Huang Qi
| 30g | |
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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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Bi Xie
| 45g | |
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Pinyin: Bi Xie
Chinese: 萆薢
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae
Taxonomy: Dioscorea Hypoglauca
English: Fish Poison Yam Rhizome / Tokoro / Long Yam Root / Seven-Lobed Yam (Mian Bei Xie)
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Tastes: Bitter, bland
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Stomach
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Actions & Indications:
- Separates the pure from the turbid (resolves turbid Dampness in the Lower Jiao)
Turbid Dampness in the Lower Jiao with cloudy urine, vaginal discharge
Deficiency Heat or Damp-Heat
- Expels Wind-Dampness, relaxes the sinews and unblocks the Luo channels
Wind-Damp Bi or Damp-Heat Bi with low back pain, numbness or stiffness of the lower extremities, muscle aches (mild effect)
- Clears Damp-Heat from the skin
Damp-Heat skin lesions (eczema, pustular sores)
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Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
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Fang Feng
| 45g | |
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Pinyin: Fang Feng
Chinese: 防风
Pharmaceutical: Radix Saposhnikoviae seu Ledebouriellae
English: Siler
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Tastes: Pungent, sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Liver and Spleen
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Actions & Indications:
- Releases the Exterior and expels External Wind
Wind-Cold with headache, chills, aversion to Cold, and body aches
- Expels Wind-Dampness and alleviates pain
Wind-Damp Bi, especially with Wind predominant
- Expels Internal Wind and stops spasms
As an auxiliary for Liver Wind with trembling of hands and feet and tetany
Intestinal-Wind due to imbalance between Spleen and Liver with recurrent tenesmus and painful diarrhoea with bright blood in the stool
Migraine headaches
- Relieves diarrhoea and stops bleeding
Liver and Spleen Disharmony with recurrent painful diarrhoea, borborygmus and abdominal pain
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Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with caution for blood deficiency and internal wind induced by heat because of its warm property. |
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Niu Xi | 60g | |
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Rou Gui
| 30g | |
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Pinyin: Rou Gui
Chinese: 肉桂
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Cinnamomi
Taxonomy: Cinnamomum cassia
English: Cinnamon Bark
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Tastes: Pungent, sweet, hot
Meridians Entered: Kidney, Spleen, Heart and Liver
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Actions & Indications:
- Warms the Kidneys, Spleen and Heart and strengthens Yang and Ming Men Fire
Kidney Yang Deficiency and Deficiency of Ming-Men Fire with aversion to Cold, cold limbs, weak back, impotence and urinary frequency
Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency with abdominal pain and Cold, reduced appetite and diarrhoea
Kidney Unable to Grasp Qi
Heart Yang Deficiency, particularly with chest Bi
- Disperses deep Cold, warms the channels, unblocks the channels and vessels and alleviates pain
Deep Cold causing Qi Stagnation or Blood Stasis with Cold in the Blood causing amenorrhea or dysmenorrhea, Cold-Damp Bi, Yin-type boils (chronic sores that are usually concave and ooze a clear fluid) and sores or abscesses that do not heal
It enters the Blood aspect and, in small amounts, enhances the Blood moving action of other substances
- Leads the Fire back to its source
Upward Floating of Deficient Yang (False Heat, True Cold or Heat Above and Cold Below) with flushed face, wheezing, severe sweating (the sweat pours out like oil), weak and cold lower extremities and a deficient and rootless pulse
Any condition with Heat in the Upper body (dry mouth, sore throat, or teeth which is worse at night) and Cold in the Lower body (Lower back pain, cold lower extremities, diarrhoea and weakness in the proximal portion of the pulse)
- Assists in the generation of Qi and Blood
Chronic Qi and Blood Deficiency (auxiliary)
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Standard Dosage: 1-5g in decoction. It should be decocted later.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for syndrome of yin deficiency with fire effulgent, haemorrhage due to blood heat and pregnant women. It is incompatible with Chi Shi Zhi (nineteen incompatibilities). |
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Shi Hu
| 60g | |
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Pinyin: Shi Hu
Chinese: 石斛
Pharmaceutical: Herba Dendrobii
Taxonomy: Dendrobium nobile seu loddigesis seu fimbriatum var. oculatum seu chrysanthum seu candidum
English: Stonebushel Stem
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Tastes: Sweet, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Stomach and Kidney
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Actions & Indications:
- Nourishes Yin, clears Heat and generates fluids
Parched mouth, severe thirst or intractable fever associated with Yin Deficiency, most commonly when the Fluids are injured during a warm pathogen disease
- Enriches Kidney Yin and reduces Heat from Deficiency
Yin Deficiency Heat and depleted Fluids with a recalcitrant low-grade fever, dry and painful throat and a red tongue with no coat
- Tonifies the Kidneys, augments Jing, brightens the eyes, strengthens the tendons and bones and strengthens the low back
Dull vision, dizziness and low back weakness and pain associated with Kidney and Liver Deficiency
- Nourishes Stomach and Lung Yin
Stomach and Lung Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire Rising
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Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction, double if fresh.
