Lepidium seed (Tinglizi)-Lepidium apetalum

Lepidium seed (Tinglizi)    Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Lepiddi seu Descurainiae Botanical Name: 1. Lepidiumapetalum Willd.; 2. Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb et prantl Common Name: Lepidium seed, Descurainia seed Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The whole plant is harvested in the period of the Beginning of Summer (seventh solar term) and dried in the sun. Then the seeds are collected. Properties & Taste: Bitter, pungent and very cold Meridians: Lung and urinary bladder. Functions: 1. To reduce phlegm in the lungs and … Xem tiếp

Apricot seed (Xingren)

Apricot seed (Xingren) Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Armeniacae. Botanical Name: 1. Prunus armeniaca L. var. ansu maxim.; 2. Prunus mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne; 3. Prunus sibirica L. Common Name: Apricot seed, Bitter apricot seed or kernel. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The seeds are collected after the apricot ripens in summer. They are then dried in the sun and pounded into pieces. Properties & Taste: Bitter, slightly warm and slightly toxic. Meridians: Lung and large intestine. Functions: 1. To stop cough and relieve … Xem tiếp

Burreed tuber (Sanleng)

Burreed tuber (Sanleng) Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma Sparganii Botanical Name: Sparganium stoloniferum Buch.-Ham. Common Name: Burreed tuber, Sparganium, Scirpus. Source of Earliest Record: Bencao Shiyi. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The rhizomes are dug in winter or spring. After the fibrous roots have been removed, the rhizomes are dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Bitter and neutral. Meridians: Liver and spleen. Functions: 1. To invigorate blood and move stagnation; 2. To promote qi circulation and stop pain Indications & Combinations: 1. Qi and blood stagnation manifested as amenorrhea, … 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

Dalbergia wood (Jiangxiang)-Dalbergia odorifera

Dalbergia wood (Jiangxiang) Pharmaceutical Name: Lignum Dalbergiae Odoriferae Botanical Name: Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen Common Name: Dalbergia wood Source of Earliest Record: Haiyao Bencao Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The heart wood of dalbergia odorifera is sawed into small pieces, then dried in the shade. Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm Meridians: Heart and liver Functions: 1. To invigorate blood and remove stagnation; 2. To stop bleeding and pain; 3. To conduct qi downward and resolve turbid dampness Indications & Combinations: 1. Qi and blood stagnation manifested as … Xem tiếp

Glehnia root (Shashen)-Glehnia littoralis

Glehnia root (Shashen) Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Glehniae Botanical Name: 1. Glehnia littoralis Fr. Sehmidt ex Miq; 2. Adenophora tetraphylla (Thunb.) Fisch Common Name: Glehnia root Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The roots are dug in summer or autumn. After the fibrous roots have been removed, the roots are washed in boiled water and the bark peeled off. Then the roots are soaked again before being cut into pieces or slices. Properties & Taste: Sweet and slightly cold. Meridians: Lung and stomach. … Xem tiếp

Licorice root (Gancao)-Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Licorice root (Gancao) Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Glycyrrhizae Botanical Name: 1. Glycyrrhizauralensis Fisch.; 2. Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat.; 3. Glycyrrhiza glabra L. Common Name: Licorice root Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The rhizomes are dug in spring or autumn. After the fibrous roots and bark have been removed, the rhizomes are cut into slices and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Sweet and neutral Meridians: Heart, lung, spleen and stomach Functions: 1. To tonify the spleen and replenish qi; 2. To moisten … Xem tiếp

Arborvitae seed (Baiziren)

Arborvitae seed (Baiziren) Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Biotae. Botanical Name: Biota orientalis (L.) Endl. Common Name: Biota seed, Arborvitae seed. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The fruit is gathered in autumn. After being shelled and dried in the shade, the seeds are broken into pieces. Properties & Taste: Sweet and neutral. Meridians: Heart, kidney and large intestine. Functions: 1. To nourish the blood and tranquilize the mind; 2. To moisten the intestines and move feces. Indications & Combinations: 1. Deficient blood of … 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

Dandelion herb (Pugongying)-Taraxacum mongolicum

Dandelion herb (Pugongying) Pharmaceutical Name: Herba taraxaci Botanical Name: 1. Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.; 2. Taraxacum sinicum Kitag. Common Name: Dandelion herb Source of Earliest Record: Xinxiu Bencao. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The whole plant is gathered in summer or autumn, cleaned in water and then dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Bitter, sweet and cold Meridians: Stomach and liver. Functions: 1. To clear heat and release toxins; 2. To resolve dampness. Indications & Combinations: 1. Boils, carbuncles and furuncles. Dandelion herb (Pugongying) is used with Viola … Xem tiếp

Globethistle (Loulu)-Rhaponticum uniflorum

Globethistle (Loulu) Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Rhapontici seu Echinopsis Botanical Name: 1. Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC.; 2. Echinops latifolius Tausch. Common Name: Globethistle Source of Earliest Records: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The roots are dug in autumn. After the fibrous roots have been removed, the roots are cleaned, dried in the sun and cut into slices. Properties & Taste: Bitter and cold. Meridian: Stomach Functions: 1. To clear heat and release toxins; 2. To reduce swelling; 3. To promote lactation Indications & Combinations: 1. Boils, … Xem tiếp

Light wheat (Fuxiaomai)-Triticum aestivum

Light wheat (Fuxiaomai) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Tritici levis Botanical Name: Triticum aestivum Common Name: Light wheat Source of Earliest Record: Bencao Mengquan Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The light grain is first soaked in water and then dried. Properties & Taste: Sweet and cool. Meridian: Heart Functions: 1. To tonify qi and clear heat; 2. To stop sweating Indications & Combinations: Weakness of the body manifested as spontaneous sweating or night sweating. Light wheat (Fuxiaomai) is used with Oyster shell (Muli), Astragalus root (Huangqi) and Ephedra root (Mahuanggen) … Xem tiếp

Arctium fruit (Niubangzi)

Arctium fruit (Niubangzi) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Arctii. Botanical Name: Arctium lappa L. Common Name: Arctium fruit, Burdock fruit. Source of Earliest Record: Mingyi Bielu. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The fruit is gathered in autumn and dried in the sun. The raw fruit can be used, or it can be baked and smashed and then used. Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter and cold. Meridians: Lung and stomach Functions: 1. To disperse wind-heat and benefit the throat; 2. To release toxins and bring rashes to the surface. Indications & … Xem tiếp

Chicken's gizzard skin (Jineijin)

Chicken’s gizzard skin (Jineijin) Pharmaceutical Name: Endothelium corneum gigeriae galli Zoological Name: Gallus gallus domesticus Brisson Common Name: Chicken’s gizzard skin or lining Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The inside membrane of the gizzard is peeled off, cleaned and dried in the sun. Then it is ground into powder. Properties & Taste: Sweet and neutral. Meridians: Spleen, stomach, small intestine and urinary bladder. Functions: 1. To eliminate food retention; 2. To transform stones. Indications & Combinations: 1. Indigestion, retention of food … Xem tiếp