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: Huang Qi  Chinese: 黄芪
Pharmaceutical: Radix Astragali
Taxonomy: Astragalus membranaceus
English: Astragalus Root / Mongolian Milkvetch Root

Tastes: Sweet, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung and Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies Qi and Blood
   Postpartum fever due to Qi and Blood Deficiency
   Recovery from severe Blood loss
2. Strengthens the Spleen and raises the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach
   Spleen Qi Deficiency with anorexia, fatigue and diarrhoea
   Central Qi Sinking (prolapse)
   Lung and Spleen Qi Deficiency
   Qi Failing to contain Blood
   Qi and Blood Deficiency
   Fever from Qi Deficiency
3. Tonifies Wei Qi, stabilizes the Exterior and tonifies the Lungs (aids circulation of moisture downward from the face)
   Wei Qi Deficiency with spontaneous sweating
   Lung Qi Deficiency with frequent colds or shortness of breath
   Excessive sweating associated with Qi, Yang or Yin Deficiency
   Dampness in the head
4. Promotes urination and reduces oedema
   Spleen Deficiency oedema or superficial oedema with reduced urination (It can be used as a stand-alone herb for this)
5. Promotes the discharge of pus, generates flesh and expels toxins
   Chronic ulcerations and sores that either have trouble forming pus or have formed pus but are not draining well
6. Generates Body Fluids
   Wasting and thirsting disorder (消渴 Xiao Ke)
   Bi Syndrome with numbness of the limbs and paralysis
7. Relieves numbness and pain
   Numbness and pain due to Deficiency of Qi and Blood
8. Tonifies the Qi while suppressing Parasites
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction. Large dosages of up to 30g can be used for severe debilitation, Blood deficiency or unhealing sores (e.g. Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang).
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of exterior excess with excessive pathogen, internal obstruction, yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity, early stage of sores and ulcers of excessive pathogen and no deficiency of heathy qi, because it can tonify qi, raise yang and strengthen superficial.Caution with patients on immunosuppressents due to its immune modulating effects.

Pinyin: Nu Zhen Zi  Chinese: 女貞子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Ligustri Lucidi
Taxonomy: Ligustrum Lucidim
English: Glossy Privet Fruit

Tastes: Sweet, bitter, cool
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes and tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin
   Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiencies with dizziness, spots before the eyes, lower back soreness, premature graying of the hair and tinnitus
2. Clears Deficiency Heat
   Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire Rising
3. Improves vision
   Diminished visual acuity in those with Liver and Kidney Deficiencies
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 one fat and strong, the body light and prevent forgetfulness. 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. Alcohol extracts may be preferable to extract the oleanolic and ursolic acid content.

Pinyin: Jiang Huang  Chinese: 姜黄
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Curcumae longae
Taxonomy: Curcuma longa
English: Turmeric Root

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Invigorates the Blood, eliminates Blood Stasis and unblocks menstruation
   Blood Stasis Menstrual problems and chest or abdominal pain due to Blood Stasis from Deficiency Cold
2. Promotes the movement of Qi and opens the channels and collaterals to alleviate pain
   Liver Qi Stagnation with epigastric and abdominal pain
3. Expels Wind and invigorates the Blood
   Wind-Damp-Bi with Blood Stasis, especially in the shoulders
4. Reduces swelling
   Swelling and pain from sores and lesions caused by toxic Heat Accumulation with Qi and Blood Stagnation

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Generally safe but its ability to increase bile secretion means caution should be used in cases of gallstones and avoided in biliary tract obstruction.

Pinyin: Ling Zhi  Chinese: 靈芝
Pharmaceutical: Sporocarp Ganodermae
Taxonomy: Ganoderma Lucidum
English: Reishi Mushroom / Ganoderma

Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Heart, Lung, Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies Heart Qi, nourishes Heart Blood and calms the Spirit
   Heart Blood and Heart Qi Deficiency failing to nourish the Spirit with insomnia, fright, palpitations and forgetfulness (can be used as a stand-alone herb)
2. Tonifies the Lung Qi, transforms Phlegm and stops cough and wheezing
   Cough and wheezing in patients with Deficiency Cold or Phlegm Dampness (can be used as a stand-alone herb)
   Wheezing due to Lung and Kidney Deficiencies
3. Tonifies Qi and nourishes Blood
   Deficiency consumption with shortness of breath, lack of appetite and either icy extremities or irritability with a dry mouth
4. Aids fasting
   Several types differentiated by colour are 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, prevent forgetfulness, prolong life and makes one an immortal. 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: 6-12g in decoction. Mushrooms should ideally be decocoted for at least 40 minutes and preferably 1-2 hours to fully extract the polysaccharides from within the chitin cell walls.

