Hu Po

English Name: amber

Pharmaceutical Name: Succinum

Medica Category: Shen Calming Herbs

Properties: Hu Po enters the Heart, Liver, and Urinary Bladder channels; it is sweet in nature and neutral in temperature.

What is Hu Po?:

The Chinese Herb Hu Po is fossilized amber (pine tree resin) that is dug out of the ground and then ground into powder for use as medicine (in powder or pill form as heat decreases its effectiveness).

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Hu Po:

Hu Po is added to formulas to address shen disturbance caused by fire or hot phlegm “misting the Heart”. Clinical manifestations include: restlessness, insomnia, palpitations, tremors, seizures and infantile convulsions.

Hu Po invigorates blood circulation and breaks blood stasis and is often used to help address amenorrhea with sharp, stabbing abdominal pain. Other clinical manifestations of blood stasis addressed by Hu Po include angina and hematoma of scrotum (from traumatic injury).

Hu Po promotes urination to treat lin zheng (dysuria syndrome) with blood in the urine or with burning sensations while urinating. Hu Po also can be added to formulas to help dissolve urinary and kidney stones.

Hu Po reduces swelling and promotes the healing of non-healing, ulcerated sores (used topically for this purpose).

–safety/clinical notes:

Hu Po can have a sedative effect and induce drowsiness—exercise caution when operating heavy machinery while using this herb.

Contraindicated for persons with yin-deficient heat and/or frequent urination.