Term | Definition |
Qian Hu ***
"Before barbarians"
(Peucedanum root) | Directs Qi downward and dispels phlegm; Disperses and scatters wind heat
NOT for yin xu heat or with cold, thin mucus |
Chuan Bei Mu ***
"Sichuan province baby's mother"
(Fritillaria bulb) | Clears heat and transforms phlegm (primary herb for cough, all types); Clears heat and dissipates nodules
NOT for problems from cold- or damp-phelgm |
Zhe Bei Mu ***
"Zhejiang province, baby's mother"
(Fritillaria bulb) | Clears and transforms phlegm heat; Clears heat and dissipates nodules |
Gua Lou ***
"Melon basket"
(Trichosanthes fruit, whole) | Clears heat and transforms phlegm-heat; Unbinds the chest and dissipates nodules; Reduces abscesses and dissipates nodules |
Gua Lou Pi ***
"Melon Basket Skin"
(trichosanthes fruit skin) | Clears the LU and transforms phlegm (for unproductive cough with sticky phlegm); Regulates the Qi and expands the chest (early stages breast abscess) |
Gua Lou Ren ***
"Melon Basket Kernal"
(Trichosanthes fruit seed) | Clears and transforms phlegm heat; Moistens the intestines; Promotes healing of sores
NOT for weak patients, SP xu,nausea, or loose stools, or with Wu Tou |
Zhu Ru ***
"bamboo fiber"
(shavings) | Clears and transforms phlegm heat (good for lots of yellow phlegm in LU); Clears heat and stops vomiting (excess/xu ST heat, and morning sickness); for irritability from ST-GB heat |
Kun Bu ***
"(name of a mountain) cloth"
(Kelp) | Reduces phlegm and softens areas of hardness (various types of nodules in neck, thyroid); Promotes urination and reduces swelling |
Hai Zao ***
"Sea vegetable"
(Sargassum, seaweed) | Reduces phlegm and softens areas of hardness (scrofula, goiter, nodules in neck); Promotes urination and reduces edema |
Tian Zhu Huang **
"Heavenly bamboo yellow"
(bamboo silica/sugar) | Clears and transforms phlegm heat; Clears the HT and settles tremors and convulsions (especially for children) |
Zhu Li **
(Bamboo sap) | Clears heat, transforms phlegm, and penetrates to the channels; Transforms phlegm heat and stops cough; Best for transforming phlegm-heat; for coma |
Ge Qiao (ke) **
(clam shell) | Clears heat and transforms phlegm; softens hardness and dissipates nodules; Promotes urination and expels dampness (for UTI, superficial edema, mild); Controls acidity and stops pain
NOT for LU xu w/cold or yang xu |
Pang Da Hai**
"Big Fat Ocean/Sea"
(sterculia seed) | (mild) Clears and disseminates LU Qi (for hoarseness due to heat or yin xu or overuse); Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels (from heat); encourages expression of rashes |
Zhi Ban Xia ***
"processed 'half summer'"
(pinellia rhizome) | Dries Dampness, transforms phlegm (key herb for phlegm from cold or SP xu!), and causes rebellious Qi to descend (chest & middle jiao); stops vomiting & cough with copious sputum; Dissipates nodules and reduces clumps (in chest) |
Zhi Bai Fu Zi ***
"processed white appendage"
(Typhonium rhizome) | Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, expels wind, stops spasms (Bells Palsy, hemiplegia, wind-stroke); Resolves toxicity and dissipates nodules; stops pain and itching for W-C-D Bi as well as damp skin problems like eczema |
Bai Jie Zi ***
"White Mustard seed" | Warms the LU, regulates Qi, expels phlegm for cough and cold phlegm, especially when chronic; Promotes movement of Qi, disperses clumps, unblocks the collaterals and stops pain |
Jie Geng ***
"Orange stem"
(balloon flower root) | Opens up and disseminates the LU Qi, dispels phlegm, and benefits the throat (for hot or cold phlegm); Pushes out Pus; Opens up and raises the LU qi while directing other herbs to upper regions of the body (as convoy)
NOT with chronic cough from xu o |
Xuan Fu Hua ***
"rotated, upturned flower"
(inula flower) | Reduces phlegm and promotes the dissipation of pathogenic water (for both warm and cold conditions); Redirects the Qi DOWNWARD (only flower!) and stops vomiting |
Bai Qian ***
"white front"
(Cynanchum root and rhizome) | Redirects the Qi downward, dispels phlegm, and stops cough (copious sputum and gurgling in the throat); VERY IMPORTANT for LU qi blockage & stagnation |
Zhi Tian Nan Xing **
"Prepared star of the Southern heavens"
(arisaema rhizome) | Dries (very drying!) dampness and expels phlegm (for thick gummy nasal congestion); Disperses wind phlegm and stops spasms (seizures, vertigo, tetany); Reduces swelling and alleviates pain (bi) - used topically fresh |
Dan Nan Xing **
Bile prepared Tian Nan Xing | Bitter and cool, for Phlegm Heat with seizures, wind-stroke, tremors. for tough cases and not in initial stage |
Xing Ren ***
"apricot kernal" | (#1 herb to) Stops cough and calms wheezing (both warm and cold, gently moistening); Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels |
Zi Wan ***
"Purple aster "
(aster root) | Relieves coughs and expels phlegm; dispersing & draining yet moistening, facilitates urination |
Kuan Dong Hua ***
"Winter Flower"
(Tussilago flower, coltsfoot) | Moistens the LU, directs Qi downward, stops cough, and transforms phlegm
NOT for Pt coughing blood or pus and blood |
Zi Su Zi ***
(perilla fruit) | Stops cough and calms wheezing, redirects Qi downward, and dissolves phlegm (for when exhalation is more labored than inhalation with stifling chest); Moistens the Intestines and unblocks stool |
Pi Pa Ye ***
(Loquat leaf) | Transforms phlegm, clears LU heat, and redirects LU Qi downward; Harmonizes the ST, clears ST heat, and redirects ST Qi downward |
Bai Bu ***
"100 parts"
(Stemona root) | Moistens (not harsh) the LU and stops cough; Expels parasites and kills lice (topical as wash or tincture) |
Sang Bai Pi
"white mulberry skin"
(mulberry root bark) | Drains heat from the LU, stops cough, calms wheezing; promotes urination and reduces edema; recently used for hypertension |
Ting Li Zi ***
"Tingli or lepidium seed" | Drains LU, reduces phlegm, and calms wheezing; moves water and reduces edema |
Mu Hu Die **
"Wood butterfly"
(oroxylum seeds) | Moistens the LU, clears the voice; Comforts the LV and regulates Qi; Also used topically to promote healing of ulcerated suppurative sores |
Luo Han Guo **
"Men's fruit/result"
(Gosvenor's momordica fruit) | Moistens and cools the LU; Generates fluids to stop thirst; moistens the Intestines to unblock the bowels |
Gua Di **
"Melon stalk"
(Cucumis melon stalk) | Induces vomiting to relieve phlegm-heat or retained food; Dispels damp-heat and relieves jaundice
NOT in pregnancy or postpartum, debilitated Pt, or with hematemesis or hemoptysis |
Zao Jiao Ci **
"soap antler spur/spike"
(gleditisia thorn) | Draws out toxicity, DISCHARGES PUS, invigorates the blood, and reduces swelling (for unsuppurated sores); Expels wind and kills parasites
NOT for open sores or during pregnancy |