Pinyin: Jiao Gu Lan  Chinese: 绞股蓝
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma seu Herba Gynostemmatis
English: Fiveleaf Gynostemma Herb

Tastes: Slightly sweet, bitter, cool
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies Qi, moistens the Lungs, generates Body fluids and dispels Phlegm
   Chronic disorders such as asthma, migraines, neuralgia impaired respiratory function and impaired gastrointestinal function characterized by Deficiency with nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and chest congestion
2. Clears Heat, eliminates toxins and reduces swelling and inflammation and alleviates pain
   Gastric and duodenal ulcers, hyperlipidemia, nodules, cystitis, and herpes zoster
   Cancers
3. Lowers Blood pressure and cholesterol
   Hypertension
   High cholesterol

Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction.

Pinyin: Bai Zhu  Chinese: 白朮
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Atractylodes macrocephalae
Taxonomy: Atractylodes macrocephala
English: Largehead Atracylodes Rhizome

Tastes: Sweet, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Spleen and augments Qi
   Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with diarrhoea, fatigue, a sallow complexion and lack of appetite
   Spleen Yang failure to rise
2. Dries Dampness and promotes water metabolism
   Spleen Damp or accumulation of fluids affecting the digestion
   Edema and reduced urination due to Spleen Deficiency (failure to transform and transport)
   Tan Yin, masses, swelling
   Auxiliary for Damp painful obstruction
3. Stabilizes the Exterior and stops sweating
   Qi Deficiency with spontaneous sweating (Wei Qi Deficiency)
   With appropriate herbs, other types of sweating
4. Calms the fetus
   Restless fetus disorder due to Spleen Qi Deficiency
   With appropriate herbs, other types of Restless Fetus Disorder
5. 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, prolong life and make one free from hunger. 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: 6-12g in decoction.
Cautions: Use with cautions in cases of yin deficiency with fluid injury by dryness-heat pathogen.

Pinyin: Huang Qin  Chinese: 黄芩
Pharmaceutical: Radix Scutellariae baicalensis
Taxonomy: Scutellaria baicalensis
English: Baical Skullcap Root

Tastes: Bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, Stomach, Gallbladder, Large Intestine and Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat and dries Dampness
   Damp-Heat in the Stomach or Intestines with diarrhoea or dysenteric disorder
   Damp-Warmth with fever, a stifling sensation in the chest and thirst with no desire to drink
   Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao with painful urinary dysfunction
   Damp-Heat jaundice (auxiliary), infectious hepatitis
2. Drains Fire and detoxifies
   Heat and Fire especially in the Upper Jiao (Lung) with high fever, irritability, thirst, cough and expectoration of thick, yellow sputum
   Upper respiratory tract infection
   Hot sores and swellings (topical or internal)
3. Cools the Blood and stops bleeding
   Xue Stage Heat or Blood Heat causing bleeding with epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematemesis and hemafecia
4. Clears Heat and calms the fetus
   Fetal restlessness due to Heat
5. Calms ascending Liver Yang
   Liver Yang Rising with headache, irritability, red eyes, flushed face and bitter taste
   Hypertension (high blood pressure)
   Gallbladder Heat

Standard Dosage: 5-15g in decoction.

Pinyin: Bai Hua She She Cao  Chinese: 白花蛇舌草
Pharmaceutical: Herba Hedyotidis Diffusae
English: Oldenlandia / Snaketongue Grass

Tastes: Slightly bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Large Intestine and Small Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat, strongly relieves Fire toxins and reduces abscesses (internally and topically)
   Intestinal abscess, toxic sores, ulcerations and swellings (Chuang Yung)
   Snakebite
   Cancers
   Topically, for vesicles and ichthyosis
2. Clears Heat and promotes urination
   Lin Syndrome Damp-Heat jaundice

Standard Dosage: 15-60g in decoction.

Pinyin: Fu Ling  Chinese: 茯苓
Pharmaceutical: Poria
Taxonomy: Poria cocos syn. Wolfiporia extensa
English: China-Root / Hoelen / Tuckahoe / Indian Bread

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Strengthens the Spleen and harmonizes the Middle Jiao
   Spleen Deficiency Dampness with anorexia, diarrhoea and epigastric distention
2. Strengthens the Spleen
   Phlegm Dampness due to Spleen Deficiency with thin mucus in which Phlegm moves upward manifesting as palpitations, headache, dizziness and a thick, greasy tongue coat
3. Promotes urination and leaches out Dampness
   Urinary difficulty, diarrhoea or oedema due to Stagnation of Fluids or Dampness
4. Quiets the Heart, calms the Spirit and soothes the nerves
   Palpitations, insomnia or forgetfulness due to either Spleen and Heart Insufficiency or Internal Obstruction of Turbid Phlegm
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, quiet the Hun, nourish the Shen, 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: 9-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for spermatorrhea due to deficiency-cold.

