Pinyin: Chun Pi  Chinese: 椿皮
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Ailanthi
English: Tree of Heaven Bark

Tastes: Bitter, astringent, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver, Large Intestine and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat, astringes the Intestines, dries Dampness, stops diarrhoea and stops bleeding
   Diarrhoea or dysentery due to Damp-Heat particularly if there is hemafecia
   Chronic vaginal discharge due to Damp-Heat
2. Kills parasites
   Roundworms
   Pruritic tinea-like rashes (topically)

Standard Dosage: 6-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in case of the beginning of diarrhea, dysentery and deficiency-cold in spleen and stomach.

Pinyin: Bai Shao  Chinese: 白芍
Pharmaceutical: Radix Paeoniae Alba
Taxonomy: Paeonia lactiflora
English: White Peony Root

Tastes: Bitter, sour, sweet, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes the Blood and regulates menstruation
   Liver Blood Deficiency with menstrual dysfunction, vaginal discharge and uterine bleeding accompanied by a pale face, a lusterless complexion and dull, lusterless nails
   Anemia
   Breast distention and premenstrual syndrome
2. Astringes Yin and adjusts the Ying and Wei
   Yin Deficiency sweating Sweating due to Yin Collapse
   Disharmony between the Liver and Spleen
   Disharmony between the Ying and Wei with non-productive sweating
3. Calms Liver Yang and Liver Wind and alleviates pain
   Liver Qi Stagnation with Liver Yang Rising
   Liver Wind with Yin and Blood Deficiency
   Bi syndrome due to Blood Deficiency with pain and spasms
4. Softens the Liver and relieves pain
   Diarrhoea, borborygmus and abdominal pain
   Dysenteric disorders with tenesmus
5. Tonifies the Blood while suppressing Parasites
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 10-30g in decoction.
Cautions: Caution with anticoagulants as it may slow clotting time. May also slow the absorption of phenytoin.

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: Huang Bai  Chinese: 黄柏
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Phellodendri
Taxonomy: Phellodendron amurense seu chinense
English: Amur Corktree Bark

Tastes: Bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver, Gallbladder, Large Intestine, Kidney and Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Drains Damp-Heat especially from the Lower Jiao
   Thick, yellow vaginal discharge, foul smelling diarrhoea or dysenteric disorder
   Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao
   Hot Leg Qi with red, swollen, painful knees, legs or feet
   Damp-Heat jaundice
2. Drains Kidney Fire (False Heat, Deficiency Heat)
   Kidney Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire Rising (steaming bone disorder, night sweats, afternoon fevers and sweating, occasionally with nocturnal emissions and spermatorrhea)
3. Drains Fire and relieves Fire toxicity
   Toxic sores and Damp-skin lesions (internally and topically)

Standard Dosage: 6-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for deficiency-cold syndrome. Overdosage and long-time taking will impair spleen and stomach.