stabbing pain in the chest and abdomen, traumatic swelling and pain, and painful strangury with blood. It may also be used in Western medicine for conditions such as bleeding after tooth extraction, fundus hemorrhage, angina pectoris, ulcerative colitis, amenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea, where bleeding is accompanied by blood stasis.
Modern Pharmacology
Dual regulation of hemostasis and anticoagulation: Both raw and charred Puhuang improve abnormal hemorheology in blood-stasis rats and shorten coagulation time. Raw Puhuang shows no significant effect on the coagulation system, while charred Puhuang exerts hemostatic effects through multiple mechanisms. Antithrombotic: Possesses antithrombotic effects. Anti-myocardial and cerebral ischemia: Protects against myocardial and cerebral ischemia. Lipid regulation and anti-atherosclerosis: Regulates lipids and prevents atherosclerosis; typhaneoside improves hyperlipidemia via gut microbial transformation. Anti-inflammatory: Exhibits anti-inflammatory effects. Uterine contraction: Raw Puhuang excites uterine contraction. Analgesic: Possesses analgesic effects. Microcirculation improvement: Improves microcirculation. Vasodilation and antihypertensive: Dilates blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.
Ingredients
Flavonoids: Naringenin, isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside, typhaneoside, quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, etc. Sterols: Typhasterol, β-sitosterol, etc. Other Components: Volatile oils, polysaccharides, fatty oils, alkaloids, amino acids, acids, alkanes, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, 3–10g, must be wrapped in a cloth bag for decoction; or prepared in pills or powder. When ground into powder and taken orally, the dosage is 1–3g per dose. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, ground into powder for sprinkling or mixing for application.
Contraindications
Contraindicated or use with caution during pregnancy: The Rihua Zibencao states that Puhuang “causes bleeding and miscarriage in pregnant women.” Modern pharmacological studies have also confirmed that raw Puhuang has excitatory effects on the uterus. Contraindicated in patients with middle qi deficiency and fever due to overwork and qi deficiency. Use with caution in patients with yin deficiency and internal heat without blood stasis. Contraindicated in patients without blood stasis, those with enuresis, and those with allergies. Patients with cardiac insufficiency should not take it in large doses over a prolonged period. Patients with hypotension should not take it in large doses over a prolonged period. Patients with chronic diarrhea should not take it in large doses over a prolonged period. Should not be used together with M-cholinergic receptor agonists such as acetylcholine, to prevent excessive heart rate reduction. Should not be used together with adrenergic receptor blockers, as long-term use in large doses may induce heart failure.
Selected Formulas
For persistent epistaxis (Sheng Hui Fang) Take equal parts of Puhuang (Cattail pollen) and Shiliuhua (Pomegranate flower), grind into powder. Take 2 qian each time with warm water. For menorrhagia and metrorrhagia (Shengji Zonglu, Puhuang Wan) Take Puhuang with Longgu (Dragon bone) and Aiye (Mugwort leaf). Make into pills and take. For persistent hematuria (empirical formula) Take equal parts of Puhuang and Yujin (Curcuma). Grind into powder. Take 2 qian each time with warm water. For traumatic bleeding (empirical formula) Take Puhuang alone, grind into powder, and sprinkle on the wound. For traumatic injury (Sai Shang Fang) Take Puhuang powder, 2 qian each time, mixed with warm wine. For cardiac and abdominal pain, postpartum stasis pain, and dysmenorrhea (Heji Ju Fang, Shixiao San) Take equal parts of Puhuang and Wulingzhi (Faeces Trogopterori). Grind into fine powder. Take 2 qian each time with vinegar or yellow wine. For hematuria and strangury with blood (Zhengzhi Zhunsheng, Puhuang San) Take Puhuang with Shengdi (Rehmannia) and Dongkuizi (Malva seed). Decoct in water and drink.
Daily Consumption
Puhuang Tea: Take 5g of Puhuang (Cattail Pollen) and 3g of scented tea. Steep in 200ml of boiling water and drink. Continue to steep until the flavor fades. It helps cool blood, stop bleeding, and promote blood circulation to resolve stasis. Puhuang Honey Drink: Take an appropriate amount of Puhuang, mix with honey for flavor, and take with warm water. Puhuang Congee: Cook 6g of Puhuang together with polished round-grained rice (japonica rice) to make congee. It is suitable as an adjunctive dietary therapy for angina pectoris.
Medicinal Parts
Dried pollen.
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from moisture and insects.