Pinyin: She Mei  Chinese: 蛇莓
Pharmaceutical: Herba Duchesneae Indicae
English: Indian Mock Strawberry / Snake Strawberry

Tastes: Sweet, bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver, Lung and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat, cools the Blood, resolves swelling, breaks up clots and removes toxicity
   Fever, sore throat, cough
   Hematemesis, stomatitis, laryngitis, acute tonsillitis
   Dysentery, enteritis, diphtheria
   Sores, boils, abscesses, weeping eczema, ringworm and cervical scrofula
   Burn, scalds, traumatic injuries
   Snake and insect bites
   Epilepsy and convulsions

Standard Dosage: 9-15g in decoction.

Pinyin: Bai Ying  Chinese: 白英
Pharmaceutical: Herba Solani Lyrati
Taxonomy: Solanus lyratus
English: Bittersweet Herb / Climbing Nightshade / Bai Mao Teng (白毛藤) / Suo Yang Quan (樹羊泉)

Tastes: Bitter, slightly cold, slightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Dispels Heat and Dampness and removes toxins
   Malaria, jaundice, furuncle, erysipelas, pain due to pus and Blood in the ear
2. Eliminates Wind and promotes urination
   Migratory arthralgia, rheumatalgia, ascites, edema, Lin Syndrome, stranguria with hematuria, lower abdominal pain
3. Regulates the circulation of Qi, invigorates the Blood and dispels Phlegm (anti-cancer)
   Cancer, tumors, swellings, lumps, lower abdominal pain due to Qi Stagnation, abdominal pain due to ascariasis in children
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 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: 15-30g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated to weak people without damp-heat.

Pinyin: Yin Chen Hao  Chinese: 茵陈蒿
Pharmaceutical: Herba Artemisiae Scopariae
Taxonomy: Artemisia scoparia
English: Virgate Wormwood Herb

Tastes: Bitter, pungent and slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Liver and Gallbladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder and relieves jaundice
   Jaundice due to Damp-Cold or Damp-Heat
2. Clears Heat and facilitates the resolution of Dampness
   Damp sores, wind rashes, other skin diseases, in the Lower parts of the body (can be used alone as a wash)
3. Clears and releases Dampness in the the Exterior
   Damp-Warm Febrile disease
4. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the middle class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light, boost the Qi 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: 6-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for jaundice with yellowish skin due to accumulation of blood or sallow yellow due to blood deficiency.

Pinyin: Xu Chang Qing  Chinese: 徐長卿
Pharmaceutical: Radix Cynanchi paniculati
Taxonomy: Cynanchus Paniculatus
English: Paniculate Swallowwort Root / Liao Diao Zhu / Shi Xia Chang Qing

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Removes Wind and Dampness, invigorates Blood and stops pain
   Wind-Damp Bi Syndrome
   Pain due to trauma
   Abdominal pain due to Deficiency Cold
2. Resolves toxins and stops itching
   Wind rashes (topical and internal)
   Toxic sores (Chuang Yung)
   Skin itching including eczema and snakebite (can be used as a stand-alone herb)
3. Treats Ghost Possession and Gu Toxins
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as treating Ghost Possession, Spirit Matters (精物 Jing Wu), Evil and Malign Qi. It kills the hundred Spirits, Gu Toxins, and old Ghost Possessions manifesting as running about, crying, sadness, and trance.

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated to weak people.

Pinyin: Tu Bie Chong  Chinese: 土鳖虫
Pharmaceutical: Eupolyphagae seu Steleophagae
Taxonomy: Eupolyphaga sinensis seu Steleophaga plancyi
English: Woodlouse

Tastes: Salty, cold, lightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Breaks up and drives out Blood Stasis, invigorates Blood circulation and disperses lumps and masses
   Blood Stasis with abdominal masses and amenorrhea
   Swollen tongue due to Blood Stasis
2. Knits together sinews and joins bones
   Traumatic injury with lacerations, contusions and fractures
   Lumbar strain (toasted and ground into a powder)

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction, or 1-1.5g in yellow wine.
Cautions: Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with E Zhu and Ru Xiang.

Pinyin: Ji Nei Jin  Chinese: 鸡内金
Pharmaceutical: Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae Galli
English: Chicken Gizzard

Tastes: Sweet, bland
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Small Intestine and Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Strongly reduces Food Stagnation and improves the Spleen's transportive function
   Food Accumulation in the digestive tract
   Food Stagnation due to Spleen Deficiency
   Childhood nutritional impairment
2. Astringes Jing and urine and stops enuresis
   Spermatorrhea, enuresis and urinary frequency
3. Transforms hardness and dissolves stones
   Urinary or biliary stones

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Shan Yao and Mai Ya.