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: Hou Po  Chinese: 厚朴
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Magnoliae
Taxonomy: Magnolia officinalis
English: Magnolia Bark

Tastes: Bitter, pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Lung and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Promotes the movement of Qi in the Middle Jiao and resolves Stagnation
   Abdominal, epigastric, and/or chest fullness, bloating, loss of appetite, poor digestion, constipation
   Plum Pit Qi, a feeling of a lump in throat, usually considered psychosomatic today (globus hystericus). Hou Po has modern indications as neuroprotective and also features in formulas like Da/Xiao Cheng Qi Tang which deal with neuropsychiatric symptoms like delirium.
2. Promotes the movement of Qi downward, dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm
   Dampness or Phlegm Obstructing the Middle Jiao with distention, fullness, nausea and diarrhoea
3. Descends Rebellious Qi, reduces Phlegm and calms wheezing
   Cough and wheezing due to Phlegm congesting the Lungs
4. Removes the Three Worms
   Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that it removes the Three Worms. These may refer to difficult to treat metabolic disorders caused by overindulgence and should be accompanied by fasting, meditation and exercise regimes.

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for the syndrome of qi deficiency and fluid consumption, and in pregnant women. Due to some of the anticoagulant effects of its constituents it should be used with caution in conjunction with blood thinners.

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
   Relieves the symptoms of Gu Sydnrome while suppressing parasites (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
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).

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Fu Ling Pi  Chinese: 茯苓皮
Pharmaceutical: Sclerotum Poriae excorio
Taxonomy: Poria cocos syn. Wolfiporia extensa
English: China-Root Peel

Tastes: Sweet, bland and neutral
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Promotes urination and leaches out Dampness
   Urinary difficulty, diarrhoea or oedema due to Stagnation of Fluids or Dampness
   Fluid Stagnation
   Damp-Heat
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. 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

Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction.

Pinyin: Fang Ji  Chinese: 防己
Pharmaceutical: Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae
Taxonomy: Stephania Tetrandra
English: Stephania Root

Tastes: Bitter, pungent, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver, Kidney and Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Promotes urination and reduces oedema especially in the lower body
   Edema due to Dampness accumulating in the Lower Jiao with damp leg Qi, borborygmus, abdominal distention, ascites
2. Expels Wind-Dampness and alleviates pain (purges Damp-Heat)
   Wind-Damp-Heat collecting in the channels with fever, red, hot, swollen, painful joints (Wind-Damp-Heat Bi) Painful contractions of the hands and feet

Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Being bitter and cold, it can easily damage stomach qi, so it should be used cautiously to treat patients with anorexia and weak constitution due to yin deficiency.

This herb is prohibited from use in the UK under the banned and restricted herbal ingredients list issued by the MHRA because it can also refer to certain Aristolochia species which contain toxic aristolochic acid. In some European countries with statutory testing of imports the species can be identified but the UK has chosen to ban all species to avoid regulation. It us generally substituted with Yi Yi Ren and Hai Tong Pi.

Pinyin: Da Dou Huang Juan  Chinese: 大豆黄卷
Pharmaceutical: Semen Sojae Germinatum
English: Bean Sprout

Tastes: Sweet and neutral
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Releases the Exterior and clears Damp-Heat (clears Summerheat)
   Edema and warm-damp disease with sweating
2. Invigorates Qi and Blood and reduces water distention
   Damp-Heat Bi with cramping of the sinews and knee pain
3. Raises Yang Qi and opens the channels and collaterals
   Damp-arthralgia

Standard Dosage: 6-20g in decoction.

Pinyin: Tong Cao  Chinese: 通草
Pharmaceutical: Medulla Tetrapanax Papyriferus
English: Rice Paper Plant Pith

Tastes: Sweet, bland and slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Stomach and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Promotes urination, resolves Dampness and clears Heat
   Damp-Warm febrile disease Damp-Heat painful urinary dysfunction
   It is usually used as an assistant
2. Promotes lactation
   Insufficient or absent lactation

Standard Dosage: 6-12g in decoction.
Cautions: Used with caution for pregnant women.

Pinyin: Yi Yi Ren  Chinese: 薏苡仁
Pharmaceutical: Semen Coicis
Taxonomy: Coix lacryma-jobi
English: Job's Tears / Chinese Pearl Barley

Tastes: Sweet, Bland, Slightly Cold
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Strengthens the Spleen and resolves Dampness
   Dampness Stagnation or Spleen Deficiency Dampness with diarrhoea, leg Qi, painful urinary dribbling
   Damp-Warmth (treats root and manifestations)
2. Expels Wind-Dampness and relieves pain
   Wind-Damp Bi (increases joint mobility and decreases spasms in chronic cases) for stiffness of the muscles, severe arthralgia and joint immobility
3. Clears Heat and expels pus
   Soft, pustulated carbuncles, Lung and Intestinal abscess
4. Clears Damp-Heat
   Any Damp-Heat condition at any level with a greasy, white tongue coat and digestive problems
5. 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 boost the Qi. 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). At ~70% carbohydrates (Zhu, 2017), this would represent one important source of of this nutrient class which could be had in the amounts that could be foraged, as opposed to farmed, to maintain this kind of diet long term. Its root is also suggested to expel the Three Worms.

Standard Dosage: 9-30g in decoction.