Shi Gao
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Shi Gao
Chinese: 石膏
Pharmaceutical: Gypsum Fibrosum / Calcium Sulphate
Taxonomy: CaSO4
English: Gypsum / Plaster of Paris
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Tastes: Pungent and sweet
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach
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Actions & Indications:
- Clears Heat in the Qi Stage, drains Fire, relieves irritability and quenches thirst
Heat in the Qi Stage or Yangming Heat with high fever, no chills, irritability, intense thirst, profuse sweating, restlessness, encephalitis, a flooding, big pulse and a red tongue with a yellow coat
- Clears Excess Heat from the Lungs
Lung Heat with cough, wheezing, fever and a thick viscous sputum
- Clears Blazing Stomach Fire
Stomach Fire with headache, toothache or swollen gums
- Heals eczema, burns and ulcerated sores and wounds
Sores and wounds (topically or internally)
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Standard Dosage: 15-60g in decoction.
Cautions: The high mineral content of this medication may prevent the oral absorption of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics.
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 can sometimes be replaced with Zhi Mu and Mu Dan Pi bit its action difficult to substitute in many cases. The patient may have to rely on OTC mineral based antacids from the pharmacy such as sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate which have a similar effect of binding and neutralising the stomach acid, then using herbal medicines as an adjunctive treatment. |
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Pu Gong Ying
| 12g | |
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Pinyin: Pu Gong Ying
Chinese: 蒲公英
Pharmaceutical: Herba Taraxaci
Taxonomy: Taraxacum mongolicum seu officinalis
English: Dandelion
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Tastes: Bitter, sweet, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver, Stomach and Lung
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Actions & Indications:
- Reduces abscesses and dissipates nodules
Internal abscesses and external sores particularly if they are firm and hard, especially breast and intestinal abscess, Chuang Yung (internally and topically)
- Clears the Liver and clears the eyes
Eye redness and swelling (alone as a steam)
Liver Heat, cirrhosis
- Clears Heat, resolves Dampness and unblocks painful urinary dysfunction
Damp-Heat painful urinary dysfunction
Damp-Heat jaundice
- Relieves Fire toxicity
Fire toxicity , swollen, painful throat, upper respiratory tract infection
- Promotes lactation
Insufficient lactation due to Heat
- Clears Heat in the Blood
Congested Fire of the Spleen and Stomach
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Standard Dosage: 10-30g in decoction.
Cautions: Overdosage may cause loose bowel or excessive urination. Concurrent use with quinolone antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin may influence the bioavailability and disposition of the quinolone antibiotics. |
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Lian Qiao
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Lian Qiao
Chinese: 连翘
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Forsythiae
Taxonomy: Forsythia suspensa
English: Weeping Forsythia Capsule / Forsythia Fruit
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Tastes: Bitter, slightly pungent, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, Heart and Small Intestine
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Actions & Indications:
- Clears Heat (especially in the Upper Jiao) and relieves toxicity
Wind-Heat with high fever, slight chills and sore throat
- Reduces abscesses and dissipates clumps
Toxic Heat sores and swellings (Chuang Yung), scrofula and throat Bi
- Clears Blood Heat
Blood Heat
- Promotes urination
Lin syndrome, dysuria, hematuria
- Kills Gu Parasites and Scatters Toxins by Releasing the Exterior
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 1998; 2015)
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Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.
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Bo He
| 4.5g | |
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Pinyin: Bo He
Chinese: 薄荷
Pharmaceutical: Herba Menthae haplocalycis
Taxonomy: Mentha haplocalyx
English: Field Mint / Wild Mint
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Tastes: Pungent, cool
Meridians Entered: Lung and Liver
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Actions & Indications:
- Disperses Wind-Heat, cools and clears the head and eyes and benefits the throat
Wind-Heat with fever, cough, headache, red eyes and a sore throat
- Vents rashes
Early-stage rashes e.g. measles
- Relieves Stagnation of Liver Qi
Liver Qi Stagnation with pressure in the chest or flanks, emotional instability and gynecological problems
- Expels turbid filth
Exposure to unclean Qi in the Summertime leading to gastric distress with abdominal pain, vomiting. diarrhoea and a thick, yellow, greasy tongue coat
- Kills Gu Parasites and Scatters Toxins by Releasing the Exterior
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
One of the chief herbs for treating Gu Syndrome, along with Bai Zhi and Zi Su Ye, classed as "open the exterior with snake killing herbs" (Fruehauf, 1998).