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Du Zhong
| 45g | |
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Pinyin: Du Zhong
Chinese: 杜仲
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Eucommiae
Taxonomy: Eucommia ulmoides
English: Hardy Rubber Tree / Chinese Rubber Tree
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Tastes: Sweet, warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Liver
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Actions & Indications:
- Tonifies the Kidneys and Liver and strengthens the sinews and bones
Kidney and Liver Deficiency with a weak, sore or painful lower back and knees, fatigue and urinary frequency
Weakness of sinews and bones
- Aids the smooth flow of Qi and Blood
Promotes circulation for weak sinews and bones
- Calms the fetus
Deficiency Cold patterns with bleeding during pregnancy
Prevents miscarriage when the fetus is agitated or restless and when a pregnant woman has significant back pain or presents with a deficient condition
Threatened abortion
- Lowers blood pressure
Dizziness and light-headedness due to Liver Yang Rising
- Tonifies Kidney Yang
Reproductive and urinary disorders such as impotence and incontinence
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Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.
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Rou Cong Rong
| 60g | |
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Pinyin: Rou Cong Rong
Chinese: 肉蓯蓉
Pharmaceutical: Herba Cistanches
Taxonomy: Cistanche tubulosa seu deserticola
English: Broomrape Stem, "Ginseng of the deserts"
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Tastes: Sweet, salty, warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Large Intestine
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Actions & Indications:
- Tonifies the Kidneys, strengthens Yang, benefits Jing and marrow and warms the Womb
Kidney Yang Deficiency with impotence, spermatorrhea, urinary incontinence, post-urinary dripping and Cold pain in the lower back and knees
Cold from Deficiency of the Womb with infertility, excessive uterine bleeding or vaginal discharge
- Moistens the Intestines and facilitates the passage of stool
Constipation due to dry Intestines from inadequate fluids in elderly or debilitated people or people with Deficient Qi or Blood (with a large dosage, it can be used as a stand-alone herb)
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Standard Dosage: 6-21g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with effulgent fire, stagnation of excess heat, and loose stool because it can tonify yang and smooth stool. |
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Zhi Fu Zi
| 30g | |
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Pinyin: Fu Zi
Chinese: 附子
Pharmaceutical: Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata
Taxonomy: Aconitum carmichaeli
English: Aconite Root / Monkshood Root
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Tastes: Pungent, sweet, hot, toxic
Meridians Entered: Heart, Kidney and Spleen
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Actions & Indications:
- Restores Devastated Yang and rescues from rebellion
Devastated Yang with diarrhoea containing undigested food, chills, cold extremities and a faint almost imperceptible pulse (often as a result of severe vomiting, diarrhoea or sweating)
- Warms Ming Men Fire and assists Heart, Kidney and Spleen Yang
Heart Yang Deficiency
Spleen Yang Deficiency
Kidney Yang Deficiency
- Disperses Cold and Dampness, warms the channels and stops pain
Wind-Damp-Cold Bi
Cold blocking the organs, channels, bones and Blood vessels
Yin flat abscesses
Gu Parasites /
chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for heat syndrome, yin-deficiency leading to hyperactivity of yang and the pregnant because of its pungent, hot, dry and drastic properties. It must be soaked and decocted for about half and hour to one hour until numbing taste disappears for oral use. Over-dosage and incorrect processing must be avoided.
