Hu Po (琥珀) — Amber (fossil resin)
Hu Po — amber — is fossilised pine resin (a plant-derived mineral) used in Chinese medicine to calm the Shen, invigorate Blood and promote urination. It is a specific for anxiety with palpitations and for urinary problems with Blood stasis.
On this page
- Overview
- Properties
- Actions and indications
- Dosage
- Cautions and incompatibilities
- Key formulas
- Treatment at my clinic
1. Overview
Hu Po (琥珀) — Amber (fossil resin) (Succinum (fossilised pine resin)) — is a Chinese herb in the Calm Shen category. I prescribe it as part of bespoke pharmaceutical-grade granule formulas from Sun Ten in Taiwan at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire and via online herbal consultations.
2. Properties
| Pinyin name | Hu Po |
|---|---|
| Chinese characters | 琥珀 |
| Latin name | Succinum (fossilised pine resin) |
| English name | Amber (fossil resin) |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Sweet |
| Channels entered | Heart, Liver, Bladder |
| Category | Calm Shen |
3. Actions and indications
Principal actions
- Calms the Shen and stops palpitations
- Invigorates Blood and reduces masses
- Promotes urination
Indications
- Anxiety with palpitations and insomnia
- Convulsions in children
- Urinary Lin syndrome with Blood stasis
- Amenorrhoea from Blood stasis
4. Dosage
1.5–3g of the powder
5. Cautions and incompatibilities
- Not decocted — taken as powder
- Reduce in Yin deficiency without Blood stasis
6. Key formulas
Hu Po is used in a range of bespoke prescriptions rather than a fixed classical formula in modern practice. Consult a qualified TCM herbalist for individual prescription.
7. Treatment at my clinic
I prescribe Hu Po where its indications and TCM pattern match the patient’s presentation, always as part of a tailored formula. Return to the Chinese herbs directory or the Chinese herbal medicine main page.
