Chastetree fruit (Manjingzi)

Chastetree fruit (Manjingzi) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Viticis Botanical Name: 1. Vitex trifolia L. var. simplicifolia cham; 2. Vitex trifolia L. Common Name: Vitex fruit, Chastetree fruit. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The fruit is gathered in summer, dried in the shade and baked until yellow or black. Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter and neutral. Meridians: Liver, stomach and urinary bladder. Functions: 1. To disperse wind and clear heat; 2. To clear and benefit the head and eyes Indications & Combinations: 1. … Xem tiếp

Clematis root (Weilingxian)

Clematis root (Weilingxian) Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Clematidis Botanical Name: 1. Clematis chinensis Osbeck; 2. Clematis hexapetala Pall. Common Name: Clematis root Source of Earliest Record: Xinxiu Bencao Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The roots, or rhizomes, are dug and gathered in autumn and then cleaned and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Pungent, salty and warm. Meridians: Urinary bladder. Functions: 1. To dispel wind and damp; 2. To promote the circulation of meridians. Indications & Combinations: 1. Wind-damp obstruction syndrome manifested as rheumatic pain, soreness, pain and … Xem tiếp

Clematis stem (Mutong)

Clematis stem (Mutong) Pharmaceutical Name: Caulis Aristolochiae seu Clematis Botanical Name: 1. Aristolochia manshuriensis Kom.; 2. Clematis armandii Franch.; 3. C. Montana Buch.-Ham. Common Name: Akebia, Clematis stem. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The stems are gathered in spring or autumn. The bark is removed, and the stems are dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Bitter and cold. Meridians: Heart, small intestine and urinary bladder Functions: 1. To promote water metabolism and relieve abnormal urination; 2. To clear heat and … Xem tiếp

Cloves (Dingxiang)

Cloves (Dingxiang) Pharmaceutical Name: Flos Caryophylatae Botanical Name: Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb. Common Name: Cloves Source of Earliest Record: Yaoxing Lun. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The flower buds are gathered in September or March, when the buds turn bright red. Then, they are dried. Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm. Meridians: Spleen, stomach and kidney. Functions: 1. To warm the spleen and stomach and direct rebellious qi downward; 2. To warm the kidneys and tonify the yang. Indications & Combinations: 1. Cold in the stomach manifested as belching … Xem tiếp

Cnidium fruit (Shechuangzi)

Cnidium fruit (Shechuangzi) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Cnidii Botanical Name: Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss. Common Name: Cnidium fruit. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The ripe fruit is collected in autumn, and then dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter and warm. Meridian: Kidney. Functions: 1. To warm the kidneys and strengthen the yang; 2. To dispel dampness and kill worms Indications & Combinations: 1. Deficient yang of the kidneys manifested as impotence or infertility. Cnidium fruit (Shechuangzi) is used with … Xem tiếp

Cockroach (Chechong)

Cockroach (Chechong) Pharmaceutical Name: Eupolyphaga Zoological Name: 1. Eupolyphaga sinensis walk.; 2. Steleophaga plancyi (Bol.) Common Name: Cockroach Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The cockroach is caught in summer, killed by boiling in water and then dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Salty, cold and slightly toxic Meridian: Liver. Functions: To invigorate blood and remove stagnation Indications & Combinations: 1. Amenorrhea or postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stagnation. Cockroach (Chechong) is used with Rhubarb (Dahuang) and Peach seed (Taoren) … Xem tiếp

Chebula fruit (Hezi)

Chebula fruit (Hezi) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Chebulae Botanical Name: 1. Terminalia chebula Retz.; 2. Terminalia chebula Retz. var. tomentella Kurt. Common Name: Terminalia fruit, Chebula fruit. Source of Earliest Record: Yaoxing Lun. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The ripe fruit is gathered from July to August and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Bitter, sour, astringent and neutral Meridians: Lung and large intestine Functions: 1. To astringe the intestines; 2. To astringe the lungs Indications & Combinations: 1. Chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery and prolapsed anus: a) heat … Xem tiếp

Coix seed (Yiyiren)

