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: Shan Yao  Chinese: 山药
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Dioscoreae
Taxonomy: Dioscorea polystachya syn. batatas
English: Chinese Yam / Shu Yu

Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Lung and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Spleen, nourishes Stomach Yin and stops diarrhoea
   Spleen or Stomach Deficiency with diarrhoea, fatigue, spontaneous sweating and anorexia
2. Tonifies Lung Qi and nourishes Lung Yin
   Lung Qi and/or Yin Deficiency with chronic cough
3. Tonifies Kidney Yin and astringes Jing
   Kidney Qi Deficiency with spermatorrhea, urinary frequency and vaginal discharge
   消渴 Xiao Ke due to Qi and Yin Deficiency
4. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, sharpen the ears and eyes, make the body light, 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). Despite being a starchy vegetable, this may still have been an appropriate addition to a ketogenic diet as the starches are mostly resistant and many of its other compounds have been shown to have blood glucose reducing effects, making it a potential important source of this essential nutrient group while engaging in a low carbohydrate diet.

Standard Dosage: 5-30g in decoction. Very large doses, up to 500g have been used in trials for diabetes management.

Pinyin: Shan Zhu Yu / Shan Yu Rou  Chinese: 山茱萸 / 山萸肉
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Corni
Taxonomy: Cornus officinalis
English: Dogwood Fruit

Tastes: Sour, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Stabilizes the Kidneys and astringes Jing and Body Fluids
   Leakage of fluids due to weak Jing with urinary frequency, incontinence, spermatorrhea and excessive sweating
2. Stops excessive sweating and supports that which has collapsed
   Collapse of Qi with excessive sweating and shock
   Devastated Yang with excessive sweating and shock
   Sweating mistakenly induced as a treatment
3. Tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin and strengthens Kidney Yang
   Lightheadedness, dizziness, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees or impotence due to Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency and Kidney Yang Deficiency
4. Stabilizes the menses and stops bleeding
   Excessive uterine bleeding and prolonged menstruation due to Deficiency (weak effect)
5. Expels Cold-Dampness and Evil Qi
   The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing places this in the middle class of woods and says it treats "evil qi below the heart and cold and heat. It warms the centre and expels Cold-Damp Bi."
6. Aids fasting
   The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing says this herb 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).
7. Removes the Three Worms
   The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing also says 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: 5-10g 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: Gou Qi Zi  Chinese: 枸杞子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Lycii
Taxonomy: Lycium barbarum seu chinense
English: Goji Berries / Wolfberries / Boxthorn Berries

Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes and tonifies Liver and Kidney Blood and Yin
   Blood and Yin Deficiency with sore back and legs, low-grade abdominal pain, impotence, nocturnal emissions, wasting and thirsting disorder and consumption
   Liver and Kidney Deficiency
   Added to baths during spring to promote skin health and delay aging
2. Benefits Jing and brightens the eyes
   Liver and Kidney Deficiency where Jing and Blood cannot nourish eyes with dizziness, blurred vision and diminished visual acuity
3. Nourishes Yin and moistens the Lungs
   Consumptive cough and wasting and thirsting disorder

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.
Cautions: In vitro testing suggests that unidentified wolfberry phytochemicals in goji tea may inhibit metabolism of other medications, such as those processed by the cytochrome P450 liver enzymes. Such drugs include warfarin, or drugs for diabetes or hypertension. However, no in vivo statistics support this.

Pinyin: Du Zhong  Chinese: 杜仲
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Eucommiae
Taxonomy: Eucommia ulmoides
English: Hardy Rubber Tree / Chinese Rubber Tree

Tastes: Sweet, warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Kidneys and Liver and strengthens the sinews and bones
   Kidney and Liver Deficiency with a weak, sore or painful lower back and knees, fatigue and urinary frequency
   Weakness of sinews and bones
2. Aids the smooth flow of Qi and Blood
   Promotes circulation for weak sinews and bones
3. Calms the fetus
   Deficiency Cold patterns with bleeding during pregnancy
   Prevents miscarriage when the fetus is agitated or restless and when a pregnant woman has significant back pain or presents with a deficient condition
   Threatened abortion
4. Lowers blood pressure
   Hypertension with dizziness and light-headedness due to Liver Yang Rising
5. Tonifies Kidney Yang
   Reproductive and urinary disorders such as impotence and incontinence
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 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: Yuan Zhi  Chinese: 遠志
Pharmaceutical: Radix Polygalae
Taxonomy: Polygala tenuifolia
English: Chinese Senega / Thin-Leaf Milkwort

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Calms the Spirit, sedates the Heart and clears the channel joining the Heart and Kidney
   Insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, restlessness, and disorientation.
   Most effective for excessive brooding or pent-up emotions
   Lack of communication between the Heart and Kidneys
2. Expels Phlegm, opens the Orifices, clears the Lungs and stops coughing
   Phlegm Blocking the Heart Orifices with emotions and mental disorientation, spasms or seizures
   Phlegm Obstructing the Lungs with copious sputum, especially when it is difficult to expectorate
   Angina pectoris
3. Reduces abscesses and dissipates swellings
   Boils, abscesses, sores, and swollen, painful breasts (powdered and applied topically or taken with wine)
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 prevent forgetfulness. 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: It should be used with cautions for excess fire or phlegm-heat because of its warm nature. It should be used with cautions for gastritis and duodenal ulcer because it will stimulate the stomach and intestine. Unprepared will irritate the stomach mucosa causing nausea and vomiting so is usually prepared with Gan Cao (Zhi Yuan Zhi) or honey (Mi Zhi Yuan Zhi)

