herbs
single herbs
release exterior
-
key: simultaneous chills/fever
wind cold:
more chills than fever
itchy throat
clear sputum
body aches
no thirst
floating moderate or tense pulse
thin white tongue coat
chills not relieved with more clothes
wind cold excess = no sweat
wind cold deficiency = sweating
wind heat:
more fever than chills
dry sore throat
yellow sticky sputum
thirst
floating rapid pulse
thin white tongue coat or red tip with thin white or yellow coat
-
ma huang: 2-9g
acrid, warm, bitter
lu, ub
promotes sweat, releases exterior, open lung qi, calm wheeze, promotes urination
gui zhi: 3-9g
acrid, warm, sweet
lu, ub, ht
promote sweat, release exterior, open channels, warm and unblock yang
zi su ye: 5-9g
acrid, warm, aromatic
lu, sp
release exterior, harmonize MJ, circulate qi, calm fetus, relieve seafood poisoning
jing jie: 4.5-9g
acrid, warm
lu, lv
expel wind, release exterior, alleviate pain, alleviate itch, vent rash, stop bleeding
fang feng: 4.5-9g
acrid, warm sweet
ub, lv, sp
expel wind, release exterior, alleviate pain, stop spasms, stop itch, spread liver
qiang huo: 3-9g
acrid, warm, bitter, aromatic
ub, kd
disperse wind cold damp upper body, taiyang headache
bai zhi: 3-9g
acrid, warm
lu, st
expel wind, yang ming headache, open nasal passage, expel pus, dry damp
xi xin: 3-9g
acrid, warm
lu, kd
expel cold, toothache, shao yin headache, warm lung, transforms cong fluid
xin yi hua: 3-9g
acrid, warm
lu, st
only opens nasal orifices, sinusitis
xiang ru: 3-9g
acrid, warm, aromatic
lu, st
relieve summer heat, trans damp, promote urination to lower edema
sheng jiang: 3-9g
acrid, warm
lu, sp, st
release exterior, warm MJ, transform phlegm, stoop vomit, release toxin ban xia, seafood
gao ben: 3-9g
acrid, warm
ub
dispel wind cold damp, alleviate pain, jueyin/vertex headache
-
niu bang zi: 6-12g
acrid, bitter, cold
lu, st
disp wind heat, benefit throat, vent rash, moisten intestines
bo he: 3-6g
acrid, cool, aromatic
lu, lv
disp wind heat, clears eyes/throat, vent rash, spread liver
chan tui: 3-9g
sweet, cold
lu, lv
disp wind heat, clear eyes, vent rash, alleviates spasms
sang ye 4.5-9g:
sweet, bitter, cold
goes to lung, and liver mai
expels wind, clears lung heat, brightens eyes, clears liver
ju hua: 4.5-15g
sweet, bitter, sl cold
lu, lv
disp wind, clear heat, brighten eyes, lv fire, relieve toxicity
ge gen: 9-21g
sweet, acrid, cool
goes to spleen and stomach mai
release muscles, generates fluids, reduces fever, vents rashes, treats diarrhea, raises yang
chai hu: 3-9g
acrid, warm, and slightly cold
goes to pericardium, liver, san jiao and gallbladder mai
releases exterior, reduces fever, resolves/guides shao yang, spreads liver, raises yang
sheng ma: 3-9g
acrid, sweet, slightly cold
lu, st, sp, li
rls ext, vent rash, clear heat, rel toxic, guide st chnl, raise yang
dan dou chi: 6-12g
sweet, slightly bitter, cold
goes to lung and stomach mai
releases exterior, wind heat or cold, eliminates irritability
man jing zi: 6-12g
acrid, bitter, neu
lv, st, ub
disp wind, clear heat, benefits eyes, only seed that ascends
mu zei: 3-9g
sweet, bitter, neu
lv, lu
disp wind heat, brighten eyes, stop bleeding
clear heat
-
key symptoms: fever, no chills, thirst
excess heat: high fever, copious sweating, thirst for cold water, rapid full pulse, red tongue, yellow coat
deficiency heat: low-grade fever in evening/night, night sweats, thirst for small sips or thirst for warm water, thready rapid pulse, red tongue, little or no coat
qi level heat: heat at the organ level, can affect many organs
ying level heat: irritability, shen disturbance, fever worse at night, thready rapid pulse, deep red tongue
blood level heat: ying level heat plus bleeding, unconscious, convulsions
-
shi gao: 15-60g
sweet, acrid, cold
lu, st
clear heat, drain fire, qi level, xiao ke, external for sores
zhi mu: 6-12g
bitter, cold
lu, st, kd
clear heat, drain fire, nourish yin, generate fluids, moist intestine, deficiency/excess heat
lu gen: 15-30g
sweet, cold
lu, st
clear heat, generate fluids, clear st heat, stop vomit, clear lu heat
tian hua fen: 10-15g
sweet, cold, bitter
lu, st
clear heat, generate fluids, xiao ke, moisten lu, lower swelling
dan zhu ye: 6-9g
sweet, cold, bland
ht, si, st
clear heat, eliminate irritability, promote urine
huang lian: 1.2-9g
bitter, cold
ht, li, lv, st
clear heat, drain fire, ht/st, red eyes, dry damp, clear toxic
huang qin: 3-9g
bitter, cold
gb, li, lu, st
clear heat, drain fire lu/gb, shaoyang, dry damp, calm fetus
huang bai: 3-12g
bitter, cold
kd, ub
clear heat, drain fire kd, LJ damp heat, relieve toxic
long dan cao: 3-9g
bitter, cold
gb, lv, st
drain excess fire, lv/gb, LJ damp heat
zhi zi: 6-9g
bitter, cold
ht, lv, lu, st, sj
clear heat 3 jiaos, drain damp, relieve toxic, cool blood, stop bleeding
xia ku cao: 9-15g
bitter, acrid, cold
gb, lv
clear lv fire, lower hypertension, red eyes, dissipate nodules
ku shen: 3-9g
bitter, cold
ub, ht, lv, li, si
LJ damp heat, promote urine, kill parasites, stop itch
jue ming zi: 9-15g
bitter, cold, sweet
lv, kd, li
clear lv heat, brightens eyes, moistens intestines, lowers cholesterol
-
jin yin hua: 6-20g
sweet, cold
li, lu, st
clear heat, rel toxic, wei, qi, ying, and xue, level heat
liang qiao: 6-15g
btr, sl acd, cool
ht, lv, gb
wei or pc level heat, diss nodules, prom urin, unblock lin
pu gong ying: 9-30g
btr, swt, cold
lv, st
clear heat, rel toxic, sores, carbuncles, mastitis, jaundice
zi hua di ding: 9-15g
btr, acrid, cold
lv, ht
strongly clear tx heat, cool blood, stop bleeding, use for snakebite
da qing ye: 9-15g
btr, very cold
ht, lu, st
clear heat, rel toxic, cool blood, treat virus infection
ban lan gen: 9-15g
bitter, cold
ht, lu, st
clear heat, rel toxic, cool blood, ying/xue level heat, benefit throat
she gan: 3-9g
bitter, cold
lu
clear lu heat, benefit throat, trans phlegm
shan dou gen: 3-9g
btr, cold, sl tx
li, lu
clear heat, rel toxic, benefit throat, early stage cancer
bai tou weng: 6-15g
bitter, cold
li, lv, st
clear heat, rel toxic, cool blood, bloody dysentery, sores, carbunc
qin pi: 6-12g
btr, astr, cold
