Huang Qi
| 12-20g | |
|
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:
- Tonifies Qi and Blood
Postpartum fever due to Qi and Blood Deficiency
Recovery from severe Blood loss
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- Generates Body Fluids
Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke)
Bi Syndrome with numbness of the limbs and paralysis
- Relieves numbness and pain
Numbness and pain due to Deficiency of Qi and Blood
- 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. |
|
Ren Shen
| 9-12g | |
|
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:
- 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
- Tonifies Spleen and Stomach Qi
Lethargy, anorexia, chest and abdominal distention, chronic diarrhoea and, in severe cases, prolapse of the Stomach, uterus or rectum
- Tonifies Lung Qi
Lung Qi Deficiency with wheezing, shortness of breath and labored breathing on exertion
- Generates Body Fluids and stops thirst
Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke) and high fevers with profuse sweating which injures Qi and fluids
- Tonifies Heart Qi and calms the Spirit
Heart Qi and Blood Deficiency with palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness and restlessness
- Treats impotence
With Kidney Yang tonics for impotence
- Tonifies Qi in Deficiency patients with Exterior conditions
Exterior disorder with Interior Deficiency
|
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. |
|
Cang Zhu
| 9-12g | |
|
Pinyin: Cang Zhu
Chinese: 蒼朮
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Atractylodes
Taxonomy: Atractylodes lancea seu chinensis seu japonica
English: Black Atractylodes / Gray Atractylodes / Sword-like Atractylodes root
| |
Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Lung and Liver
|
Actions & Indications:
- Strongly dries Dampness and tonifies the Spleen
Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao and blocking transformative and transportive functions of the Spleen with anorexia, diarrhoea, epigastric distention and pressure, fatigue, nausea and vomiting and a thick, greasy tongue coat
- Induces sweating and expels Wind-Dampness
Wind-Cold Dampness and Wind-Dampness with chills and fever, headache, body aches and nasal congestion
Painful extremities due to Wind-Damp Bi
- Clears Dampness from the Lower Jiao
Damp-Heat Pouring Downward with Leg Qi, some forms of atrophy disorders, vaginal discharge, swollen, sore joints
- Improves vision
Night blindness and diminished vision with a rough sensation in the eyes
|
Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
|
|
Zhi Gan Cao
| 3-6g | |
|
Pinyin: Gan Cao
Chinese: 甘草
Pharmaceutical: Radix Glycyrrhizae
Taxonomy: Glycyrrhiza uralensis seu glabra seu inflata
English: Liquorice Root
| |
Tastes: Sweet, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Lung and Spleen (and all 12 meridians)
|
Actions & Indications:
- Tonifies the Spleen and augments Qi
Spleen Qi Deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude and loose stools
Qi and Blood Deficiency with an irregular pulse and/or palpitations
Heart Qi Deficiency or Heart Yang Deficiency
- Moistens the Lungs, resolves Phlegm and stops coughing
Lung Heat or Cold
Productive or non-productive coughing
- Moderates spasms and alleviates pain
Painful muscle spasms of the abdomen and legs
- Clears Heat and relieves Fire toxicity
Raw for Toxic Heat with sore throat or carbuncles and sores (Chuang Yung)
- Antidote for many toxic substances (internal and topical)
Poisoning
- Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs and guides the herbs to all twelve channels
Often added in small doses to harmonise formulas
- Tonifies the Qi while suppressing Parasites
Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
|
Standard Dosage: Typically 1.5-9g in decoction. Large doses can be up 30g.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for combining with Hai Zao, Da Ji, Gan Sui and Yuan Hua because of "eighteen antagonisms". It is also contraindicated in cases of dampness obstruction in middle energizer and edema because it can help dampness obstruct qi, and it is prohibited from long-term usage in large dosage (more than 20g/day) and should be avoided or used with extreme caution in patients with high blood pressure because it may raise aldosterone levels in the blood causing retention of sodium. |
|
Mu Xiang
