Pinyin: Zhen Zhu Mu  Chinese: 珍珠母
Pharmaceutical: Concha Margaritifera Usta
English: Mother-of-Pearl Shell

Tastes: Salty, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Calms the Liver, anchors Yang and drains Liver Fire
   Liver Yang Rising due to Liver Yin Deficiency with dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus and insomnia
2. Clears the Liver and improves vision
   Blurred vision due to Liver Deficiency Liver Heat with red eyes, photophobia and superficial visual obstruction
3. Sedates fright and calms the Spirit
   Palpitations, anxiety, insomnia and other problems secondary to Shen disturbance
4. Stops bleeding
   Bleeding from the Upper Jiao
5. Promotes healing and reduces itching of the skin
   Eczema and itching (topically as a powder)
6. Neutralizes Stomach acid and relieves pain
   Peptic ulcers with pain and regurgitation

Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction.
Cautions: Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Gou Teng and Xia Ku Cao, or Bai Ji Li.

Pinyin: Long Chi  Chinese: 龙齿
Pharmaceutical: Dens Draconis
English: Fossilised Teeth

Tastes: Astringent, cool
Meridians Entered: Liver and Heart

Actions:
Clear heat, relieve restlessness, relieve convulsion and induce tranquilization.

Indications:
Insomnia, dreaminess, palpitation, epilepsy, dysphoria with smothery sensation

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.
Cautions: The high mineral content of this medication may prevent the oral absorption of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics.

Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Hu Po and Gou Teng.

Pinyin: Dang Gui  Chinese: 當歸
Pharmaceutical: Radix Angelicae sinensis
Taxonomy: Angelica sinensis
English: Chinese Angelica Root / Tang-Kuei / Dong Quai Root

Tastes: Sweet, Pungent, Warm
Meridians Entered: Heart and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Blood and regulates the menses
   Blood Deficiency, especially when affecting the Heart and Liver with pale, ashen complexion, lusterless nails, tinnitus, blurred vision and palpitations
   Blood Deficiency associated irregular menstruation, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea
2. Invigorates and harmonizes the Blood and disperses Cold (stops pain due to Blood Stasis)
   Blood Stasis causing abdominal pain and carbuncles and pain due to Blood Stasis from traumatic injury, especially when accompanied by Deficiency Cold
   Postpartum menstruation
   Pregnancy (use with caution)
   Blood Deficiency with chronic Wind-Damp-Bi
3. Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels
   Dry Intestines due to Blood Deficiency
4. Reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh and alleviates pain
   Sores and abscess (Chuang Yung), internally and topically
5. Stops coughing and treats dyspnea
   Used adjunctively for coughing
6. Tonifies the Blood while suppressing Parasites
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 6-12g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of Damp-Heat stagnating in the Middle, Lung Heat with Phlegm Fire, and Yin deficiency with effulgent Yang because it is warm and sweet in properties. In addition, it should be used with caution in cases of loose stool because it can moisten intestines to smooth stool.

Many sources recommend using caution, avoiding or only taking under guidance of a TCM physician during pregnancy as it can cause uterine contractions. However, there are no studies supporting this and the only scientific literature seems to suggest that Z-Ligustilide has anti-spasmodic activities that alleviate dysmenorrhoea by inhibiting uterine contractions (Du et al., 2006; Dietz et al., 2016).

Caution is also advised in breast cancer patients due to its oestrogen stimulating activity. This based upon Lau et al (2005) who found it may stimulate breast cancer growth in vitro, however Yue et al, (2019) demonstrated that it is not that stimulatory in breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo through a series of tests, although they suggested it should still be used with caution in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Conversely, a large population study in Taiwan by Wu et al (2014) found it reduced the subsequent risk of endometrial cancer in breast cancer survivors taking tamoxifen, especially in those of reproductive age.

Pinyin: Shu Di Huang  Chinese: 熟地黄
Pharmaceutical: Radix Rehmanniae Preparata
Taxonomy: Rehmannia glutinosa
English: Prepared Chinese Foxglove Root

Tastes: Sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes the Blood
   Blood Deficiency with facial pallor, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding and postpartum bleeding
2. 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
3. Strongly enriches Yin and relieves wasting and thirsting disorder
   Lower Jiao wasting (it can be used as a stand-alone herb for this)
4. 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
5. Arrests coughing and wheezing
   Kidney Deficient coughing, wheezing and asthma, such as inability of the Kidneys to grasp Qi

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.