Coix seed (Yiyiren) Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Coicis Botanical Name: Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen (Roman.) Stapf Common Name: Coix seed, Job’s tears seed. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The seeds are obtained by removing the hard husk of the fruit, which is gathered in autumn. Properties & Taste: Sweet or no taste and slightly cold. Meridians: Spleen, stomach and lung. Functions: 1. To transform dampness and promote water metabolism; 2. To strengthen the spleen; 3. To clear heat and eliminate pus … Xem tiếp

Coltsfoot flower (Kuandonghua)

Coltsfoot flower (Kuandonghua) Pharmaceutical Name: Flos Farfarae Botanical Name: Tussilago farfara L. Common Name: Coltsfoot flower, Tussilago Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: After the plant begins to flower before winter, the flower buds are gathered and dried in the shade. Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm Meridian: Lung Functions: 1. To moisten the lungs and resolve phlegm; 2. To stop cough Indications & Combinations: Cough. Coltsfoot flower (Kuandonghua) is used with Aster root (Ziwan). It is more powerful than Aster root … Xem tiếp

Common knotgrass (Bianxu)

Common knotgrass (Bianxu) Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Polygoni avicularis Botanical Name: Polygonum aviculare L. Common Name: Polygonum, Common knotgrass Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The aerial parts of the plant are gathered in summer and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Bitter and slightly cold. Meridian: Urinary bladder Functions: 1. To promote water metabolism and regulate abnormal urination; 2. To expel parasites and stop itching. Indications & Combinations: 1. Damp-heat in the urinary bladder manifested as scanty urine with blood, painful … Xem tiếp

Coptis root (Huanglian)

Coptis root (Huanglian) Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma Coptidis Botanical Name: 1. Coptis chinensis Franch. C.; 2. Coptis diltoidea C. Y. Cheng et Hsiao; 3. Coptis teetoides C. Y. Cheng Common Name: Coptis root Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: Five to seven year old roots, or rhizomes, are dug and gathered in autumn and dried for use, or fried with ginger juice. Properties & Taste: Bitter and cold. Meridians: Heart, liver, stomach and large intestine Functions: 1. To clear heat and dry dampness; … Xem tiếp

Cordyceps (Dongchongxiacao)

Cordyceps (Dongchongxiacao) Pharmaceutical Name: Cordyceps Botanical Name: Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc Common Name: Cordyceps, Chinese caterpillar fungus Source of Earliest Record: Bencao Congxin Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The fungus and the carcass of the larvae of various insects are collected in the period of the Summer Solstice (tenth solar term). They are cleaned and dried in the sun or baked. Properties & Taste: Sweet and warm. Meridians: Kidney and lung Functions: 1. To tonify lungs and kidneys; 2. To stop bleeding; 3. To resolve phlegm Indications & … Xem tiếp

Coriander (Husui)

Coriander (Husui) Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Coriandri Botanical Name: Coriandrom saticum L. Common Name: Coriander Source of Earliest Record: Jiayou Bencao Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The entire plant is gathered in August, dried in the sun and cut into pieces. Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm Meridians: Lung and stomach Functions: To promote sweating and bring the rash to the surface. Indications & Combinations: Early stage of measles due to attack of wind and cold manifested as fever, no sweating and measles without a rash. Coriander (Husui) is … Xem tiếp

Cherokee rose hips (Jinyingzi)

Cherokee rose hips (Jinyingzi) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Rosae laevigatae Botanical Name: Rosa laevigata Michx. Common Name: Rosa fruit, Cherokee rose hips Source of Earliest Record: Shu Bencao. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The ripe fruit is gathered from September to October. After the fruit pits have been removed, the fruit is cleaned and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Sour, astringent and neutral Meridians: Kidney, urinary bladder and large intestine Functions: 1. To control the essence; 2. To astringe the intestines and stop diarrhea; 3. To decrease … Xem tiếp

Corydalis tuber (Yanhusuo)

Corydalis tuber (Yanhusuo) Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma corydalis Yanhusuo Botanical Name: Corydalis turtschaninovii Bess. f. Yanhusuo, Y. H. Chow et C. C. Hsu Common Name: Corydalis tuber Source of Earliest Record: Kaibao Bencao Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The rhizomes are dug at the Beginning of Summer (seventh solar term). After the fibrous roots have been removed, the rhizomes are boiled for three minutes, dried in the sunshine and pounded into pieces. Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter and warm Meridians: Heart, liver and spleen Functions: 1. To invigorate blood … Xem tiếp