lv, gb, li, st
clr heat, dry damp, bloody dysentery, lv fire, ben eyes, disp w-d
bai jiang cao: 6-15g
acrid, bitter, cold
li, lv, st
clear heat, rel toxic, expel pus, invig blood, disp blood stasis
tu fu ling: 15-60g
swt, bland, neu
lv, st
rel toxic, elim damp, benefit joints, syphilis, turbid urin, LJ damp
-
sheng di huang: 9-15g
sweet, btr, cold
ht, kd, lv
clr heat, cool blood, ying/xue level, enrich yin, gen fluids
xuan shen: 9-15g
slty, swt, btr, cld
kd, lu, st
clr heat, cool bld, ying/xue, nourish yin, subdue fire, benefit throat
mu dan pi: 6-12g
acrid, btr, cool
h, lv, kd
clr heat, cool bld, ying/xue, invigorate, dispel stasis, lv fire, xu heat
chi shao: 6-15g
sour, btr, sl cold
lv, sp
clr heat, cool bld, ying/xue, invig bld, dispel stasis, lv fire
shui niu jiao: 6-15g
salty, cold
lv, ht
clr heat, cool bld, ying/xue, rel toxic, stop convuls, stop bleeding
-
qing hao: 6-12g
bitter, cold
kd, lv, gb
clr yin xu heat w/ vig fire, summer heat, damp heat, shaoyang, #1 malaria
bai wei: 3-12g
btr, salty, cold
lu, st, kd
clr xu heat, postpartum fever due to bld, xu, cool bld, ying/xue, unblk lin
di gu pi: 6-15g
sweet, cold
lu, lv, kd
clr xu heat, lu heat, xiao ke, hypertension, sweating
-
he ye: 3-9g
bitter, slightly sweet, neutral
ht, lv, sp
clear summer heat, raise clear yang, stop bleeding
xi gua: 15-30g
sweet, cold
ht, st, ub
clear summer heat, generate fluids, promote urine, aid jaundice
purgative
-
used for excess conditions in LJ
not for conditions in upper GI tract
da huang has caution pregnancy, mang xiao, and lu hui contraindicated in pregnancy
-
da huang: 3-15g
bitter, cold
li, st, lv, ht
purge accum, clr heat, drain fire, soften hardness, decrease swelling
mang xiao: 6-18g
btr, cld, acrd, slty
li, st
purge accum, clr heat, drain fire, soften hardness, decrease swelling
lu hui: 1.5-4.5g
bitter, cold
li, st, lv
purge accum, clr heat, drain fire, cool lv, kills parasites
fan xie ye: 1.5-3g
btr, sweet, cold
li
purge accum, clr heat, drain fire, xs constipation, ascites
-
huo ma ren: 9-15g
sweet, neutral
lv, sp, st
moisten intest, unblk bowels, nourish xu, prom urin, unblk lin
-
da ji: 1.5-3g
btr, cold, acrid, toxic
kd, li, lu
drive out cong fluid, edema, ascites, decrease swelling, clumps, contra preg
gan sui: 0.5-1.5g
btr, swt, cold, toxic
kd, li, lu
drive out cong fluids, decrease swelling, clumps, external use, contra preg
interior warming
-
cao wu: 1.5-3g
acrd, hot, btr, tx
ht, sp, lv
disp wind damp, disp cold, allev pn, xs cold pn
fu zi: 3-15g
acrd, hot, toxic
ht, sp, kd
rescue yang collapse, supp fire, disp cld, allev pn, cold bi
rou gui: 1.5-4.5g
acrd, hot, swt
ht, sp, lv, kd
supp fire, strgth yang, lead fire back to source, disp cld, allev pn
gan jiang: 3-9g
acrd, hot
ht, sp, lu, st
warm mj, rescue yang, unblk chanls, warm lu, trans cong fluid
gao liang jiang: 3-9g
acrd, hot
st, sp
st cold pn, warm mj, stop vomit
wu zhu yu: 1.5-4.5g
acrd, hot, btr, tx
lv, kd, st, sp
disp cld lv/st chnl, vertex ha, stoop vomit, stop diarrhea, decrease fire
xiao hui xiang: 3-9g
acrid, warm
lv, kd, st, sp
disp cold, lj pain, hernia, cold lv chnl, harmn st, dysmen
ding xiang: 1-3g
acrid, warm
kd, sp, st
warm mj, decrease reb st qi, disp cld, allev pn, warm kd, aid yang
chuan jiao: 3-6g
acrid, hot, sl tx
kd, sp, st
warm mj, allev pain, kill parasites, clear itch
hu jiao: 1.5-3g
acrid, hot
st, li
warm mj, disp cold, use powder in navel for abd pn, diarrhea
bi ba: 1.5-4.5g
acrid, hot
st, li
warm mj, disp cold, chest bi, #1 toothache
-
ma huang: 2-9g
acrid, warm, bitter
lu, ub
promotes sweat, releases exterior, open lung qi, calm wheeze, promotes urination
gui zhi: 3-9g
acrid, warm, sweet
lu, ub, ht
promote sweat, release exterior, open channels, warm and unblock yang
zi su ye: 5-9g
acrid, warm, aromatic
lu, sp
release exterior, harmonize MJ, circulate qi, calm fetus, relieve seafood poisoning
jing jie: 4.5-9g
acrid, warm
lu, lv
expel wind, release exterior, alleviate pain, alleviate itch, vent rash, stop bleeding
fang feng: 4.5-9g
acrid, warm sweet
ub, lv, sp
expel wind, release exterior, alleviate pain, stop spasms, stop itch, spread liver
qiang huo: 3-9g
acrid, warm, bitter, aromatic
ub, kd
disperse wind cold damp upper body, taiyang headache
bai zhi: 3-9g
acrid, warm
lu, st
expel wind, yang ming headache, open nasal passage, expel pus, dry damp
xi xin: 3-9g
acrid, warm
lu, kd
expel cold, toothache, shao yin headache, warm lung, transforms cong fluid
xin yi hua: 3-9g
acrid, warm
lu, st
only opens nasal orifices, sinusitis
xiang ru: 3-9g
acrid, warm, aromatic
lu, st
relieve summer heat, trans damp, promote urination to lower edema
sheng jiang: 3-9g
acrid, warm
lu, sp, st
release exterior, warm MJ, transform phlegm, stoop vomit, release toxin ban xia, seafood
gao ben: 3-9g
acrid, warm
ub
dispel wind cold damp, alleviate pain, jueyin/vertex headache
aromatic transform damp
-
key symptom: distention/fullness abdomen, nausea, vomiting, no thirst/appetite, stiffness, lethargy, greasy tongue, soggy or rolling pulse
aromatic herbs: cook no longer than 5-10 minutes
-
cang zhu: 3-9g
acrd, btr, warm
sp, st
strongest dry damp, disp w-d, d-h bi, rel ext, improve vision
hou po: 3-9g
acrid, btr, warm
sp, st, lu, li
prom mvmt qi, damp sp/st, decrease rebel qi, const, plum pit, wheeze
huo xiang: 3-9g
acrid, warm
sp, st, lu
trans damp, revive sp, elim turbid evil, sumr evil, rel ext, sinuses
pei lan: 3-9g
acrid, neutral
sp, st
trans damp, resolve summer evil
bai dou kou: 3-6g
acrid, warm
sp, st, lu
trans damp, prom mvmt qi, warm mj, stop vomit due to st cold
sha ren: 3-6g
acrid, warm
sp, st
trans damp, prom mvmt qi, food accum, sp xu, calm fetus
cao dou kou: 3-6g
acrid, warm
sp, st
dry damp, prom mvmt qi, cold damp injure mj
cao guo: 3-6g
acrid, warm
sp, st
severe cold damp mj, dry damp, check malaria
tonic
-
all qi and blood tonics are sweet
most yin and yang tonics sweet
sweet and cool tonifies yin
sweet and sour generates fluids
sweet and warm tonifies yang
sweet and acrid expels wind cold damp
tonics are usually cooked over low heat one hour and ingested before meals
