Bupleurum

Botanical

What is it

Bupleurum (Bupleurum chinense or B. falcatum, chai hu) is a Chinese herbal medicine root traditionally used for febrile illness, liver support, and as a 'qi-regulating' herb in many TCM formulas.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Febrile illness and liver support (within formulas)

Limited Evidence

Mostly traditional Chinese medicine use with some small modern clinical evidence. Single-herb modern trials are limited.

How it works

Bupleurum root contains saikosaponins, complex triterpenoid glycosides with hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activity in laboratory studies. It is a key ingredient in many traditional Chinese formulas (Xiao Chai Hu Tang, etc.) for fever, liver symptoms, and emotional/digestive complaints.

Dosage

Traditional decoction: 3-12 g of dried root per day. Extracts vary in concentration.

When and how to take it

Used as part of formulas, typically 2-3 times daily during acute symptoms in traditional practice.

2 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Dried root / decoction

Traditional preparation.

Saikosaponins extract well in water.

Extract powder or tablet

Modern TCM and Western herbal use.

More concentrated.

Safety

Generally well tolerated in traditional preparations. High doses or prolonged use have been associated with liver injury, especially with certain Bupleurum species or with Sho-saiko-to (a Japanese formula) combined with interferon in older case reports.

Who should be cautious

Avoid prolonged high-dose use. Caution in pre-existing liver disease, with interferon therapy, and during pregnancy and breastfeeding (limited data).

Interactions

Possible interaction with interferon and other immunomodulatory drugs (historical liver injury reports). May affect cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Food sources

Bupleurum root (not a culinary food)

Amount
n/a
%DV
—

Frequently asked questions

Is Bupleurum safe for the liver?⌄

Traditional short-term use in formulas is generally safe. Prolonged high-dose use, especially in combination with interferon, has been associated with liver injury in older case reports.

Is Bupleurum the same as Echinacea?⌄

No. They are different plants with different traditional uses and active compounds.

References

Bupleurum on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Bupleurum on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Bupleurum (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.