Herb | Dosage | Properties/Channels | Functions | Warnings |
Sang Ye | 4.5 - 9 g | L, Lv, Sweet, Bitter, Cold | ٠Light, rising, cooling & moistening. ٠Disperses wind heat. ٠Cools & drains the Lu & Lv | None noted |
Ju Hua | 4.5 - 15 g | L, Lv, Sweet, Bitter, Sl. cold | ٠Cooling, aromatic & light. ٠Can ascend & descend. ٠Drain or tonify ٠ Particularly effective for dispersing wind heat ٠Cooling & tonifying the Lv ٠Brightening the eyes ٠Resolving toxicity | Don't use in large dosage in patients with: ٠Qi xu ٠Stomach cold ٠Diarrhea |
Ge Gen | 9 - 21 g | Sp, S, Sweet, Acrid, Cool | ٠Raises the clear yang qi of yangming. ٠Encourages the St Qi. ٠Releases the muscle layer heat. ٠Vents rashes. ٠Alleviates thirst by raising St fluids. ٠Treats diarrhea | None noted |
Chai Hu | 3 - 9 g | G, P, Lv, SJ, Bitter, Acrid, Cool | ٠Treats alternating chills & fever. ٠Releases heat in the muscle layer. ٠Harmonizes Shaoyang stage disorder. ٠Raises the clear Qi of the St & GB. ٠Relieves Lv Qi constraint | ٠Should not be used when the true yin has been severely damaged. ٠Don't use with hyperactivity of Lv yang. |
Shi Gao | 15 - 60 g | Lu, St Sweet, Acrid, Very cold | ٠Very cold ٠ Excels at cooling Lu & St Fire ٠Desperses to vent to the exterior and release the muscle layer | CI'ed: ٠Cold from Sp & St xu ٠Fever from yin xu |
Sheng Di Huang | 9 - 15 g | H, K Liv, Sweet, Bitter, Cold | ٠Enriches yin ٠ Cools the blood ٠Clears heat | CI'ed: ٠Significant dampness from Sp xu ٠ In those with loose stools & abdominal fullness |
Huang Lian | 1.5 - 9 g | H, LI, Liv, St, Bitter, Cold | ٠Cools heat ٠Drains fire, esp from Ht & St ٠Dries damp ٠ Resolves toxicity | Caution in those with: ٠ Patterns of cold ٠Yang xu or yin xu ٠Cold from Sp/St xu |
Long Dan Cao | 3 - 9 g | G, Liv, S, Bitter, Cold | ٠Drains fire from excess in Lv & GB ٠Eliminates lower burner damp heat | CIed in cases of cold from deficieny of Sp or St |
Jin Yin Hua | 6 - 20 g | LI, L, S, Sweet, Cold | ٠Disperses heat ٠Resolves toxicity ٠Cools the blood ٠Charred: Stops bleeding | CIed: ٠Sp & St deficiency cold ٠Qi deficient sores with clear pus |
Lian Qiao | 6 - 15 g | H, L, G, Bitter, Sl acrid, Sl Cold | ٠Cools & vents heat, particularly in the Upper Jiao & Ht ٠Resolves toxicity ٠ Disperses clumps | Within normal doses, no side effects |
Qing Hao | 6 - 12 g | K, Liv, G, Bitter, Acrid, Cold | ٠Clears all types of yin level heat without injuring the qi, blood, & yin | CI'ed: ٠Weak digestion ٠Watery diarrhea |
Da Huang | 3 - 15 g | H, LI, Liv, S, Bitter, Cold | ٠Purges clumped heat to the Intestines ٠Cools the blood ٠Removes blood stasis ٠Charred: Stops bleeding | CI'ed: ٠Not in those with a weak stomach ٠Avoided by Qi & blood xu people who don't have stagnation CAUTION: ٠Menstruation ٠Pregnancy ٠Lactation |
Fu Ling | 9 - 15 g | H, Sp, K, L, Sweet, Bland, Neutral | ٠Tonfies Spleen ٠Eliminates dampness ٠Calms Heart Spirit | Caution: ٠Yin xu ٠Sunken Sp Qi ٠Cold from deficiency w/ spermatorrhea |
Zhu Ling | 6 - 12 g | Sp, K, B, Sweet, Bland, Sl. Cool | ٠Promotes urination ٠Leaches out dampness ٠Facilitates fluid metabolism | Don't use in the absence of dampness |
Ze Xie | 4.5 - 9 g | K, B, Sweet, Bland, Cold | ٠Facilitates the fluid pathways ٠Clears blazing ministerial fire | Caution: ٠Sunken middle burner qi |
Mu Tong | 3 - 6 g | B, H, SI, Bitter, Sl. Cold, Can be toxic | ٠Promotes urination ٠Directs fire & damp-heat downward & out through the urine ٠Facilitates lactation | Caution: ٠Pregnancy |
