Pinyin: Bu Gu Zhi  Chinese: 補骨脂
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Psoraleae
Taxonomy: Psoralea cordyfolia
English: Psoralea Fruit / Scurf Pea Berry / Po Gu Zhi 破故紙

Tastes: Sweet, bitter, astringent, warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney, Spleen, Lung, Pericardium

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Kidneys, strengthens Yang, stabilizes Jing and astringes urine
   Impotence, premature ejaculation, enuresis, urinary frequency, a cold and painful lower back and extremities
   Wheezing and shortness of breath due to Kidneys not grasping the Lung Qi
   Weakening of Ming Men Fire
2. Tonifies and warms Spleen and Kidney Yang to stop diarrhoea
   Diarrhoea with borborygmus and abdominal pain
   Cock-crow diarrhoea
   Most appropriate for those with both Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
3. Warms the skin and regulates the blood (soaked in wine and applied topically)
   Cold-type psoriasis, vitiligo and eczema
   Hyperpigmentation
   Dry, dull or loose skin with fine lines or rough texture

Standard Dosage: 5-15g in decoction.
Cautions: Contraindicated in cases of Yin deficiency with effulgent Fire and constipation.

Due to the psoralen content which increases the response to UV light, patients should be advised to avoid excessive exposure to the sun or discontinue taking if traveling to a hot climate.

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: Xu Duan  Chinese: 续断
Pharmaceutical: Radix Dipsaci
English: Himalayan Teasel Root

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and strengthens the sinews and bones
   Liver and Kidney Deficiency with sore and painful lower back and knees, stiffness in the joints and weakness in the legs
   Urinary dribbling from Kidney Deficiency
2. Stops uterine bleeding, calms the fetus and prevents miscarriage
   Bleeding during pregnancy
   Restless fetus
   Threatened miscarriage
   Ren channel Deficiency related uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge
3. Promotes the movement of Blood, alleviates pain, generates flesh and reconnects the sinews and bones
   Trauma (topical and internal) especially pain and swelling in the lower back and limbs
   External sores (topical)
   Bi pain
4. Reduces swellings, abscesses and sores
   Toxic abscesses and sores
5. Expels Gu Parasites
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
6. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the middle class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, boost the Qi and physical strength. 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: Yin Yang Huo / Xian Ling Pi  Chinese: 淫羊藿 / 仙靈脾
Pharmaceutical: Herba Epimedii
Taxonomy: Epimedium brevicornum, sagittatum, pubescens seu koreanum
English: Horny Goat Weed / Barrenwort / Bishop's Hat / Fairy's Wings

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Kidneys, strengthens Yang and increases the libido
   Kidney Yang Deficiency with impotence, infertility, urinary frequency, forgetfulness, withdrawal and painful, Cold lower back and knees
2. Dispels Wind-Cold-Dampness and warms and unblocks the flow of Yang Qi (strengthens the sinews and bones)
   Wind-Cold-Damp Bi with spasms, or cramps in the hands and feet, joint pain and numbness in the extremities Contractures, numbness or hemiplegia following Wind-Stroke

Standard Dosage: 5-15g in decoction.

Pinyin: Fu Zi  Chinese: 附子
Pharmaceutical: Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata
Taxonomy: Aconitum carmichaeli
English: Wolf's-bane Root / Monkshood Root / Aconite Root

Tastes: Pungent, sweet, hot, toxic
Meridians Entered: Heart, Kidney and Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. Restores Devastated Yang and rescues from rebellion
   Devastated Yang with diarrhoea containing undigested food, chills, cold extremities and a faint almost imperceptible pulse (often as a result of severe vomiting, diarrhoea or sweating)
2. Warms Ming Men Fire and assists Heart, Kidney and Spleen Yang
   Heart Yang Deficiency
   Spleen Yang Deficiency
   Kidney Yang Deficiency
3. Disperses Cold and Dampness, warms the channels and stops pain
   Wind-Damp-Cold Bi
   Cold blocking the organs, channels, bones and Blood vessels
   Yin flat abscesses
   Gu Parasites / chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 3-15g in decoction. Fire Spirit practitioners prescribe doses of 60-200g per day (Fruehauf, 2009).
Cautions: It is contraindicated for heat syndrome, yin-deficiency leading to hyperactivity of yang and the pregnant because of its pungent, hot, dry and drastic properties. It must be soaked and decocted for about half and hour to one hour until numbing taste disappears for oral use. Over-dosage and incorrect processing must be avoided.

