Pinyin: Wu Yao  Chinese: 烏藥
Pharmaceutical: Radix Linderae
English: Lindera Root

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen, Liver, Kidney and Gallbladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Promotes the movement of Qi and alleviates pain
   Cold and Qi Stagnation with a stifling sensation in the chest, flank pain, epigastric and abdominal pain.
2. Warms the Kidneys and disperses Cold
   Urinary frequency or incontinence due to Kidney Yang Deficiency or Urinary Bladder Deficiency Cold

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Mu Xiang  Chinese: 木香
Pharmaceutical: Radix Aucklandiae
English: Costus Root

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine and Gall Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Promotes the movement of Qi and alleviates pain
   Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation with anorexia, a feeling of food sitting in the Stomach, epigastric or abdominal pain or distention, nausea and vomiting
   Liver or Gallbladder Qi Stagnation with flank pain, distention or soreness
2. Adjusts and regulates stagnant Qi in the Intestines
   Intestinal Qi Stagnation with diarrhoea or dysenteric disorders, abdominal pain and tenesmus
3. Strengthens the Spleen and prevents Stagnation
   Stagnation from tonic herbs, especially when the transportive and transformative functions of the Spleen are weak
4. Dispels Damp-Heat and harmonizes the Liver and Spleen
   Disharmony of the Liver and Spleen with hypochondriac pain and distention, a bitter taste in the mouth, a yellow tongue coat and possibly jaundice
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, prevent oppressive Ghost Dreams whether sleeping during the day or the night. 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).
6. Suppresses Gu Parasites
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Xiao Hui Xiang  Chinese: 小茴香
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Foeniculi
Taxonomy: Foeniculum vulgare
English: Fennel Seed

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Warms the Liver and Kidneys, expels Cold and alleviates pain
   Cold in the Lower Jiao with lower abdominal pain
   Cold Invading the Liver Channel with Cold bulging disorders
2. Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Stomach
   Stomach Cold with abdominal pain, indigestion, reduced appetite and vomiting

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.

Pinyin: Qing Pi  Chinese: 青皮
Pharmaceutical: Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride
English: Unripe Tangerine Peel

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver, Gallbladder, Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Spreads Liver Qi and breaks up Stagnant Qi
   Liver Qi Stagnation with chest, hypochondriac and breast distention and pain or bulging disorder
2. Dissipates accumulations and reduces Food Stagnation
   Food Stagnation with accumulation manifesting as pain, distention or a stifling sensation in the epigastrium
   Severe Food Stagnation
   Qi Stagnation which leads to Blood Stagnation with masses
3. Dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm
   Phlegm-Damp with malarial disorders
   Breast abscess

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Gao Liang Jiang  Chinese: 高良姜
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Alpiniae Officinarum
Taxonomy: Alpinia officinarum
English: Lesser Galangal Root

Tastes: Pungent, hot
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Warms the Middle Jiao and alleviates pain
   Epigastric and abdominal pain, vomiting, hiccup or diarrhoea due to Cold in the Middle Jiao

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.

Pinyin: Bing Lang  Chinese: 槟榔
Pharmaceutical: Semen Arecae
Taxonomy: Areca catechu
English: Betel Nut

Tastes: Bitter, pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Stomach and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Kills Parasites and expels Demons
   Kills a wide variety of Intestinal parasites including fasciolopsis, pinworms, roundworms and Blood flukes Best for tapeworms
   Drains downward to expel the bodies of dead parasites
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
2. Regulates Qi, reduces accumulations, drains downward and unblocks the bowels
   Food Stagnation and Qi Stagnation with abdominal distention, constipation or tenesmus
3. Promotes urination
   Damp leg Qi and oedema due to Excess
4. Treats malarial disorders
   Malarial disorders
5. Relieves nausea
   Nausea

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for loose stool due to spleen insufficiency or qi sinking. Use with caution for pregnant women.

This herb is prohibited from use in the UK under the banned and restricted herbal ingredients list issued by the MHRA and so is generally substituted with Zhi Shi and Yi Li Ren, or Fei Zi and Yu Li Ren for expelling parasites.

Pinyin: Chuan Lian Zi  Chinese: 川楝子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Meliae Toosendan
English: Sichuan Pagoda Tree Fruit / Sichuan Chinaberry / Melia Fruit

Tastes: Bitter, cold, mildly toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver, Stomach, Small Intestine and Urinary Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Dredges Liver Qi, releases Stagnation, stops pain and conducts Heat out from below
   Liver Qi Stagnation with pain in the chest and ribs, distention and pain from Liver/Stomach disharmony and bulging disorders
   It is most useful for problems involving Heat, but because it is very effective, it can also be used for Cold conditions with the appropriate herbs
2. Kills parasites and stops pain
   Roundworms and tapeworms
   Primarily used for abdominal pain associated with parasitic infestation
   Topically as a powder for dermatosis of the scalp
3. Kills fungus
   Topically, as a paste for fungal infections of the scalp
4. Removes the Three Worms
   Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that it removes the Three Worms. These may refer to difficult to treat metabolic disorders caused by overindulgence and should be accompanied by fasting, meditation and exercise regimes.

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is bitter, cold and mildly toxic in property, so it can easily induce nausea, vomiting, etc. when overtaken.

Pinyin: Ba Dou  Chinese: 巴豆
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Crotonis
Taxonomy: Croton Tiglium
English: Croton Fruit

Tastes: Pungent, Hot, Toxic
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Large Intestine, and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Warmly unblocks and vigorously purges (purges accumulated Cold)
   Severe Internal Cold Accumulation leading to constipation, abdominal fullness, distention and pain
   Food Stagnation
2. Drives out water and reduces oedema
   Ascites due to end stage schistomiasis
3. Breaks up clogged Phlegm and improves the condition of the throat
   Difficult breathing, wheezing, and severe fullness and distention in the chest and diaphragm
   Phlegm Blocking the Orifices
4. Promotes healing of abscesses and ulcers topically and kills parasites
   Abscesses that have suppurated but not ulcerated
   Severe ulcers
5. Stops diarrhoea
   Diarrhoea due to Cold
6. Kills Parasites
   Insecticide topically
   Internally for Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)

Standard Dosage: 0.1-0.3g powder taken separately.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in pregnancy, those anxious about their health, and is incompatible with Qian Niu Zi.
While not actually on the list of banned and restricted herbal ingredients in the UK it is generally substituted with Wu Zhu Yu due to lack of availability.