Bupleurum
Scientific names: Bupleurum chinense, Bupleurum exaltatum, Bupleurum falcatum, Bupleurum fruticosum, Bupleurum longifolium, Bupleurum multinerve, Bupleurum octoradiatum, Bupleurum rotundifolium, Bupleurum scorzonerifolium
Family: Apiaceae/Umbelliferae
Alternate names: Bei Chai Hu, Bupleuri, Bupleurum Chinese, Buplèvre, Buplèvre Chinois, Buplèvre à Feuilles Rondes, Buplèvre à Feuilles de Scorsonère, Buplèvre à Longues Feuilles, Buplèvre Ligneux, Chai Hu, Chi Hu, Chinese Bupleurum, Chinese Thoroughwax, Hare's Ear Root, Radix Bupleuri, Saiko, Shrubby Hare's-ear, Sickle-leaf Hare's-ear, Thoroughwax, Thorow wax
Actions: Adrenal, Anticoagulant and antiplatelet, Antidiabetic, Antineoplastic, Antioxidant, Antipyretic, Antiviral, Coagulation, Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, Hematologic, Hepatic, Immunologic
Background
Bupleurum is an herb or woody shrub native to Europe, Asia, and North America. There are about 200 different species. Its root is used as medicine.
Bupleurum is included in many Chinese and Japanese traditional herbal formulas. It might help stimulate the immune system and protect the liver.
People use bupleurum for asthma, depression, flu, hepatitis, liver cancer, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Bupleurum is included in many Chinese and Japanese traditional herbal formulas. It might help stimulate the immune system and protect the liver.
People use bupleurum for asthma, depression, flu, hepatitis, liver cancer, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Bupleurum is possibly safe. It's been used as part of a Japanese herbal formula called Sho-saiko-to for up to 5 years. It's usually well-tolerated. Side effects might include nausea.
Auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Bupleurum might cause the immune system to become more active. This could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using bupleurum.
Bleeding disorders: Chemicals in bupleurum might slow blood clotting. This might make bleeding disorders worse.
Diabetes: Chemicals in bupleurum might increase blood sugar levels. Monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use bupleurum. The dose of your diabetes medication may need to be changed.
Surgery: Chemicals in bupleurum might prolong bleeding or increase blood sugar levels. Stop taking saikosaponins at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if bupleurum is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Bupleurum might cause the immune system to become more active. This could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using bupleurum.
Bleeding disorders: Chemicals in bupleurum might slow blood clotting. This might make bleeding disorders worse.
Diabetes: Chemicals in bupleurum might increase blood sugar levels. Monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use bupleurum. The dose of your diabetes medication may need to be changed.
Surgery: Chemicals in bupleurum might prolong bleeding or increase blood sugar levels. Stop taking saikosaponins at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using bupleurum for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
Bupleurum is most often used by adults in combination with other ingredients in traditional medicine herbal formulas. Speak with your healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Chemicals in bupleurum, called saikosaponins, might increase blood sugar levels. Taking bupleurum along with diabetes medications might reduce the effects of these medications. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Bupleurum can increase the activity of the immune system. Some medications, such as those used after a transplant, decrease the activity of the immune system. Taking bupleurum along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Bupleurum might slow blood clotting. Taking bupleurum along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Chemicals in bupleurum, called saikosaponins, might increase blood sugar. Using bupleurum with other herbs and supplements that lower blood sugar might interfere with blood sugar control in people with diabetes. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Bupleurum might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Bupleurum might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Per tablet:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 600 μL
- Silybum marianum ext. 114.3 mg
- Cynara scolymus ext. 200 mg
- Taraxacum officinale ext. 800 μL
- Chionanthus virginicus ext. 320 μL
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 1.4 mL
- Hemidesmus indicus ext. 100 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 1.75 mL
- Tanacetum parthenium ext. 33 mg
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 150 mg
- Berberis vulgaris ext. 100 mg
- Taraxacum officinale ext. 100 mg
- Choline bitartrate 167 mg equiv. choline 69 mg
- Inositol 100 mg
- Taurine 100 mg
- L-methionine 100 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 25 mg equiv. pyridoxine 20.57 mg
- Folic acid 200 μg
- Co-methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12) 200 μg
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 150 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus ext. 100 mg
- Rhodiola rosea ext. 75 mg
- Withania somnifera ext. 208.3 mg
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (low-alpha type) 75 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 23.5 mg equiv. pyridoxine 15 mg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 46.6 mg equiv. zinc 15 mg
- Potassium iodide 194.9 µg equiv. iodine 149 µg
- Selenomethionine 187.5 µg equiv. selenium 75 µg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 120 mg
- Scutellaria baicalensis ext. 250 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 25 mg
- Pinellia ternata ext. 100 mg
- Panax ginseng ext. 26.67 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 90 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa ext. 50 mg
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Per tablet:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 100 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 200 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 285.72 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus ext. 17.5 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 30.38 mg equiv. pyridoxine 25 mg
- Cholecalciferol 3.75 µg equiv. vitamin D3 150 IU
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Per tablet:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 75 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 416.67 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus ext. 20 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 214.29 mg
