Pinyin: Ren Shen  Chinese: 人參
Pharmaceutical: Radix Panax ginseng
Taxonomy: Panax ginseng
English: Ginseng Root

Tastes: Sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Lung and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Powerfully tonifies Yuan Qi
   Extreme collapse of Qi or abandoned conditions that manifest in shallow breathing, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating and an almost imperceptible pulse (after blood loss, overly profuse sweating or other problems related to severe fluid loss - it can be used alone in these emergencies)
   Collapse of Yang
   Collapse of Yin
2. Tonifies Spleen and Stomach Qi
   Lethargy, anorexia, chest and abdominal distention, chronic diarrhoea and, in severe cases, prolapse of the Stomach, uterus or rectum
3. Tonifies Lung Qi
   Lung Qi Deficiency with wheezing, shortness of breath and labored breathing on exertion
4. Generates Body Fluids and stops thirst
   Wasting and thirsting disorder (消渴 Xiao Ke) and high fevers with profuse sweating which injures Qi and fluids
5. Tonifies Heart Qi and calms the Spirit
   Heart Qi and Blood Deficiency with palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness and restlessness
6. Treats impotence
   With Kidney Yang tonics for impotence
7. Tonifies Qi in Deficiency patients with Exterior conditions
   Exterior disorder with Interior Deficiency
8. 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 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, 10-30g for exhaustion syndrome due to Qi deficiency.
Cautions: Antagonizing to Li Lu; the warm nature of sun-dried raw Ren Shen is weaker than that of Hong Shen.

Pinyin: Ying Su Ke  Chinese: 罂粟壳
Pharmaceutical: Pericarpium Papaveris
Taxonomy: Papaver somniferum
English: Opium Poppy

Tastes: Sour, astringent, neutral, slightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Lung, Large Intestine and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Astringes leakage of Lung Qi
   Chronic cough
2. Astringes the Intestines
   Chronic dysentery and diarrhoea
3. Stabilizes the Lower Jiao
   Lower Jiao Deficiency with polyuria. spermatorrhea or vaginal discharge
4. Alleviates pain
   Pain (any kind, especially sinews, bones and epigastrium)
   Pain from tumors

Standard Dosage: 3-9g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in case of early stage of cough, diarrhea and dysentery of excess heat, or long term use due to risk of addiction.

This herb is prohibited from use in the UK due being a Class A drug (opium). The astringent functions can be substituted with Wu Wei Zi for the Lungs or Wu Mei for the intestines but the alleviation of pain, while it can be attempted with other herbs, will not contain the same opiate action. If this is required then referral for a prescription may be necessary.

Pinyin: Wu Mei  Chinese: 烏梅
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Mume
Taxonomy: Prunus mume
English: Black Plum

Tastes: Sour, astringent, neutral
Meridians Entered: Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Astringes leakage of Lung Qi, stops leakage of sweat and stops coughs
   Chronic Lung Deficiency coughs, dysphagia, regurgitation
2. Generates Yin and Yang fluids and alleviates thirst
   Thirst due to Heat from Deficiency Qi and Yin Deficiency
   Wasting and thirsting (消渴 Xiao Ke) disorder due to Deficiency Heat
3. Expels roundworms and alleviates pain
   Roundworm induced vomiting and abdominal pain
   Occasionally used for abdominal pain and vomiting not associated with parasites
4. Astringes the Intestines and stops diarrhoea
   Chronic, incessant diarrhoea or dysentery and fecal incontinence and hemafecia (can be used alone charred for these purposes)
   Rectal prolapse
5. Stops bleeding
   Bleeding (hemafecia, and excessive uterine bleeding) with symptoms of Blood Deficiency (Dryness, thirst and a parched mouth
   Can be used alone charred and powdered for bleeding from the vagina, anus or urethra
6. Treat corns and warts topically
   Corns and warts

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction, but can be up to 30g.