combine with qi regulators to prevent cloying
-
sp qi deficiency: lethargy, weakness, lack of appetite, abdominal distention, loose stools, bleeding
lu qi deficiency: weak voice, SOB, shallow breathing, spontaneous sweating, pallid complexion
ren shen: 3-6g
swt, sl btr, warm
lu, sp
strong tonify source qi, tonify lu/sp, gen fluids, increase intel, calm spirit
dang shen: 6-9g
sweet, neutral
lu, sp
tonify qi, augment lu/sp, ton qi to gen blood, support righteous qi
huang qi: 9-15g
sweet, sl warm
lu, sp
tonify qi, raise yang, stab ext, prom urin, prom dischg pus, gen flesh
xi yang shen: 3-6g
swt, sl bitter, cold
lu, ht, kd
tonify qi, clr heat, gen fluids, yin xu w/ fire
tai zi shen: 9-30g
sweet, sl btr, neu
lu, sp
mildly tonify source qi, gen fluids
shan yao: 9-30g
sweet, neutral
lu, sp, kd
tonify all 3 jiaos, sp/st qi, lu/kd yin xu, xiao ke
bai zhu: 6-15g
swt, bitter, warm
sp, st
augment qi, strgth sp, dry damp, prom urin, stop sweat, calm fetus
bai bian dou: 9-30g
sweet, neutral
sp, st
strgth sp, chronic diarrhea, clr summer pathogen, transform damp
gan cao: 1.5-9g
sweet, neutral
12 channels
tonify ht/sp, moisten lu, stop cough, spasms, harmonize, rel toxic
da zao: 10-30g
sweet, neutral
sp, st
tonify sp/st, moderate properties other herbs
yi tang: 15-60g
sweet, sl warm
lu, sp, st
tonify mj, mod spasms, moisten lu, stop cough
jing mi: 9-15g
sweet, neutral
sp, st
tonify mj, aug qi, strgth sp, often used as envoy
-
dang gui: 4.5-15g
swt, acrid, btr, warm
lv, ht, sp
tonify blood, invig blood, reg menses, allev pain, moisten intestines
shu di huang: 9-30g
sweet, sl warm
lv, ht, kd
tonify blood, nourish yin, tonify essence
he shou wu: 9-30g
swt, btr, ast, sl warm
lv, kd
nourish blood, augment essence, moisten intestines, release fire, extinguish wind skin, ck malaria
e jiao: 3-9g
sweet, neutral
lv, kd, lu
tonify blood, stop bleeding, nourish yin, moisten dryness, calm fetus
bai shao: 6-15g
sweet, bitter, sour, cool
lv, sp
nourish blood, preserve yin, soften lv, moderate spasms
long yan rou: 9-15g
sweet, warm
ht, sp
tonify and augment ht/sp, nourish blood, calm spirit
-
nan sha shen: 9-15g
sweet, cold, bitter
lu, st
moisten lu, stop cough, nourish stomach, generates fluids, transform phlegm
bei sha shen: 9-15g
sweet, cold, bland
lu, st
moisten lung yin, nourish st, generate fluids, nourish ht yin, clear ht fire
mai men dong: 6-15g
sweet, cold, slightly bitter
lu, st, ht
nourish lung yin, nourish st, generate fluids, nourish ht yin, clear ht fire
tian men dong: 6-12g
sweet, cold, bitter
lu, kd
nourish kd yin, clear lu heat, constipation due to dryness
bai he: 9-30g
sweet, cold, bitter
lu, ht
nourish yin, moisten lu, stop cough, clear ht, calm spirit
shan zhu yu: 6-12g
sour, slightly warm
lv, kd
nourish lvkd yin, stab kd, retain essence, stabilize menses, stop bleeding
gou qi zi: 6-12g
sweet, neutral
lv, kd, lu
tonify kd, augment essence, tonify lv, brighten eyes, enrich lu yin
nu zhen zi: 9-18g
sweet, bitter, neutral
lv, kd
nourish lv/kd yin
mo han lian: 9-15g
sweet, sour, cool
lv, kd
nourish lv/kd yin, often paired with nu zhen zi
sang shen: 9-15g
sweet, cold
lv, kd, ht
nourish yin, tonify blood, generate fluid, stop thirst, xiao ke, moisten intestines
hei zi ma: 9-30g
sweet, neutral
lv, kd
tonify lv/kd, nourish blood, moisten dry, lubricate intestines
gui ban: 15-45g
sweet, salty, cold
lv, kd, ht
nourish yin, anchor yang, strength bone, failure fontanel close, stabilize menses
gui ban jiao: 3-10g
sweet, salty, cool
lv, sp
nourish yin, enrich blood, fever, bleeding, coughing blood, palpitations
bie jia: 9-30g
salty, slightly cold
lv, sp
nourish yin, anchor yang, invigorate blood, soften hardness, dissipate nodules
ji zi huang: 1 piece
sweet, neutral
lv, kd, ht
nourish yin, moisten dryness, enrich blood, extinguish wind, convulsions, bleeding
-
key symptoms: qi deficiency with cold, cold extremities, sore/weak low back, pale tongue, deep weak pulse
all herbs: go to kidney channel because kidney is the source of all yang
lu rong: 1-2g
sweet, warm, salty
kd, lv
tonify kd yang, augment essence/blood, strength sinews/bones, yin sores
lu jiao jiao: 5-10g
sweet, warm, salty
kd, lv
tonify kd/lv, augment jing, enrich blood, stop bleeding, yin sores
suo yang: 5-15g
sweet, warm
kd, lv
tonify kd, fortify yang, infertile/impotence, moisten intestines, unblock bowels
ba ji tian: 6-15g
acrid, sweet, warm
kd, lv
tonify kd, fortify yang, infert/impot, strengthen sinews/bones, wind damp bi
yin yang huo: 3-9g
acrid, sweet, warm
kd, lv
warm kd, fortify yang, infert/impot, strengthen sinews/bones, wind damp bi, meno htn
xian mao: 3-9g
acrid, hot, toxic
kd, lv
warm kd, strengthen yang, stregth sinews/bones, expel cold damp, cold damp bi
du zhong: 9-15g
acrid, sweet, warm
kd, lv
tonify kd/lv, strgth sinews/bones, expel cold damp, cold damp bi
xu duan: 9-18g
acrid, bitter, warm
kd, lv
tonify kd/lv, strgth sinews/bones, traumatic injury, stop bleeding, calm fetus
gou ji: 9-15g
bitter, sweet, warm
kd, lv
tonify kd/lv, strgth sinews/bones, expel wind damp, low back/spine, frequent urination
gu sui bu: 9-21g
bitter, warm
kd, lv
tonify kd, mend sinews/bones, traumatic injury, stimulate hair growth
bu gu zhi: 4.5-9g
acrid, bitter, warm
kd, sp
tonify kd, fortify yang, warm kd/sp, stop diarr, grasp qi, calm wheeze
yi zhi ren: 3-9g
acrid, warm
kd, sp
warm kd, retain essence, hold urination, warm sp, retain saliva, stop diarrhea
tu si zi: 6-15g
acrid, sweet, neutral
kd, lv
tonify yin and yang, secure essence, improve vision, sp qi xu diarrhea
sha yuan ji li: 9-18g
sweet, warm
kd, lv
tonify kd, secure essence, improve vision
hu tao ren: 9-15g
sweet, warm
kd, lv
tonify kd, strgth back/knees, augment lu, stop wheeze, moisten intestines
ge jie: 3-6g
salty, neutral
kd, lu
tonify lu/kd, calm wheezing, assist kd grasp qi, augment yang
dong chong xia cao: 3-9g
sweet, warm
kd, lu
tonify lu/kd, calm wheezing, assist kd grasp qi, strgth constitution
zi he che: 2-3g
sweet, salty, warm
kd, lu
tonify lu/kd, calm wheezing, assist grasp qi, tonify qi/blood, convulsions
calm spirit
-
all herbs: go to heart channel, the heart houses shen.