Du Huo | 3 - 9 g | K, B, Bitter, Acrid, Warm | ٠Treats painful obstruction in lower body ٠Dispels lurking wind in the Kid channel ٠Drying & readily injures the Yin | Caution: Yin or blood xu ٠Should not be used in patients with internal wind |
Chuan Bei Mu | 3 - 9 g | H, L, Bitter, Sweet, Sl. Cold | ٠Cools, moistens, directs the Lu Qi & Ht fire downward to transform phlegm ٠ Alleviates cough ٠Relieves constraint ٠Disperses clumped phlegm heat | Unsuitable for probs associated with ٠Cold phlegm or ٠Damp phlegm |
Zhe Bei Mu | 4.5 - 9 g | H, L, Bitter, Cold | ٠Cold, Drains heat ٠Transforms phlegm heat ٠Releases constraint ٠Dissipates nodules, esp in the neck & breast | None noted |
Zhu Ru | 4.5 - 9 g | L, S, G, Sweet, Sl Cold | ٠Cools the Lungs, St & GB ٠Scours phlegm ٠Releases constraint ٠Alleviates nausea | None noted |
Ban Xia | 3 - 9 g | L, SP, S, Acrid, Warm, Toxic | ٠Opening, slippery for directing rebellious qi downward ٠ Bitter for drying ٠Best used for thin phlegm or dampness as well as rebellious St Qi | Caution: ٠Dry cough from Yin xu ٠Sore throat from fire excess ٠Bleeding |
Zi Wan | 5 - 9 g | L, Acrid, Bitter, Sl. Warm | ٠Acrid- dispersing ٠Bitter- draining ٠Warm & moistening w/o drying ٠Stops cough ٠ Facilitates urination ٠Enters both the qi & blood | None noted |
Zi Su Zi | 3 - 9 g | LI, L, Acrid, Warm | ٠Best at directing qi downward to disperse phlegm & calm wheezing ٠Moistens the intestines, except in its prepared form | CI: Severe diarrhea from Qi Xu |
Bai Bu | 3 - 9 g | L, Sweet, Bitter, Sl Warm | ٠Excels at directing qi down to alleviate all types of cough, particularly chronic & deficient types | CI: Loose stools from SP xu |
Cang Zhu | 3 - 9 g | Sp, S, Acrid, Bitter, Warm | ٠Dries damp ٠Induces sweating ٠Strengthens Sp & St ٠Treats atrophy disorders from DampHeat of Low Burner ٠Helps vision | CI: ٠Internal heat from Yin xu ٠Profuse sweating from deficiency in exterior |
Shan Zha | 9 - 12 g | Liv, Sp, S, Sour, Sweet, Sl Warm | ٠Reduces food stag, especially meat & greasy foods ٠Invigorates the blood flow ٠ Alleviates diarrhea & dysentery | Caution: Sp or St weakness or xu ٠Large doses are absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy. Can lead to fetal death |
Chen Pi | 3 - 9 g | L, Sp, S, Acrid, Bitter, Warm, Aromatic | ٠Promotes flow of qi. ٠Dries damp | Caution: ٠Heat from excess ٠Unsuitable for dyr coughs due to qi or yin xu ٠Long term - can injure primal qi |
Ju Hong | 3 - 9 g | Lu, St, Acrid, Bitter, Warm | Used primarily for ٠ Vomiting ٠Belching ٠Phlegm damp coughs ٠More aromatic & drying than Chen Pi ٠Less effective in harmonizing the Middle & Regulating Sp & St | None noted |
Xiang Fu | 6 - 12 g | Liv, SJ, G, Acrid, Sl bitter, Sl sweet, Neutral | ٠Promotes flow of qi in the Lv & St ٠Regs menstruation ٠Alleviates pain | CI: ٠Qi xu & no stag ٠Yin xu & heat ٠Heat in the blood |
Tao Ren | 4.5 - 9 g | H, LI, Liv, L, Bitter, Neutral, Sweet | ٠Invigs blood ٠Dispels stasis ٠Moistens the Intestines ٠Stops cough & wheeze | CI: ٠Blood xu ٠During pregnancy |
Zhi Cao Wu | 1.3 - 3 g | Liv, Sp, K, Acrid, Bitter, Hot, Very Toxic | ٠Scours out wind ٠Disperses cold ٠Eliminates pain from cold ٠Breaks up accumulations due to Qi stag | None noted, except this herb is really toxic & must be processed |