This herb is prohibited from use in the UK under the banned and restricted herbal ingredients list issued by the MHRA. It is generally substituted with various Yang tonics depending on the presentation although none can imitate its powerful cardiovascular effects making them ineffective substitutes for rescuing devastated Yang. External use is permitted at 1.3% or below. |
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Shan Zhu Yu
| 30g | |
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Pinyin: Shan Zhu Yu / Shan Yu Rou
Chinese: 山茱萸 / 山萸肉
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Corni
Taxonomy: Cornus officinalis
English: Dogwood Fruit
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Tastes: Sour, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney
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Actions & Indications:
- Stabilizes the Kidneys and astringes Jing and Body Fluids
Leakage of fluids due to weak Jing with urinary frequency, incontinence, spermatorrhea and excessive sweating
- Stops excessive sweating and supports that which has collapsed
Collapse of Qi with excessive sweating and shock
Devastated Yang with excessive sweating and shock
Sweating mistakenly induced as a treatment
- Tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin and strengthens Kidney Yang
Lightheadedness, dizziness, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees or impotence due to Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency and Kidney Yang Deficiency
- Stabilizes the menses and stops bleeding
Excessive uterine bleeding and prolonged menstruation due to Deficiency (weak effect)
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Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
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Shi Nan Ye
| 30g | |
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Pinyin: Shi Nan Ye
Chinese: 石楠叶
Pharmaceutical: Folium Photiniae
English: Chinese Photinia Leaf
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Tastes: Pungent, neutral, bitter, slightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney
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Actions: Dispel wind, dredge meridians and tonify kidney. |
Indications:
Impotence, spermatorrhea, sores and weakness of waist and knees, rheumatic arthritis, migraine, rubella |
Standard Dosage: 6-12g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in case of yin deficiency with effulgent fire. |
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Fu Ling
| 30g | |
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Pinyin: Fu Ling
Chinese: 茯苓
Pharmaceutical: Poria
Taxonomy: Poria cocos syn. Wolfiporia extensa
English: China-Root / Hoelen / Tuckahoe / Indian Bread
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Tastes: Sweet, bland, neutral
Meridians Entered: Heart, Spleen, and Kidney
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Actions & Indications:
- Strengthens the Spleen and harmonizes the Middle Jiao
Spleen Deficiency Dampness with anorexia, diarrhoea and epigastric distention
- Strengthens the Spleen
Phlegm Dampness due to Spleen Deficiency with thin mucus in which Phlegm moves upward manifesting as palpitations, headache, dizziness and a thick, greasy tongue coat
- Promotes urination and leaches out Dampness
Urinary difficulty, diarrhoea or oedema due to Stagnation of Fluids or Dampness
- Quiets the Heart, calms the Spirit and soothes the nerves
Palpitations, insomnia or forgetfulness due to either Spleen and Heart Insufficiency or Internal Obstruction of Turbid Phlegm
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Standard Dosage: 9-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for spermatorrhea due to deficiency-cold. |
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Bai Jiu
| 2.25L | | |
Pinyin: Jiu
Chinese: 酒
Pharmaceutical: Alcohol
English: Rice Wine
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Tastes: Hot
Meridians Entered: Reaches every part of the body
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Actions & Indications:
- Nourishes and moves Blood and Qi, opens the Meridians
Taken internally or applied topically as the medium for liniments in Blood stasis, especially from trauma or Bi syndromes in the elderly
- Warms Yang and Expels Cold
All Cold syndromes including Cold Bi, Interior Cold and Yang deficiency
Often serves as the basis for longevity "elixirs" by soaking Yang tonifying herbs
- Strengthens the Shen, dispels sorrow and promotes happiness
Temporary low mood, celebration
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Standard Dosage: 10-60ml, two to three times per day. Often combined with other herbs to bring out their Blood moving or warming aspects by washing them, or adding to a decoction, or soaking herbs in alcohol to make medicinal wines.
Cautions: Caution with Damp-Heat syndromes or long term consumption in the young and middle aged.
The Materia Dietetica (Shiwu Bencao 食物本草) by Lu He 卢和 from the Ming Dynasty says that excess drinking can hurt the spirit and consume blood, damage the stomach and deplete the body fluid, produce phlegm and induce fire. |
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