two methods to calm spirit: treat root by nourishing yin and blood
calm liver: suppress yang, which heavily sedates shen and treats more excess symptoms
-
suan zao ren: 9-15g
sweet, sour, neutral
ht, gb, lv, sp
nourish ht yin/lv blood, calm spirit, stop sweat, palp, insomnia
bai zi ren: 3-9g
sweet, sour, neutral
ht, kd, li, sp
nourish ht blood/yin, calm spirit, moisten intestines, night sweats
ye jiao teng: 15-30g
sweet, slightly bitter, neutral
ht, lv
nourish ht, calm spirit, nourish blood, unblock channels, expel wind, bi, itch
yuan zhi: 6-15g
bitter, acrid, warm
ht, lu
quit ht, calm spirit, expel phlegm, open orifice, dissipate swellings
calm liver and suppress yang rising
-
shi jue ming: 15-30g
salty, cold
lv, kd
calm lv, anchor yang, clear lv heat, brighten eyes
mu li: 9-30g
salty, astringent, cold
lv, kd
calm lv, anchor yang, heavy sed spirit
ci shi: 15-30g
salty, acrid, cold
lv, kd
sed fright, calm spirit, anch yang, improve hear/vision, calm wheeze
long gu: 15-30g
sweet, astringent, neutral
lv, ht, kd
heavy sed spirit, calm lv, anchor yang, astringent leakage, chronic sores, boils
dai zhe shi: 9-30g
bitter, cold
lv, ht, pc
calm lv, anchor yang, heavy sedation, decrease rebel, cool blood, stop bleeding
zhen zhu: 15-30g
sweet, salty, cold
lv, ht
sed ht, calm fright, extinguish wind, stop convulsions, clear lv heat, eyes, rel toxic
regulate qi
-
note which organ’s qi gets regulated, commonly lu, lv, sp or st
qi may be stagnated or rebellious
qi regulators are often combined with other herbs, such as those that dry damp, reduce food stagnation, or tonify
too many tonics cause stagnation, add a regulator if showing signs of distention, discomfort or constraint
-
chen pi: 3-9g
acrid, bitter, warm
lu, sp, st
move qi, strengthen sp, harmonize st, dry damp, transform phlegm, chest bi
qing pi: 3-9g
acrid, bitter, warm
lv, gb, st
stronger move qi, spread lv, dissipate clumps, raises bp
zhi shi: 3-9g
acrid, bitter, slightly cold
sp, st, li
break up stagnant qi, decrease accumulation, transform phlegm, chest bi, organ prolapse
zhi ke: 3-9g
bitter, cool
sp, st
as zhi shi, more mild, more focus st (zhi shi more sp)
fo shou: 3-9g
acrid, bitter, warm
sp, st, lu, lv
promote qi, transform phlegm, regulate lv, harmonize st, lv/st qi stagnation
mu xiang: 3-9g
acrid, bitter, warm
gb, li, st, sp
promote movement qi, focus abdomen, li, distention, dysentery
xiang fu: 6-12g
acrid, bitter, sweet, neutral
lv, sj
spread lv qi, regulate menses, alleviate pain, #1 for breast distention
wu yao: 3-9g
acrid, warm
kd, ub, lu, sp
promote mvmt qi, dispel cold, alleviate pain, hernia, frequent urination
chen xiang: 1-1.5g
acrid, bitter, warm
kd, sp, st
promote mvmt qi chest, warm mj, decrease rebel, grasp qi, calm wheeze
tan xiang: 2-5g
acrid, warm
lu, sp, st
promote mvmt qi, dispel cold, alleviate pain, chest bi, CAD, angina
da fu pi: 4.5-9g
acrid, slightly warm
sp, st, li, si
promote mvmt qi, epig and abdominal pain, promote urine, decrease edema
yan hu suo: 4.5-12g
acrid, bitter, warm
ht, lv, lu, st
promote mvmt qi, invig blood, alleviate pain, like morphine, contra preg
chuan lian zi: 4.5-9g
bitter, cold, toxic
st, lv, si, ub
spread lv, clear heat, promote mvmt qi, kill parasites, tinea
bing lang: 6-15g
bitter, acrid, warm
st, li
not a qi regulator, does promote qi mvmt, decrease accumulation, kill para, tapeworm
expel wind damp
-
key symptoms:
used for bi syndrome worse when weather changes, such as snow, cold, or wind
i fwind is predominate the pain is moving.
more cold, the area is cold to the touch, pian more intense and relieved by warmth
heat bi joint is red, warm to touch pain feels burning
if more damp the pain is achy and heavy
area may be swollen
damp bi is most chronic/hardest to cure
-
du huo: 3-9g
acrid, warm, bitter
kd, ub
dispel wind damp, more damp than wind, bi pain lower body, dispel cold, rel ext
wei ling xian: 6-9g
acrid, warm, salty
ub
dispel wind damp, more wind than damp, soften fish bones, pi syndrome mj
fang ji: 4.5-9g
bitter, acrid, cold
ub, kd, sp
dispel wind damp bi more damp or heat, promote urine, decrease edema
qin jiao: 3-9g
bitter, acrid, slightly cold
lv, gb, st
dispel wind damp, relax sinews, clear xu heat, clear damp heat, jaundice
bai hua she: 3-9g
sweet, salty, warm, toxic
lv, sp
dispel wind, dredge channels, stubborn bi, exterior/interior wind, spasms, rash
hai tong pi: 6-15g
bitter, acrid, neutral
lv, sp, kd
dispel wind damp, unblock channels, promote urination, decrease edema, kill parasites
sang zhi: 9-15g
bitter, sweet, slightly cold
lv
dispel wind damp, unblock channels, benefits joints, xs or xu
sang ji sheng: 9-15g
bitter, neutral
kd, lv
dispel wind damp, strengthen bones/sinews, tonify lv/kd, decrease htn, calm fetus
wu jia pi: 4.5-15g
acrid, bitter, warm
kd, lv
dispel wind damp, strengthen bones/sinews, chronic bi, drain damp, decrease swelling
xi xian cao: 9-15g
bitter, cold
kd, lv
dispel wind damp, strengthen bones/sinews, transform damp heat, rash, decrease htn
mu gua: 6-12g
sour, slightly warm
lv, sp
dispel damp, relax sinews, harmonize st, OD: damages bones/teeth
calm liver and extinguish wind
-
key symptoms:
headache
dizziness
tinnitus
blurry vision
if severe irritability, palpitations, muscle twitching and stroke
-
tian ma: 3-9g
sweet, neutral
lv
#1 for dizziness, spasms due to lv wind, headache
gou teng: 6-15g
sweet, cool
lv, ht
extinguish wind, anchor lv yang, spasms, lv fire headache, cook under 20 minutes
niu huang: 0.15-1g
sweet, cool, bitter
lv, ht
extinguish wind, alleviate spasms, transform phlegm, open orifices, clear heat, rel toxic
di long: 4.5-15g
salty, cold
lv, lu, sp, ub
clear heat, extinguish wind, unblock channels, calms wheezing, promotes urine
bai jiang can: 6-15g
salty, acrid, neutral
lv, lu
extinguish wind, stop convulsions, unblock channels, alleviate pain, dissipate nodules
wu gong: 1-3g
acrid, warm, toxic
lv
extinguish wind, stop convulsions, unblock channels, alleviate pain dissipate nodules
quan xie: 2.4-5g
acrid, salty, neutral, toxic
lv
extinguish wind, stop convulsions, unblock channels, alleviate pain, dissipate nodules
bai ji li: 6-15g
acrid, bitter, warm
lv, lu
calm lv yang, spread lv const, expel wind, brighten eyes
stop cough and calm wheezing
-
all go to lung channel
xing ren: 3-9g
bitter, slightly warm, slightly toxic
lu, li
stop cough, heat or cold, calm wheeze, moisten intestines
bai bu: 3-9g
sweet, bitter, slightly warm
lu
moisten lu, stop cough, expel parasites, kill lice
zi wan: 5-9g
bitter, slightly warm
lu
transform phlegm, stop cough, heat or cold, internal or external cause
zi su zi: 3-9g
acrid, warm
lu, li
redirect qi down, transform phlegm, stop cough, calm wheeze, moisten intestines
pi pa ye: 6-15g
bitter, cold
lu, st
clear heat, stop cough, decrease rebel, stop vomit
sang bai pi: 6-15g
sweet, cold
lu, sp
stop cough, wheeze, drain fire lu, drain water, promote urine, decrease htn
ting li zi: 3-9g
acrid, bitter, cold
lu, ub
stop cough, wheeze, promote urine, decrease edema
bai guo: 4.5-9g
sweet, bitter, astringent, neutral, toxic
lu, kd
preserve lu, stop wheeze, kd xu asthma, stop discharge urine, incontinence
drain dampness
-
fu ling: 9-15g
sweet, bland neutral
ht, sp, lu
promote urine, leach damp, strengthen sp, calm spirit
zhu ling: 6-12g
sweet, bland, cool
sp, kd, ub
promote urine, leach damp, lin syndrome, edema
ze xie: 4.5-9g
sweet, bland, cold
kd, ub
promote urine, leach damp kd/ub, edema,urine diff, turbid urine, lin
yi yi ren: 9-30g
sweet, bland, cold
sp, lu, kd
promote urine, leach damp, strength sp, wind damp bi, clear heat, pus, plantar warts
sheng jiang pi: 3-10g
acrid, cool
none
promote urine, reduce edema
che qian zi: 4.5-9g
sweet, cold
ub, kd, lv, lu
clear heat, promote urine, unblock lin, firm stool, bright eyes, transform phlegm
hua shi: 9-15g
sweet, cold, bland
st, ub
promote urine, unblock lin, release summer heat, absorb damp to astringe sores
