Ren Shen
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Ren Shen
Chinese: 人參
Pharmaceutical: Radix Panax ginseng
Taxonomy: Panax ginseng
English: Ginseng Root
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Tastes: Sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Lung and Heart
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Actions & Indications:
- Powerfully tonifies Yuan Qi
Extreme collapse of Qi or abandoned conditions that manifest in shallow breathing, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating and an almost imperceptible pulse (after blood loss, overly profuse sweating or other problems related to severe fluid loss - it can be used alone in these emergencies)
Collapse of Yang
Collapse of Yin
- Tonifies Spleen and Stomach Qi
Lethargy, anorexia, chest and abdominal distention, chronic diarrhoea and, in severe cases, prolapse of the Stomach, uterus or rectum
- Tonifies Lung Qi
Lung Qi Deficiency with wheezing, shortness of breath and labored breathing on exertion
- Generates Body Fluids and stops thirst
Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke) and high fevers with profuse sweating which injures Qi and fluids
- Tonifies Heart Qi and calms the Spirit
Heart Qi and Blood Deficiency with palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness and restlessness
- Treats impotence
With Kidney Yang tonics for impotence
- Tonifies Qi in Deficiency patients with Exterior conditions
Exterior disorder with Interior Deficiency
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Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction, 10-30g for exhaustion syndrome due to Qi deficiency.
Cautions: Antagonizing to Li Lu; the warm nature of sun-dried raw Ren Shen is weaker than that of Hong Shen. |
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Huang Qi
| 24g | |
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Pinyin: Huang Qi
Chinese: 黄芪
Pharmaceutical: Radix Astragali
Taxonomy: Astragalus membranaceus
English: Astragalus Root / Mongolian Milkvetch Root
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Tastes: Sweet, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung and Spleen
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Actions & Indications:
- Tonifies Qi and Blood
Postpartum fever due to Qi and Blood Deficiency
Recovery from severe Blood loss
- Strengthens the Spleen and raises the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach
Spleen Qi Deficiency with anorexia, fatigue and diarrhoea
Central Qi Sinking (prolapse)
Lung and Spleen Qi Deficiency
Qi Failing to contain Blood
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Fever from Qi Deficiency
- Tonifies Wei Qi, stabilizes the Exterior and tonifies the Lungs (aids circulation of moisture downward from the face)
Wei Qi Deficiency with spontaneous sweating
Lung Qi Deficiency with frequent colds or shortness of breath
Excessive sweating associated with Qi, Yang or Yin Deficiency
Dampness in the head
- Promotes urination and reduces oedema
Spleen Deficiency oedema or superficial oedema with reduced urination (It can be used as a stand-alone herb for this)
- Promotes the discharge of pus, generates flesh and expels toxins
Chronic ulcerations and sores that either have trouble forming pus or have formed pus but are not draining well
- Generates Body Fluids
Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke)
Bi Syndrome with numbness of the limbs and paralysis
- Relieves numbness and pain
Numbness and pain due to Deficiency of Qi and Blood
- Tonifies the Qi while suppressing Parasites
Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
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Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction. Large dosages of up to 30g can be used for severe debilitation, Blood deficiency or unhealing sores (e.g. Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang).
