Bò Hé (薄荷) — Chinese peppermint / Field mint
On this page
- Overview
- Properties
- Actions and indications
- Key formulas
- Modern research
- Cautions and contraindications
- Treatment at my clinic
1. Overview
Bò Hé (薄荷) — Mentha haplocalyx — is known in English as Chinese peppermint / Field mint. It belongs to the category of Herbs that release the Exterior — cool and acrid in the Chinese Materia Medica and is used in Chinese herbal medicine as a component of classical herbal formulas and tailored prescriptions.
I prescribe Bò Hé as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan. Herbs are always combined with other herbs selected to match the patient’s individual TCM pattern. Online consultations are available for patients who cannot attend my clinic in person.
2. Properties
| Pinyin name | Bò Hé |
|---|---|
| Chinese characters | 薄荷 |
| Latin name | Mentha haplocalyx |
| English name | Chinese peppermint / Field mint |
| Nature | cool |
| Flavour | acrid |
| Channels entered | Lung, Liver |
| Category | Herbs that release the Exterior — cool and acrid |
3. Actions and indications
Principal actions
- Disperses Wind-Heat and releases the Exterior — the primary cool acrid herb for Wind-Heat invasion
- Benefits the throat and head — clears Heat from the eyes, head and throat
- Spreads Liver Qi and relieves constraint — an important Liver Qi herb
- Expels turbidity and promotes the expression of rashes
Indications
- Wind-Heat invasion — fever, sore throat, red eyes and headache
- Liver Qi stagnation with emotional constraint, depression and irritability
- Early stage of measles and other febrile rashes — promotes the outward expression of rashes
- Headache and red eyes from Liver Fire
- Digestive discomfort from Liver invading the Stomach — bloating and nausea
4. Key formulas containing Bò Hé
Bò Hé appears in the following key formulas:
See the full Chinese herbal medicine formula directory for detailed information on all 70 classical formulas.
5. Modern research
Mentha haplocalyx (Bo He) is the Chinese mint species used medicinally, closely related to but distinct from European peppermint (Mentha piperita). Key bioactive constituents include menthol, menthone, menthyl acetate, flavonoids and rosmarinic acid. Research confirms antiviral and antibacterial effects, anti-inflammatory activity via COX-2 inhibition, analgesic properties (menthol's TRPM8 receptor activation), antispasmodic effects on smooth muscle relevant to IBS, and significant antipyretic effects. Bo He is added to formulas in small quantities (1-3g) near the end of cooking to preserve its volatile oils. The combination Chai Hu + Bo He is the core Liver-spreading element of Xiao Yao San.
6. Cautions and contraindications
Use in small doses only (1-6g) — large doses cause excessive sweating and deplete Body Fluids. Avoid in Qi deficiency with spontaneous sweating. Avoid in Yin deficiency. Add near the end of cooking raw herb decoctions to preserve volatile oils.
Important: Chinese herbs should always be prescribed by a fully qualified herbalist who is a member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). Never self-prescribe Chinese herbs without professional guidance. Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto is a member of the RCHM with over 25 years of clinical experience.
7. Treatment at my clinic
I prescribe Bò Hé as part of tailored herbal formulas for a range of conditions including Stress, Depression, Allergies. Every prescription is individually formulated following a full TCM assessment and adjusted throughout treatment as the pattern responds.
I see patients in person at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire. Online Chinese herbal medicine consultations are available throughout the UK and internationally. Visit the prices page for consultation fees.
Return to the Chinese herb directory or the Chinese herbal medicine main page.
