Pinyin: Shi Jue Ming  Chinese: 石决明
Pharmaceutical: Concha Haliotidis
English: Abalone Shell

Tastes: Salty, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Drains Liver Fire, pacifies the Liver and anchors and sedates Liver Yang
   Liver Fire and Liver Yang Rising patterns with headache, dizziness and red eyes Hypertension with Liver Yang Rising
2. Improves the vision and causes superficial visual obstruction to recede
   Liver Heat causing visual problems with photophobia, pterygium or other superficial visual obstruction, red eyes and blurred vision
3. Calms Internal Wind
   Liver Wind
4. Clears Stomach Fire and stops pain and bleeding
   Stomach Fire with acid reflux, heartburn, bleeding ulcers and Stomach pain (best calcined)

Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction.
Cautions: The high mineral content of this medication may prevent the oral absorption of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics.

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 Xia Ku Cao or Cao Jue Ming.

Pinyin: Mu Li  Chinese: 牡蛎
Pharmaceutical: Concha Ostreae
English: Oyster Shell

Tastes: Salty, astringent, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Heavily settles and calms the Spirit
   Agitated Heart and Spirit with palpitations with anxiety, restlessness and insomnia
2. Calms the Liver, benefits Yin and anchors Floating Yang
   Liver Yin Deficiency with Liver Yang Rising or Yin Deficiency with internal Heat with restlessness, irritability, palpitations and spontaneous sweating
3. Prevents leakage of fluids
   Continuous sweat after febrile disease or in patients with steaming bone disorder
   Loss of fluids due to Deficiency with night sweats, spontaneous sweating, nocturnal emissions, spermatorrhea or vaginal discharge and uterine bleeding
4. Softens hardness and dissipates nodules
   Various kinds of lumps particularly neck lumps such as goiter or scrofula
5. Absorbs acidity and alleviates pain (calcined)
   Excessive Stomach pain with a sour taste in the mouth
6. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of animal parts which can, with protracted taking, fortify the bones and joints (骨节 Gu Jie), kill evil ghosts (邪鬼 Xie Gui), 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: The high mineral content of this medication may prevent the oral absorption of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics.

Caution should also be taken due to the possibility of heavy metal absorption from the oysters' environment. If decocting it is advisable to leave the dregs at the bottom as heavy metal particles will naturally sink. It is still probably advisable to avoid for long term use unless the source is known to be clean.

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 Xuan Shen, Bai Shao and Wu Wei Zi or Tian Ma.

If viewed from a western perspective as a source of calcium which may cause sleep disturbances, then supplementation or inclusion of high calcium/magnesium content herbs (e.g. Kun Bu which is also salty and softens nodulation) could be considered, especially if other signs such as oesteoporosis or muscle cramps are present and the risk of side effects from calcium/magnesium supplements are low (stones, calcified arteries, GI issues). However, this assumes a mechanism which does not match many of the traditional patterns for which it is prescribed.

Pinyin: Dai Zhe Shi  Chinese: 代赭石
Pharmaceutical: Haematitum
Taxonomy: Fe₂O₃
English: Haematite

Tastes: Bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Calms the Liver, anchors Floating Yang and clears Liver Fire
   Liver Yang Rising with dizziness, vertigo, headache, a sensation of pressure around the eyes or tinnitus
2. Strongly descends rebellious Qi
   Rebellious Qi of the Lung and Stomach with belching, vomiting, hiccup and acute wheezing
3. Cools the Blood and stops bleeding
   Blood Heat bleeding Deficiency Cold bleeding (with appropriate combinations) (can be used alone for this)

Standard Dosage: 10-30g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for the pregnant women. It should not be used for a long time for it contains a microamount of arsenicum.

Mineral 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 Xia Ku Cao and Zhu Ru.

Pinyin: Dan Nan Xing  Chinese: 胆南星
Pharmaceutical: Arisaema Cum Bile
Taxonomy: Arisaema consanguineum
English: Bile prepared Jack-in-the-Pulpit Rhizome

Tastes: Bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat, dissolves Phlegm, calms Wind and stops convulsions
   Muscle spasms and cramps, infantile convulsions, seizures, facial paralysis, tetanus and stroke

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.
Cautions: This herb is prohibited from use in the UK due to its being processed in cow bile making it partially an animal product. The unprepared from (Tian Nan Xing) can be used with its Phlegm-Heat resolving actions being enhanced by adding Zhu Ru, or it can be substituted with Tian Zhu Huang.