| 6-9g | |
|
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:
- 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
Relieves the symptoms of Gu Sydnrome while suppressing parasites (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
- Adjusts and regulates stagnant Qi in the Intestines
Intestinal Qi Stagnation with diarrhoea or dysenteric disorders, abdominal pain and tenesmus
- Strengthens the Spleen and prevents Stagnation
Stagnation from tonic herbs, especially when the transportive and transformative functions of the Spleen are weak
- 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
|
Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
|
|
Chen Pi
| 6-9g | |
|
Pinyin: Chen Pi
Chinese: 陈皮
Pharmaceutical: Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae
English: Aged Tangerine Peel
| |
Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Lung
|
Actions & Indications:
- Regulates Qi, adjusts the Middle and relieves the diaphragm
Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation with epigastric or abdominal distention, fullness, bloating, belching, nausea and vomiting
Relieves the symptoms of Gu Sydnrome while suppressing parasites (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
- 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
- Helps prevent Stagnation from tonic herbs
Tonic herbs causing Stagnation
- Descends Qi
Qi Rebellion
|
Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
|
|
Sheng Ma
| 3-6g | |
|
Pinyin: Sheng Ma
Chinese: 升麻
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Cimicifugae foetidae
Taxonomy: Cimicifuga foetida
English: Chinese Black Cohosh
| |
Tastes: Pungent, slightly bitter, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen, Stomach and Large Intestine
|
Actions & Indications:
- Releases the Exterior and vents measles
Headache due to Wind-Heat Early stages of measles
- Clears Heat and relieves toxicity
Fire toxins in the upper or superficial aspects of the body with sore teeth, swollen or painful gums, ulcerated lips or gums, canker sores, painful and swollen throat, sores or maculae from Warm-Heat pathogen diseases
- Raises Yang and lifts sunken Qi
Central Qi Sinking or Middle Qi Deficiency with shortness of breath, fatigue and prolapse
Dai channel spasms
Guides other herbs upwards
- Kills Gu Parasites and Scatters Toxins by Releasing the Exterior
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 1998; 2015)
|
Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: The patients whose measles have come out or have yin deficiency and heat excess, or yin deficiency and yang going upward adversely are forbidden to use this herb. |
|
Chai Hu
| 3-9g | | |
Pinyin: Chai Hu
Chinese: 柴胡
Pharmaceutical: Radix Bupleuri
Taxonomy: Bupleurum chinense seu scorzoneraefolium
English: Hare's Ear Root / Thorowax Root
| |
Tastes: Bitter, pungent, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Liver and Spleen
|
Actions & Indications:
- Resolves Shaoyang disorders and reduces fever (harmonizes the Exterior and Interior)
Shaoyang Stage with alternating chills and fever, a bitter taste,dizziness, tinnitus, flank pain, irritability, vomiting and a stifling sensation in the chest
Deficiency Heat (auxiliary)
Gallbladder Fire
- Spreads Liver Qi and relieves Stagnation
Liver Qi Stagnation with dizziness, vertigo, chest and flank pain, emotional instability and menstrual problems
Disharmony between the Liver and Spleen with epigastric and flank pain, a stifling sensation in the chest, abdominal bloating, nausea and indigestion
Liver/Gallbladder Disharmony
- Raises Yang Qi (specifically the Clear Qi of the Stomach and Gallbladder)
Spleen and Stomach Yang Deficiency, Qi collapse (prolapse) with hemorrhoids, vaginal discharge, bleeding or exhaustion
- Disperses Wind-Heat and resolves Phlegm and congestion
Wind-Heat
- Guides herbs to the Shaoyang aspects of the head
Shaoyang headaches
- Relieves the symptoms of Gu Sydnrome while suppressing parasites (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
|
Standard Dosage: Up to 3g to raise sinking Qi, 6-9g to relieve Liver Qi stagnation, 12-24g to release the exterior.
Cautions: Anyone who has syndromes of yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity, stirring of liver wind, yin deficiency with effulgent fire and qi going upward adversely, this herb should be used with cautions. |
|