How does Pu Huang work to stop bleeding?

Pu Huang works by promoting blood coagulation and improving microcirculation. Its active compounds, including quercetin and typhaneoside, help shorten bleeding time while simultaneously dispersing blood stasis. This dual action allows it to stop active bleeding without causing congestion, making it effective for conditions involving both hemorrhage and blood stagnation. Evidence Level: C.

Can I take Pu Huang with blood thinners like warfarin?

Pu Huang may interact with anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications. Because it affects blood clotting factors and platelet aggregation, combining it with drugs like warfarin, heparin, or aspirin could theoretically increase bleeding risk or interfere with medication efficacy. Patients taking blood-thinning medications should consult a healthcare provider before use. Evidence Level: C.

What is the standard dosage for Pu Huang?

The standard adult dosage for Pu Huang typically ranges from 3 to 9 grams daily. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is often decocted as a tea or taken as a powder. Practitioners may recommend charred Pu Huang for stopping bleeding, while the raw form is preferred for invigorating blood circulation. Evidence Level: Traditional.

Is Pu Huang safe to take during pregnancy?

Pu Huang is contraindicated during pregnancy and is considered unsafe for use. The herb strongly invigorates blood circulation and promotes blood flow, which can stimulate uterine contractions and potentially lead to miscarriage or premature labor. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid this herb entirely. Evidence Level: Traditional.

What is Pu Huang used for in TCM?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Pu Huang is primarily used to stop bleeding and invigorate blood circulation. It is commonly prescribed for menstrual disorders like dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, and traumatic injuries involving bruising or pain. The herb is unique because it halts bleeding without leaving blood stasis behind, making it valuable for treating complex conditions. Evidence Level: C.

Pu Huang (Typha angustifolia)

PubMed-compiled information sheet

This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.

Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b

Summary

Pu Huang (Typha angustifolia) is a perennial marsh plant used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating bleeding disorders, gynecological diseases, and internal/external traumas [PMID:40290444, PMID:39458804].

Background

Typha angustifolia L., commonly known as narrowleaf cattail, is a semi-aquatic, wetland obligate herbaceous perennial species widely distributed in Eurasia and North America [PMID:39135641, PMID:37265642].

Traditional uses

It has been used in China for over 1900 years to treat stranguria, hematuria, dysmenorrhea, metrorrhagia, injuries, and various bleeding disorders [PMID:30580603, PMID:40290444].

Active compounds

Active components include flavonoids (such as isorhamnetin, typhaneoside, and isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside), steroids, phenylpropanoids, organic acids, and polysaccharides including acetylated mannan and pectin [PMID:40290444, PMID:36043710, PMID:30580603, PMID:42173606, PMID:36657842].

Mechanism of action

Pharmacological activities are linked to anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory effects, and the activation of the VEGF/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway for pro-angiogenic effects [PMID:40290444, PMID:36209909]. Certain compounds like typhactyloside are metabolized by gut microbiota enzymes (e.g., alpha-rhamnosidase and beta-glucosidase) to exert lipid-lowering effects [PMID:39840606].

Clinical evidence

Evidence DAcute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Carbon dots derived from Pollen Typhae (PT-CDs) improved BUN, CRE, urine volume, kidney index, and histopathological morphology in RM-induced AKI rats [PMID:36814298]

Evidence DInflammation (General/Colitis)

Aqueous and methanolic pollen extracts showed dose-dependent inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema and granuloma formation in rats [PMID:23248413]; rhizome flour prevented intestinal inflammation in a rat colitis model [PMID:22559191]

Evidence DHyperlipidemia

Pollen decoction is used clinically in China; specific pectin polysaccharides (PTPS-2-2) inhibited lipid accumulation in vitro in L02 cells [PMID:36657842]; typhactyloside is used in Pushen capsules for clinical treatment [PMID:39840606]

Evidence DPain (Nociception)

Isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidin and typhaneoside were identified as the main anti-nociceptive constituents of the pollen [PMID:30580603]

Evidence summary

The current evidence consists primarily of in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), with some review-level summaries of traditional clinical use (Level C). There are no provided RCTs or meta-analyses specifically evaluating the efficacy of Typha angustifolia in humans.

PubMed sources

1.PMID: 31270392 (2019) — Species-Specific Biodegradation of Sporopollenin-Based Microcapsules. · Scientific reports
2.PMID: 36814298 (2023) — Ultrasmall and highly biocompatible carbon dots derived from natural plant with amelioration against acute kidney injury. · Journal of nanobiotechnology
3.PMID: 31787383 (2020) — Selenite antagonizes the phytotoxicity of Cd in the cattail Typha angustifolia. · Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
4.PMID: 39458804 (2024) — Pharmacological Potential and Electrochemical Characteristics of Typha angustifolia Pollen. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5.PMID: 36043710 (2022) — Isorhamnetin: A Novel Natural Product Beneficial for Cardiovascular Disease.

Pu Huang

Sources & Citations