This herb is prohibited from use in the UK under the banned and restricted herbal ingredients list issued by the MHRA. It is generally substituted with various Yang tonics depending on the presentation although none can imitate its powerful cardiovascular effects making them ineffective substitutes for rescuing devastated Yang. External use is permitted at 1.3% or below.

Pinyin: Gu Sui Bu  Chinese: 骨碎补
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Drynariae
English: Boneknit Rhizome / Fortune's Drynaria Rhizome

Tastes: Bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies Kidney Yang, strengthens the sinews and bones and benefits the ears (also helps regain strength after injuries)
   Weak low back and knees, diarrhoea, tinnitus, diminished hearing, loose, painful teeth and bleeding gums associated with Kidney Deficiency
2. Promotes mending of sinews and bones
   Traumatic injuries such as falls, fractures, contusions and sprains
   Especially useful for ligament injuries and simple fractures
3. Stimulates hair growth (topical)
   Topically as a tincture for alopecia
4. Invigorates the Blood
   Blood Stagnation especially due to trauma

Standard Dosage: 3 - 9g dried in decoction, or 6 - 15g if fresh, or applied topically to site.
Cautions: This herb is warm that can invigorate yang. Use with cautions for the yin deficiency and internal heat.

Pinyin: Gui Zhi  Chinese: 桂枝
Pharmaceutical: Ramulus Cinnamomi
Taxonomy: Cinnamomum cassia
English: Cinnamon Twig

Tastes: Pungent, sweet, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Heart, Kidney, Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Releases the Exterior, assists Yang, adjusts the Ying and Wei and releases the muscle layer
   Taiyang Wind Strike (Taiyang Zhongfeng, 太阳中风) - a weak person who catches cold easily with spontaneous sweating, aversion to drafts, fever and chills, nasal congestion, stiff and aching head and muscles
2. Warms the channels and collaterals to relieve pain
   Wind-Cold-Damp Bi
3. Unblocks Yang and transforms Qi and thin mucus
   Edema due to Cold-Phlegm or Yang Qi Deficiency with urinary dysfunction, dizziness and palpitations
4. Assists Heart Yang and warms and facilitates the flow of Yang Qi in the chest
   Palpitations due to Yang Obstruction in the chest due to Stagnation or Deficiency
   Listless chest Yang with upward movement of Phlegm and thin mucus and disorderly descent of Lung Qi with shortness of breath, chest and back pain and palpitations
   Heart and Spleen Yang Deficiency
5. Warms and facilitates the flow of Qi through the channels and collaterals and Blood through the vessels
   Wind-Cold-Damp Bi
   Blood Stasis due to Cold, causing amenorrhea or dysmenorrhea with or without abdominal masses
6. Warms the Middle and directs Turbid Yin downward
   Middle Jiao Yang Deficiency
   Heart and Spleen Yang Deficiency (patient usually craves sweets)
7. 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, prevent forgetfulness, and render the face bright and efflorescent, thus forever looking charming, like a child's face. 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: 3-10g in decoction for exterior conditions, or up to 15g for Bi Syndromes.
Cautions: This herb induces heat, damages the yin and moves blood. It is prohibited for those with warm pathogens, yin deficiency with effulgent fire, or reckless movement of the blood due to heat in the blood. Use with caution in pregnant women.

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

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: Bai Shao  Chinese: 白芍
Pharmaceutical: Radix Paeoniae Alba
Taxonomy: Paeonia lactiflora
English: White Peony Root

Tastes: Bitter, sour, sweet, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes the Blood and regulates menstruation
   Liver Blood Deficiency with menstrual dysfunction, vaginal discharge and uterine bleeding accompanied by a pale face, a lusterless complexion and dull, lusterless nails
   Anemia
   Breast distention and premenstrual syndrome
2. Astringes Yin and adjusts the Ying and Wei
   Yin Deficiency sweating Sweating due to Yin Collapse
   Disharmony between the Liver and Spleen
   Disharmony between the Ying and Wei with non-productive sweating
3. Calms Liver Yang and Liver Wind and alleviates pain
   Liver Qi Stagnation with Liver Yang Rising
   Liver Wind with Yin and Blood Deficiency
   Bi syndrome due to Blood Deficiency with pain and spasms
4. Softens the Liver and relieves pain
   Diarrhoea, borborygmus and abdominal pain
   Dysenteric disorders with tenesmus
5. Tonifies the Blood while suppressing Parasites
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 10-30g in decoction.
Cautions: Caution with anticoagulants as it may slow clotting time. May also slow the absorption of phenytoin.

