Pinyin: Zi Su Ye  Chinese: 紫苏叶
Pharmaceutical: Folium Perillae
English: Perilla Leaf

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Releases the Exterior and disperses Cold
   Wind-Cold with fever, chills, headache, nasal congestion, cough or a stifling sensation in the chest (especially in older people)
2. Promotes the movement of Spleen and Stomach Qi and Harmonizes the Middle Jiao
   Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation with nausea, vomiting, or anorexia
   Intestinal gas
3. Improves Lung function and expands the chest
   Asthma
   Chest distention
   Cold induced wheezing
4. Calms the fetus and alleviates morning sickness
   Restless fetus and morning sickness
5. Alleviates seafood poisoning Detoxifies any type of allergy
   Seafood poisoning (fish and crab), used alone or in combination
6. Releases the Exterior and Drives Out Snakes
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
   One of the chief herbs for treating Gu Syndrome, along with Bo He and Bai Zhi, classed as "open the exterior with snake killing herbs" (Fruehauf, 1998).

Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Xiang Fu  Chinese: 香附
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Cyperi
English: Nut-Grass Rhizome

Tastes: Pungent, slightly bitter and sweet, bland
Meridians Entered: Liver and Triple Energizer

Actions & Indications:

1. Spreads and regulates Liver Qi
   Liver Qi Stagnation with hypochondriac pain and epigastric distention
   Disharmony between the Liver and Spleen
2. Regulates menstruation and alleviates pain
   Gynecological disorders due to Liver Qi Stagnation with dysmenorrhea or irregular menstruation

Standard Dosage: 6-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Chen Pi  Chinese: 陈皮
Pharmaceutical: Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae
Taxonomy: Citrus spp.
English: Aged Tangerine Peel

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Regulates Qi, adjusts the Middle and relieves the diaphragm
   Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation with epigastric or abdominal distention, fullness, bloating, belching, nausea and vomiting
2. Dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm
   Phlegm-Damp Obstructs the Lung with coughing, a stifling sensation in the chest and/or diaphragm and copious, viscous sputum
   Turbid Damp Obstructs the Middle with a stifling sensation in the chest, abdominal distention, anorexia, fatigue, loose stools and a thick, greasy tongue coat
3. Helps prevent Stagnation from tonic herbs
   Tonic herbs causing Stagnation
4. Descends Qi
   Qi Rebellion
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, remove foul breath, precipitate the Qi, and enable one to communicate with spirits. 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: Gan Cao  Chinese: 甘草
Pharmaceutical: Radix Glycyrrhizae
Taxonomy: Glycyrrhiza uralensis seu glabra seu inflata
English: Liquorice Root

Tastes: Sweet, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Lung and Spleen (and all 12 meridians)

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Spleen and augments Qi
   Spleen Qi Deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude and loose stools
   Qi and Blood Deficiency with an irregular pulse and/or palpitations
   Heart Qi Deficiency or Heart Yang Deficiency
2. Moistens the Lungs, resolves Phlegm and stops coughing
   Lung Heat or Cold
   Productive or non-productive coughing
3. Moderates spasms and alleviates pain
   Painful muscle spasms of the abdomen and legs
4. Clears Heat and relieves Fire Toxicity
   Raw for Toxic Heat with sore throat or carbuncles and sores (Chuang Yung)
5. Antidote for many toxic substances (internal and topical)
   Poisoning
   Bites (after washing the wound, chew Gan Cao and apply a thick layer on the bite wound, changing whenever it dries out; Bao Xiang-Ao, 1846, New Compilation of Proven Formulas)
6. Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs and guides the herbs to all twelve channels
   Often added in small doses to harmonise formulas
7. Tonifies the Qi while suppressing Parasites
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
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: Typically 1.5-9g in decoction. Large doses can be up 30g.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for combining with Hai Zao, Da Ji, Gan Sui and Yuan Hua because of "eighteen antagonisms". It is also contraindicated in cases of dampness obstruction in middle energizer and edema because it can help dampness obstruct qi, and it is prohibited from long-term usage in large dosage (more than 20g/day) and should be avoided or used with extreme caution in patients with high blood pressure because it may raise aldosterone levels in the blood causing retention of sodium.

The NHS recommends avoiding during pregnancy.

Pinyin: Dan Dou Chi  Chinese: 淡豆豉
Pharmaceutical: Semen Sojae Preparatum
Taxonomy: Glycine max
English: Fermented Soybean

Tastes: Pungent, bitter and cool
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Releases the Exterior
   Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat
   Yin Deficiency with superimposed Exterior disorders
2. Eliminates irritability, harmonizes the Middle Jiao and relieves stuffy sensations in the chest
   Irritability, restlessness, insomnia, stifling sensations in the chest and insomnia following a febrile disease

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.

Pinyin: Cong Bai  Chinese: 葱白
Pharmaceutical: Bulbus Allii
English: Spring Onion / Green Onion / Scallion / Fistular Onion Stalk

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Releases the exterior and induces sweating
   Wind-Cold especially very early stages
2. Disperses Cold and unblocks Yang
   Abdominal pain due to blockage of Yang Qi by Cold
   Nasal congestion and pain due to blockage of Yang Qi by Cold
3. Relieves toxicity and disperses clumps
   Toxic sores and abscesses (topical)
4. Kills parasites
   Abdominal pain due to Intestinal parasites

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.