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Tao Ren
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Tao Ren
Chinese: 桃仁
Pharmaceutical: Semen Persicae
Taxonomy: Prunus persica
English: Peach Seed
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Tastes: Bitter, sweet, neutral, lightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver, Lung and Large Intestine
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Actions & Indications:
- 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
- Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels
Constipation due to dry Intestines
- Drains abscesses
Lung and Intestinal abscesses
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Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Prohibited for pregnant women. Use with cautions for loose stool. Not overuse because of its toxicity. |
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Xing Ren
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Xing Ren
Chinese: 杏仁
Pharmaceutical: Semen armeniacae
Taxonomy: Prunus armeniaca seu mandshurica seu sibirica
English: Bitter Apricot Kernel
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Tastes: Bitter, slightly warm, slightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Lung and Large Intestine
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Actions & Indications:
- Stops coughing and calms wheezing
Coughs due to either Heat or Cold (depending on combination) Wind-Dry coughs (especially useful)
- Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels
Constipation
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should not be overused for its slight toxicity. It should be used with cautions for infants and patients with diarrhea. |
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Jin Yin Hua
| 15g | | 6g
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Pinyin: Jin Yin Hua
Chinese: 金银花
Pharmaceutical: Flos Lonicerae japonicae
Taxonomy: Lonicera japonica
English: Honeysuckle Flower
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Tastes: Pungent, slightly bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, heart, stomach and large intestine
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Actions & Indications:
- Clears Heat and resolves Fire Toxicity
Hot, painful sores and skin eruptions in various stages of development, especially breast, throat and eyes
Intestinal abscesses
- Vents and disperses External Wind-Heat
Early-Stage Wind-Heat Warm-Heat pathogen with fever, chills, slight aversion to Wind, sore throat and headache
External Summerheat
- Clears Damp-Heat from the Lower Jiao
Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao with dysentery or Lin Syndrome
- Cools the Blood and stops bleeding (charred)
Blood Heat dysentery
- Kills Parasites and expels Demons
Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
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Standard Dosage: 6-30g in decoction. Small doses are for expelling Wind-Heat, large doses for Toxic Heat sores. Can be up to 90g in extreme cases (e.g. Si Miao Yong An Tang).
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Long Dan Cao
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Long Dan Cao
Chinese: 龍膽草
Pharmaceutical: Radix Gentianae
Taxonomy: Gentiana scabra
English: Chinese Gentian Root
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Tastes: Bitter and cold
Meridians Entered: Liver, Gallbladder, Stomach and Bladder
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Actions & Indications:
- Drains Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder channels
Damp-Heat in the upper portion of the Gall Bladder Channel with red, swollen sore throat and eyes; swollen, painful ears or sudden deafness
Damp-Heat in the Liver/Gallbladder with jaundice, pain, swelling or dampness in the genital area or foul-smelling vaginal discharge and itching
- Drains and pacifies Excess Liver Fire
Liver Fire Blazing Upward with headache or red eyes
Liver Wind-Heat with fever, spasms, convulsions or flank pain
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Standard Dosage: 2-6g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for deficiency cold syndrome. |
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Sang Ye
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Sang Ye
Chinese: 桑叶
Pharmaceutical: Folium Mori
Taxonomy: Morus alba
English: Mulberry Leaf
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Tastes: Sweet, bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Liver
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Actions & Indications:
- Disperses and scatters Wind-Heat
Wind-Heat with fever, headache, sore throat and cough
- 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
- Clears Heat from the Lungs, stops coughing and moistens Dryness
Lung Heat with thick, yellow Phlegm
Lung Dryness with cough and a dry mouth
- Cools the Blood and stops bleeding
Mild cases of hematemesis due to Blood Heat
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Standard Dosage: 9-15g in decoction.