Pinyin: Ban Xia  Chinese: 半夏
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Pinelliae
Taxonomy: Pinellia ternata
English: Pinellia Rhizome

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm
   Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs (cough with copious sputum)
   Especially effective for Damp-Phlegm of the Spleen (Cold-Damp Stagnation)
2. Descends Rebellious Qi and stops vomiting (harmonizes the Stomach)
   Vomiting due to Phlegm-Damp in the Stomach (Tan Yin), Cold thin mucus, Stomach Deficiency, Stomach Heat or pregnancy
3. Dissipates nodules and reduces Stagnation (clumps)
   Phlegm in the chest (nodules, pressure, distention, pain)
   Phlegm nodules in the neck (goiter, scrofula)
   Focal distension in the chest and epigastrium
   Obstruction caused by Phlegm anywhere in the body
4. Treats sores, skin ulcerations and carbuncles and reduces swelling (external)
   Topically as a powder for sores, skin ulcerations and carbuncles

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Contraindicated to Wu Tou. Use with cautions during gestation.

Must be processed before use as raw Ban Xia is toxic. Ingesting the raw form can cause severe irritation of the mouth, pharynx, and gastrointestinal tracts, and has toxic effects on the nervous system. Symptoms of toxicity include a dry mouth, numbness of the tongue, gastric discomfort, burning sensations and swelling of the mouth, tongue, throat and salivation. In serious cases ingesting Ban Xia can result in hoarseness, spasms, dyspnoea and asphyxia.

Processing can be done with ginger and alum (Jiang Ban Xia) to make a warming herb best suited for Cold-Damp and thin Phlegm conditions, or with liquorice (Fa Ban Xia) to make a more neutral herb that is less drying and can be used for Damp-Heat conditions too.

Pinyin: Ju Hong  Chinese: 橘红
Pharmaceutical: Exocarpium Citri Rubrum
English: Outermost Red Tangerine Peel

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

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

Standard Dosage: 3-9g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for yin deficiency with dry cough and qi deficiency.

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: Gou Teng  Chinese: 钩藤
Pharmaceutical: Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis
Taxonomy: Uncaria rhynchophylla seu macrophylla seu sinensis
English: Cat's Claw Vine / Gambir / Uncaria Vine

Tastes: Sweet, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Liver and Pericardium

Actions & Indications:

1. Extinguishes Wind and alleviates spasms
   Liver Heat Transforming into Wind with tremors, seizures and eclampsia
2. Drains Liver Heat and pacifies Liver Yang
   Liver Fire and Liver Yang Rising with headache, irritability, red eyes and dizziness
   Recently used for hypertension
3. Releases the Exterior
   Exterior Wind-Heat with fever, headache and red eyes

Standard Dosage: 3-12g in decoction as standard dose but can be up to 30g. Do not decoct for more than 10 minutes.

Pinyin: Quan Xie  Chinese: 全蝎
Pharmaceutical: Buthus Martensi
Taxonomy: Buthus Martensii
English: Scorpion

Tastes: Pungent, neutral, toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Extinguishes Wind and stops tremors and convulsions
   Liver Wind and Wind-Phlegm-Heat with spasms, acute or chronic childhood convulsions, tetany, opisthotonos, tics, muscular tetany, and seizures
2. Tracks down Wind, unblocks the collaterals and stops pain
   Stubborn headaches and Bipain
3. Attacks and relieves Fire toxins and dissipates nodules and rashes
   Topically for toxic sores, swellings scrofula (Chuang Yung) and cancer

Standard Dosage: 2-5g in decoction.
Cautions: It is toxic, so large dose of it should not be used. It is contraindicated for pregnant women.

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 Gou Teng and Tian Zhu Huang.

Pinyin: Sang Zhi  Chinese: 桑枝
Pharmaceutical: Ramulus Mori
Taxonomy: Morus alba
English: Mulberry Twig

Tastes: Slightly bitter, mild
Meridians Entered: Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Dispels Wind-Dampness, unblocks the channels and collaterals, benefits the joints and stops spasms
   Wind-Damp with spasms, especially warm Bi in the upper extremities
   Numbness in the extremities or hemiplegia as sequelae for Wind-Stroke
2. Promotes diuresis and reduces oedema (regulates water metabolism)
   Edema especially when accompanied by joint pain

Standard Dosage: 9-30g in decoction.