Pinyin: Zhi Mu  Chinese: 知母
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Anemarrhenae
Taxonomy: Anemarrhena asphodeloides
English: Anemarrhena Rhizome

Tastes: Bitter, sweet, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, Stomach and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat and drains Fire (Clears Heat from the Qi Stage, from the Lungs and from the Stomach)
   Heat in the Qi Stage with high fever, irritability, restlessness, thirst and a rapid, flooding pulse.
   Lung Heat and Dryness with cough and expectoration of thick, yellow Phlegm
   Yang Ming Heat
   Stomach Heat
2. Nourishes Yin and moistens Dryness
   Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiency with night sweats, steaming bone disorder, irritability, afternoon or low grade fever, Five Sole Heat and bleeding gums
   (Stomach Yin Deficiency)
   Kidney Heat with spermatorrhea, nocturnal emissions and an abnormally elevated sex drive
3. Generates Fluids, clears Deficiency Fire and quenches thirst
   Oral ulcers and inflammation, steaming bones and Xiao Ke (diabetes) due to Yin Deficiency
4. Ameliorates the Dryness of tonifying or warming herbs
   For use with herbs such as Rx. Astragali Huang Qi, Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi, Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi when there is concern that these herbs may be too drying

Standard Dosage: 5-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is not suitable for deficiency cold syndrome. Being cold and moist in property, it is prohibited to be used for those who have a spleen-deficiency diarrhea.

Pinyin: Qiang Huo  Chinese: 羌活
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii
Taxonomy: Notopterygium incisium, N. forbesii
English: Notopterygium Root and Rhizome

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Bladder and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Releases the Exterior and disperses Cold
   Wind-Cold with chills, fever, headache, body aches and pains
   Usually used when accompanied by Dampness with joint pain, a general feeling of heaviness, sleepiness or occipital pain
2. Expels Wind-Cold-Dampness, unblocks painful obstruction and alleviates pain
   Wind-Cold-Damp Bi especially in the upper limbs and back
3. Guides Qi to the Taiyang and Du channels
   Directs the other herbs to the Taiyang and Du channels

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for blood deficiency because of its strong pungent, fragrant, warm and dry property. It is not appropriate for weakness of spleen and stomach because large dose of this herb induces vomiting.

Pinyin: Du Huo  Chinese: 独活
Pharmaceutical: Radix Angelicae pubescentis seu biserratae
Taxonomy: Angelica pubescens seu biserrata
English: Pubescent Angelica Root / Hairy Angelica Root / Double Teeth Angelica Root

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Liver, Kidney, and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Dispels Wind-Dampness and alleviates pain
   Wind-Cold-Damp painful obstruction (Bi Syndrome), especially in the low back and legs (acute and chronic).
2. Disperses Wind-Cold-Dampness and releases the Exterior
   Exterior Wind-Cold with Dampness
3. Treats Shaoyin Level headache and toothache
   Shaoyin Level headache and toothache
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 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: 3-9g in decoction.
Cautions: Being pungent, fragrant, bitter and dry, it can easily damage yin and body fluid, so it should be used cautiously to treat patients with usual constitution of yin deficiency and blood dryness.

Pinyin: Fang Feng  Chinese: 防风
Pharmaceutical: Radix Saposhnikoviae seu Ledebouriellae
English: Siler

Tastes: Pungent, sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Liver and Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. Releases the Exterior and expels External Wind
   Wind-Cold with headache, chills, aversion to Cold, and body aches
2. Expels Wind-Dampness and alleviates pain
   Wind-Damp Bi, especially with Wind predominant
3. Expels Internal Wind and stops spasms
   As an auxiliary for Liver Wind with trembling of hands and feet and tetany
   Intestinal-Wind due to imbalance between Spleen and Liver with recurrent tenesmus and painful diarrhoea with bright blood in the stool
   Migraine headaches
4. Relieves diarrhoea and stops bleeding
   Liver and Spleen Disharmony with recurrent painful diarrhoea, borborygmus and abdominal pain
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the middle class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light. 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: It should be used with caution for blood deficiency and internal wind induced by heat because of its warm property.

