Genkwa flower (Yuanhua)-Daphne genkwa

Genkwa flower (Yuanhua) Pharmaceutical Name: Flos Genkwa Botanical Name: Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc. Common Name: Genkwa flower Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The flower buds are gathered in spring and dried in the sun, baked or fried with vinegar. Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter, warm and toxic Meridians: Lung, kidney and large intestine Functions: 1. To transform water and stop cough; 2. To resolve phlegm and stop cough; 3. To kill worms. Indications & Combinations: 1. Edema in the face … Xem tiếp

Katsumadai seed (Caodoukou)-Alpinia katsumadai

Katsumadai seed (Caodoukou) Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Alpiniae katsumadai Botanical Name: Alpinia katsumadai Hayata Common Name: Katsumadai seed Source of Earliest Record: Mingyi Bielu Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The yellow fruit is gathered in summer or autumn and dried in the sun. The seeds are smashed after the flesh of the fruit has been peeled off. Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm Meridians: Spleen and stomach. Functions: 1. To dry dampness and warm the spleen and stomach; 2. To promote qi circulation Indications & Combinations: Cold-damp blocking and … Xem tiếp

Longan aril (Longyanrou)-Euphoria longan

Longan aril (Longyanrou) Pharmaceutical Name: Arillus longan Botanical Name: Euphorialongan (Lour.) steud. Common Name: Longan aril, Arillus fruit Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The aril can be collected from the ripe longan in early autumn. Then it is baked or dried in the sunshine. Properties & Taste: Sweet and warm. Meridians: Heart and spleen. Functions: 1. To nourish blood and tranquilize the mind; 2. To strengthen the spleen and replenish qi Indications & Combinations: Deficiency of qi and blood manifested as … Xem tiếp

Myrrh (Moyao)-Commiphora myrrha Engl.

Myrrh (Moyao) Pharmaceutical Name: Myrrha; Resina myrrhae Botanical Name: Commiphora myrrha Engl. Common Name: Myrrh Source of Earliest Record: Kaibao Bencao Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: After the stem is cut, the gum-resin is gathered and then carbonized. Properties & Taste: Bitter and neutral Meridians: Heart, liver and spleen. Functions: 1. To invigorate blood and stop pain; 2. To reduce swelling and promote healing Indications & Combinations: The indications and combinations of Myrrh (Moyao) are the same as those for Frankincense (Ruxiang). Dosage: 3-10 g Cautions & Contraindications: … Xem tiếp

Amber (Hupo)

Amber (Hupo) Pharmaceutical Name: Succinus. Botanical Name: Pinus spp. Common Name: Amber, Succinus. Source of Earliest Record: Mingyi Bielu. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The brownish fossil resin is taken from a pine tree which has been buried underground for a long time. It is then ground into powder. Properties & Taste: Sweet and neutral. Meridians: Heart, liver and urinary bladder. Functions: 1. To calm and tranquilize the mind; 2. To invigorate the blood and release stagnation; 3. To promote urination. Indications & Combinations: 1. Infantile convulsions and … Xem tiếp

Borneol (Bingpian)

Borneol (Bingpian) Blumea balsamifera DC and Borneol Pharmaceutical Name: Borneolum Syntheticum Mineral Name: 1. Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. f.; 2. Blumea balsamifera DC. Common Name: Borneol Source of Earliest Record: Xinxiu Bencao. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The stems of dryobalanops aromatica are steamed and then cooled into crystals. Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter and slightly cold. Meridians: Heart, spleen and lung. Functions: 1. To open the orifices and clear the mind; 2. To clear heat and stop pain Indications & Combinations: 1. Unconsciousness due to high fever. Borneol … 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

Germinated barley (Maiya)-Hordeum vulgare

Germinated barley (Maiya) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Hordei germinatus Botanical Name: Hordeum vulgare L. Common Name: Germinated barley Source of Earliest Record: Mingyi Bielu Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: Barley is soaked in water for a day, and then it is put into a basket. Water is sprinkled over the barley daily until it germinates. Properties & Taste: Sweet and neutral Meridians: Spleen, stomach and liver Functions: 1. To eliminate retention of food and harmonize the stomach; 2. To restrain lactation; 3. To promote free flow of liver qi … Xem tiếp

Laminaria (Kunbu)-Thallus Laminariae

Laminaria (Kunbu) Pharmaceutical Name: Thallus Laminariae seu Eckloniae Botanical Name: 1. Laminariajaponica Aresch.; 2. Ecklonia kurome Okam. Common Name: Laminaria, Kelp, Kunbu sea cress Source of Earliest Record: Mingyi Bielu Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The laminaria thallus is collected from the sea in summer or autumn. It is cleaned, cut into pieces and dried in the shade. Properties & Taste: Salty and cold Meridians: Liver, stomach and kidney. Functions: 1. To resolve phlegm and soften hardness; 2. To promote water metabolism Indications & Combinations: 1. Goiter manifested … Xem tiếp

Lophatherum (Danzhuye)-Herba Lophatheri

Lophatherum (Danzhuye) Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Lophatheri Botanical Name: Lophatherum gracile Brongn. Common Name: Lophatherum Source of Earliest Record: Bencao Gangmu Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The leaves are gathered in summer, dried in the sun and cut into pieces. Properties & Taste: Sweet or no taste and cold Meridians: Heart, stomach and small intestine Functions: 1. To clear heat and benefit urination; 2. To clear heat in the heart and lessen irritability Indications & Combinations: 1. Febrile diseases manifested as irritability, thirst and fever. Lophatherum (Danzhuye) is used … Xem tiếp

American ginseng (Xiyangshen)

American ginseng (Xiyangshen) Pharmaceutical Name: 1. Radix Panacis quinquefolii; 2. Radix ginseng americane. Botanical Name: Panax quinquefolium L. Common Name: American ginseng. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The three to six year old root is dug in autumn, dried in the sun and cut into slices. Properties & Taste: Bitter, slightly sweet and cold. Meridians: Heart, lung and kidney. Functions: 1. To replenish qi and promote body fluids; 2. To nourish yin and clear heat Indications & Combinations: 1. Deficient yin … Xem tiếp

Broom cypress fruit (Difuzi)

Broom cypress fruit (Difuzi) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus kochiae Botanical Name: Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. Common Name: Kochia fruit, Broom cypress fruit. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: When the fruit ripens in autumn, it is gathered and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Bitter and cold. Meridian: Urinary bladder. Functions: 1. To clear heat and transform dampness; 2. To stop itching. Indications & Combinations: 1. Damp-heat in the urinary bladder manifested as dysuria, painful urination, frequent urination and urgency of micturition. … 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

Germinated millet (Guya)-Oryza sativa

Germinated millet (Guya) Pharmaceutical Name: 1. Fructus Oryzae germinatus; 2. Fructus Setariae germinatus Botanical Name: 1. Oryza sativa L. 2. Setaria italica (L.) Beauv. Common Name: Germinated millet Source of Earliest Record: Bencao Gangmu Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The germinated rice sprouts are dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Sweet and neutral. Meridians: Spleen and stomach Functions: 1. To eliminate food retention and harmonize the stomach; 2. To improve appetite Indications & Combinations: 1. Retention of food. Germinated millet (Guya) is used with Medicated leaven (Shenqu) … Xem tiếp