Pinyin: Chuan Lian Zi  Chinese: 川楝子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Meliae Toosendan
English: Sichuan Pagoda Tree Fruit / Sichuan Chinaberry / Melia Fruit

Tastes: Bitter, cold, mildly toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver, Stomach, Small Intestine and Urinary Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Dredges Liver Qi, releases Stagnation, stops pain and conducts Heat out from below
   Liver Qi Stagnation with pain in the chest and ribs, distention and pain from Liver/Stomach disharmony and bulging disorders
   It is most useful for problems involving Heat, but because it is very effective, it can also be used for Cold conditions with the appropriate herbs
2. Kills parasites and stops pain
   Roundworms and tapeworms
   Primarily used for abdominal pain associated with parasitic infestation
   Topically as a powder for dermatosis of the scalp
3. Kills fungus
   Topically, as a paste for fungal infections of the scalp
4. Removes the Three Worms
   Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that it removes the Three Worms. These may refer to difficult to treat metabolic disorders caused by overindulgence and should be accompanied by fasting, meditation and exercise regimes.

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is bitter, cold and mildly toxic in property, so it can easily induce nausea, vomiting, etc. when overtaken.

Pinyin: Mu Xiang  Chinese: 木香
Pharmaceutical: Radix Aucklandiae
English: Costus Root

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine and Gall Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Promotes the movement of Qi and alleviates pain
   Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation with anorexia, a feeling of food sitting in the Stomach, epigastric or abdominal pain or distention, nausea and vomiting
   Liver or Gallbladder Qi Stagnation with flank pain, distention or soreness
2. Adjusts and regulates stagnant Qi in the Intestines
   Intestinal Qi Stagnation with diarrhoea or dysenteric disorders, abdominal pain and tenesmus
3. Strengthens the Spleen and prevents Stagnation
   Stagnation from tonic herbs, especially when the transportive and transformative functions of the Spleen are weak
4. Dispels Damp-Heat and harmonizes the Liver and Spleen
   Disharmony of the Liver and Spleen with hypochondriac pain and distention, a bitter taste in the mouth, a yellow tongue coat and possibly jaundice
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, prevent oppressive Ghost Dreams whether sleeping during the day or the night. 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).
6. Suppresses Gu Parasites
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Xiao Hui Xiang  Chinese: 小茴香
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Foeniculi
Taxonomy: Foeniculum vulgare
English: Fennel Seed

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver, Kidney, Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Warms the Liver and Kidneys, expels Cold and alleviates pain
   Cold in the Lower Jiao with lower abdominal pain
   Cold Invading the Liver Channel with Cold bulging disorders
2. Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Stomach
   Stomach Cold with abdominal pain, indigestion, reduced appetite and vomiting

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.

Pinyin: Wu Zhu Yu  Chinese: 吴茱萸
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Evodiae
Taxonomy: Evodia rutaecarpa
English: Evodia Fruit

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, hot, mildly toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver, Spleen, Stomach and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Warms the Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, promotes the movement of Qi (relieves Stagnation in the Liver channel) and alleviates pain
   Stomach or Liver Channel Cold or Phlegm, with headache, epigastric pain with nausea, drooling, reduced taste, a pale tongue with a wiry or weak pulse
   Cold bulging disorders in the area traversed by the Liver channel and dysmenorrhea
   Disharmony between the Liver and Stomach
2. Spreads the Liver, descends rebellious Qi and stops vomiting
   Acid regurgitation and vomiting - can be used for either Hot or Cold disorders depending on the other herbs with which it is combined
3. Warms the Spleen, stops diarrhoea and expels Damp-Cold
   Diarrhoea from Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
   Damp-Cold Leg Qi
4. Leads Fire downward
   Mouth and tongue sores (grind into a powder, mix with vinegar and place on the soles of the feet)
5. Kills the Three Worms
   Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that it kills the Three Worms. These may refer to difficult to treat metabolic disorders caused by overindulgence and should be accompanied by fasting, meditation and exercise regimes.

Standard Dosage: 1.5-4.5g in decoction.
Cautions: It is not suitable to be taken in large dosage for a long time, and contraindicated for yin deficiency with internal heat.