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Lu Gen
| 30g | | (fresh)
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Pinyin: Lu Gen
Chinese: 芦根
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Phragmitis
English: Reed Rhizome
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Tastes: Sweet and cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach
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Actions & Indications:
- Clears Heat and irritability from the Lungs and Stomach and generates fluids
Internal Heat patterns with high fever, irritability and thirst, dry mouth and throat.
Lung Heat (especially when acute) , Lung carbuncle, Lung abscess
- Clears Stomach Heat, regulates Stomach Qi, relieves thirst and stops vomiting
Stomach Heat (especially when accompanied by rebellious Qi)
- Clears Heat and promotes urination
Dark, scanty urine and hematuria especially when accompanied by irritability and thirst
- Vents rashes
Wind-Heat rashes that are not completely expressed
- Relieves food poisoning
Relieves food poisoning due to ingestion of fish and crabs
Alcohol poisoning
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Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction.
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Jiang Can
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Jiang Can
Chinese: 僵蚕
Pharmaceutical: Bombyx Batryticatus
English: Silkworm
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Tastes: Salty, pungent, neutral
Meridians Entered: Liver and Lung
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Actions & Indications:
- Extinguishes Wind and stops spasms and convulsions
Childhood convulsions and facial paralysis Seizures due to Liver Wind or especially Wind-Phlegm-Heat
- 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
- Transforms Phlegm, softens hardness, eliminates toxins and dissipates nodules
Phlegm-Heat scrofula and other Phlegm nodules
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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. |
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Lian Zi Xin
| 6g | |
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Pinyin: Lian Zi Xin
Chinese: 莲子心
Pharmaceutical: Plumula Nelumbinis
English: Lotus Plumule
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Tastes: Bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, Heart and Kidney
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Actions & Indications:
- 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
- Stops bleeding and astringes Jing
As a powder for hematemesis or spermatorrhea
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Standard Dosage: 1.5-3g in decoction.
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Zhi Mu
| 6g | |
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Pinyin: Zhi Mu
Chinese: 知母
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Anemarrhenae
Taxonomy: Anemarrhena asphodeloides
English: Anemarrhena Rhizome
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Tastes: Bitter, sweet, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, Stomach and Kidney
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Actions & Indications:
- Clears Heat and drains Fire (Clears Heat from the Qi Stage, from the Lungs and from the Stomach)
Heat in the Qi Stage with high fever, irritability, restlessness, thirst and a rapid, flooding pulse.
Lung Heat and Dryness with cough and expectoration of thick, yellow Phlegm
Yang Ming Heat
Stomach Heat
- Nourishes Yin and moistens Dryness
Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiency with night sweats, steaming bone disorder, irritability, afternoon or low grade fever, Five Sole Heat and bleeding gums
(Stomach Yin Deficiency)
Kidney Heat with spermatorrhea, nocturnal emissions and an abnormally elevated sex drive
- Generates Fluids, clears Deficiency Fire and quenches thirst
Oral ulcers and inflammation, steaming bones and Xiao Ke (diabetes) due to Yin Deficiency
- Ameliorates the Dryness of tonifying or warming herbs
For use with herbs such as Rx. Astragali Huang Qi, Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi, Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi when there is concern that these herbs may be too drying
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Standard Dosage: 5-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is not suitable for deficiency cold syndrome. Being cold and moist in property, it is prohibited to be used for those who have a spleen-deficiency diarrhea. |
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Huang Bai
| 6g | |
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Pinyin: Huang Bai
Chinese: 黄柏
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Phellodendri
Taxonomy: Phellodendron amurense seu chinense
English: Amur Corktree Bark
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Tastes: Bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver, Gallbladder, Large Intestine, Kidney and Bladder
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Actions & Indications:
- 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
- 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)
- Drains Fire and relieves Fire toxicity
Toxic sores and Damp-skin lesions (internally and topically)
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Standard Dosage: 6-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for deficiency-cold syndrome. Overdosage and long-time taking will impair spleen and stomach. |
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Hua Shi
| 12g | |
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Pinyin: Hua Shi
Chinese: 滑石
Pharmaceutical: Talcum / Magnesium Silicate
Taxonomy: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
English: Talcum Powder
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Tastes: Sweet, bland and cold
Meridians Entered: Bladder, Lung and Stomach
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Actions & Indications:
- Promotes urination and drains Heat from the Urinary Bladder (aids the movement of gravel and stones), (expels Damp-Heat)
Hot Painful Urinary Dysfunction (Lin Syndrome) with hot, painful urination, dark, painful, burning, scanty urine
Damp-Heat diarrhoea
Qi Level Heat with Dampness with unremitting fever, heavy feeling in the body, thirst, yellow tongue coat
- Releases Summeheat and resolves Dampness
Summerheat (fever, urinary difficulty, thirst)
- Absorbs Dampness and clears Heat (topically)
Damp skin lesions (eczema, damp sores, prickly heat) (topical)
- Stops bleeding due to Heat
Heat type bleeding
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Standard Dosage: 10-20g in decoction.
