Pinyin: Dang Shen  Chinese: 黨參
Pharmaceutical: Radix Codonopsis
Taxonomy: Codonopsis pilosula
English: Pilose Asiabell Root / Bonnet Bellflower Root / Poor Man's Ginseng / Bastard Ginseng

Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Lung and Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Middle Jiao and augments Qi
   Any chronic illness due to Spleen Qi Deficiency with anorexia, fatigue, tired limbs, diarrhoea and vomiting
2. Tonifies the Lungs
   Lung Qi Deficiency with chronic coughing and shortness of breath
   Copious sputum due to Spleen Qi Deficiency
3. Restores the constitution and assists herbs that release the exterior or drain downward when there is significant Qi Deficiency
   Supports the normal while other herbs expel pathogenic influences
4. Nourishes the Blood and promotes the generation of Body Fluids
   Deficiency of Qi, Blood and Body Fluids especially due to chronic illness

Standard Dosage: 10-30g in decoction.

Pinyin: Huang Jing  Chinese: 黄精
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Polygonati
Taxonomy: Polygonatum sibiricum seu kinganum seu cyrtonema
English: Solomon's Seal Root / Tai Yang Cao

Tastes: Sweet, neutral to warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Lung and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies Spleen Qi and nurtures Stomach Yin
   Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency with lassitude, fatigue, loss of appetite and poor mental focus
   Stomach Yin Deficiency with a dry mouth, loss of appetite, loss of taste, dry stools and abdominal distention due to Qi Stagnation
   Used to be used during times of famine as a source of nutrition and appetite suppressant
2. Moistens Lung Yin
   Lung Qi and Yin Deficiency with a dry cough, little sputum, and cough due to consumption
   Any type of cough where Dryness is significant
3. Tonifies the Kidney Blood and Yin, strengthens Jing and relieves wasting and thirsting
   Kidney Yin and Jing Deficiency with lower back pain, light-headedness, weakness of the lower extremities and memory loss
   Often used as a less cloying alternative to Shu Di Huang as it tonifies Kidney Yin and Spleen Qi
   Wasting and thirsting disorder, can be used for both weight gain in the malnourished and to stabilise blood sugars in the obese. Irregular heart rhythms, elevated cholesterol or low immunity (low WBC) due to Blood deficiency
   Developmental issues in children
4. Kills Parasites and calms the spirit
   One of the chief spirit calming herbs for Gu Sydnrome considered by Hua Tuo as both an energy tonic with a calming influence on meditation and as an anti-parasitic herb (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for dampness accumulation due to spleen deficiency, damp-phlegm stagnation and distending abdomen due to qi stagnation because of sticky and greasy properties.

Pinyin: San Qi / Tian Qi  Chinese: 三七 / 田七
Pharmaceutical: Radix Notoginseng
Taxonomy: Panax notoginseng
English: Pseudoginseng Root

Tastes: Sweet, slightly bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Stomach and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Stops bleeding without causing Blood Stasis
   Internal and external bleeding including hematemesis, epistaxis, hematochezia, metrorrhagia, bloody dysentery, menorrhagia, and hematuria, dizziness, pain
2. Invigorates the Blood without damaging the Blood
   Chest and abdominal pain and joint pain due to Blood Stasis
   Sores, carbuncles and snake and animal bites, conjunctivitis
   Hypertension (Pan et al., 2012)
   Cancer
3. Reduces swelling, alleviates pain and removes extravasated Blood
   Traumatic injury with swelling and pain, including falls, fractures, contusions and sprains, stab wounds, pain, dizziness and post-natal Blood retention
4. Relieves the symptoms of Gu Sydnrome while suppressing parasites (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction. 1-1.5g as powder or pills.
Cautions: Use with cautions for pregnant women.

Pinyin: Hu Po  Chinese: 琥珀
Pharmaceutical: Succinum
English: Amber

Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver and Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Stops tremors and palpitations and calms the Spirit
   Shen disturbance with palpitations with anxiety, excessive dreams, insomnia, forgetfulness, and seizures
   Childhood convulsions and seizures due to Heart Blood Deficiency with Internal Wind
2. Activates the Blood, dissipates Stasis and unblocks the menses
   Amenorrhea or pain associated with palpable immobile masses due to Blood Stasis (can be used alone for this)
   Coronary artery disease
3. Promotes urination and unblocks painful urinary dysfunction
   Urinary retention or painful urinary dysfunction (especially bloody urine)
4. Reduces swelling and promotes healing (topical)
   Sores, carbuncles, and skin ulcerations
   Swelling and pain of the scrotum or vulva

Standard Dosage: 1.5-3g in powder or pills. Should not be decocted.

Pinyin: Gan Song  Chinese: 甘松
Pharmaceutical: Radix et rhizome Nardostachys
Taxonomy: Nardostachys chinensis seu jatamansi
English: Spikenard

Tastes: Sweet, acrid, warm
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. Regulates Qi and alleviates pain, harmonises the Stomach and fortifies the Spleen
   Stomachache, loss of appetite, vomiting
   Distention, fullness and oppression in chest and abdomen
   Headache
   Hysteria
   Cough
   Modern studies on the volatile oils and indications from Ayurveda and Unani medicine include palpitations, especially from arrythmia or tachycardia, hypertension, angina pectoris, anxiety, insomnia, memory loss, stress, seizures and menstrual problems which may be attributes to the Spleen's functions of managing the Blood and housing the Yi. See notes below.
2. Expels Cold and unblocks Stagnation (topical)
   Fungal infections, hair loss, sores and boils
   Toothache
   Foot Qi
   Haemorrhoids, varicose veins

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.
Cautions: Caution with Qi deficiency, Blood-Heat and Blood deficiency due to its warm, pungent, dispersing nature.