Pinyin: Dong Gua Pi  Chinese: 冬瓜皮
Pharmaceutical: Exocarpium Benincasae
Taxonomy: Benincasa hispida
English: Chinese Waxgourd Peel / Winter Melon Peel

Tastes: Sweet and cool
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Small Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Promotes urination and alleviate oedema, clears Summerheat
   Oedema
   Summerheat syndrome

Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction.

Pinyin: Fu Ling  Chinese: 茯苓
Pharmaceutical: Poria
Taxonomy: Poria cocos syn. Wolfiporia extensa
English: China-Root / Hoelen / Tuckahoe / Indian Bread

Tastes: Sweet, bland, neutral
Meridians Entered: Heart, Spleen, and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Strengthens the Spleen and harmonizes the Middle Jiao
   Spleen Deficiency Dampness with anorexia, diarrhoea and epigastric distention
2. 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
3. Promotes urination and leaches out Dampness
   Urinary difficulty, diarrhoea or oedema due to Stagnation of Fluids or Dampness
4. 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
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, quiet the Hun, nourish the Shen, make one free from hunger 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.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for spermatorrhea due to deficiency-cold.

Pinyin: Mu Gua  Chinese: 木瓜
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Chaenomelis
Taxonomy: Chaenomeles sinensis syn. Pseudocydonia sinensis
English: Chinese Quince Fruit

Tastes: Sour, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. Relaxes the sinews (increases Qi and Blood circulation) and unblocks the channels
   Damp painful obstruction in the extremities, especially with severe cramping pain and weakness in the low back and legs
2. Harmonizes the Stomach, nourishes the Liver and transforms Dampness
   Abdominal pain, spasms, calf cramps and oedema due to “leg Qi”. It is especially good for disharmony between the Liver and Spleen leading to leg problems
3. Reduces Food Stagnation
   Food Stagnation

Standard Dosage: 6-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Zi Su Ye  Chinese: 紫苏叶
Pharmaceutical: Folium Perillae
English: Perilla Leaf

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Releases the Exterior and disperses Cold
   Wind-Cold with fever, chills, headache, nasal congestion, cough or a stifling sensation in the chest (especially in older people)
2. Promotes the movement of Spleen and Stomach Qi and Harmonizes the Middle Jiao
   Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation with nausea, vomiting, or anorexia
   Intestinal gas
3. Improves Lung function and expands the chest
   Asthma
   Chest distention
   Cold induced wheezing
4. Calms the fetus and alleviates morning sickness
   Restless fetus and morning sickness
5. Alleviates seafood poisoning Detoxifies any type of allergy
   Seafood poisoning (fish and crab), used alone or in combination
6. Releases the Exterior and Drives Out Snakes
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
   One of the chief herbs for treating Gu Syndrome, along with Bo He and Bai Zhi, classed as "open the exterior with snake killing herbs" (Fruehauf, 1998).

Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Chen Pi  Chinese: 陈皮
Pharmaceutical: Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae
Taxonomy: Citrus spp.
English: Aged Tangerine Peel

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Regulates Qi, adjusts the Middle and relieves the diaphragm
   Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation with epigastric or abdominal distention, fullness, bloating, belching, nausea and vomiting
2. Dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm
   Phlegm-Damp Obstructs the Lung with coughing, a stifling sensation in the chest and/or diaphragm and copious, viscous sputum
   Turbid Damp Obstructs the Middle with a stifling sensation in the chest, abdominal distention, anorexia, fatigue, loose stools and a thick, greasy tongue coat
3. Helps prevent Stagnation from tonic herbs
   Tonic herbs causing Stagnation
4. Descends Qi
   Qi Rebellion
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, remove foul breath, precipitate the Qi, and enable one to communicate with spirits. 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.