Bo He - Mentha haplocalyx

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Bo He
 
 Latin
Herba Menthae haplocalycis
 Introduction Back to Top
Herba Menthae haplocalycis is officially listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as the dried aerial part of Mentha haplocalyx Briq. (Fam. Labiatae). This herb is used for fever due to exogenous pathogenic factors, headache during influenza, upper respiratory infection and the initial stages of other epidemic febrile diseases.
 Western medical Back to Top
Fever due to exogenous pathogenic factors, headaches, hyperemia, conjunctivitus, hyperemia, pharyngolaryngitis, sore throat, oral and dermal lesions, rash, toothache, rubella measles.
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Disperses Wind Heat, clears Head and eyes, benefits the throat, promotes skin eruption, soothes the Liver.
  • Properties: Cool, acrid.
  • Channels Entered: Lung and Liver.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
The main chemical constituents contained in Bo He are volatile oil which mainly contains 8 isomers of menthol (mentha camphor), followed by menthone and isomenthone. M. Haplocalycis also contains menthenone, camphene, pinene, limonene, rosmarinic acid, and azulen.
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Diaphoretic and antipyretic effect

Orally administered in small amounts M. Haplocalycis dilated the cutaneous capillary vessels through stimulation of the CNS. This effect promotes perspiration and heat dissipation.

Antibacterial and Antiviral effect

M. Haplocalycis was proved in vitro to be effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus alba, Alpha streptococcus, Beta streptococcus, Neisseria catharrhalis, Neisseria enteritidis, Shigella flexneri, Bacillus anthracis, Corynebacterium dipheteriae, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Candida albicans.

Miscellaneous Action

In vitro, the infusion of M. Haplocalycis inhibited human cervical cancer JTC-26 strain.
 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Common Cold

Compound formulae containing M. Haplocalycis are widely used drugs for common cold.

Sore Throat

More than 100 cases of sore throat were cured with M. Haplocalycis in compound formula or alone. One to three doses usually cured the disease.

Acute Mastitis

A filtrate including M. Haplocalycis applied with a towel as a hot compress over the disease site in the morning and evening achieved good therapeutic results.
 
 References Back to Top

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998