Pinyin: Wu Wei Zi  Chinese: 五味子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Schisandrae
Taxonomy: Schisandra chinensis
English: Schisandra Fruit / Chinese Magnolia-vine Fruit

Tastes: Sour, sweet, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Heart and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Astringes the leakage of Lung Qi and stops coughing
   Chronic cough and wheezing due to Lung Qi Deficiency
   Lung and Kidney Deficiency patterns
   The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing places it in the middle class of herbs and says it is indicated for "counterflow cough with ascent of Qi."
2. Tonifies the Kidneys, binds up Essence (astringes Jing) and stops diarrhoea and spermatorrhea
   Kidney Deficiency with nocturnal emissions, spermatorrhea, vaginal discharge and urinary frequency
   Spleen and Kidney Deficiency with daybreak diarrhoea
   In the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing it indicated for "strengthening Yin and boosting Jing Essence in men."
3. Astringes sweat and generates fluids
   Excessive sweating. especially when accompanied by thirst or a dry throat
   In combination, it is used for spontaneous sweating, night sweats and wasting and thirsting disorder
4. Quiets the Spirit and calms and contains Heart Qi
   Heart and Kidney Blood and Yin Deficiency, with irritability, palpitations, dream-disturbed sleep and insomnia
5. Tonifies Qi
   Heart and Spleen Qi Deficiency
   The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing says it is indicated for "boosting Qi ... taxation damage with gauntness [and] supplementing insufficiency."

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction. 1-3g as powder.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of external pathogen existence, internal excess heat, acute cough, early stage of measles.

Pinyin: Chu Shi Zi  Chinese: 楮实子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Broussonetiae
English: Paper Mulberry Fruit

Tastes: Sweet, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Liver and Kidney Yin
   Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiencies with a weak lower back and legs, Deficiency consumption, steaming bone disorder, nightsweats, spermatorrhea and lightheadedness
2. Clears the Liver and clears the eyes
   Superficial visual obstruction from Heat in the Liver channel (can be used alone)
3. Tonifies the Kidney Yin and Augments Kidney Qi
   Edema and urinary difficulty due to stoppage of water associated with Kidney Qi dysfunction

Standard Dosage: 6-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for deficiency-cold in spleen and stomach.

Pinyin: Xiao Hui Xiang  Chinese: 小茴香
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Foeniculi
Taxonomy: Foeniculum vulgare
English: Fennel Seed

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver, Kidney, Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Warms the Liver and Kidneys, expels Cold and alleviates pain
   Cold in the Lower Jiao with lower abdominal pain
   Cold Invading the Liver Channel with Cold bulging disorders
2. Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Stomach
   Stomach Cold with abdominal pain, indigestion, reduced appetite and vomiting

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.

Pinyin: Ba Ji Tian  Chinese: 巴戟天
Pharmaceutical: Radix Morindae
Taxonomy: Mornida officinalis
English: Medicinal Indian Mulberry Root / Morinda Root

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Kidneys and strengthens Yang
   Kidney Yang Deficiency with impotence, male or female infertility, premature ejaculation, urinary frequency, Incontinence, irregular menstruation and a cold and painful back
2. Disperses Wind-Cold-Damp and strengthens the sinews and bones
   Wind-Cold-Damp Bi with Kidney and Liver insufficiency with tight muscles of the lower back and legs, joint pain and difficulty moving

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.

Pinyin: Rou Cong Rong  Chinese: 肉蓯蓉
Pharmaceutical: Herba Cistanches
Taxonomy: Cistanche tubulosa seu deserticola
English: Broomrape Stem, "Ginseng of the deserts"

Tastes: Sweet, salty, warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Kidneys, strengthens Yang, benefits Jing and marrow and warms the Womb
   Kidney Yang Deficiency with impotence, spermatorrhea, urinary incontinence, post-urinary dripping and Cold pain in the lower back and knees
   Cold from Deficiency of the Womb with infertility, excessive uterine bleeding or vaginal discharge
2. Moistens the Intestines and facilitates the passage of stool
   Constipation due to dry Intestines from inadequate fluids in elderly or debilitated people or people with Deficient Qi or Blood (with a large dosage, it can be used as a stand-alone herb)
3. 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: 6-21g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with effulgent fire, stagnation of excess heat, and loose stool because it can tonify yang and smooth stool.

Pinyin: Shi Chang Pu  Chinese: 石菖蒲
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Acori tatarinowii seu graminei
Taxonomy: Acorus tatarinowii seu gramineus
English: Grass-leaf Sweet Flag Rhizome

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Heart, Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Opens the Orifices, vaporizes Phlegm, removes filth, calms the Spirit and disperses Wind
   Phlegm-Dampness Veiling and Blocking the Sensory Orifices with deafness, dizziness, forgetfulness, dulled senses, and seizures or stupor
   Wind-Phlegm with seizures or stupor
2. Transforms turbid Dampness, harmonizes the Middle Jiao, awakens the Spleen and promotes the movement of Qi
   Dampness Distressing the Spleen and Stomach with chest and epigastric fullness and abdominal fullness and pain due to Dampness and Turbidity Obstructing the Middle Jiao
3. Promotes Blood flow, reduces swelling and alleviates Wind-Damp Bi and sores (internally and topically)
   Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Sores (internally and topically)
   Trauma
4. Benefits the throat
   Hoarse voice due to laryngitis or inflammation of the vocal cords
5. Kills Parasites and expels Demons
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
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, improve memory, prevent confusion 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: 5-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Avoid high doses for long periods due to β-asarone content (see below).