Pinyin: Ren Shen  Chinese: 人參
Pharmaceutical: Radix Panax ginseng
Taxonomy: Panax ginseng
English: Ginseng Root

Tastes: Sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Lung and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. 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
2. Tonifies Spleen and Stomach Qi
   Lethargy, anorexia, chest and abdominal distention, chronic diarrhoea and, in severe cases, prolapse of the Stomach, uterus or rectum
3. Tonifies Lung Qi
   Lung Qi Deficiency with wheezing, shortness of breath and labored breathing on exertion
4. Generates Body Fluids and stops thirst
   Wasting and thirsting disorder (消渴 Xiao Ke) and high fevers with profuse sweating which injures Qi and fluids
5. Tonifies Heart Qi and calms the Spirit
   Heart Qi and Blood Deficiency with palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness and restlessness
6. Treats impotence
   With Kidney Yang tonics for impotence
7. Tonifies Qi in Deficiency patients with Exterior conditions
   Exterior disorder with Interior Deficiency
8. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, 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: 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.

Pinyin: Suan Zao Ren  Chinese: 酸枣仁
Pharmaceutical: Semen Ziziphi spinosae
Taxonomy: Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa
English: Spiny Date Seed / Sour Jujube Seed

Tastes: Sweet, sour, neutral
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver and Gallbladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes Heart Yin, tonifies Liver Blood and calms the Spirit
   Irritability, insomnia, palpitations and anxiety due to Liver Blood Deficiency or Heart Yin Deficiency with Deficiency Fire Rising
2. Astringes sweat and generates fluids
   Abnormal sweating, either spontaneous sweating or night sweats
3. Expels Dampness from the Channels and disperses Evil Binding Qi from the Heart
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of woods that "treats Heart and abdominal cold and heat and evil binding qi, aching pain in the limbs, and Damp Bi."
4. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as a herb which can, with protracted taking, "quiet the five viscera, 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: 9-15g in decoction.

Pinyin: Bai Zi Ren  Chinese: 柏子仁
Pharmaceutical: Semen Platycladi
English: Arborvitae Seed / Biota Seed

Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Liver and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes the Heart and calms the Spirit
   Heart Blood and Yin Deficiency with palpitations and anxiety
   Night terrors in children (can be used alone)
2. Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels
   Constipation in the elderly, debilitated or postpartum women due to Blood and Yin Deficiency
3. Astringes Yin Deficiency sweat
   Night sweats due to Yin Deficiency

Standard Dosage: 10-20g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for patients with loose stool or profuse phlegm.

Pinyin: Shui Niu Jiao  Chinese: 水牛角
Pharmaceutical: Cornu Bubali
English: Water Buffalo Horn

Tastes: Bitter, salty, cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver, Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat from the Ying and Xue, relieves Fire toxicity, cools the Blood and stops bleeding
   Very high fever and chaotic movement of Blood (erythema, purpura, epistaxis, hematemesis, convulsions and delirium)
2. Clears Heat and arrests tremors
   Unremitting high fever, loss of consciousness, delirium, convulsions or manic behaviour due to Warm-Disease
   Used externally as a material for Gua Sha tools where it excels in regulating the Blood and clearing Heat

Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction or made into Gua Sha tools for external use.

Pinyin: Fu Shen  Chinese: 茯神
Pharmaceutical: Poria cum Radix Pini
Taxonomy: Poria cocos syn. Wolfiporia extensa et Pinus spp.
English: China-Root Core with Tree Bark

Tastes: Sweet, mild, neutral
Meridians Entered: Heart and Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. 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
   Shen disturbance
   Restless Heart
2. Strengthens the Spleen and harmonizes the Middle Jiao
   Spleen Deficiency Dampness with anorexia, diarrhoea and epigastric distention
3. 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
4. Promotes urination and leaches out Dampness
   Urinary difficulty, diarrhoea or oedema due to Stagnation of Fluids or Dampness
   Fluid Stagnation
5. Calms the Spirit agitated by Dampness from Parasites
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 9-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in case of difficult urination due to kidney deficiency or spermatorrhea due to deficiency-cold.

Pinyin: Chen Xiang  Chinese: 沉香
Pharmaceutical: Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum
Taxonomy: Aquilaria agallocha seu sinensis seu malaccensis
English: Agarwood / Aloeswood / Eaglewood

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Promotes movement of Qi and alleviates pain
   Qi Stagnation, with distention, pain or a feeling of pressure in the epigastric or abdominal region Especially useful for Deficiency Cold or Blood Stagnation
2. Descends Qi, regulates the Middle, dispels Cold, warms the Spleen and Stomach and stops vomiting
   Rebellious Qi wheezing from either Excess or Deficiency Vomiting, belching or hiccup due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold
3. Warms the Kidneys and aids the Kidneys in grasping Qi
   Asthma and wheezing due to Kidneys Unable to Grasp Qi

Standard Dosage: 1-3g in decoction.