- Cholecalciferol 5 μg equiv. vitamin D3 200 IU
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Per capsule:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 75 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 63.2 mg
- Cyperus rotundus ext. 63.2 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 63.2 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 63.2 mg
- Paeonia suffruticosa ext. 42.4 mg
- Gardenia jasminoides ext. 42.4 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 31.8 mg
- Mentha haplocalyx ext. 21.4 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 21 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 63.2 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 62.5 mg
- Arctium lappa ext. 30 mg
- Cynara scolymus ext. 62.5 mg
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 80 mg
- Chlorella vulgaris powder 250 mg
- Galium aparine ext. 37.5 mg
- Taraxacum officinale ext. 100 mg
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Per tablet:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 50 mg
- Potassium iodide 190 μg equiv. iodine 145 μg
- Selenomethionine 186 μg equiv. selenium 75 μg
- L-tyrosine 500 mg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 50 mg equiv. zinc 10 mg
- Retinol acetate 431.2 μg equiv. vitamin A 375 μgRE
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 50 mg
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 10.3 mg equiv. vitamin E 12.5 IU
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 187.5 mg
- Reduced glutathione 25 mg
- Cholecalciferol 7.5 μg equiv. vitamin D3 300 IU
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 50 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 100 mg
- Taraxacum mongolicum ext. 100 mg
- Scutellaria baicalensis ext. 100 mg
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 100 mg
- Citrus reticulata ext. 100 mg
- Lycium barbarum ext. 200 mg
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Per tablet:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 50 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 50 mg
- Taraxacum officinale ext. 300 mg
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 187.5 mg
- Curcumin (Turmeric) 50 mg
- Taurine 100 mg
- Choline bitartrate 75 mg
- Inositol 50 mg
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Per capsule:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Bupleurum) ext. 49.5 mg
- Panax ginseng ext. 49.5 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 49.5 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 49.5 mg
- Dimocarpus longan ext. 49.5 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 33 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 49.5 mg
- Gardenia jasminoides ext. 33 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 49.5 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 12 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 11.5 mg
- Polygala sibirica ext. 49.5 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 49.5 mg
- Citrus reticulata ext. 15 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Chai Hu) ext. 45.78 mg
- Scutellaria baicalensis ext. 61.05 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 50.85 mg
- Codonopsis pilosula ext. 45.75 mg
- Pinellia ternata ext. 45.75 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 25.41 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 25.41 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Chai Hu) ext. 43.34 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 57.76 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 43.34 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 43.34 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 43.34 mg
- Mentha haplocalyx ext. 28.86 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 24.06 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 14.45 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Chai Hu) ext. 34.62 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 46.17 mg
- Cyperus rotundus ext. 46.14 mg
- Citrus aurantium ext. 46.14 mg
- Ligusticum striatum ext. 34.62 mg
- Curcuma longa ext. 34.62 mg
- Corydalis turtschaninovii ext. 34.62 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 23.07 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Chai Hu) ext. 33.58 mg
- Taraxacum mongolicum ext. 55.97 mg
- Citrus medica ext. 33.58 mg
- Citrus aurantium ext. 33.58 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 33.58 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 33.58 mg
- Phyllostachys nigra ext. 33.58 mg
- Citrus reticulata ext. 18.66 mg
- Tetradium ruticarpum ext. 11.19 mg
- Coptis chinensis ext. 11.19 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Chai Hu) ext. 32.13 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 42.87 mg
- Plantago asiatica ext. 42.87 mg
- Gentiana scabra ext. 32.13 mg
- Alisma plantago aquatica ext. 32.13 mg
- Scutellaria baicalensis ext. 32.13 mg
- Gardenia jasminoides ext. 32.13 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 21.42 mg
- Tetrapanax papyriferus ext. 21.42 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 10.77 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Chai Hu) ext. 29.1 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 38.7 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 38.7 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 38.7 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 38.7 mg
- Paeonia suffruticosa ext. 38.7 mg
- Gardenia jasminoides ext. 38.7 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 12.9 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 9.6 mg
- Mentha haplocalyx ext. 16.2 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Bupleurum falcatum (Chai Hu) ext. 28.2 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 46.8 mg
- Codonopsis pilosula ext. 46.8 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 46.8 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 37.5 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa ext. 31.2 mg
- Actaea racemosa ext. 18.9 mg
- Citrus reticulata ext. 18.9 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 15.6 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 9.3 mg
Practitioner product
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This monograph was last reviewed on 12/09/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 28/08/2020 01:15:34. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