deng xin cao: 1.5-4.5g
sweet, cold, bland
ht, lu, si
clear heat, promote urine, unblock lin, elmin irrit, insomnia, night crying baby
mu tong: 3-6g
bitter, cool
ub, ht, si
clear heat, promote urine, unblock lin, drain ht fire, promote lactation
bian xu: 9-15g
bitter, slightly cold
ub
clear heat, promote urine, unblock lin, kill parasites, stop itching
qu mai: 6-12g
bitter, cold
ub, ht, si
clear heat, promote urine, unblock lin, invigorate blood, unblock channels
di fu zi: 6-15g
bitter, sweet, cold
ub
clear heat, promote urine, unblock lin, eliminate damp, stop itch
shi wei: 3-9g
bitter, sweet, cold
ub, lu
clear heat, promote urine, unblock lin, lu heat, transform phlegm, stop bleeding
dong kui zi: 6-12g
sweet, cold
ub, li, si
clear heat, promote urine, unblock lin, promote lactation, moisten intestines
bi xie: 9-15g
bitter, neutral
ub, lv, st
drain damp, expel turbid, paste lin, turbid urination, dispel wind damp, damp heat skin
yin chen hao: 10-30g
bitter, acrid, cool
lv, gb, sp, st
#1 for jaundice, clear damp heat, damp rash, decrease high cholesterol
dong gua ren: 3-12g
sweet, cold
lu, st, li, si
clear heat, expel phlegm, promote discharge pus, drain damp heat
transform phlegm
-
phlegm: produced by spleen and stored in lung
damp phlegm: whitish, thick, sticky, turbid, easy to expectorate especially. in morning, slippery pulse, white greasy tongue
cold phlegm: clear watery, copious, bubbly, sputum, keeps coming, wiry pulse, pale tongue, white coat
phlegm heat: yellow sticky phlegm, slippery rapid pusle, red tongue, yellow greasy coat
dry phlegm: sticky, scanty, difficult to expectorate, dry cough, dry tongue
wind phlegm:
external wind: from wind pathogen, chills, fever, itchy throat, cough with phlegm superficial pulse
internal wind: from liver wind, dizziness, vertigo, headache
substantial phlegm: phlegm that is found in the lung
unsubstantial/invisible phlegm: under the skin causing nodules, in channels causing numbness, in GB or KD as stones, or misting the heart as in mental illness
-
ban xia: 4.5-9g
acrid, warm, toxic
lu, sp, st
dry damp, decrease oppression, dissipate nodules, decrease rebel qi, nausea, vomit
tian nan xing: 4.5-9g
acrid, warm, toxic, bitter
lv, lu, sp
dry damp, transform phlegm lu, wind phlegm lv, decrease swelling, pain
dan nan xing: 2-5g
acrid, bitter, cold, toxic
lv, lu, sp
bile treated, treats heat cond, wind phlegm, swelling, cancer
bai jie zi: 3-6g
acrid, warm
lu
cold phlegm accumulate lu, congested fluids, channel phlegm, dissipate nodules
jie geng: 3-9g
acrid, bitter, neutral
lu
open lu qi, cough w/ sputum, benefit throat, promote discharge pus, constipation
xuan fu hua: 3-12g
acrid, slightly warm, bitter
lv, lu, st, sp
transform phlegm, calm wheeze, decrease rebellion, invigorate blood, unblock channels
bai qian: 3-9g
acrid, slightly warm, sweet
lu
redirect qi down, coughing, wheezing
qian hu: 4.5-9g
acrid, bitter, slightly cold
lu
redirect qi down, cough, wheeze, expel wind heat
gua lou pi: 6-12g
sweet, cold
li, lu, st
clear heat, transform phlegm, expand chest, dissipate nodules, chest bi
gua lou ren: 9-15g
sweet, cold
li, lu, st
clear heat, transform phlegm, moisten intestines, unblock bowels
zhe bei mu: 3-9g
sweet, bitter, slightly cold
ht, lu
clear heat, transform phlegm, dissipate nodules, wind heat attack, acute conditions
chuan bei mu: 3-12g
sweet, bitter, slightly cold
ht, lu
clear heat, transform phlegm, dissipate nodules, dry cough, chronic lu yin xu
zhu ru: 6-9g
sweet, slightly cold
gb, lu, st
clear heat, transform phlegm, stop vomiting, cool blood, stop bleeding
dong gua zi: 3-12g
sweet, cold
lu, st, li, si
clear heat, expel phlegm, promote discharge pus, drain damp
hai zao: 4.5-15g
salty, bitter, cold
kd, lv, lu, st
decrease phlegm, soften nodules, promote urine, decrease edema
pang da hai: 3-5 seeds
sweet, cold
lu, li
clear lu heat, benefit throat, unblock bowels
activate blood
-
key signs blood stagnation: severe fixed stabbing pain, tumor or mass, purple tongue, possibly with spots, engorged sublingual veins, hesitant/choppy pulse
all herbs: go to liver (liver stores blood, ensures smooth flow)
-
chuan xiong: 3-9g
acrid, warm
lv, gb, sp
#1 headache, invigorate blood, promote mvmt qi, expel wind, alleviate pain
ru xiang: 3-9g
acrid, warm, bitter
lv, gb, sp
invigorate blood, promote mvmt qi, decrease swelling, generate flesh, more move qi
mo yao: 3-12g
bitter, neutral
lv, ht, sp
paired with ru xiang, same function, more effect dispel blood stasis
yu jin: 4.5-12g
acrid, bitter, cool
lv, ht, lu
invigorate blood, promote qi movement, release constraint, open orifices, benefit gb, cool blood
jiang huang: 3-9g
acrid, bitter, warm
lv, sp, st
invigorate blood, promote qi movement qi, unblock channels upper body
e zhu: 3-9g
acrid, bitter, warm
lv, sp
break blood stasis, abdominal masses, decrease food accumulation, more qi movement
san leng: 3-9g
acrid, bitter, neutral
lv, sp
paired with e zhu, same function, better breaking up stasis
dan shen: 6-15g
bitter, slightly cold
lv, ht, pc
invigorate/cool blood, dispel stasis, decrease sores, calm irritation, calm spirit
yi mu cao: 9-30g
acrid, bitter, cold
lv, ht, ub
invigorate blood, unblock menses, promote urine, red edema, decrease htn, clear toxic
ze lan: 10-15g
acrid, bitter, warm
lv, sp
paired with yi mu cao, same function except none to decrease htn
tao ren: 4.5-9g
bitter, sweet, neutral
lv, ht, li, lu
break blood stasis, moisten intestines, stop cough
hong hua: 3-9g
acrid, warm
lv, ht
invigorate blood, unblock channels, dispel stasis, alleviate pain
niu xi: 9-15g
bitter, sour, neutral
lv, kd
invigorate blood, unblock channels, tonify lv/kd, promote urine, decrease fire
wang bu liu xing: 3-9g
bitter, neutral
lv, st
invigorate blood, unblock channels, promote lactation, promote urine, unblock lin
wu ling zhi: 3-9g
bitter, sweet, warm
lv, sp
invigorate blood, stop bleeding, remove stasis, very effective for pain relief
stop bleeding
-
ways to stop bleeding:
cool blood to stop bleeding due to blood heat
astringe to stop bleeding due to leakage
transform stasis to stoop bleeding du eto stasis
warm channels to stop bleeding due to cold
exception: all go to liver (relation to blood)
-
di yu: 10-15g
bitter, sour, slightly cold
lv, sp, li
cool blood, stop bleeding, lj bleeding, #1 hemmor, clear toxic, generate flesh
huai hua mi: 6-15g
bitter, cool
lv, li
cold blood, stop bleeding, lj bleeding, clear lv drain fire
ce bai ye: 6-15g
bitter, astringent, slightly cold
lv, ht, li
cool blood, stop bleeding, any type of bleeding, transform phlegm
bai mao gen: 9-24g
sweet, cold
lu, st, si, ub
cool blood, stop bleed, xue level, lu/st heat, #1 nosebleed, promote urine
xian he cao: 9-15g
bitter, acrid, neutral
lv, lu, sp
restrain leakage blood, decrease food stagnation, alleviate diarrhea, dysentery, kill parasites
san qi: 3-9g
sweet, slightly bitter, warm
lv, st, li
stop bleeding, transform stasis, decrease swelling, alleviate pain, trauma, angina
qian cao gen: 10-15g
bitter, cold
lv, ht
cool blood, stop bleeding, transform stasis, invigorate blood, unblock channels
pu huang: 4.5-12g
sweet, acrid, neutral
lv, ht, sp
stop bleeding, various bleeding, disperse stasis
ai ye: 3-9g
bitter, acrid, warm
lv, sp, kd
warm channels, stop bleeding, dispel cold, alleviate pain, calm fetus
stabilize and bind
-
astringent herbs treat deficiency and symptoms
not excess or the root cause
do not astringe unresovled exterior conditions
-
wu wei zi: 1.5-9g
sour, warm
ht, lu, kd
widely used variation leak, cough, sweat, diarrhea, bind essence, calm ht
wu mei: 10-20g
sour, warm
li, lv, lu, sp
inhibit leak lu qi, stop cough, bind intestines, generate fluids, calm worms
fu xiao mai: 15-30g
sweet, salty, cool
ht
stop excessive sweat from xu, nourish ht, calm spirit
rou dou kou: 1.5-9g
acrid, warm
li, sp, st
bind intestines, stop diarrhea, warm mj, alleviate pain
