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: 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: Mu Gua  Chinese: 木瓜
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Chaenomelis
Taxonomy: Chaenomeles sinensis syn. Pseudocydonia sinensis
English: Chinese Quince Fruit

Tastes: Sour, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. Relaxes the sinews (increases Qi and Blood circulation) and unblocks the channels
   Damp painful obstruction in the extremities, especially with severe cramping pain and weakness in the low back and legs
2. Harmonizes the Stomach, nourishes the Liver and transforms Dampness
   Abdominal pain, spasms, calf cramps and oedema due to “leg Qi”. It is especially good for disharmony between the Liver and Spleen leading to leg problems
3. Reduces Food Stagnation
   Food Stagnation

Standard Dosage: 6-10g in decoction.

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: Lian Zi  Chinese: 莲子
Pharmaceutical: Semen Nelumbinis
English: Lotus Seed

Tastes: Sweet, astringent, neutral
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Kidney and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Spleen and astringes diarrhoea
   Spleen Deficiency with chronic diarrhoea and loss of appetite
2. Tonifies the Kidneys and astringes Jing
   Premature ejaculation and spermatorrhea due to unstable Deficient Kidneys
   Excessive uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge
3. Nourishes the Heart and calms the Spirit
   Palpitations with anxiety and irritability associated with Deficiency and insomnia
   Especially useful for Lack of Communication Between the Heart and Kidneys (Heart and Kidney 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, make the body light, slow ageing, 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: 10-15g in decoction.