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

Tastes: Sweet, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Stomach and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. Nourishes Stomach and Lung Yin
   Stomach and Lung Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire Rising
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, fortifty the Stomach and Intestines, make the body light and prolong life. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction, double if fresh.

Pinyin: Chi Shao  Chinese: 赤芍
Pharmaceutical: Radix Paeoniae Rubra
Taxonomy: Paeonia lactiflora seu veitchii
English: Red Peony Root

Tastes: Bitter, pungent, light cold
Meridians Entered: Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat and cools the Blood
   Xue Stage Heat Stage Heat or Blood Heat with fever, a purple tongue, maculae, hemorrhage and Blood Heat gynecological problems
2. Clears Liver Fire and relieves eye pain
   Liver Fire with redness, swelling and pain of the eyes
3. Reduces swelling from sores and abscesses
   Early stage abscesses and boils
4. Eliminates Evil Qi, breaks up Blood Stasis, disperses accumulations and fortifies Qi
   The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing places this in the middle class of herbs and says that "It mainly treats Evil Qi and abdominal pain, eliminates blood impediment, breaks hard gatherings and cold and heat mounting conglomeration, relieves pain, disinhibits urination, and boosts the qi.

Standard Dosage: 6-12g in decoction.
Cautions: It is antagonistic to Li Lu. It should be used with caution in hot skin conditions where it may aggravate by "fanning the flames". Caution with anticoagulants as it may slow clotting time. May also slow the absorption of phenytoin.

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: Ge Gen  Chinese: 葛根
Pharmaceutical: Radix Puerariae
Taxonomy: Pueraria lobata
English: Kudzu Vine Root

Tastes: Sweet, pungent, cool
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Discharges Exterior conditions and releases the muscles, especially of the neck and upper back
   Wind-Heat or Wind-Cold lodged in the muscles of the upper back and neck
2. Relieves Heat and generates fluids (relieves thirst)
   Thirst due to Stomach Heat or Wind-Heat or Wasting and Thirsting
3. Vents and discharges measles
   Measles with incomplete expression of the rash
4. Raises Spleen Yang and stops diarrhoea
   Diarrhoea or dysentery due to Heat
   Diarrhoea due to Spleen Deficiency (with appropriate herbs)
5. Lowers blood pressure
   Hypertension symptoms such as headache, dizziness, tinnitus or paresthesia

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Nu Zhen Zi  Chinese: 女貞子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Ligustri Lucidi
Taxonomy: Ligustrum Lucidim
English: Glossy Privet Fruit

Tastes: Sweet, bitter, cool
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes and tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin
   Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiencies with dizziness, spots before the eyes, lower back soreness, premature graying of the hair and tinnitus
2. Clears Deficiency Heat
   Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire Rising
3. Improves vision
   Diminished visual acuity in those with Liver and Kidney Deficiencies
4. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make one fat and strong, the body light and prevent forgetfulness. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction. Alcohol extracts may be preferable to extract the oleanolic and ursolic acid content.

Pinyin: Chong Wei Zi  Chinese: 茺蔚子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Leonuri
English: Asian Motherwort Seed

Tastes: Sweet, pungent, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Invigorates the Blood and regulates the menses
   Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea or postpartum abdominal pain due to Blood Stasis
2. Clears Heat and clears the eyes
   Headache or red swollen, painful eyes, nebulae or conjunctivitis due to Liver Heat
   Pterygium

Standard Dosage: 6-9g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated to liver-blood deficiency, corectasis and pregnant women.