Term | Definition |
Ren Shen ***
"man root"
(ginseng root) | Powerfully tonifies the primal Qi (STRONG for emergencies); strengthens SP/ST, LU, augments Qi; Generates fluids, stops thirst; Benefits HT Qi, calms spirit
NOT w/EPF, constraint or empty heat, other stimulants |
Dang Shen ***
"Group root"
(codonopsis root) | Tonifies middle jiao, augments Qi (diarrhea, low appetite, fatigue, prolapse); Tonifies LU; for late febrile Dz or blood xu; Also w/herbs to release exterior or drain downward when Pt has significant Qi xu |
Huang Qi ***
"Yellow herb"
(Astragalus root) | Tonifies Qi and blood; Tonifies SP, raises yang; Augments Wei Qi, stabilizes the exterior; promotes urination to reduce edema; promotes discharge of pus and generates flesh; also for DM, limb neuropathy, Bi
NOT w/toxic heat sores |
Shan Yao ***
"Mountain herb"
(Chinese yam) | Tonifies and augments Qi of SP/ST; Tonifies the LU Qi, augments LU yin; Tonifies the KD, and secures the essence
A food, may be taken in large doses. NOT w/damp causing fullness of abdomen |
Bai Zhu ***
(White atractylodes rhizome) | Tonifies the SP Qi (PRIMARY HERB!), augments Qi; Dries dampness, promotes water metabolism; Stabilizes the exterior and stops sweating; Calms the fetus
NOT w/internal heat from yin xu or thirst from exhausted |
Da Zao ***
(Jujube, chinese date) | Tonifies the SP, augments Qi, harmonizes; Nourishes the blood and calms the spirit, generates fluids; Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs
NOT w/excess heat, DH, phlegm-H. Caution with lots of damp or qi stagnation |
Gan Cao ***
"sweet herb"
(Licorice root) | All 12 channels
Tonifies SP, augments qi; Moistens the LU, stops coughs; Moderates spasms, alleviates pain; Clears heat & toxicity; Moderates & harmonizes other herbs (1# Fx)
NOT w/distention, fullness of chest and abdomen, or vomiting excess dampness |
Shu Di Huang ***
"Cooked Earth Yellow"
(cooked Chinese foxglove/rehmannia root) | Tonifies the blood; Strongly enriches the yin and relieves wasting and thirsting d/o; Nourishes the blood, tonifies the essence and marrow
VERY cloying/rich readily leads to stagnation, NOT in those w/qi stag or profuse phlegm |
Zhi He Shou Wu ***
"Processed Black Haired Mr. He"
(processed flowery knotweed root) | Nourishes the blood, tonifies LV & KD, augments the essence (to preserve essence); Expels W from skin by nourishing blood
NOT in Pt w/loose stools or significant dampness/phlegm. Caution with source of herb, improper processing may damage LV |
(Sheng) He Shou Wu ***
"Fresh Black haired Mr. He"
(flowery knotweed root) | (tonify blood) Moistens the intestines, unblocks the bowels (for dryness from blood xu); Relieves fire toxicity; Checks malarial d/o (not a common action) |
Dang Gui ***
"Should come back"
(angelica sinensis root) | Tonifies the blood, regulates the menses; Invigorates and harmonizes the blood, disperses cold; Moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels; Reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh, and alleviates pain; treats cough |
Bai Shao ***
(White peony) | Nourishes the blood, regulates menses; SOFTENS the LV, for yang rising and alleviates pain (most common Fx. for cramps/spasms in hands and feet, for HA and dizziness); Preserves the yin and adjusts the Ying and Wei Qi levels |
E Jiao ***
(donkey hide gelatin) | Tonifies blood & stops bleeding (dizziness, palpitations, coughing blood, blood in stool, uterine bleeding); Nourishes and moistens the yin (for insomnia and irritability)
ANIMAL product, decoct separately. Heavy, cloying so NOT for SP/ST xu |
Gou Qi (Zi) ***
(Lycium fruit, chinese wolfberry, Goji berries) | (tonify blood) Nourishes LV and KD; Benefits the essence and brightens the eyes; Enriches the yin and moistens the LU
Caution w/SP and ST xu, although not so greasy or cloying |
Lu Rong ***
"Deer velvet"
(fuzz from spring antlers) | Tonifies the KD, fortifies Yang (STRONGLY); Warms the yang, regulates Chong & Ren Mai, stabilizes Dai Mai; Tonifies Du Mai, augments essence, qi & blood, strengthens sinews/bones
NOT w/interior heat from yin/blood xu, blood, ST or LU heat, or EPF heat |
Rou Cong Rong ***
"Meat of Cong Rong"
(fleshy stem of broomrape) | Tonifies the KD yang, augments the essence and blood; Moistens the Intestines and facilitates passages of stool (moderate, not drying)
NOT w/diarrhea from ST/SP xu, or yin xu/heat signs |
Yin Yang Huo ***
(also called Xian Ling Pi)
(aerial parts of epimedium, Horny goat weed) | Tonifies the KD, yang, and Mingmen (used for male impotence and infertility); Dispels W-C-D and warms and unblocks the flow of yang Qi (for Bi)
