Herb | Function |
Fu Zi | Very toxic, Enters HT, KD, SP, Warms fire and assists Yang, Weakness of HT, SP or KD Yang, Acrid, hot, toxic |
Gan Jiang-dried ginger | HT, LU, SP, ST, Warms LU, tx phlegm, Warms ST, Rescue devastated yang, Expel ext cold |
Rou Gui- also cinnamon family | Warms KD, Fortifies Yang, Leads fire back to source , *interior cold |
Wu Zhu Yu | Redirect rebellious qi down, Stop vomiting, Warms middle, disperses cold, relieves constraint |
Ren Shen | Augment qi, Strengthen SP & ST, Tonify LU, Benefit HT, calms spirit, Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly warm, *use dang shen as substitute |
Dang Shen | Sweet, neutral, LU & SP, Number 1 choice for middle qi deficiency, Tonify LU , Can support qi w/o supporting pathogen |
Huang Qi | Tonify SP, Raises Yang qi of SP and ST, Tonify Qi and Blood, Boosts immune system/wei qi |
Shan Yao -Chinese yam | Estrogen-like for menopausal women, T SP/ST, Ton LU qi, Ton KD: stabilize and bind |
Bai Zhu | Stabilize ext & stop sweating, Stregthen SP, Calm fetus, Dry dampness |
Gan Cao | clrs ht, harmonizes |
Zhi Gan Cao | harmonizes |
Huang Jing | Tonify SP and SP yin/for ST yin def. |
Shu Di Huang | Cooked rhemmania, Ton blood, Nourish yin |
He Shou Wu | Ton blood, LV, KD, essence, Secure essence, Stop leakage: vag discharge |
Dang Gui | Ton blood, Reg menses, Invig and harmonize blood, Moisten int. and unblcok bowels ,Prevent cough (historically), *estrogenic but doesn’t cause cell proliferation , *caution: pregnancy |
Bai Shao | LV & SP, Nourishes blood, Preserves yin, Adjusts nutritive and protective, *GB34 |
Gou Qi Zi | Nourish and ton LV & KD, Ton yin, Benefit eyes, Moisten LU, *longterm use OK |
Long Yan Rou | XS pensiveness and overwork, Ton HT and SP, Palpitations, Nourish blood & calm spirit, *gui pi tang |
Lu Rong | Fortify yang, Regulate penetrating and conception vessels (ren and du), Stabilize girdle vessel (dai), Warms EV’s, qi and blood |
Rou Cong Rong | Ton KD, strengthen Yang, warms womb, Moistens intestines: facilitate passage of stools (dryness) |
Yin Yang Huo | Xian ling pi, Fortifies yang ,Ton KD, Expel wind-damp |
Xian Nao | Ton KD, Fortifies Yang, Damp-cold Bi |
Gou Ji | ‘dog spine’, ton LV & KD, strengthen sinews and bone, chronic KD back pain |
Tu Si Zi | Ton yin, Secure essence, urine |
Sha Shen | Moisten LU, Nourish ST, Gen fluids, ST & LU yin deficiency |
Tian Men Dong | Nourish KD yin, Clears LU heat, Moisten LU, generate fluids |
Mai Men Dong | Moist Lu, Stop cough, LU yin, Augment ST yin, Clears HT: elim irritability |
Yu Zhu | Nourish yin, Moisten dryness, LU/ST dry heat or yin def, Soften/moistens sinews |
Sang Ji Sheng | Wind-damp, Ton LV & KD, Sinews and bones, Low back, knees, numbness . . . |
Nu Zhen Zi | Nourish tonify LV & KD, Graying of hair, Clears def heat, Augment LV & KD- vision |
Gui Ban | N. Yin, anchors yang for yin xu w/ ascent yang; T. LV, KD, strengthens bones, unblocks REN, |
Bie Jia | N. Yin and anchors yang for yin xu w/ fever / rising S&S, T. Yin, clrs-ht, softens hardness, disp clumping |