Corydalis Root
Corydalis Root
- Allow 7 to 14 days
Corydalis root, better known as yan hu suo, is the dried tuber of Corydalis yanhusuo, a small member of the poppy family that has been in the Chinese herbal cabinet for well over a thousand years. It is strongly bitter and is simmered as a decoction rather than steeped as a tea, nearly always alongside other herbs in a formula.
Key Benefits
- A classic of Chinese herbal practice: recorded in the old materia medica and still one of the better known roots on a practitioner's shelf.
- Cut for decoction: the pieces are sized for simmering, which is how this root has always been prepared.
- Bought with a formula in mind: most orders come from herbalists and students who already know how they want to combine it.
- Takes the traditional vinegar step: classically the sliced tuber is fried with rice vinegar before decocting, and plenty of practitioners still do it that way.
- Honestly bitter: deep, earthy and sharp. Worth knowing before you brew a mugful rather than a small cup.
Roots need far longer than leaves to give anything up, so corydalis is simmered rather than steeped. The usual range in the literature is 3 to 9 grams of the dried root a day. Cover with cold water, bring it gently to a simmer, hold it there for 20 to 30 minutes, then strain. It is taken in small cups, not by the mug.
For the traditional preparation, fry the cut root briefly with a splash of rice vinegar before it goes in the pot. In formulas it commonly sits beside Dong Quai Root and Baikal Skullcap Root, and a little Licorice Root simmered alongside takes the edge off the taste.
Corydalis belongs to the poppy family and is a relative of the bleeding heart in the flower garden. It carries none of the opium poppy's compounds, despite the family connection.
The tubers are lifted in late spring once the plant has flowered and died back, then boiled and dried before they ever reach a herb cabinet. That is why they arrive hard and dense.
Vinegar processing is not just tradition for tradition's sake. Laboratory work has shown it shifts the alkaloid profile of the root, which is why vinegar-fried yan hu suo is graded and sold separately.
Not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Corydalis can cause drowsiness or an upset stomach, so avoid it before driving, and it is intended for short courses under guidance rather than open-ended daily use. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medication.
Our shipping costs are a flat rate, meaning you can add any amount of products to your order and you will pay the same.
Regular Post - $10.95
Express Post - $12.95
Dispatch days: Monday to Thursday.
We send Australia wide.
*Subject to actual conditions. Find out more on our Delivery information page.
We want you to be thrilled with your purchase from us. If you are not satisfied with an item and need to return it, we're here to help.
Find out more about our Returns & Refunds.