NOT w/xu fire, prolonged use will injure yin |
Ba Ji Tian ***
"Ba's Sky lance"
(Morinda Root) | Tonifies the KD and fortifies yang (without being overly drying), augments essence; Disperses WD and strengthens the sinews and bones (for Bi, esp WCD)
NOT in Pt w/damp or yin xu heat, or urinary difficulty |
Bu Gu Zhi ***
"Tonify bone resin"
(Psoralea fruit) | Tonifies the KD, fortifies yang, stabilizes essence and secures urine, aids KD in grasping Qi; Tonifies and warms SP yang, stops diarrhea; topically for vitiligo
NOT w/yin xu heat or constipation, CAUTION w/ST xu |
Yi Zhi Ren ***
"Benefit intelligence kernel"
(Alpinia fruit, black cardamon) | Warms KD, retains essence, and secures the urine; Warms SP, stops diarrhea, and controls salivation
NOT w/lower jiao heat problems, esp from yin xu |
Xian Mao ***
"immortal/fairy grass"
(Curculigo, golden eye-grass rhizome) | Tonifies KD, fortifies yang, vigorously warms MIngMen; Expels cold and eliminates dampness
NOT with yin xu + heat, not longterm use |
Du Zhong ***
(Eucommia bark) | (tonify yang) Tonifies LV and KD, strengthens sinews and bones; Aids in smooth flow of Qi and blood; Calms fetus (for threatened miscarriage); Recently for dizziness and light-headedness
NOT w/heat from yin xu (but relatively more mild) |
Xu Duan ***
"Reconnect what is broken"
(Dipsacus, Japanese teasel root) | (tonify yang) Tonifies LV and KD (w/out stagnation), strengthens/reconnects sinews and bones, promotes movement of the blood, alleviates pain, reduces swelling; Calms the fetus, stops leakage
NOT w/WDH Bi |
Gu Sui Bu ***
"Mender or shattered bones"
(Drynaria rhizome) | Tonifies KD (yang) and strengthens bones; Promotes mending of sinews and bones; Stimulates the growth of hair; Directs floating yang downward (tinnitus, diminished hearing, loose teeth, painful gums)
NOT w/yin xu or in absence of blood stasis |
Tu Si Zi ***
"spitting silk seeds"
(Cuscuta, Chinese dodder seeds) | Tonifies yang, augments yin, secures essence and the urine; Tonifies KD and LV, improves vision; Benefits SP and KD, stops diarrhea; Calms the fetus
NOT with fire from yin xu, but not cloying |
(Bei) Sha Shen ***
"North Sand Ginseng"
(Glehnia root) | Nourishes LU yin, clears LU heat; Nourishes ST yin, generates fluids
NOT w/cough d/t WC or internal cold from LU/ST xu |
Xi Yang Shen***
"Western Ocean Root"
(American ginseng root) | Nourishes yin, generates fluids, tonifies Qi, clears fire from deficiency; Nurtures LU yin, clears LU fire
NOT w/cold dampness obstructing middle, or stagnation fire |
Mai (Men) Dong ***
"luxuriant winter"
(Ophiopogon tuber) | Moistens the LU, nourishes yin; Augments ST yin, generates fluids; Moistens Intestines; Clears the HT, eliminates IRRITABILITY
NOT w/loose stools from SP xu, phlegm or mucus in LU/ST, or early WC coughs. |
Tian (Men) Dong ***
"Heavenly gate winter"
(asparagus tuber) | Nourishes the KD yin, clears LU heat; Moistens LU, nourishes KD, generates fluids
NOT w/diarrhea from xu or cold |
Shi Hu ***
"Bushel (goblet) of Stone"
(Dendrobium) | Nourishes the yin (KD!), clears heat (like from deficiency), generates fluids; Tonifies the KD, augments essence, and brightens vision
NOT in early stages warm EPF. Caution w/loose stools or thick greasy T d/t SP xu |
Yu Zhu ***
"Jade bamboo"
(scented Solomon's seal rhizome, polygonatum) | Nourishes yin and moistens dryness (LU/ST yin, w/out being cloying, can be used even in presence of EPF); Extinguishes wind, softens, moistens the sinews
NOT w/SP/ST xu, internal phlegm-damp, or loose stools d/t cold. |
Mo Han Lian ***
"Dark dye dry lotus"
(Eclipta) | Nourishes and tonifies LV and KD yin (for premature greying); Cools the blood, stops bleeding
NOT w/SP and ST cold xu |
Nu Zhen Zi ***
"Persistent female seed"
(Privet fruit, Ligustrum) | Nourishes (yin) and tonifies the LV and KD; Clears xu heat; Improves vision; tonifies w/out cloying
NOT w/diarrhea from SP/ST cold from deficiency |
Gui Ban ***
"Turtle shell"
(terrapin shell) | Nourishes yin, anchors yang; Benefits KD, strengthens bones; Nourishes blood, enriches yin, stabilizes Chong & Ren Mai; Cools blood & stops uterine bleeding; Tonifies HT&blood; also for non healing sores and ulcers
NOT during pregnancy or w/CD of ST |
Bie Jia ***
(Chinese soft-seller turtle shell) | Nourishes the yin, anchors yang; INVIGORATES blood, promotes menstruation, dissipates nodules; Strong anchoring/descending action, unblocks and facilitates functions of blood vessels
NOT during pregnancy or w/cold from SP/ST xu |