he zi: 3-9g
sour, astringe, bitter, neutral
li, st, lu
bind intestines, stop diarrhea, contain lu qi, stop cough, benefit throat
chi shi zhi: 9-15g
sour, astringent, sweet, warm
li, st, sp
bind intestines, stop diarrhea, contain bleeding, promote healing wounds
chun pi: 3-5g
astring, bitter, cold
li, st
clear heat, dry damp, bind intestines, cool blood, stop bleeding, kill parasites
lian zi: 6-15g
astring, sweet, neutral
ht, sp, kd
tonify sp, stop diarrhea, augment kd, stabilize essence nourish ht, calm spirit
lian xu: 3-9g
astringent, sweet, neutral
ht, kd
clear heat, augment kd, stabilize essence, stop spermatorrhea, frequent urine, bleeding
qian shi: 9-15g
astring, sweet, neutral
sp, kd
stabilize kd, retain essence, strengthen sp, stop diarrhea, eliminate damp
jin ying zi: 6-18g
astring, sour, neutral
kd, ub, li
stabilize kd, retain essence, bind intestines, prolapse rectum or uterus
hai piao xiao: 4.5-12g
sweet, salty, neutral
kd, lv
stop bleeding, retain essence, control acidity, resolve damp, promote healing
fu pen zi: 4.5-9g
astringent, sweet, slightly warm
kd, lv
augment/stabilize kd, bind essence, retain urine, assist yang, improve vision
reduce food stagnation
-
key symptoms:
abdominal distention, gas, acid regurgitation
not wanting to eat
rolling pulse, yellow greasy tongue
pay attention to which herbs treat which type of stagnation
-
shan zha: 9-15g
sweet, warm, sour
sp, st, lv
meat, greasy accumulation, decrease cholesterol, dispel blood stasis
shen qu: 6-15g
sweet, warm, acrid
sp, st
starchy food and alcohol, help digest minerals, shells
mai ya: 10-15g
sweet, neutral
sp, st
starchy food, milk stagnation infants, lv qi stagnation, inhibit lactation
gu ya: 9-15g
sweet, neutral
sp, st
starchy stagnation
lai fu zi: 6-12g
sweet, neutral, acrid
sp, st, lu
eliminate distention, promote movement qi, decrease rebellious qi, transform phlegm
ji nei jin: 3-9g
sweet, neutral
sp, st, si, ub
various stagnation, secure essence, bedwetting in children, gan ji, transforms sores
external application
-
she chuang zi: 3-9g
acrid, bitter, warm
kd
kill parasites, stop itching, weepy sores, warm kd, fortify yang, infert/impot
liu huang: 1-3g
sour, hot, toxic
kd, li, pc
kill parasites, stop itch, internal use for kd yang xu
ming fan: 1-3g
sour, astringent, cold
li, lv, sp, st, lu
dry damp, allev itch, resolve phlegm, stop bleeding
peng sha: 2-5g
sweet, salty, cool
lu, st
clear toxic heat, decrease swelling, transform phlegm, benefit throat
bing pian: .3-.9g
bitter, acrid, cool
ht, sp, lu
topical for neuralgia, internal to open orifices, clear heat
quick reference
-
ai ye
bai zhu
du zhong
e jiao
huang qin
sang ji sheng
sha ren
tu si zi
xu duan
zhu ru
zi su ye
-
dong kui zi
hei zi ma
mu tong
pu gong ying
wang bu liu xing
-
chai hu
ge gen
he ye
huang qi
sheng ma
-
bai ji li
di long
du zhong
gou teng
huai hua mi
huang qin
jue ming zi
long dan cao
sang bai pi
sang ji sheng
shi jue ming
tian ma
xi xian cao
xia ku cao
yi mu cao
zhi zi
-
jue ming zi
san qi
shan zha
yin chen hao
related to: paired herbs
-
gui zhi and bai shao yao:
harmonize ying qi and wei qi
gui zhi: acrid and warm, disperses qi, gently promotes sweat to release exterior
bai shao: sour and cold, preserves yin, nourishes the blood and body fluids
gui zhi and ma huang:
stronger to disperse wind cold that has entered nutritive level
ma huang: promotes sweating
gui zhi: warms channels, releases muscles
jing jie and fang feng:
not as warm as gui zhi and ma huang
used to release exterior in cold or heat conditions
-
gan cao and bai shao:
moderate spasms, generate yin, tonify deficiency
gan cao: sweet, moderates spasms, nourishes yin
bai shao: sour, softens liver, preserves yin
qing hao and bie jia:
later stage warm febrile disease causing smoldering fire and yin deficiency
bie jia: nourishes yin, anchors yang
qing hao: vents heat out, reduces deficient fire
huang bai and zhi mu:
clears lower jiao damp heat
drain kidney fire
shi gao and zhi mu
both cold
used for yangming channel disorder (yangming jing)
qi level heat
4 bigs
da huang and mang xiao
clear heat
relieve constipation
used for yangming organ disorder (yangming fu)
-
chuan xiong and bai zhi:
frontal headache
chronic headache worse with wind and cold
sharp stabbing pain
chuan xiong: number one for headaches, moves blood
bai zhi: guiding herb to yangming channel
chuan xiong and dang gui:
blood deficiency with blood stasis
irregular menses
headache
pain
chuan xiong: moves blood, removes stasis
dang gui: nourishes blood
dang gui and huang qi:
for blood deficiency due to bleeding caused by qi deficiency
dang gui: nourishes blood
huang qi: tonifies qi
dang gui and xiang fu:
blood stagnation with qi constraint
dang gui: moves blood
xiang fu: promotes movement qi, regulates liver
dang gui and bai shao:
nourish blood, alleviate pain
hong hua and tao ren:
together are stronger to invigorate blood
break up blood stasis
ru xiang and mo yao:
paired to invigorate blood
remove stasis
alleviate pain
generate blood
san leng and e zhu:
significant qi and blood stagnation or food stagnation
yi mu cao and ze lan:
blood stagnation, fluid accumulation
-
chai hu and bai shao:
lv qi stagnation with vertigo
hypochondriac pain
irregular menses
chai hu: spreads liver, relieves constraint
bai shao: nourishes and softens liver
mu dan pi and zhi zi
liver qi stagnation transforming to heat
clear heat from qi and blood levels
-
huang lian and rou gui:
insomnia and palpitation due to heart/kidney disharmony
huang lian: cold, drains heat from heart
rou gui: hot, warms kidney yang, guids fire back to source
gui zhi and gan cao:
unblock heart yang
palpitations
chest pain due to heart yang deficiency
-
huo xiang and pei lan:
transform damp, relieve summer heat pathogen
fang feng and chen pi:
liver overacting on spleen causing diarrhea
bai zhu and zhi shi:
focal distention caused by middle jiao deficiency and food stagnation
bai zhu and bai shao:
tonify spleen and soften liver, for liver overacting spleen
ban xia and chen pi:
transform phlegm, descends rebellious qi, ease nausea, stifling in chest
ban xia and mai men dong:
lung and stomach yin deficiency with rebellious qi
ban xia: warm and dry, transforms phlegm, descends qi, moderates greasy. property of mai men dong
mai men dong: moist and greasy, treats root problem of yin deficiency
ban xia and sheng jiang:
both stop nausea, vomiting
sheng jiang: moderates ban xia toxicity
ban xia and gan jiang:
for vomiting due to cold
huang lian and wu zhu yu:
liver overacting on stomach
acid regurgitation and vomiting
huang lian and gan jiang:
blend of cold and hot. to harmonize middle jiao
huang lian and ban xia:
also blend of cold and hot to harmonize middle jiao, disperse clumps
gan jiang and bai zhu:
warm spleen, dispel cold, dry damp, tonify spleen qi
gan jiang and fu zi:
revive yang, dispel cold from middle jiao
-
chai hu and qian hu:
wind heat causing cough
chai hu: ascends
qian hu: descends, aids qi movement
xing ren and zi su ye:
cough due to exterior wind cold
xing ren and zi su zi:
directs rebellious qi down
stop cough
moisten intestines for constipation
xing ren and ma huang:
cough
xing ren: descends, special for cough
ma huang: ascends, opens lung qi
zi wan and kuan dong hua:
cough with difficult to expectorate phlegm
gan jiang and wu wei zi:
cough due to cold congested fluids
zhi ke and jie geng:
cough with stifling sensation in chest due to qi stagnation
ma huang and bai guo:
long term cough and wheezing due to deficiency
ma huang: disperses lung qi to relieve constraint
bai huo: astringes, protects lung qi
-
fu zi and ren shen:
yang and qi collapse, cold extremities, profuse sweat, shock
fu zi and rou gui:
strongly warm kidney yang
fu ling and fu zi:
spleen and kidney yang deficiency causing edema, heaviness in lower limbs
fu zi and shu di huang:
treat both kidney yang and yin deficiency
gui ban and bie jia:
