Pinyin: Tian Men Dong  Chinese: 天門冬
Pharmaceutical: Radix Asparagi
Taxonomy: Asparagus cochinchinensis
English: Asparagus Root

Tastes: Sweet, bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, Stomach and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Lung Heat, sedates Fire and Moistens the Lungs
   Lung Yin Deficiency with Heat signs in the upper Jiao such as Dryness of the mouth, Dryness of the Lung with dry mouth and a dry, non-productive cough or a productive cough with scanty, viscous, Blood-streaked sputum
   Consumption with low-grade afternoon fever
2. Nourishes the Lung and Kidney Yin, resolves Phlegm and generates Fluids
   Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiency, especially Wasting and Thirsting disorder (消渴 Xiao Ke) of upper, middle and lower Jiao
   Jing Deficiency due to Kidney Yin Deficiency with leg atrophy
   Constipation due to dry Intestines
3. Aids fasting and expels Evil Spirits
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as one of the superior herbs that will with protracted taking, make the body light, boost Qi 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).
4. Removes the Three Worms and Hidden Corpses
   Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that it removes the Three Worms and Hidden Corpses. This was likely a precursor to the concept of the Three Corpse Worms, maybe deriving from 蠱 Gu Syndrome, whose character contains the character for Worm (蟲 Chong) three times, and may have referred to difficult to treat metabolic disorders. The worms were spiritual parasites which caused overindulgence leading to complex diseases that did not respond to normal medicine and needed to be treated by fasting (Bigu), meditation (Neidan) and medicines (Waidan).

Standard Dosage: 6-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for cough due to wind-cold invasion and diarrhea due to deficiency cold because of its cold and smooth properties.

Pinyin: Mai Men Dong  Chinese: 麥門冬
Pharmaceutical: Radix Ophiopogonis
English: Dwarf Lilyturf Root

Tastes: Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Lung and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Moistens the Lungs, nourishes Yin and stops coughing
   Lung Yin Deficiency with a hacking, dry cough or a cough with thick, difficult to expectorate sputum, or hemoptysis
   Pathogenic Warm-Dryness Dryness that has transformed into Fire
2. Nourishes Stomach Yin and generates Fluids
   Stomach Yin Deficiency with dry mouth and tongue
3. Moistens the Intestines
   Constipation, dry mouth and irritability as a result of febrile disease or Yin Deficiency
4. Clears the Heart and eliminates irritability
   Ying Stage Heat with fever and irritability which is worse at night
   Yin Deficiency with fever and irritability which is worse at night
5. 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, prevent senility 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: 10-15g in decoction.

Pinyin: Sheng Di Huang  Chinese: 生地黃
Pharmaceutical: Radix Rehmanniae
Taxonomy: Rehmannia glutinosa
English: Chinese Foxglove Root / Rehmannia Root

Tastes: Sweet, bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver, Stomach and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat and cools the Blood
   Ying Stage Heat with high fever, thirst and a scarlet tongue
   Xue Stage Heat
   Hemorrhage due to Blood Heat
2. Nourishes Yin, generates fluids, increases saliva and treats wasting and thirsting
   Yin Deficiency with Heat signs
   Injury to fluids
   Throat pain due to Yin Deficiency
   Wasting and thirsting disorder (消渴 Xiao Ke - diabetes)
3. Cools Heart Fire
   Heart Fire
4. Calms the Spirit agitated by Parasites damaging the Yin
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
5. Breaks up Blood Stasis, expels Cold and Hot Bi, replenishes Bone Marrow and promotes the growth of Muscles and Flesh
   Broken bones or severed sinews from falls and a damaged center (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing)
6. 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 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.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of diarrhea, abdomen distention due to spleen deficiency.

