Pinyin: Tan Xiang  Chinese: 檀香
Pharmaceutical: Lignum Santali Albi
English: Sandalwood

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Promotes movement of Qi, harmonizes the Middle Jiao and alleviates pain
   Pain associated with Qi Stagnation in the chest and abdomen
2. Dispels Cold and improves digestion
   Stomach Cold
3. Removes Blood Stagnation
   Blood Stagnation
4. Treats coronary artery disease
   Coronary artery disease

Standard Dosage: 1-3g as powder. Should be added to decoctions at end.
Cautions: Used with cautions for the case of yin deficiency and effulgent fire or hemorrhage due to excess heat.

Pinyin: Mu Xiang  Chinese: 木香
Pharmaceutical: Radix Aucklandiae
English: Costus Root

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine and Gall Bladder

Actions & Indications:

1. Promotes the movement of Qi and alleviates pain
   Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation with anorexia, a feeling of food sitting in the Stomach, epigastric or abdominal pain or distention, nausea and vomiting
   Liver or Gallbladder Qi Stagnation with flank pain, distention or soreness
2. Adjusts and regulates stagnant Qi in the Intestines
   Intestinal Qi Stagnation with diarrhoea or dysenteric disorders, abdominal pain and tenesmus
3. Strengthens the Spleen and prevents Stagnation
   Stagnation from tonic herbs, especially when the transportive and transformative functions of the Spleen are weak
4. Dispels Damp-Heat and harmonizes the Liver and Spleen
   Disharmony of the Liver and Spleen with hypochondriac pain and distention, a bitter taste in the mouth, a yellow tongue coat and possibly jaundice
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, prevent oppressive Ghost Dreams whether sleeping during the day or the night. 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: Ding Xiang  Chinese: 丁香
Pharmaceutical: Flos Caryophylli
Taxonomy: Caryophyllus aromaticus / Syzygium aromaticum
English: Clove

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Warms the Middle Jiao, relieves pain and descends Qi
   Stomach Cold with vomiting, hiccup, abdominal pain and diarrhoea
   Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold with anorexia, vomiting and diarrhoea
   Bad breath (chew whole clove), toothache (apply oil to gum)
2. Warms the Kidneys and assists Yang
   Impotence or clear vaginal discharge from Cold in the Womb (usually accompanied by weak legs) due to Kidney Yang Deficiency
3. Kills Parasites and expels Demons
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
   Can also be used as an insect repellent.

Standard Dosage: 1-3g in decoction.
Cautions: It is incompatible with Yu Jin (nineteen incompatibilities). It should be used with cautions for heat syndrome and yin deficiency with interior heat.

Pinyin: Ling Ling Xiang  Chinese: 零陵香
Pharmaceutical: Herba Lysimachiae foenum-graecum
Taxonomy: Lysimachia foenum-graecum
English: Stongfragrant Loosestrife

Tastes: Pungent
Meridians Entered: Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Releases the Exterior
   Common cold with headache
2. Regulates Qi and alleviates pain
   Swelling pain in throat, toothache
   Distention fullness in chest and abdomen
3. Expels Parasites
   Roundworms

Standard Dosage:

Pinyin: Zao Jiao Ci  Chinese: 皂角刺
Pharmaceutical: Spina Gleditsiae
Taxonomy: Gleditsia sinensis
English: Chinese Honey Locust Thorn

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Draws out toxicity, discharges pus, activates the Blood and reduces swelling
   Early-stages of swollen sores to encourage suppuration or to induce those already formed to burst
2. Expels Wind and kills parasites
   Tinea and leprosy

Standard Dosage: 3-9g in decoction.

Pinyin: Gan Song  Chinese: 甘松
Pharmaceutical: Radix et rhizome Nardostachys
Taxonomy: Nardostachys chinensis seu jatamansi
English: Spikenard

Tastes: Sweet, acrid, warm
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. Regulates Qi and alleviates pain, harmonises the Stomach and fortifies the Spleen
   Stomachache, loss of appetite, vomiting
   Distention, fullness and oppression in chest and abdomen
   Headache
   Hysteria
   Cough
   Modern studies on the volatile oils and indications from Ayurveda and Unani medicine include palpitations, especially from arrythmia or tachycardia, hypertension, angina pectoris, anxiety, insomnia, memory loss, stress, seizures and menstrual problems which may be attributes to the Spleen's functions of managing the Blood and housing the Yi. See notes below.
2. Expels Cold and unblocks Stagnation (topical)
   Fungal infections, hair loss, sores and boils
   Toothache
   Foot Qi
   Haemorrhoids, varicose veins

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.
Cautions: Caution with Qi deficiency, Blood-Heat and Blood deficiency due to its warm, pungent, dispersing nature.