nourish yin, subdue yang, soften hardness, abdominal masses and clumping
nu zhen zi and mo han lian:
nourish lv/kd yin, can be used alone (er zhi wan) or added to larger formula
-
jie geng and niu xi:
blood stasis in chest causing chest pain
jie geng: ascends, guids herbs to chest
niu xi: descends, draws blood down
chai hu and huang qin:
guide to shaoyang channel
temporal or migraine headache
ear disorders
harmonize shaoyang diseases (alternating chills and fever)
bai zhi, sheng ma, shi gao:
guide to yangming, frontal headache or tooth/gum/face condition
qiang huo:
guide to taiyang, occipital headache
xi xin, du huo:
guide to shaoyin, headache worse in cold or characterized by tooth pain
wu zhu yu, gao ben:
guide to jueyin, vertex headache (gao ben treats both ends of du channel)
introduction into herbs
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hot
dispel cold
warm middle jiao
resolve phlegm
restore yang
remove cold
accumulation
cold/cool
clear heat
detoxify
cool blood
purge and eliminate
dry damp
moisten
benefit the eyes
anti-helminthic
bland (neutral)
regulate blood circulation
tonify and reinforce
moisten
remove damp
dispel wind
soothes nerves
mediate harsh effects
warm
dispel wind cold damp (pathogenic qi)
regulate the flow of qi
tonify
warming effect
miscellaneous
substances can also be described as aromatic. this characteristic describes the ability to penetrate through turbidity and awaken a given function: either the digestive functions of the spleen, or the cognitive functions of the spirit and orifices.
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sour
yin in nature
drains
contracts, astringes
prevents or reverses the abnormal leakage of fluids and energy
travels in sinews. for diseases of sinews, do not use
bitter
yin in nature
drains, purges and dries
descends rebellious qi (purgative)
dries damp
dispels heat
travels in the bone. for diseases in the bone, do not use
sweet
yang in nature
scatters
tonifies, soothes
soothes and slows down acute diseases
harmonizes and regulates other herbs
moistens
travels into the flesh
for diseases of flesh, do not use
bland (neutral)
substances that have none of the other tastes
yang in nature
seeps and drains
dispels and relieves
leeches out dampness and promotes urination (diuretic)
pungent
yang in nature
scatters, moves, disperses
dispels pathogenic factor from exterior
promotes normal flow of qi
stimulates blood and body fluids
travels in the qi
for diseases of qi, no not use
salty
yin in nature
drains
softens hard masses and resolves lumps (phlegm lumps and masses)
travels in the blood. for diseases of the blood, do not use.
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ascending
invigorate yang
induce emesis
resuscitate
floating
diaphoretic
dispel wind-cold
descending
purgative
diuretic
anti-asthmatic
descend yang
sinking
contract
dispel heat
stop sweating
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descending
direction: descending, sinking yin
essence: cool, cold
flavor: sour, bitter
quality: turbid, heavy (seeds, fruits, minerals)
processing: salt: descend | vinegar: contract
ascending
direction: ascending, floating yang
essence: warm, hot
flavor: pungent, sweet, bland
quality: soft, light
processing: wine: asend | ginger: descend
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red
enters the heart
calms shen
regulates and harmonizes blood
tonifies heart
circulates blood
green
enters the liver
clears and tonifies the liver
dispels stagnation
brightens eyes
activates blood
yellow
goes to middle jiao
harmonizes middle
benefits qi and energy
detoxifies and reduces inflammation
clears heat
white
enters lungs
moistens and clears lungs
eliminates phlegm
regulates water
stops cough
black
enters kidneys
benefits essence
tonifies kidneys and yin
descends fire, stops bleeding
detoxifies
helps receive qi
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sweating
to release the exterior and superficial conditions. ex: edema, ulcers, smallpox.
contraindicated: severe vomiting and diarrhea, excess sweating, loss of fluids
vomiting
to resolve accumulations via emesis. eg. phlegm accumulations in pharynx, pharyngeal paralysis, stroke, poisoning, overeating.
contraindicated: deficient conditions
purging
to resolve accumulation and stagnation via purging downward. ex. gastric and intestinal disease, constipation, extravagated blood, chronic phlegm, water accumulation, parasites.
contraindicated: superficial or internal conditions, strong conformation with thirst & impaired speech
harmonizing
to harmonize and mediate conditions. ex. shao yang conditions, liver and stomach disharmony, malaria, menstrual irregularities due to liver problems. contraindicated: internal fever or yin deficiency
warming
to warm a cold condition, and to tonify. ex: strengthen yang qi, resuscitate.
contraindicated: internal fever or yin deficiency
removing
to clear a condition. ex: dispel fever, clear heat, maintain body fluids, and stop thirst.
contraindicated: deficient conditions, fever and fatigue due to over-taxation
supplementing
to tonify qi, blood, yin, and yang
contraindicated: spleen and stomach deficiency
reducing
to reduce an excess condition. two categories: (i) digestives; (ii) diuretics.
ex: stagnation of qi, blood, phlegm. (especially in middle jiao)
contraindicated: deficiency with abdominal pain, yin deficiency with fever, diarrhea due to deficiency, menstruation disorders due to deficiency.
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slicing: increase the surface area
alcohol: dan gui - treated in alcohol to extract violate oils and move blood
salt: yan hu suo - so the alkaloids will dissolve in water
ginger: ban xia, zhu ru - treated with ginger to stop nausea and vomiting
honey: kuan dong hua - treated with honey to moisten the lungs and stop coughs
cinnebaris: fu ling - treated with zhu sha to calm the spirit
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bleaching and baking: reduces side effects and toxicity
ginger: ban xia with ginger to remove it’s adverse side effects and tongue-numbing effects
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cooking: sheng di huang vs. shu di huang
dry frying: dry frying/browning for storage or for strengthening the sp/st. stir fry with salt to direct the action to the kid channel to nourish yin and descend fire
fry in liquids:
-honey: to tonify and moisten
-vinegar: to astringe, blood invigorating, detoxify, and act as an analgesic.
-wine: to open channels and collaterals, expel wind, stop pain.
-ginger juice: to warm the spleen, stop vomiting, reduce upsetting effects of bitter and cold herbs in the stomach
quick fry: use extremely high heat to reduce toxicity and to modify harshness.
dry baking: use slow, mild heat to dry flowers and insects (avoid charring). roasting and charring to ashes to help stop bleeding.
five flavors, temp., qi dynamic,
channels, target area
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locate the targeting area, then choose the herb with a certain qi movement
liver yang rising:
dai zhe shi
shi jue ming
chronic diarrhea, prolapse:
huang qi
chai hu
sheng ma
ge gen
tai yang bing purge:
pi below the heart
ban xia xie xin tang
ext. cold + int heat:
shao yang
chai hu + huang qin
ht & kd disharmony:
shao yin heat
huang lian + rou gui (jiao tai wan)
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five flavor + bland, acrid, astringing
yin = sour, astringent, bitter, salty
yang = sweet, acrid, bland
sour
generate yin and fluid; astringent and binding; guiding to the liver
inward:
strengthening the exterior to stop sweating, astring the lungs to relieve cough, bind intestines to relieve diarrhea, solidify essence and reduce urination, and solidify collapse. it also can be used for steatorrhea, enuresis, frequent urination, menorrhagia, leucorrhea, and soothe tendons.