Cautions: 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 Chi Fu Ling and Ze Xie. |
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Chuan Niu Xi
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Chuan Niu Xi
Chinese: 川牛膝
Pharmaceutical: Radix Cyathulae
Taxonomy: Cyathula officinalis
English: Hookweed Root / Cyathula Root
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Tastes: Sweet, slightly bitter, neutral
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney
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Actions & Indications:
- Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis and unblocks the menses
Blood Stasis leading to dysmenorrhea or amenorrhea
Pain due to traumatic injury
- Expels Wind and drains Dampness
Wind-Damp Bi pain (especially in the lower back) and atrophy and spasm of the lower extremities
- Promotes urination and treats dysuria
Painful urinary dysfunction
- Descends Blood and Fire
Abnormal bleeding due to Fire Flaring Upwards with hematemesis, epistaxis, toothache ulceration of the mouth and tongue, dizziness and headache
- Tonifies the Kidneys and Liver and strengthens the tendons and bones
Lower back and knee soreness, weakness and pain
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Standard Dosage: 6-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for menorrhagia, pregnancy and spermatorrhea. |
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Gua Lou
| 24g | |
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Pinyin: Gua Lou
Chinese: 瓜蒌
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Trichosanthis
English: Snakegourd Fruit
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Tastes: Sweet, lightly bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine
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Actions & Indications:
- Clears Lung Heat and transforms Hot Phlegm
Phlegm-Heat cough with thick, difficult-to-expectorate Phlegm
It can be used as a stand alone herb, especially for children
- Regulates Qi (unbinds the chest)
Qi accumulation in the chest with a stifling or distended sensation in the chest, constriction and pain or pressure in the diaphragm
- Reduces abscesses, dissipates nodules and eliminates pus
Lung, intestinal or breast abscesses
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Standard Dosage: 10-20g in decoction.
Cautions: It is prohibited for loose stool due to spleen deficiency because of its sweet, cold and slick property. Contraindicated to Wu Tou. |
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He Ye
| 1pc | |
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Pinyin: He Ye
Chinese: 荷叶
Pharmaceutical: Nelumbinis Foliae
English: Lotus Leaf
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Tastes: Bitter, astringent, neutral
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver, Spleen, Gallbladder and Lung
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Actions & Indications:
- Relieves Summerheat
Summerheat and Dampness with fever, irritability, excessive sweating, scanty urine and especially diarrhoea
- Raises and clears Spleen Yang
Spleen Yang Deficiency diarrhoea especially in the aftermath of Summerheat
- Removes Stagnation and stops bleeding
Bleeding in the Lower Jiao due to Heat or Stagnation Hematemesis (adjunctive)
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Zhi Zi
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Zhi Zi
Chinese: 栀子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Gardeniae
Taxonomy: Gardenia jasminoides
English: Gardenia Fruit
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Tastes: Bitter and cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver, Stomach and Lung
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Actions & Indications:
- Clears Heat, reduces Fire and eliminates irritability in the San Jiao
Excess Heat in the Heart, Stomach and Liver with high fever, irritability, restlessness, a stifling sensation in the chest, insomnia or delirious speech, eye problems, anger, jaundice
- Clears Heat and resolves Dampness (Drains Damp-Heat)
Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao with painful urinary dysfunction (Lin Syndrome)
Damp-Heat in the Liver/Gallbladder with jaundice
Damp-Heat in the San Jiao
Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder and San Jiao channels of the face affecting the nose and eyes or causing sores in the mouth or facial region
- Cools the Blood and relieves toxicity (stops bleeding by astringing)
Heat in the Blood with epistaxis, hematemesis, hemafecia or hematuria (partially charred)
- Reduces swelling and invigorates the Blood
Blood Stagnation due to trauma (topical)
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Standard Dosage: 5-15g in decoction.