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of exterior excess with excessive pathogen, internal obstruction, yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity, early stage of sores and ulcers of excessive pathogen and no deficiency of heathy qi, because it can tonify qi, raise yang and strengthen superficial.Caution with patients on immunosuppressents due to its immune modulating effects. |
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Shu Di Huang
| 24g | |
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Pinyin: Shu Di Huang
Chinese: 熟地黄
Pharmaceutical: Radix Rehmanniae Preparata
Taxonomy: Rehmannia glutinosa
English: Prepared Chinese Foxglove Root
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Tastes: Sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Liver
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Actions & Indications:
- Nourishes the Blood
Blood Deficiency with facial pallor, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding and postpartum bleeding
- Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency with a weak low back and limbs, dizziness, tinnitus, tidal fevers, night sweats and nocturnal emissions
- Strongly enriches Yin and relieves wasting and thirsting disorder
Lower Jiao wasting (it can be used as a stand-alone herb for this)
- Nourishes Jing and Blood and fills the Marrow
Exhausted Jing and Blood problems such as delayed development during childhood, blunted affect, premature aging, diminished mental acuity, graying of hair, impotence and memory loss
- Arrests coughing and wheezing
Kidney Deficient coughing, wheezing and asthma, such as inability of the Kidneys to grasp Qi
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Standard Dosage: 10-30g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for spleen and stomach deficiency, loose stool due to fullness in abdomen and qi stagnation with excessive phlegm because it is greasy and will produce indigestion. |
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Wu Wei Zi
| 6g | |
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Pinyin: Wu Wei Zi
Chinese: 五味子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Schisandrae
Taxonomy: Schisandra chinensis
English: Schisandra Fruit / Chinese Magnolia-vine Fruit
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Tastes: Sour, sweet, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Heart and Kidney
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Actions & Indications:
- Astringes the leakage of Lung Qi and stops coughing
Chronic cough and wheezing due to Lung Qi Deficiency
Lung and Kidney Deficiency patterns
- Tonifies the Kidneys, binds up Essence (astringes Jing) and stops diarrhoea and spermatorrhea
Kidney Deficiency with nocturnal emissions, spermatorrhea, vaginal discharge and urinary frequency
Spleen and Kidney Deficiency with daybreak diarrhoea
- Astringes sweat and generates fluids
Excessive sweating. especially when accompanied by thirst or a dry throat
In combination, it is used for spontaneous sweating, night sweats and wasting and thirsting disorder
- Quiets the Spirit and calms and contains Heart Qi
Heart and Kidney Blood and Yin Deficiency, with irritability, palpitations, dream-disturbed sleep and insomnia
- Tonifies Qi
Heart and Spleen Qi Deficiency
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Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction. 1-3g as powder.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of external pathogen existence, internal excess heat, acute cough, early stage of measles. |
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Zi Wan
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Zi Wan
Chinese: 紫菀
Pharmaceutical: Radix Asteris
English: Purple Aster Root
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Tastes: Bitter, pungent, sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Lung
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Actions & Indications:
- Relieves coughs and expels Phlegm
Cough of various etiologies including Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat, Lung Deficiency and consumption (Yin Deficiency) (primarily chronic coughing, especially Cold-induced with copious sputum that is difficult to expectorate or Blood streaked sputum)
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Sang Bai Pi
| 12g | | |
Pinyin: Sang Bai Pi
Chinese: 桑白皮
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Mori
Taxonomy: Morus alba
English: Mulberry Root Bark
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Tastes: Sweet, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung
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Actions & Indications:
- Drains Heat from the Lungs, stops coughing and calms wheezing
Coughing and wheezing, fullness and hemoptysis due to Lung Heat
- Promotes urination and reduces oedema
Lung Heat obstructing the descending action of the Lung, preventing water from moving and stopping perspiration (floating oedema, facial oedema, swelling of the upper extremities, fever, thirst, urinary difficulty, a floating pulse)
- Treats hypertension
Hypertension
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for lung cold and wind-cold cough patients for its cold and descending property. It should be used with cautions for patients with much urine. |
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Reference Notes: (click to display)
Most formulas are found in Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet (2009): Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies and Chen & Chen (2015) Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications. Others are from translations of primary sources. It is recommended that the original material is cross-referenced for mistakes and additional information.
Substitutions have been taken from Ken Lloyd & Prof. Leung (2004): Mayway UK Substitution List or the above publications and are intended as suggestions to help navigate the tight restrictions in the UK quickly. More applicable substitutions may be appropriate in specific situations.
Individual herb information has initially been sourced from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.