sour + sweet = yin
lemonaid = yin
(sour/bai shao) +(sweet/gan cao/da zao) = yin
acrid + sweet = yang
(acrid/sheng jiang/gui zhi) + (sweet/gan cao/da zao) = yang
sour herbs
bai shao: nourishes blood
shan zhu yu: nourishes kd essence and nourishes lv yin & blood
wu wei zi: benefits everything, “5 flavor seed”
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bitter
purging, dry dampness, clearing heat, and firm yin
firm yin = rescue/secure yin because it can purge and clear the heat (rescue remaining water)
downward
clearing heat and purging fire, descending qi and relieving asthma, stopping vomiting and hiccups, promoting bowel movement stool, clearing heat and dry dampness, dispelling cold and dampness, and purging fire and strengthening yin.
bitter herbs
huang lian:
long dan cao:
mu tang:
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sweet
tonifying, moderating, harmonizing and neutralizing
stay still
nourishing deficiency, harmonizing medicinal properties, and relieving pain.
treat weakness of righteousness
various pains in the body
harmonizing medicinal properties
rescue from poisoning
sweet herbs
sheng gan cao:
sheng di huang:
huang qi:
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sweet
dispersing, invigorating qi and blood, release exterior
outward, upward
great for releasing exterior, moving qi and blood to relieve stagnations
sweet herbs
jing jie: release exterior and enters blood level wind that travels within the blood
gui zhi: harmonize yang/wei (in between both herbs)
chuang xiong: also travels in the blood (more blood focused
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salty
purging, softening, entering blood, dissolves phlegm
downward & inward (towards kd)
purging or moisteing laxatives
softening hard stools and masses, scrofula gall tumors, and lumps in the abdomen.
enter the kidney meridian, which can be used as a guiding ingredient to prepare herbs
enhance the function of tonifying the kidney
used to treat kidney deficiency syndrome
enters blood level
removes blood stagnation
cools blood
salty herbs
hai zao: goes downward, purges heat, softens nodules
dan dou chi: salty flavor, slightly dissolve nodules/phlegm but irritating…(pedialyte is salty and helps similarly)
shui niu jiao: salty flavor animal product to enter blood level to clear blood heat
mang xiao: salt to break up stagnation, break up hard stools
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zang fu/channel entry
ban xia (channel & organ) vs dan nan xing (organ)
gui zhi (channel) vs rou gui (organ)
gan jiang (middle jiao) vs sheng jiang (fresh/channel)
bugs, twigs, vines (channel)
entering channels/guiding herb/yin jin bao shi
liver: mu dan pi, wu zhu yu
heart: huang lian, xi xin (shao yin layer)
st: bai zhi, ge gen, shi gao
shang hang theory/wen bing theory/eight extra vessel (herb guides)
chai hu + huang qin-shao yang
tai yin yang ming —-sp, st
du: qiang huo, lu jiao shuang…
herbs guides
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mutual accentuation (xiang xu)
ma huang + gui zhi: fu zi + gan jiang; chen pi + ban xia
combination of two substances with similar functions and use them together to enhance the action
mutual enhancement (xiang shi)
huang qi + fu ling; gou qi zi + ju hua; shi gao + niu xi; huang lian + mu xiang
combination of two different function herbs but similar to xiang xu
mutual counteraction (xiang wei)
mutual fear, combination in which toxicity or side effects of one substance are reduced or eliminated by another substance
zhi ban xia with sheng jiang (zhi ban xia fears sheng jiang)
mutual suppression (xiang sha)
mutual killing, opposite of mutual counteraction, is that here one substance reduces the undesirable side effect of another.
sheng jiang suppresses/kills the toxicity of zhi ban xia
mutual antagonism (xiang wu)
mutual aversion, ability of two substances to minimize/neutralize each other’s positive effects
known as eight pairs and one trio of substances that have this effect on each other
together referred to as the 19 antagonisms
ba dou antagonizes qian niu zi
ding xiang antagonizes yu jin
zhi wu tou antagonizes xi jiao
ren shen antagonizes wu ling zhi
rou gui antagonizes chi shi zhi
mutual incompatibility (xiang fan)
mutual opposition, occurs when combination of two substances gives rise to side effects or toxicity which would not be caused by either substance when used alone
three sets with total of 18 incompatible substances
gan cao: gan sui, da ji, yuan hua, hai zao
zhi wu tou: bei mu, gua lou, zhi ban xia, bai lian, bai ji
li lu: ren shen, sha shen, dan shen, ku shen, xi xin, bai shao
single effect
use of one medicinal substance to treat a patient
ren shen alone to treat qi deficiency with collapse of yang
dan xing
du shen tan-ren shen, qing jin san-huang qin
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dry frying (chao):
browning is used to dry the herb for storage
frying with liquids (zhi):
frying with honey increases an herb’s tonifying and moistening actions.
frying with vinegar enhances it’s astringent, analygesic, blood-invigorating and detoxifying actions.
frying with wine enhances its ability to clear blockages form the channels, expels wind, alleviates pain
frying in ginger juice reduces the tendency of bitter and cold herbs to upset the stomach
this method enhances the ability of some herbs to warm the stomach and stop vomiting
calcining (duan):
placing a substance directly or indirectly in the flames until it is thoroughly heated and turns red.
purpose is to render the substance brittle and thus easy to pulverize.
technique applied to minerals and shells
quick frying (pao):
her is fried at an extremely high temperature until it becomes dark brown or cracked.
reduces its toxicity or moderates its harsh characteristics
dry curing or baking (hong/bei):
form of drying that uses a slow, mild heat to avoid charring the herb.
often used in processing flowers and insects because it is the only method that dries them quickly without destroying them
roasting in ashes (wei):
wrapping herb in moistened paper, past or mud and heating in hot cinders until the coating is charred or cracked and it’s insides have reached a high temperature
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steaming (zheng):
refers to steaming and then drying the herbs in the sun
used to alter properties eg. sheng di huang into shu di huang
boiling (zhu):
can be done in either water or some other medium to alter characteristics of an herb
da ji is boiled in vinegar to reduce it’s toxicity
quenching (cui):
usually minerals, are heated and then immediately immersed in cold water or vinegar
both facilitates pulverization and moderates their medicinal properties
simmering (ao):
herb reduced to a thickened liquid or sryup by boiling in several changes of water, collecting the supernatants, and then condensing and solidifying it into a gel.
other ingredients are added before making the gel
(ji xue teng)
honey or brown sugar are used to help for easy storage…tasty way to easily dissolve formula under your tongue or drop in tea
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honey (moderating/nourishing (middle jiao def.)
ma huang
gan cao
huang qi
pi pa ye
vinegar (enhance entering liver channel functions, soothe digestion, astringing and binding
yan hu suo
xiang fu
chai hu
qing pi
alcohol (entering and invigorating blood, extract volatile oils, raising)
dang gui
da huang
salt (entering kidney, better dissolves, move downward)
ba ji tian
rou cong rong
bu gu zhi
yan hu suo
ginger (reduce toxic, harmonize stomach, more dispersing)
ban xia (also can use alums)
hou po
bile juicy (change temperature)
dan nan xing
black sesame/wheat barn (nourishing, better digestion, correct the smell)
cang zhu, bai zhu, zhi ke, qian shi, shan yao, jiang can
fermentation/calm or pu huang powder/stir-fry to brown: better digestion
ban xia qu/shen qu
e jiao zhu
jiao san xian (shan zha, shen qu, mai ya)
decocted first (30-60 min)
chuan wu/cao wu/ fu zi
shi jue ming/long gu/mu li/ci shi/zhen zu mu/dai zhe shi/gui ban/bie jia/shi gao
si gua luo
separately decocted or simmered
ren shen/xi yang shen/lu rong
added near end (last 5 min)
bo he
mu xiang
sha ren
dou kou
qing gao
da huang
dissolved (sticky)
e jiao/yi tang
decocted in gauze
xuan fu hua
che qian zi
chi shi zhi/pu huang
take with strained decoction (powder)
chuan bei mu/san qi/niu huang
zhu li (liquid bamboo juice)
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pills (wan)
water
honey/tonify
flour/food stag.
wax/reaching intestines
plasters (gao)
external use
powder (san)
fast reaction
convenient
stable effects
special or vermillion (cinnabar pills) (dan)
expansive
storage
syrups (gao)
sugar/honey, for chronic condition, tonifying/cough sore throat
medicinal wines (jiu)
external use
nourishing
invigorating blood