Gan Jiang | 3 - 9 g | H, L, Sp, St, Acrid, Hot | ٠Warms the Sp ٠Transforms thin mucus ٠Unblocks the channels ٠ Revives the yang | CI: ٠Internal heat from yin xu ٠Heat in the blood leads to bleeding ٠Caution: Pregnancy |
Wu Zhu Yu | 1.5 - 4.5 g | Liv, Sp, S, Acrid, Bitter, Hot, Sl Toxic | ٠Strongly warms the middle & lower burner ٠Stops nausea & vomiting due to cold ٠Alleviates cold pain in the chest & abdomen | Should not be consumed long term
٠CI: Yin xu leading to heat signs |
Ren Shen | 3 - 9 g, .5 - 1 g (powder), up to 30 g (ER) | L, Sp, Sweet, Sl Bitter, Sl warm | ٠Powerfully tonifies the primal qi of the five organs ٠Nourishes the yin ٠Revives from collapse ٠Stops heavy bleeding | ٠Can contribute to retention of pathogen. NOT TO BE USED: ٠Steaming bone disorder ٠ Bleeding d/t heat in the blood ٠Ascendant Lv yang ٠Any condition d/t fire from constraint ٠Not to be taken w/ caffeine or other stims |
Huang Qi | 9 - 15 g, up to 30 g | L, Sp, Sweet, Sl Warm | ٠Raises the yang qi ٠Tonifies Lu & Sp Qi ٠Stops sweating ٠Facilitate urination ٠Promotes the discharge of pus ٠Generates flesh | Inappropriate: ٠Early stages of sores ٠When there is significant heat toxin present after the sores have ulcerated |
Shu Di Huang | 9 - 30 g | H, K, Liv, Sweet, Sl Warm | ٠Tonifies the blood ٠Enriches the yin ٠Generates the essence ٠Augments the marrow | ٠Very cloying & readily leads to stag of dampness.٠Impedes digestion ٠CI: ٠Qi Stag ٠Profuse phlegm ٠Phlegm, fullness & pain in abdomen ٠Reduced appetite ٠Diarrhea |
Bai Shao | 6 - 15 g | Lv, Sp, Bitter, Sour, Mildly cold | ٠Tonifies Lv Blood ٠Extinguishes wind ٠Stops pain ٠Nourishes the Lv & Sp yin | None noted |
Gui Ban | 15 -45 g | H, K, Lv, Salty, Sweet, Cold | ٠Strongly tonifies Lv & Kd yin ٠Subdues the yang ٠Strengthens the bones ٠Unblocks the Ren | CI: ٠Pregnancy ٠In those w/ cold dampness of the St |
Bie Jia | 9 - 30 g | Liv, Sp, Salty, Sl Cold | ٠Tonifies the yin ٠Subdues the yang ٠Clears heat from xu ٠Softens areas of hardness ٠Disperses clumping | CI: ٠Pregnancy ٠In those w/ deficiency of the Sp & St |
Fu Xiao Mai | 15 - 30 g | H, Sweet, Sl. Salty, Cool | ٠Augments the Ht Qi ٠Inhibits the Ht fluids ٠Clears heat from the pores & interstices, so it stops spontaneous sweats & night sweats | CI:٠Sweating from pathogen |
Suan Zao Ren | 9 - 15 g | G, H, Lv, Sp, Sweet, Sour, Neutral | ٠Nourishes the Ht Yin & Lv Blood ٠Promotes sleep ٠Inhibits sweating | CI: ٠Severe diarrhea ٠Heat from excess |
Gou Teng | 6 - 15 g | P, Lv, Sweet, Sl. Cold | ٠Drains Lv heat ٠Settles Lv wind | Caution: ٠Absence of wind-heat ٠Heat from excess (Don't decoct for longer than 20 mins) |
Tian Ma | 3 - 9 g | Lv, Sweet, Neutral | ٠Calms the Lv with gentle nourishment | None noted |
Shi Jue Ming | 15 - 30 g | K, Lv, Salty, Cold | ٠Cools Lv heat ٠Anchors Lv yang ٠Extinguishes Lv wind ٠Nourishes Lv yin | Caution: Cold from deficiency of Sp & St w/reduced appetite & loose stools |
Gui Zhi | 3 - 9 g | L, B, H, Acrid, Sweet, Bitter | ٠Light & warm ٠Releases the muscle layer ٠Unblocks the yang Qi. Warms the middle | CI'd in: ٠Warm heat pathogen disease. ٠Yin xu w/heat signs. ٠Heat in blood w/ vomiting. Use only 6 g or less when pregnancy or excessive menses. Use discouraged if signs of pathogenic heat. |
Qiang Huo | 3 - 9 g | B, K, Acrid, Bitter, Aromatic, Warm | ٠Clear, strong aroma, ٠Travels thru Qi level ٠Light in weight, reaches vertex & upper body. ٠Travels thru the limbs. ٠ Expels superficial dampness. | CIed in blood deficient painful obstruction |