Pinyin: Hong Hua  Chinese: 红花
Pharmaceutical: Flos Carthami
English: Safflower

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Heart and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis, opens the channels, unblocks menstruation and alleviates pain
   Blood Stasis, especially in women for gynecological problems such as abdominal pain, amenorrhea, postpartum dizziness, retained lochia and abdominal masses
   Trauma, non suppurative sores, carbuncles and dark, purplish erythema
   Incomplete expression of rash of measles
   Chest Bi due to Blood Stasis

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Pinyin: Tao Ren  Chinese: 桃仁
Pharmaceutical: Semen Persicae
Taxonomy: Prunus persica
English: Peach Seed

Tastes: Bitter, sweet, neutral, lightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver, Lung and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Breaks up Blood Stasis and invigorates Blood circulation
   Menstrual disorders, abdominal pain, traumatic injury, flank pain, Lung abscess and Intestinal abscess with fixed abdominal masses associated with Blood Stasis
2. Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels
   Constipation due to dry Intestines
3. Drains abscesses
   Lung and Intestinal abscesses

Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Prohibited for pregnant women. Use with cautions for loose stool. Not overuse because of its toxicity.

Pinyin: Chi Shao  Chinese: 赤芍
Pharmaceutical: Radix Paeoniae Rubra
Taxonomy: Paeonia lactiflora seu veitchii
English: Red Peony Root

Tastes: Bitter, pungent, light cold
Meridians Entered: Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat and cools the Blood
   Xue Stage Heat Stage Heat or Blood Heat with fever, a purple tongue, maculae, hemorrhage and Blood Heat gynecological problems
2. Clears Liver Fire and relieves eye pain
   Liver Fire with redness, swelling and pain of the eyes
3. Reduces swelling from sores and abscesses
   Early stage abscesses and boils

Standard Dosage: 6-12g in decoction.
Cautions: It is antagonistic to Li Lu. It should be used with caution in hot skin conditions where it may aggravate by "fanning the flames". Caution with anticoagulants as it may slow clotting time. May also slow the absorption of phenytoin.

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: Shi Chang Pu  Chinese: 石菖蒲
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Acori tatarinowii seu graminei
Taxonomy: Acorus tatarinowii seu gramineus
English: Grass-leaf Sweet Flag Rhizome

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Heart, Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Opens the Orifices, vaporizes Phlegm, removes filth, calms the Spirit and disperses Wind
   Phlegm-Dampness Veiling and Blocking the Sensory Orifices with deafness, dizziness, forgetfulness, dulled senses, and seizures or stupor
   Wind-Phlegm with seizures or stupor
2. Transforms turbid Dampness, harmonizes the Middle Jiao, awakens the Spleen and promotes the movement of Qi
   Dampness Distressing the Spleen and Stomach with chest and epigastric fullness and abdominal fullness and pain due to Dampness and Turbidity Obstructing the Middle Jiao
3. Promotes Blood flow, reduces swelling and alleviates Wind-Damp Bi and sores (internally and topically)
   Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Sores (internally and topically)
   Trauma
4. Benefits the throat
   Hoarse voice due to laryngitis or inflammation of the vocal cords
5. Kills Parasites and expels Demons
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
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, improve memory, prevent confusion 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.
Cautions: Avoid high doses for long periods due to β-asarone content (see below).

Pinyin: Yu Jin  Chinese: 鬱金
Pharmaceutical: Radix Curcumae
Taxonomy: Curcuma aromatica seu wenyujin
English: Turmeric Tuber

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver, Gallbladder and Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis, regulates Qi flow, speeds healing of chronic sores and alleviates pain
   Blood Stasis due to trauma (topical and internal)
   Chronic sores
   Liver Qi Stagnation with chest, flank menstrual and abdominal pain
   Especially useful for Liver Qi Stagnation with Heat signs
2. Clears Heat and cools the Blood
   Xue Level Heat with epistaxis, hematemesis and hematuria
   Especially for epistaxis at the onset of menstruation (Inverted menstruation)
3. Clears the Heart and Pericardium and opens the Orifices
   Phlegm Heat Obstructing the Heart Orifices with anxiety, agitation, seizures or mental derangement
4. Benefits the Gallbladder and reduces jaundice
   Gallbladder disorders Jaundice
5. Kills Parasites and expels Demons
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 5-12g in decoction.
Cautions: Use with cautions for pregnant women because this herb can activate blood and resolve stasis leading to uterine excitation. Do not combine with Ding Xiang.

Due to its ability to increase bile secretion, caution should be used in cases of gallstones and avoided in biliary tract obstruction.

Pinyin: Zhu Li  Chinese: 竹瀝
Pharmaceutical: Succus Bambusae
Taxonomy: Bambusoideae
English: Bamboo Sap

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat, transforms Phlegm and penetrates to the channels
   Phlegm Obstructing the Heart orifices with fainting, paralysis of the hands or feet or hemiplegia
2. Transforms Phlegm-Heat and stops coughing
   Used in small doses as a powerful adjunctive herb to treat cough due to Phlegm-Heat

Standard Dosage: 30-60g in infusion. For cough 9-15g and for infantile convulsions 3-6g twice daily.
Cautions: This herb is cold and slick in property, so prohibited for cold-phlegm and loose stool.