Pinyin: Shu Di Huang  Chinese: 熟地黄
Pharmaceutical: Radix Rehmanniae Preparata
Taxonomy: Rehmannia glutinosa
English: Prepared Chinese Foxglove Root

Tastes: Sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes the Blood
   Blood Deficiency with facial pallor, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding and postpartum bleeding
2. Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin
   Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency with a weak low back and limbs, dizziness, tinnitus, tidal fevers, night sweats and nocturnal emissions
3. Strongly enriches Yin and relieves wasting and thirsting disorder
   Lower Jiao wasting (it can be used as a stand-alone herb for this)
4. Nourishes Jing and Blood and fills the Marrow
   Exhausted Jing and Blood problems such as delayed development during childhood, blunted affect, premature aging, diminished mental acuity, graying of hair, impotence and memory loss
5. Arrests coughing and wheezing
   Kidney Deficient coughing, wheezing and asthma, such as inability of the Kidneys to grasp Qi

Standard Dosage: 10-30g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for spleen and stomach deficiency, loose stool due to fullness in abdomen and qi stagnation with excessive phlegm because it is greasy and will produce indigestion.

Pinyin: Shan Yao  Chinese: 山药
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Dioscoreae
Taxonomy: Dioscorea polystachya syn. batatas
English: Chinese Yam / Shu Yu

Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Lung and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Spleen, nourishes Stomach Yin and stops diarrhoea
   Spleen or Stomach Deficiency with diarrhoea, fatigue, spontaneous sweating and anorexia
2. Tonifies Lung Qi and nourishes Lung Yin
   Lung Qi and/or Yin Deficiency with chronic cough
3. Tonifies Kidney Yin and astringes Jing
   Kidney Qi Deficiency with spermatorrhea, urinary frequency and vaginal discharge
   消渴 Xiao Ke due to Qi and Yin Deficiency
4. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, sharpen the ears and eyes, make the body light, 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). Despite being a starchy vegetable, this may still have been an appropriate addition to a ketogenic diet as the starches are mostly resistant and many of its other compounds have been shown to have blood glucose reducing effects, making it a potential important source of this essential nutrient group while engaging in a low carbohydrate diet.

Standard Dosage: 5-30g in decoction. Very large doses, up to 500g have been used in trials for diabetes management.

Pinyin: Bai Bu  Chinese: 百部
Pharmaceutical: Radix Stemonae
English: Stemona Root

Tastes: Bitter, sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Moistens the Lungs and stops coughing
   Acute and chronic cough (especially due to Deficiency including Yin Deficiency)
2. Expel parasites and kills lice
   Head and body lice or fleas (topically)
   As a wash for bacterial vaginosis
   As a wash or soak for fungal infections
   As a nightly retained enema for pinworms

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Chuan Bei Mu  Chinese: 川贝母
Pharmaceutical: Bulbus Fritillariae cirrhosae
Taxonomy: Fritillaria cirrhosa
English: Yellow Himalayan Fritillary Bulb

Tastes: Bitter, sweet, lightly cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat, transforms Phlegm, stops coughing and nourishes and moistens the Lungs
   Chronic cough especially due to Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire Rising with chronic cough, slight sputum, difficult to expectorate, blood streaked sputum
   Cough with Qi Stagnation with reduced appetite and a stifling sensation in the chest and abdomen
2. Clears Heat and dissipates nodules
   Phlegm-Fire nodules (Chuang Yung sores, swellings, scrofula, Lung or breast abscesses)

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Contraindicated to Wu Tou.

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: Shui Ta Gan  Chinese: 水獺肝
Pharmaceutical: Jecur Lutrinae
Taxonomy: Lutrinae
English: Otter Liver

Tastes: Sweet, warm, slightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes Yin, eliminates Heat, calms cough, stops bleeding
   Cough, asthma, night sweat, hemoptysis, night blindness, consumptive disease, hectic fever due to Yin Deficiency, hemorrhoidal bleeding, general debility, bone steaming fever, tidal fever and nyctalopia

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.

Pinyin: San Qi / Tian Qi  Chinese: 三七 / 田七
Pharmaceutical: Radix Notoginseng
Taxonomy: Panax notoginseng
English: Pseudoginseng Root

Tastes: Sweet, slightly bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Stomach and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Stops bleeding and transforms Blood Stasis
   Internal and external bleeding including hematemesis, epistaxis, hematochezia, metrorrhagia, bloody dysentery, menorrhagia, and hematuria, dizziness, pain
2. Reduces swelling, alleviates pain and removes extravasated Blood
   Traumatic injury with swelling and pain, including falls, fractures, contusions and sprains, stab wounds, pain, dizziness and post-natal Blood retention
3. Invigorates the Blood
   Chest and abdominal pain and joint pain due to Blood Stasis
   Sores, carbuncles and snake and animal bites, conjunctivitis
   Cancer
4. Relieves the symptoms of Gu Sydnrome while suppressing parasites (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction. 1-1.5g as powder or pills.
Cautions: Use with cautions for pregnant women.

Pinyin: Ju Hua  Chinese: 菊花
Pharmaceutical: Flos Chrysanthemi
English: Chrysanthemum

Tastes: Pungent, sweet, bitter, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Disperses Wind and clears Heat
   Wind-Heat from a common Cold or Warm pathogen disease
2. Calms the Liver and clears the eyes
   Dry, swollen and/or painful eyes due to Wind-Heat in the Liver channel or Liver Yang
   Rising Spots in front of the eyes, blurred vision or dizziness due to Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiencies
   Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiencies with heatstroke
3. Calms Liver Yang and extinguishes Wind
   Liver Wind with dizziness, headache and deafness
   Liver Yang Rising (Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency)
   Hypertension
4. Detoxifies (purifies Blood)
   Toxic sores and swellings
5. Promotes the movement of Heart Qi and Blood and stimulates Blood circulation
   Heart Qi and Blood Stagnation
6. Kills Gu Parasites and Scatters Toxins by Releasing the Exterior
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 1998; 2015)
7. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, disinhibit the Blood and Qi, make the body light, slow ageing 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.

Pinyin: Sang Ye  Chinese: 桑叶
Pharmaceutical: Folium Mori
Taxonomy: Morus alba
English: Mulberry Leaf

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Disperses and scatters Wind-Heat
   Wind-Heat with fever, headache, sore throat and cough
   The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing also says it eliminates Cold and Heat by promoting sweating
2. Calms the Liver and clears the eyes
   Liver channel eye problems due to Wind-Heat or Yin Deficiency
   Vertigo due to Liver Yang Rising with red, sore, dry or painful eyes or spots in front of the eyes
   Hypertension, high blood sugar and cholesterol
3. Clears Heat from the Lungs, stops coughing and moistens Dryness
   Lung Heat with thick, yellow Phlegm
   Lung Dryness with cough and a dry mouth
4. Cools the Blood and stops bleeding
   Mild cases of hematemesis due to Blood Heat
5. Treats Xiao Ke
   High blood glucose, type 2 diabetes, Upper Jiao Xiao Ke where thirst is the primary symptom
   Management of obesity

Standard Dosage: 9-15g in decoction.

Pinyin: E Jiao  Chinese: 阿胶
Pharmaceutical: Colla Corii Asini
English: Donkey-Hide Gelatin / Ass-Hide Glue

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Blood
   Blood Deficiency with dizziness, sallow or pale complexion and palpitations
2. Nourishes the Blood and stops bleeding
   Any kind of bleeding, especially consumptive disorders with hemoptysis, hemafecia, menorrhagia or metrorrhagia
3. Nourishes and moistens Yin
   Yin Deficiency with irritability and insomnia in the aftermath of a Warm febrile disease
4. Moistens the Lungs and Large Intestine
   Dry Lung coughs due to Yin Deficiency or consumption

Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for spleen and stomach deficiency, poor appetite, loose stool due to spleen deficiency because it is greasy and will produce indigestion.

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 may be substituted with a variety of Blood and Yin tonics depending on the formula, or gelatin from other animal sources such as pigs or cows included as dietary advice, provided it is not supplied by the herbalist as part of the prescription.