Pinyin: Ma Huang  Chinese: 麻黄
Pharmaceutical: Herba Ephedrae
Taxonomy: Ephedra sinica seu intermedia seu equisetina
English: Ephedra Stem / Joint Pine / Joint Fir / Mormon Tea / Brigham Tea

Tastes: Pungent, slightly bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung and Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Induces sweating and releases the Exterior
   Taiyang Stage Wind-Cold Invasion of the Lung, with anhidrosis, chills, fever, headache and a tight, floating pulse
2. Disseminates and facilitates Lung Qi, calms wheezing and stops coughing
   Wind-Cold Obstructs Lung Qi
3. Promotes urination and reduces oedema
   Externally generated oedema
4. Warms and disperses Cold pathogens
   Wind-Cold Bi
   Cold extremities (Reynaud's disease)
5. Breaks up concretions, firmness, accumulations and gatherings (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing)
   Yin sores that are firm, deeply rooted and without a head

Standard Dosage: 1.5-9g in decoction to release the exterior, and 10-15g for the treatment of oedema. Maximum dose is 20g. Toxic dose is considered to be 30-45g but side effects and risks are possible at any dosage.
Cautions: It is prohibited to be used for patients with deficient dyspnea without blockage of the lung qi and should be used with caution for patients with hypertension and insomnia because ephedrine can stimulate central nervous system and raise blood pressure. The Shang Han Lun recommends removing the nodes and decocting Ma Huang first, scooping the foam from the top of the decoction. It has been argued this is to reduce the "vexing" effects although the efficacy of this is debated and rarely done today.

It should not be used in conjunction with MAOIs, central nervous system stimulants, alkaloids ergotamines and xanthines enhancing their effects by acting as a receptor level agonist.

In the UK the maximum daily dose permitted without prescription is 1.8g daily in three 0.6g doses. This makes it difficult to achieve a pharmacologically active effect and must be complemented with other herbs that release the exterior and expel Wind-Cold such as Gui Zhi, Jing Jie, Fang Feng and Zi Su Ye.

Huang Hua Zi (Sida cordifolia), more common in Ayurveda where it is known as Bala बला, also contains ephedrine at lower concentrations and has no legal restrictions placed on it by the UK MHRA. It is considered more cooling, Heat clearing and Damp draining without Exterior Releasing properties in Chinese medicine so best used as a substitute in Warm Diseases, especially Damp-Warm Disease, or supplemented with increased warm Exterior Releasing herbs like those described above.

Pinyin: Cang Zhu  Chinese: 蒼朮
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Atractylodes
Taxonomy: Atractylodes lancea seu chinensis seu japonica
English: Black Atractylodes / Gray Atractylodes / Sword-like Atractylodes root

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Lung and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Strongly dries Dampness and tonifies the Spleen
   Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao and blocking transformative and transportive functions of the Spleen with anorexia, diarrhoea, epigastric distention and pressure, fatigue, nausea and vomiting and a thick, greasy tongue coat
2. Induces sweating and expels Wind-Dampness
   Wind-Cold Dampness and Wind-Dampness with chills and fever, headache, body aches and nasal congestion
   Painful extremities due to Wind-Damp Bi
3. Clears Dampness from the Lower Jiao
   Damp-Heat Pouring Downward with Leg Qi, some forms of atrophy disorders, vaginal discharge, swollen, sore joints
4. Improves vision
   Night blindness and diminished vision with a rough sensation in the eyes
5. Repels Ghosts
   "Strange diseases 奇病" that involve seeing ghosts
6. 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, prolong life and make one free from hunger. 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.

Pinyin: Wei Ling Xian  Chinese: 威靈仙
Pharmaceutical: Radix Clematidis Chinensis
Taxonomy: Clematis chinensis Osbeck
English: Chinese Clematis Root

Tastes: Pungent, salty, warm
Meridians Entered: Bladder and all 12 Channels

Actions & Indications:

1. Dispels Wind-Dampness, unblocks the channels and alleviates pain
   Wind-Damp painful obstruction (Bi Syndrome), especially useful for the whole body
   Intractable Bi blockage of Qi and Blood
2. Softens and transforms fish bones
   Fish bones lodged in the throat
3. Reduces Phlegm and pathogenic water (regulates urination)
   Accumulation and distention in the Middle Jiao
   Cold Phlegm digestive problems

Standard Dosage: 6-9g in decoction.
Cautions: Contraindicated during pregnancy. Caution with Qi and Blood Deficiency and in the debilitated. Some sources say not to take it with tea or noodle soup. Long term use or normal use in high dosages may cause a toxic reaction.

