Pinyin: Huo Xiang  Chinese: 藿香
Pharmaceutical: Herba Pogostemonis seu Agastaches
Taxonomy: Pogostemon cablin seu Agastache rugosa
English: Patchouli / Korean Mint

Tastes: Pungent, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Aromatically transforms Dampness, releases the Exterior and dispels Summerheat (transforms turbidity)
   Turbid Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao
   Summer Heat-Dampness, Damp-Warmth or Wind-Dampness
2. Harmonizes the Middle Jiao and stops vomiting
   Nausea or vomiting due to Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao
   Other types of vomiting, and morning sickness when combined with appropriate herbs
3. Treats dermatosis and fungal infection
   Dermatosis and fungal infections affecting either the hands or feet

Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Bo He  Chinese: 薄荷
Pharmaceutical: Herba Menthae haplocalycis
Taxonomy: Mentha haplocalyx
English: Field Mint / Wild Mint

Tastes: Pungent, cool
Meridians Entered: Lung and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Disperses Wind-Heat, cools and clears the head and eyes and benefits the throat
   Wind-Heat with fever, cough, headache, red eyes and a sore throat
2. Vents rashes
   Early-stage rashes e.g. measles
3. Relieves Stagnation of Liver Qi
   Liver Qi Stagnation with pressure in the chest or flanks, emotional instability and gynecological problems
4. Expels turbid filth
   Exposure to unclean Qi in the Summertime leading to gastric distress with abdominal pain, vomiting. diarrhoea and a thick, yellow, greasy tongue coat
5. Releases the Exterior and Drives Out Snakes
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
   One of the chief herbs for treating Gu Syndrome, along with Bai Zhi and Zi Su Ye, classed as "open the exterior with snake killing herbs" (Fruehauf, 1998).

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Dong Gua Zi  Chinese: 冬瓜子
Pharmaceutical: Semen Benincasae
Taxonomy: Benincasa hispida
English: Chinese Waxgourd Seed / Winter Melon Seed

Tastes: Sweet, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat, expels Phlegm, expels pus and moistens the Lungs
   Lung Heat with expectoration of thick, yellow sputum
   Intestinal Heat
   Damp-Heat with Phlegm Obstruction in the Upper or Lower Jiao as in Intestinal abscess
2. Clears Heat and drains Dampness
   Damp-Heat vaginal discharge
3. 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 slow ageing. 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.

Pinyin: Pei Lan  Chinese: 佩蘭
Pharmaceutical: Herba Eupatorii fortunei
Taxonomy: Eupatorium fortunei
English: Fragrant Thoroughwort

Tastes: Pungent, neutral
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Aromatically transforms Dampness, awakens the Spleen and regulates the Middle
   Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao Stifling sensation in the chest, lack of appetite, nausea and a white, moist tongue coat
   Damp-Heat in the Spleen channel with a sweet, sticky taste in the mouth, excessive saliva and bad breath
2. Transforms Dampness and releases Summerheat
   Summerheat with Dampness with nausea and early-stage Warm-Damp febrile disease
3. Kills Gu Toxins
   Chronic patterns of abdominal disease that are unresponsive to most medicines
4. Aromatically dispels Middle Jiao turbid filth to unbind the Stomach Harmonizes the Middle
   Internal accumulation of increasingly thickened dampness in the Middle Jiao binding Stomach Qi (lethargy, nausea, anorexia, epigastric and abdominal distention and pain with a very thick, greasy tongue coat
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, boost the Qi, make the body light, slow ageing and enable one to communicate with the Spirit Light (Shen Ming 神明). 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.
Cautions: This herb can no longer be used internally due to containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. It is probably best substituted with Huo Xiang or Xiang Ru.

Pinyin: Pi Pa Ye  Chinese: 枇杷叶
Pharmaceutical: Folium Eriobotryae
English: Loquat Leaf

Tastes: Bitter, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Transforms Phlegm, clears Lung Heat and descends Lung Qi
   Lung Heat or Lung Dryness with cough and wheezing Phlegm-Heat Rebellious Lung Qi
2. Harmonizes the Stomach, clears Stomach Heat and descends Stomach Qi
   Stomach Heat with nausea, vomiting, hiccup and belching Rebellious Stomach Qi

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Lu Gen  Chinese: 芦根
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Phragmitis
Taxonomy: Phragmites australis
English: Reed Rhizome

Tastes: Sweet and cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat and irritability from the Lungs and Stomach and generates fluids
   Internal Heat patterns with high fever, irritability and thirst, dry mouth and throat.
   Lung Heat (especially when acute) , Lung carbuncle, Lung abscess
2. Clears Stomach Heat, regulates Stomach Qi, relieves thirst and stops vomiting
   Stomach Heat (especially when accompanied by rebellious Qi)
3. Clears Heat and promotes urination
   Dark, scanty urine and hematuria especially when accompanied by irritability and thirst
4. Vents rashes
   Wind-Heat rashes that are not completely expressed
5. Relieves food poisoning
   Relieves food poisoning due to ingestion of fish and crabs
   Alcohol poisoning

Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction.