The difference between Yin Chai Hu and Chai Hu is mainly in the source, efficacy, main treatment, sexual flavor and contraindications.
1. Source: Yin Chaihu is the dried root of silver chaihu, family Sphagnum. It is the dried root of the plant of the family Umbelliferae, or the narrow-leaved firewood.
2. Effects: Yin Chaihu is effective in clearing deficiency heat and removing chancre heat. It is also effective in reconciling the exterior and interior of the body, dispersing the liver and relieving depression (treating depression by dispersing the liver’s qi) and elevating yang and lifting sunken organs (lifting yang qi of the body to support sunken organs).
3. Indications: Yin Chai Hu is indicated for treating fever due to yin deficiency, bone vapor and labor heat, and pediatric chancre fever. Chaihu is used for treating cold and heat (the body is hot and cold at the same time), fullness in the chest (chest fullness and discomfort), dystocia (pain in the area of the coarseness and ribs), bitterness in the mouth, deafness, headache, dizziness, malaria, dysentery, prolapse of the anus, irregular menstruation, and uterine prolapse.
4. Sexual flavor and attribution: Yin Chai Hu is sweet in taste and slightly cold in nature, and is attributed to the liver and stomach meridians. Chaihu is bitter and pungent in flavor, slightly cold in nature, and enters the liver, gallbladder and lung meridians.
5. Contraindications: Chai Hu is contraindicated for those with true yin deficiency and rising liver yang. It is also contraindicated in those who have external wind-cold and blood deficiency without heat.
The selection of Yin Chai Hu and Chai Hu should be made by a professional doctor after diagnosis and treatment and according to the specific situation, and should not be used by oneself.