Pinyin: Shen Jin Cao  Chinese: 伸筋草
Pharmaceutical: Herba Lycopodii
English: Clubmoss / Ground Pine / Creeping Cedar

Tastes: Slightly bitter, pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver, Spleen and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Dispels Wind and eliminates Dampness
   Wind-Damp Bi, especially when there are problems flexing and extending joints
2. Relaxes the sinews, invigorates the collaterals and invigorates the Blood
   Swelling and pain due to Blood Stasis from external or internal trauma
   Difficulty bending and stretching the body after hemiplegia

Standard Dosage: 3-12g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used cautiously in pregnant women.

Pinyin: Song Jie  Chinese: 松节
Pharmaceutical: Lignum Pini Nodi
Taxonomy: Pinus spp.
English: Knotty Pine Wood

Tastes: Bitter, pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Dispels Wind, dries Dampness and stops pain
   Wind-Damp Bi with joint pain and soreness (primarily when Dampness or Cold predominate) Wind-Cold
   BiTraumatic injury
2. Strengthens tendons and muscles and opens the channels
   Wei Syndrome

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used cautiously in patients with yin deficiency and blood dryness.

Pinyin: Tu Bie Chong  Chinese: 土鳖虫
Pharmaceutical: Eupolyphagae seu Steleophagae
Taxonomy: Eupolyphaga sinensis seu Steleophaga plancyi
English: Woodlouse

Tastes: Salty, cold, lightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Breaks up and drives out Blood Stasis, invigorates Blood circulation and disperses lumps and masses
   Blood Stasis with abdominal masses and amenorrhea
   Swollen tongue due to Blood Stasis
2. Knits together sinews and joins bones
   Traumatic injury with lacerations, contusions and fractures
   Lumbar strain (toasted and ground into a powder)

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction, or 1-1.5g in yellow wine.
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 E Zhu and Ru Xiang.

Pinyin: Tou Gu Cao  Chinese: 透骨草
Pharmaceutical: Caulis Speranskiae seu Impatientis
Taxonomy: Speranskia tuberculata seu Impatiens balsamina
English: Garden Balsam Stem

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm, slightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Invigorates Blood circulation, breaks up Blood Stasis, reduces swelling and generates flesh
   External and traumatic injuries with bruising, swelling, inflammation and pain
2. Clears Heat, eliminates toxins, cools the Blood and relieves pain
   Toxic sores, burns, carbuncles and swellings (topical)
3. Drains Damp-Heat
   Acute jaundice
   Hepatitis
4. Dispels Wind and Dampness and relaxes the muscles and sinews
   Arthritis and arthralgia
   Muscle and bone contracture
   Beriberi due to Cold-Dampness
   Tinea

Standard Dosage: 9-15g in decoction. Often used in external washes and soaks.
Cautions: It is contraindicated to pregnant women.

Pinyin: Xun Gu Feng  Chinese: 尋骨風
Pharmaceutical: Herba Aristolochiae mollissimae
Taxonomy: Aristolochia mollissima
English: Hairy Birthwort

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, neutral
Meridians Entered: Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Dispels Wind-Dampness, unblocks the channels and collaterals and stops pain
   Wind-Damp Bi, numbness in the limbs, difficulty moving the joints and paralysis
   General pain, including digestive and trauma induced
   Toothache, malaria and abscess

Standard Dosage: 9-15g in decoction.
Cautions: No longer used as it contains carcinogenic liver and kidney toxic aristolochic acids. However it may be found as an adulterant in other herbs, especially Bai Yin (Solanum lyratum, ironically taken for cancer). In the UK it is prohibited from use under the banned and restricted herbal ingredients list issued by the MHRA.

Traditionally it is contraindicated for yin deficiency with endogenous heat and nephritic patients. It should not be used overdose or for a long time.

Pinyin: Zi Ran Tong  Chinese: 自然铜
Pharmaceutical: Pyritum
Taxonomy: FeS₂
English: Pyrite

Tastes: Pungent, neutral
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Dispels Blood Stasis, relieves pain and promotes healing of bones and sinews
   Swellings and pain related to Stasis of Qi and Blood caused by external injury and especially fractures. Promotes healing of fractures

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.
Cautions: Mineral 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. Du zhong, Xu Duan or Gu Sui Bu would make some appropriate substitutes.