Cautions: Being strongly bitter in flavor and cold in nature, it is not good for deficiency-cold syndrome because it can easily impair spleen and stomach. It is contraindicated in case of loose stool due to spleen deficiency. |
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Di Gu Pi
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Di Gu Pi / Gou Qi Gen Pi
Chinese: 地骨皮 / 枸杞根皮
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Lycii
Taxonomy: Lycium barbarum seu chinense
English: Goji Berry Root Bark / Wolfberry Root Bark / Boxthorn ROot Bark
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Tastes: Sweet, slightly bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver, Kidney and Lung
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Actions & Indications:
- Cools the Blood and drains Yin Deficiency Fire (steaming bones) - (drains Kidney Fire, eliminates lurking Heat, and clears Heat from the bones)
Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire Rising (Kidney Fire) with night sweats, steaming bone disorder with sweating, chronic low-grade fever, irritability and thirst
Toothache from Floating Fire in the Kidney channel
- Clears and drains Heat in the Lung
Lung Heat cough or wheezing
- Clears Heat, cools the Blood and stops bleeding
Various bleeding disorders characterized by Heat in the Blood
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Standard Dosage: 9-15g in decoction.
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Ou Jie
| 30g | |
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Pinyin: Ou Jie
Chinese: 藕节
Pharmaceutical: Nodus Nelumbinis Rhizomatis
English: Lotus Rhizome Node
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Tastes: Sweet, astringent, neutral
Meridians Entered: Liver, Lung, Stomach
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Actions & Indications:
- Stops bleeding, astringes leakage of Blood and removes Blood Stasis
Bleeding, especially due to Lung or Stomach Heat with hematemesis and hemoptysis Chronic bleeding (with appropriate herbs)
- Eliminates Heat from the Blood
Blood Heat
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Standard Dosage: 10-30g in decoction.
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Mang Xiao
| 4.5g | |
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Pinyin: Mang Xiao
Chinese: 芒硝
Pharmaceutical: Natrii Sulfas
Taxonomy: Na2SO4·10H2O
English: Glauber's Salt / Mirabilite
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Tastes: Salty, bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Stomach and Large Intestine
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Actions & Indications:
- Purges accumulations, guides out Stagnation, softens hardness and moistens Dryness
Heat in the Stomach and Intestines with constipation and hard knots
- Clears Heat and drains Fire
Heat in the Stomach or Lungs especially accumulated Phlegm or clumping in the Intestines
- Clears Heat and reduces swelling
Red, swollen, painful eyes
Painful, ulcerated, swollen mouth or throat (topical)
Red, swollen skin lesions (topical)
Mastitis (topical) (promotes lactation)
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Standard Dosage: 10-15g dissolved into decoction at end.
Cautions: Use with caution for women during lactation for its milk regurgitation action. It is contraindicated to 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. It is generally substituted with Yu Li Ren. If the osmotic laxative effects of salts are required then Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) are more commonly available in the UK, although they still come under the same laws and would have to be included as lifestyle advice, to be sourced and dosed by the patient, not prescribed and given by the herbalist. |
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Mei Hua Dian She Dan | 4pcs | | |