Witnessed by: TCM · Western
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), of the Lamiaceae (Labiatae) family. Bushy aromatic perennial herb of the mint family with soft, downy heart-shaped leaves; native range: tropical Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia, Malay Peninsula); long cultivated in Guangdong, whence the Chinese 'guang' huo xiang. Globally recognized as guang huo xiang (广藿香) in Chinese, and patchouly, pucha-pat in English. The part used is leaf and aerial parts (herb); distilled essential oil. Velvety leaves that release a deep, dark, earthy-sweet and camphoraceous scent when bruised; the oil grows richer and more balsamic with age, one of the few that improves with keeping.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
PATCHOULI
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- patchouli
- Scientific name
- Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth.
- Family
- Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
Form
- Part used
- leaf and aerial parts (herb); distilled essential oil
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- pungent (aromatic)
- Western
- aromatic · pungent, faintly bitter
Temperature
- TCM
- warm (slightly)
- Western
- warm (grounding and balsamic, yet cooling on hot inflamed skin)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Spleen · Stomach · Lung
- Western
- skin · nerves · nervous system · digestion
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- aromatically transforms dampness, harmonises the middle burner and stops vomiting, releases the exterior, resolves summerheat-damp
- Western
- antidepressant, nervine, antiseptic, antifungal, astringent, cicatrizant, aphrodisiac, insect-repellent
Cautions
- Contraindications
- yin deficiency with heat and empty fire; the essential oil not taken internally
- Toxicity
- very low; the oil may sedate in large amounts and rarely irritates sensitive skin undiluted
This is the card. Sign in for the full four-tradition entry — the aligned TCM · Ayurveda · Western · Unani reading, actions, dosing and cautions.