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: Bei Mu  Chinese: 贝母
Pharmaceutical: Bulbus Fritillariae
Taxonomy: Fritillaria spp.
English: Fritillaria Bulb

Tastes: Bitter, sweet, lightly cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat, transforms Phlegm and stops coughing
   Acute Lung Heat patterns with productive cough
2. Clears Heat and dissipates nodules
   Phlegm-Fire causing neck swellings (Chuang Yung) Lung and breast abscesses

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Contraindicated to Wu Tou.

Pinyin: Ku Shen  Chinese: 苦參
Pharmaceutical: Radix Sophorae
Taxonomy: Sophorae flavescentis
English: Shrubby Sophora Root

Tastes: Bitter and cold
Meridians Entered: Liver, Gallbladder, Stomach, Large Intestine and Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat and dries Dampness
   Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao with jaundice, diarrhoea, dysenteric disorders, vaginal discharge and sores, viral hepatitis
2. Disperses Wind, kills parasites and stops itching
   Damp-toxin skin lesions or infestations with chronic itching, scabies, seepage and bleeding (internal and topical)
   Genital itching and vaginal discharge (internal and topical)
   Bronchial asthma
3. Clears Heat and promotes urination
   Damp-Heat in the Small Intestine
   Painful urinary dysfunction
   Hot oedema
4. Tonifies the Middle Jiao
   Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing to be among the middle class of herbs which can tonify the Middle Jiao to treat abdominal distension.
5. Improves eyesight
   Also said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing to improve eyesight and stop tearing
6. Expels Gu Parasites
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for deficiency cold syndrome. Overdose will weaken appetite and consume fluids, and may produce salivation, abnormal gait, dyspnpoea and tachycardia. In larger doses, nervous system stimulation with muscle spasm and seizures can occur.

This herb can not be used together with Li Lu being listed in the eighteen antagonisms.