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: Bu Gu Zhi  Chinese: 補骨脂
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Psoraleae
Taxonomy: Psoralea cordyfolia
English: Psoralea Fruit / Scurf Pea Berry / Po Gu Zhi 破故紙

Tastes: Sweet, bitter, astringent, warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney, Spleen, Lung, Pericardium

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Kidneys, strengthens Yang, stabilizes Jing and astringes urine
   Impotence, premature ejaculation, enuresis, urinary frequency, a cold and painful lower back and extremities
   Wheezing and shortness of breath due to Kidneys not grasping the Lung Qi
   Weakening of Ming Men Fire
2. Tonifies and warms Spleen and Kidney Yang to stop diarrhoea
   Diarrhoea with borborygmus and abdominal pain
   Cock-crow diarrhoea
   Most appropriate for those with both Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
3. Warms the skin and regulates the blood (soaked in wine and applied topically)
   Cold-type psoriasis, vitiligo and eczema
   Hyperpigmentation
   Dry, dull or loose skin with fine lines or rough texture

Standard Dosage: 5-15g in decoction.
Cautions: Contraindicated in cases of Yin deficiency with effulgent Fire and constipation.

Due to the psoralen content which increases the response to UV light, patients should be advised to avoid excessive exposure to the sun or discontinue taking if traveling to a hot climate.

Pinyin: Hu Tao Ren  Chinese: 胡桃仁
Pharmaceutical: Semen Juglandis
Taxonomy: Juglans regia
English: Walnut

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Kidneys, replenishes Jing and strengthens the back and knees
   Kidney Yang Deficiency with a Cold and painful back and knees and urinary frequency
   Kidney Jing Deficiency
2. Warms and astringes the Lungs, resolves cold Phlegm, arrests wheezing and helps the Kidneys grasp Qi
   Lung and Kidney Deficiencies with chronic cough and wheezing that worsens with any exertion
   Kidney unable to grasp Lung Qi
3. Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels
   Constipation from Deficient Fluids and Blood
   Constipation in the elderly
   Constipation due to injured Fluids following a febrile disorder

Standard Dosage: 10-30g in decoction, or eaten as food.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with effulgent fire, cough and loose stool due to phlegm-heat.

Pinyin: Da Suan  Chinese: 大蒜
Pharmaceutical: Bulbus Allii sativi
Taxonomy: Allium sativum
English: Garlic

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Kills Parasites and Expels Demons
   Hookworms and pinworms and, with appropriate herbs for other types of intestinal parasites
   Tinea of the scalp
   Single-clove purple garlic from Sichuan, is often recommended as the most effective single remedy for Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998) as the Gu-snakes greatly fear garlic Qi
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
2. Disperses abscesses and reduces swellings
   Primarily for early stages of abscesses and sores (internally and topically)
3. Resolves toxicity
   Tinea and other pruritic rashes (primarily topically)
4. Warms the Stomach, strengthens the Spleen, promotes the movement of Qi, reduces Stagnation and resolves toxicity
   Diarrhoea and dysenteric disorders due to epidemic toxins or Food Stagnation (can be used as a stand-alone herb for mild cases of Food Stagnation)
5. Prevents influenza and treats shellfish poisoning
   Bacterial and viral epidemics Shellfish poisoning

Standard Dosage: 5-10g eaten raw or made into syrup.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for oral taking in case of yin deficiency with effulgent fire and people with eye disease or tooth disease or tongue disease or throat disease.

Its potential to increase antiplatelet activity means it can enhance the effects of anticoagulants, NSAIDs and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin).