Pinyin: Gua Lou  Chinese: 瓜蒌
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Trichosanthis
English: Snakegourd Fruit

Tastes: Sweet, lightly bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Lung Heat and transforms Hot Phlegm
   Phlegm-Heat cough with thick, difficult-to-expectorate Phlegm
   It can be used as a stand alone herb, especially for children
2. Regulates Qi (unbinds the chest)
   Qi accumulation in the chest with a stifling or distended sensation in the chest, constriction and pain or pressure in the diaphragm
3. Reduces abscesses, dissipates nodules and eliminates pus
   Lung, intestinal or breast abscesses

Standard Dosage: 10-20g in decoction.
Cautions: It is prohibited for loose stool due to spleen deficiency because of its sweet, cold and slick property. Contraindicated to Wu Tou.

Pinyin: Xie Bai  Chinese: 薤白
Pharmaceutical: Bulbus Allii macrostemi
Taxonomy: Allium macrostemon
English: Chinese Garlic / Long-Stamen Chive

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Heart, Stomach and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Unblocks Yang Qi, disperses turbid Phlegm, alleviates pain, disperses hardenings and disperses Cold Phlegm
   Damp-Cold painful obstruction of the chest due to Cold, turbid Phlegm Stagnation preventing the flow of Yang Qi with chest, flank, or upper back pain, dyspnea, cough, wheezing and a stifling sensation in the chest
2. Descends Qi, reduces Stagnation and stops diarrhoea
   Damp Stagnation in the Large Intestine associated with dysenteric disorders
3. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the middle class of herbs which can make the body light, free from hunger and slow ageing but is not advised for protracted taking. 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: Garlic (Allium Sativum / Da Suan) has a known potential to increase antiplatelet activity meaning it can enhance the effects of anticoagulants, NSAIDs and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). This may also be true of this species of Allium macrostemon considering its effects.

Pinyin: Ban Xia  Chinese: 半夏
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Pinelliae
Taxonomy: Pinellia ternata
English: Pinellia Rhizome

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm
   Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs (cough with copious sputum)
   Especially effective for Damp-Phlegm of the Spleen (Cold-Damp Stagnation)
2. Descends Rebellious Qi and stops vomiting (harmonizes the Stomach)
   Vomiting due to Phlegm-Damp in the Stomach (Tan Yin), Cold thin mucus, Stomach Deficiency, Stomach Heat or pregnancy
3. Dissipates nodules and reduces Stagnation (clumps)
   Phlegm in the chest (nodules, pressure, distention, pain)
   Phlegm nodules in the neck (goiter, scrofula)
   Focal distension in the chest and epigastrium
   Obstruction caused by Phlegm anywhere in the body
4. Treats sores, skin ulcerations and carbuncles and reduces swelling (external)
   Topically as a powder for sores, skin ulcerations and carbuncles

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Contraindicated to Wu Tou. Use with cautions during gestation.

Must be processed before use as raw Ban Xia is toxic. Ingesting the raw form can cause severe irritation of the mouth, pharynx, and gastrointestinal tracts, and has toxic effects on the nervous system. Symptoms of toxicity include a dry mouth, numbness of the tongue, gastric discomfort, burning sensations and swelling of the mouth, tongue, throat and salivation. In serious cases ingesting Ban Xia can result in hoarseness, spasms, dyspnoea and asphyxia.

Processing can be done with ginger and alum (Jiang Ban Xia) to make a warming herb best suited for Cold-Damp and thin Phlegm conditions, or with liquorice (Fa Ban Xia) to make a more neutral herb that is less drying and can be used for Damp-Heat conditions too.

Pinyin: Jiu  Chinese: 酒
Pharmaceutical: Alcohol
English: Rice Wine

Tastes: Hot, pungent, sweet, bitter, toxic
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Heart, Lung and Liver, but reaches every part of the body

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes and moves Blood and Qi, opens the Meridians
   Taken internally or applied topically as the medium for liniments in Blood stasis, especially from trauma or Bi syndromes in the elderly
2. Warms Yang and Expels Cold
   All Cold syndromes including Cold Bi, Interior Cold and Yang deficiency
   Often serves as the basis for longevity "elixirs" by soaking Yang tonifying herbs
3. Strengthens the Shen, dispels sorrow and promotes happiness
   Temporary low mood, celebration

Standard Dosage: 10-60ml, two to three times per day. Often combined with other herbs to bring out their Blood moving or warming aspects by washing them, or adding to a decoction, or soaking herbs in alcohol to make medicinal wines.
Cautions: Caution with Damp-Heat syndromes or long term consumption in the young and middle aged.

The Materia Dietetica (Shiwu Bencao 食物本草) by Lu He 卢和 from the Ming Dynasty says that excess drinking can hurt the spirit and consume blood, damage the stomach and deplete the body fluid, produce phlegm and induce fire.