Pinyin: Lian Zi Xin  Chinese: 莲子心
Pharmaceutical: Plumula Nelumbinis
English: Lotus Plumule

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Drains Heart Fire and relieves irritability
   Ying Stage Heat Attacking the Pericardium with a high fever, mental confusion or delirium Heart Fire with insomnia or irritability
2. Stops bleeding and astringes Jing
   As a powder for hematemesis or spermatorrhea

Standard Dosage: 1.5-3g in decoction.

Pinyin: Shan Nai  Chinese: 山奈
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Kaempferiae
Taxonomy: Kaempferia galanga
English: Resurrection Lily Root

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Warms the Middle Jiao, promotes digestion and alleviates pain
   Toothache
   Indigestion, cold pain in the abdomen
   Chest distension
   Traumatic injury

Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for Yin deficiency with anaemia and Stomach Fire.

Pinyin: Jiang Can  Chinese: 僵蚕
Pharmaceutical: Bombyx Batryticatus
English: Silkworm

Tastes: Salty, pungent, neutral
Meridians Entered: Liver and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Extinguishes Wind and stops spasms and convulsions
   Childhood convulsions and facial paralysis Seizures due to Liver Wind or especially Wind-Phlegm-Heat
2. Dispels Wind, disperses Wind-Heat and stops itching and pain
   Headache, red eyes, a sore, swollen throat and itching skin lesions such as Wind-Rash from externally contracted Wind-Heat or Liver Wind Loss of voice
3. Transforms Phlegm, softens hardness, eliminates toxins and dissipates nodules
   Phlegm-Heat scrofula and other Phlegm nodules

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 Tian Ma and Tian Zhu Huang.

Pinyin: She Xiang  Chinese: 麝香
Pharmaceutical: Moschus
English: Musk

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Strongly opens the Orifices and Luo vessels, revives the Spirit and unblocks closed disorders
   Ying Stage Heat Attacks the Pericardium due to a Warm pathogen disease with convulsions, delirium, stupor and fainting
   Closed disorders (Yang Obstruction, Yin Obstruction, Phlegm Obstruction) Tetanic collapse Seizures
2. Invigorates the Blood, dissipates masses, reduces swellings, detoxifies, opens the channels and alleviates pain
   Severe problems due to Blood Stasis including fixed palpable masses, toxic sores and carbuncles
   Obstructions of the channels and collaterals due to traumatic injury or painful obstruction
   Coronary artery disease
3. Hastens delivery and facilitates the passage of stillborns (induces abortion)
   Labour
   Dead fetus or placenta fail to descend
4. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of animal parts which can, with protracted taking, eliminate evils, and stop dreams (梦) and waking from nightmares (寤魇寐). 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).
5. Removes the Three Worms
   Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that it removes the Three Worms. These may refer to difficult to treat metabolic disorders caused by overindulgence and should be accompanied by fasting, meditation and exercise regimes.

Standard Dosage: 0.03-1g as pills or powder. Should not be decocted.
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 Shi Chang Pu and Ru Xiang.

Pinyin: Bing Pian  Chinese: 冰片
Pharmaceutical: Borneolum
Taxonomy: Dryobalanops aromatica
English: Borneol Camphor

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

Actions & Indications:

1. Aromatically opens the Orifices, revives the Spirit and unblocks closed disorders
   Impaired consciousness fainting and convulsions
2. Clears Heat, drains Fire, resolves toxicity, clears the eyes and removes superficial visual obstructions
   Heat leading to headache, red and swollen eyes, superficial visual obstruction and sores in the mouth
3. Clears Heat, alleviates pain, dissipates nodules and alleviates itching
   Topically for pain and swelling of the throat, skin diseases such as sores and scabies, and eye diseases such as photophobia and excessive tearing

Standard Dosage: 0.1-0.3g in powder or pills for internal use. Should not be decocted.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for pregnant women.

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. While natural Bing Pian is a crystalised tree resin, the Dryobalanops aromatica is critically endangered making genuine Bing Pian expensive and morally questionable. Most Bing Pian is therefore synthetically made and not suitable for consumption. It is generally substituted with Shi Chang Pu and Yuan Zhi where possible.