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
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
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

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: E Jiao  Chinese: 阿胶
Pharmaceutical: Colla Corii Asini
English: Donkey-Hide Gelatin / Ass-Hide Glue

Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Lung, Liver, Kidney and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Blood
   Blood Deficiency with dizziness, sallow or pale complexion and palpitations
2. Nourishes the Blood and stops bleeding
   Any kind of bleeding, especially consumptive disorders with hemoptysis, hemafecia, menorrhagia or metrorrhagia
3. Nourishes and moistens Yin
   Yin Deficiency with irritability and insomnia in the aftermath of a Warm febrile disease
4. Moistens the Lungs and Large Intestine
   Dry Lung coughs due to Yin Deficiency or consumption

Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for spleen and stomach deficiency, poor appetite, loose stool due to spleen deficiency because it is greasy and will produce indigestion.

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 may be substituted with a variety of Blood and Yin tonics depending on the formula, or gelatin from other animal sources such as pigs or cows included as dietary advice, provided it is not supplied by the herbalist as part of the prescription.

Pinyin: Kuan Dong Hua  Chinese: 款冬花
Pharmaceutical: Flos Farfarae
Taxonomy: Tussilago farfara
English: Coltsfoot Flower

Tastes: Pungent, slightly bitter, slightly sweet, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Moistens the Lungs, descends Qi, stops coughing and transforms Phlegm
   Coughing and wheezing of various etiologies (usually due to Cold)

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction. Stir baked with honey before use.
Cautions: This herb has been removed from internal use in the UK due to fears over pyrrolizidine alkaloids. It could be replaced with Jie Geng and Zi Wan or other herbs that stop coughing depending on the presentation.

Pinyin: Bei Mu  Chinese: 贝母
Pharmaceutical: Bulbus Fritillariae
Taxonomy: Fritillaria spp.
English: Fritillaria Bulb

Tastes: Bitter, sweet, lightly cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat, transforms Phlegm and stops coughing
   Acute Lung Heat patterns with productive cough
2. Clears Heat and dissipates nodules
   Phlegm-Fire causing neck swellings (Chuang Yung) Lung and breast abscesses

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Contraindicated to Wu Tou.

Pinyin: Jie Geng  Chinese: 桔梗
Pharmaceutical: Radix Platycodi
English: Balloon Flower Root

Tastes: Bitter, pungent, neutral
Meridians Entered: Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Opens the Lungs, spreads Lung Qi, expels Phlegm and benefits the throat
   Cough due to Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat (with profuse sputum, sore throat, loss of voice)
   Loss of voice or sore throat due to external Heat, Phlegm Heat or Yin Deficiency Heat
2. Expels pus
   Lung or throat abscess (Phlegm and Qi Stagnation) with fevers, chest pain, coughing of yellow sputum with a fishy smell and hemoptysis
3. Opens and raises Lung Qi, directing the effects of other herbs to the upper body
   Reinforces the actions of the other herbs and focuses the formula on the upper body
4. Expels Gu Toxins
   Vomiting blood due to Gu-Toxins (with Gan Cao; in the Soushen Ji, Record of Searching for Spirits; Wilcox, 2024).

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Overdose can cause nausea and vomiting.

Pinyin: Sang Bai Pi  Chinese: 桑白皮
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Mori
Taxonomy: Morus alba
English: Mulberry Root Bark

Tastes: Sweet, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Drains Heat from the Lungs, stops coughing and calms wheezing
   Coughing and wheezing, fullness and hemoptysis due to Lung Heat
2. Promotes urination and reduces oedema
   Lung Heat obstructing the descending action of the Lung, preventing water from moving and stopping perspiration (floating oedema, facial oedema, swelling of the upper extremities, fever, thirst, urinary difficulty, a floating pulse)
3. Lowers blood pressure
   Hypertension

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for lung cold and wind-cold cough patients for its cold and descending property. It should be used with cautions for patients with much urine.