Pinyin: Sang Shen  Chinese: 桑椹
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Mori
Taxonomy: Morus alba
English: Mulberry Fruit

Tastes: Sweet, sour, cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Blood and enriches Yin
   Blood Deficiency and Yin Deficiency with dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia and premature graying of the hair
   Wasting and thirsting disorder due to Yin Deficiency
2. Lubricates the Intestines
   Constipation due to Blood Deficiency or insufficiency of Fluids
3. Generates Fluids
   Thirst and Body Fluid Deficiency

Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction, or sometimes up to 60g; alternatively, can be made into a paste.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for deficiency-cold in spleen and stomach with loose stool.

Pinyin: Huo Ma Ren  Chinese: 火麻仁
Pharmaceutical: Semen Cannabis
Taxonomy: Cannabis sativa
English: Cannabis Seed

Tastes: Sweet, mild
Meridians Entered: Large Intestine, Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes, moistens and lubricates the Intestine
   Constipation in the elderly
   Constipation after a warm febrile disease
   Postpartum constipation
   Constipation due to Blood Deficiency
2. Nourishes Yin
   Yin Deficiency with constipation
3. Clears Heat and promotes healing of sores
   Sores and ulcerations (auxiliary - internal and topical)
4. Moistens Dryness and benefits the hair
   Promotes hair growth and treats dry hair

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.

Pinyin: Ding Xiang  Chinese: 丁香
Pharmaceutical: Flos Caryophylli
Taxonomy: Caryophyllus aromaticus / Syzygium aromaticum
English: Clove

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Warms the Middle Jiao, relieves pain and descends Qi
   Stomach Cold with vomiting, hiccup, abdominal pain and diarrhoea
   Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold with anorexia, vomiting and diarrhoea
   Bad breath (chew whole clove), toothache (apply oil to gum)
2. Warms the Kidneys and assists Yang
   Impotence or clear vaginal discharge from Cold in the Womb (usually accompanied by weak legs) due to Kidney Yang Deficiency
3. Kills Parasites and expels Demons
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
   Can also be used as an insect repellent.

Standard Dosage: 1-3g in decoction.
Cautions: It is incompatible with Yu Jin (nineteen incompatibilities). It should be used with cautions for heat syndrome and yin deficiency with interior heat.

Pinyin: Gao Ben  Chinese: 藁本
Pharmaceutical: Radix et Rhizoma Ligustici Sinensis
Taxonomy: Ligusticum sinense, L. jiholens
English: Straw Weed / Chinese Lovage Root

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Bladder, Liver and Du Mai

Actions & Indications:

1. Expels Wind and Cold
   Wind-Cold, especially headache and nasal conditions
   Alone for Wind-Cold lodged in the Taiyang with headache involving the crown and vertex or linked to the teeth and jaw
2. Dispels Wind-Dampness and alleviates pain
   Acute low back pain due to Wind-Cold Wind-Damp-Cold Bi pain
3. Guides other herbs to the vertex
   Vertex headaches associated with Taiyang, Jueyin and Du Mai patterns.
4. Releases the Exterior and Drives Out Snakes
   Gu Toxins and Parasites
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 1998; 2015)

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Being warm and dry, it is prohibited for strong heat and yin and blood deficiency.