Eucommia bark (Duzhong)-Eucommia ulmoides

Eucommia bark (Duzhong) Pharmaceutical Name: Cortex Eucommiae Botanical Name: Eucommia ulmoides oliv. Common Name: Eucommia bark Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The bark is gathered in summer and autumn. The rough bark is removed and discarded, and then the smooth bark is dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Sweet and warm Meridians: Liver and kidney Functions: 1. To tonify liver and kidneys and strengthen bones and tendons; 2. To calm the fetus to prevent miscarriage Indications & Combinations: 1. Deficiency … Xem tiếp

Gastrodia tuber (Tianma)-Gastrodia elata

Gastrodia tuber (Tianma) Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma Gastrodiae Botanical Name: Gastrodia elata Bl. Common Name: Gastrodia tuber Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The rhizomes are dug in winter or spring. After the bark has been removed, the rhizomes are cleaned, boiled or steamed and baked. They are then soaked again and cut into slices. Properties & Taste: Sweet and neutral. Meridian: Liver Functions: 1. To eliminate endogenous wind and stop spasms; 2. To pacify the liver and subdue the yang Indications & … Xem tiếp

Jujube (Dazao)-Ziziphus jujuba

Jujube (Dazao) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Jujubae Botanical Name: Ziziphusjujuba Mill. Common Name: Jujube, Chinese date Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The ripe fruit is gathered at the beginning of autumn and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Sweet and warm Meridians: Spleen and stomach Functions: 1. To replenish qi in the middle jiao (spleen and stomach); 2. To nourish the blood and soothe the mind; 3. To moderate the action of herbs Indications & Combinations: 1. Weakness of the spleen … Xem tiếp

Lily bulb (Baihe)-Lilium brownii

Lily bulb (Baihe) Pharmaceutical Name: Bulbus Lilii Botanical Name: 1. Liliumbrownii var. viridulum Baker; 2. Lilium pumilum DC.; 3. Lilium lancifolium Thunb. Common Name: Lily bulb Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The bulbs are gathered in autumn. After they are cleaned, the bulbs are washed in boiled water or steamed, then dried in the sun or baked. Properties & Taste: Sweet and slightly cold. Meridians: Lung and heart Functions: 1. To moisten the lungs and stop cough; 2. To clear heat … Xem tiếp

Mume flower (Lu'emei)-Prumus mume (Sieb.) Zieb. et Zucc

Mume flower (Lu’emei) Pharmaceutical Name: Flos Mume Botanical Name: Prumus mume (Sieb.) Zieb. et Zucc. Common Name: Mume flower, Japanese apricot flower Source of Earliest Record: Bencao Gangmu Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The flowers or flower buds are gathered in January or February and dried in the sun or baked. Properties & Taste: Sour, astringent and neutral Meridians: Liver and stomach Functions: 1. To promote the free flow of qi in the liver and reduce stagnation; 2. To regulate qi and harmonize the stomach Indications & Combinations: … Xem tiếp

Alismatis rhizome (Zexie)

Alismatis rhizome (Zexie)                                                   Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma Alismatis. Botanical Name: Alisma orientalis (Sam.) Juzep. Common Name: Alismatis rhizome, Water plantain tuber. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The rhizomes are dug in winter. After the fibrous roots and bark have been removed, the rhizomes are soaked in water, cut into slices and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Sweet or no taste and cold. Meridians: Kidney and urinary bladder. Functions: To transform dampness and promote water metabolism. Indications & Combinations: Dysuria, … Xem tiếp

Bletilla tuber (Baiji)

Bletilla tuber (Baiji) Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma Bletillae Botanical Name: Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb. f. Common Name: Bletilla tuber Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The rhizomes are dug in summer or autumn. After the fibrous roots have been removed, the rhizomes are cleaned, boiled in water, dried in the sun and cut into slices. Properties & Taste: Bitter, sweet, astringent and slightly cold. Meridians: Liver, lung and stomach Functions: 1. To stop bleeding; 2. To reduce swelling and promote healing Indications & … 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

Gecko (Gejie)

Gecko (Gejie) Pharmaceutical Name: Gecko Zoological Name: Gekko gecko L. Common Name: Gecko, Toad-headed lizard Source of Earliest Record: Leigong Paozhi Lun Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The gecko is caught in summer. The internal organs are removed, and the eyes are cut and drained. Pieces of bamboo are used to fix the body, and then the gecko is baked and put in a dry place. Properties & Taste: Salty and neutral. Meridians: Lung and kidney Functions: 1. To tonify lungs and kidneys; 2. To stop cough and … Xem tiếp

Kansui root (Gansui)-Euphorbia kansui

Kansui root (Gansui) Pharmaceutical Name: Radix kansui Botanical Name: Euphorbia kansui T. N. Liou ex T. P. Wang Common Name: Kansui root Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The tuberous root is dug in late autumn or early spring. The root bark is peeled off, and the root is dried in the sun. Then it is soaked in vinegar. Properties & Taste: Bitter, sweet, cold and toxic Meridians: Lung, kidney and large intestine Functions: 1. To transform water and reduce edema; 2. … Xem tiếp

Lindera root (Wuyao)-Lindera strychnifolia

Lindera root (Wuyao) Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Linderae Botanical Name: Linderastrychnifolia (Sieb. et Zucc.) Vill. Common Name: Lindera root, Spicebush root Source of Earliest Record: Bencao Shiyi Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The roots are dug in August. After the fibrous roots and bark have been removed, the roots are cut into slices and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm. Meridians: Lung, spleen, kidney and urinary bladder Functions: 1. To regulate qi and stop pain; 2. To warm the kidneys and dispel cold Indications & … Xem tiếp

Musk (Shexiang)-Moschus berezovskii Flerov

Musk (Shexiang) Pharmaceutical Name: Moschus Zoological Name: 1. Moschus berezovskii Flerov; 2. Moschus sifanicus Przewalski; 3. Moschus moschiferus L. Common Name: Musk Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The secretion is obtained from the naval musk gland of male musk deers. It is dried in the shade in winter or spring. Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm. Meridians: Heart and spleen Functions: 1. To open the orifices and clear the mind; 2. To invigorate the blood and disperse nodules; 3. To stop … Xem tiếp

Aloes (Luhui)

Aloes (Luhui) Pharmaceutical Name: Aloe. Botanical Name: 1. Aloe vera L.; 2. Aloe ferox Mill. Common Name: Aloes. Source of Earliest Record: Yaoxing Lun. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The leaves are gathered all year round. The juice is squeezed out of the leaves, boiled until it makes a thick soup and then put into a container and stored in a cool place. Properties & Taste: Bitter and cold. Meridians: Liver and large intestine. Functions: 1. To purge feces; 2. To clear heat in the liver; 3. To … Xem tiếp

Boat sterculia seed (Pangdahai)

Boat sterculia seed (Pangdahai) Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Sterculiae lychnopherae Botanical Name: Sterculia lychnophera Hance Common Name: Boat sterculia seed Source of Earliest Record: Bencao Gangmu Shiyi. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The seeds are collected from April to June after the fruit ripens, and then they are dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Sweet and cold. Meridians: Lung and large intestine. Functions: 1. To clear heat in the lungs and promote the dispersing function of qi in the lungs; 2. To moisten the intestines and move feces. … 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