Pinyin: Lu Hui  Chinese: 蘆薈
Pharmaceutical: Aloe vera seu ferox
Taxonomy: Aloe very (syn. barbadensis) seu ferox
English: Aloe Juice

Tastes: Bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Large Intestine, Liver and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Purges and drains Fire and guides out accumulations
   Heat Accumulation with constipation, dizziness, red eyes, and irritability (especially for Hot constipation with Heart and Liver Fire with irritability, restlessness and insomnia)
   Chronic constipation
2. Clears Heat and cools the Liver
   Heat in the Liver channel or Liver Fire with epigastric discomfort, dizziness, headache, irritability, tinnitus, constipation and fever
3. Kills parasites and strengthens the Stomach
   Childhood nutritional impairment especially when due to roundworms
   Tinea

Standard Dosage: 0.6 - 4.5g as concentrate in pills, or 10 - 15g of whole leaf in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of patients with hypo-function of stomach and spleen, poor appetite, diarrhea as well as pregnant women.

Pinyin: Shi Jun Zi  Chinese: 使君子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Quisqualis
Taxonomy: Quisqualis indica
English: Rangoon Creeper Fruit

Tastes: Sweet, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Kills parasites
   Roundworms and pinworms (can be used alone)
2. Strengthens the Spleen, dissolves accumulations and improves digestion
   Childhood nutritional impairment, abdominal distention, poor appetite, or a weak constitution
3. Expels Gu Parasites
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 9-12g smashed in decoction, 6-9g chewed. Take 1-1.5 pieces of the seeds per year of age. Daily dosage should not exceed 20 pieces.
Cautions: Large dosage or taking with hot tea can cause hiccup, vertigo, vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore it should not be taken with hot tea.

Pinyin: San Leng  Chinese: 三棱
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Sparganii
English: Burr-Reed Rhizome

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, neutral
Meridians Entered: Liver and Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. Forcefully breaks up Blood Stasis, regulates Qi and alleviates pain
   Blood Stasis with amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain and abdominal masses
   Relieves the symptoms of Gu Sydnrome while suppressing parasites (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
2. Dissolves accumulations
   Food Stagnation and Qi Stagnation with severe abdominal pain and distention
3. Regulates menstruation
   Menstrual irregularities
4. Promotes lactation
   Agalactia

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Same as E Zhu. This herb is drastic in property with the disadvantage of consuming qi and impairing blood. Do not overtake long. Prohibited for pregnant women and during menstrual periods.

Pinyin: Shi Liu Pi  Chinese: 石榴皮
Pharmaceutical: Pericarpium Granati
Taxonomy: Punica granatum
English: Pomegranate Rind

Tastes: Sour, astringent, warm, toxic
Meridians Entered: Large Intestine, Stomach and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Astringes the Intestines and stops diarrhea
   Chronic diarrhea due to Deficiency Cold
   Dysenteric disorders
   Rectal prolapse
2. Stabilizes Kidneys and retains Jing
   Kidney Jing Deficiency
   Excessive uterine bleeding or vaginal discharge due to Kidney Instability
3. Kills parasites
   Tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms Tinea (topical)
4. Stops bleeding
   Uterine bleeding and leukorrhea
   Powdered for bleeding due to trauma

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Long Dan Cao  Chinese: 龍膽草
Pharmaceutical: Radix Gentianae
Taxonomy: Gentiana scabra
English: Chinese Gentian Root

Tastes: Bitter and cold
Meridians Entered: Liver, Gallbladder, Stomach and Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Drains Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder channels
   Damp-Heat in the upper portion of the Gall Bladder Channel with red, swollen sore throat and eyes; swollen, painful ears or sudden deafness
   Damp-Heat in the Liver/Gallbladder with jaundice, pain, swelling or dampness in the genital area or foul-smelling vaginal discharge and itching
2. Drains and pacifies Excess Liver Fire
   Liver Fire Blazing Upward with headache or red eyes
   Liver Wind-Heat with fever, spasms, convulsions or flank pain
3. Settles the Five Zang and Kills Gu Toxins
   Stated in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing but not commonly used this way today
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 wits, improve memory, 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: 2-6g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for deficiency cold syndrome.

Pinyin: Ku Lian Pi  Chinese: 苦楝皮
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Meliae azedarach
English: Chinaberry Bark

Tastes: Bitter, cold, toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver, Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Kills parasites
   Roundworms, hookworms, pinworms and vaginal trichomonas infections This is strong and effective and can be used by itself
2. Treats tinea topically
   As a wash or a powder made into a thick paste with vinegar for tinea
3. Treats trichomonas
   Externally as a wash or douche for trichomonas vaginitis

Standard Dosage: 4.5-9g in decoction or externally as a wash.
Cautions: Do not take in an excessive dose or long because of its toxicity. Decoct it long on a slow fire because the curative ingredients are difficult in dissolving.