Costazia bone (Haifushi)

Costazia bone (Haifushi) Pharmaceutical Name: Pumice; Pumex Zoological Name: Costazia aculeata Canu et Bassler Common Name: Pumice, Costazia bone Source of Earliest Record: Rihuazi Bencao Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The dried bone is collected from Costazia Sp. Properties & Taste: Salty and cold. Meridian: Lung Functions: 1. To clear heat in the lungs and resolve phlegm; 2. To soften hardness and release nodules Indications & Combinations: 1. Phlegm-heat cough manifested as cough with yellow, sticky and thick sputum or sputum difficult to expectorate. Costazia bone (Haifushi) is … Xem tiếp

Datura flower (Yangjinhua)-Datura metel

Datura flower (Yangjinhua) Pharmaceutical Name: Flos Daturae Botanical Name: Datura metel L. Common Name: Datura flower, Jimson weed Source of Earliest Record: Bencao Gangmu. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The flowers are gathered in the period from April to November, and then they are dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Pungent, warm and toxic Meridians: Heart, lung and spleen Functions: To stop asthma. Indications & Combinations: 1. Asthma manifested as cough with no sputum and stifling sensation in the chest. Datura flower (Yangjinhua) is used to roll … Xem tiếp

Glorybower leaf (Chouwutong)-Clerodendron trichotomum

Glorybower leaf (Chouwutong) Pharmaceutical Name: Folium Clerodentri trichotomi Botanical Name: Clerodendron trichotomum Thunb. Common Name: Glorybower leaf, Clerodendron leaf Source of Earliest Record: Bencao Tujing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The leaves are gathered before the plant bears fruit in summer. They are then dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter, sweet and cool Meridian: Liver Functions: To dispel wind and dampness. Indications & Combinations: 1. Wind-damp obstruction syndrome manifested as rheumatic pain, numbness of limbs and hemiplegia. Glorybower leaf (Chouwutong) is used with Siegesbeckia (Xixiancao), … Xem tiếp

Ligusticum root (Gaoben)-Ligusticum sinense

Ligusticum root (Gaoben) Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma Ligustici Botanical Name: 1. Ligusticumsinense oliver; 2. Ligusticum jeholense Nakai et Kitag. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Common Name: Ligusticum root Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The roots are dug in spring. After the fibrous roots have been removed, they are dried in the sun. Then, after soaking them in water, the roots are cut into slices. Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm. Meridians: Urinary bladder Functions: 1. To expel cold and release the exterior; 2. To expel wind and … Xem tiếp

Areca seed (Binglang)

Areca seed (Binglang) Pharmaceutical Name: Semen arecae. Botanical Name: Areca cathechu L. Common Name: Areca seed, Betel nut. Source of Earliest Record: Mingyi Bielu. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The seeds from the ripe fruit are collected in winter or spring. They are dried in the sun, soaked in water and cut into slices. Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter and warm. Meridians: Stomach and large intestine. Functions: 1. To kill parasites; 2. To promote qi circulation; 3. To promote water metabolism Indications & Combinations: 1. Parasites in the … Xem tiếp

Bush-cherry seed (Yuliren)

Bush-cherry seed (Yuliren) Pharmaceutical Name: Semen pruni Botanical Name: 1. Prunus japonica Thunb.; 2. Prunus humilis Bge.; 3. Prunus tomentosa Thunb. Common Name: Bush-cherry seed Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The ripe seeds from the fruit are gathered in autumn and dried in the sun. The seeds are then ground in a mortar and pestle. Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter and neutral. Meridians: Small and large intestines. Functions: 1. To lubricate intestines and move feces; 2. To promote urination and reduce … Xem tiếp

Chinaberry bark (Kulianpi)

Chinaberry bark (Kulianpi) Pharmaceutical Name: Cortex meliae Radicis Botanical Name: 1. Melia azedarach L; 2. Melia toosendam Sieb, et zucc. Common Name: Melia bark, Chinaberry bark, Chinatree bark Source of Earliest Record: Mingyi Bielu. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The bark is collected in spring or autumn. After drying, the bark is cut into slices. Properties & Taste: Bitter and cold. Meridians: Spleen, stomach and liver. Functions: To kill parasites. Indications & Combinations: 1. Roundworm (ascariasis). Chinaberry bark (Kulianpi) is used alone. 2. Hookworm (ancylostoma). Chinaberry bark (Kulianpi) … Xem tiếp

Costus root (Muxiang)

Costus root (Muxiang) Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Aucklandiae seu Vladimiriae Botanical Name: 1. Aucklandia lappa Decne.; 2. Vladimiria souliei (Franch.) Ling Common Name: Aucklandia root, Costus root Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The roots are dug in October and can be used raw or baked. Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter and warm Meridians: Spleen, stomach, large intestine and gall bladder Functions: 1. To regulate qi in the spleen and stomach; 2. To stop pain Indications & Combinations: 1. Qi stagnation in the … Xem tiếp

Dendrobium (Shihu)-Dendrobium nobile

Dendrobium (Shihu) Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Dendrobii Botanical Name: 1. Dendrobium nobile Lindl.; 2. Dendrobium loddigesii Rolfe.; 3. Dendrobium candidum Wall. ex Lindl.; 4. Dendrobium chrysanthum Wall.; 5. Dendrobium fimbriatum Hook. var. oculatum Hook. Common Name: Dendrobium Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The stems are gathered in the period between summer and autumn, dried in the sun and cut into pieces. Properties & Taste: Sweet and slightly cold. Meridians: Lung and kidney. Functions: 1. To tonify the yin and clear heat; 2. … Xem tiếp

Grass-leaved sweetflag (Shichangpu)-Acorus gramineus

Grass-leaved sweetflag (Shichangpu) Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizome Acori graminei Botanical Name: Acorus gramineus Soland. Common Name: Grass-leaved sweetflag rhizome Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The rhizomes are dug in early spring and cleaned and dried in the sun. When the fresh rhizome is used for medical purposes, it should be dug in late summer. Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm. Meridians: Heart and stomach. Functions: 1. To open the orifices; 2. To transform dampness and harmonize the stomach; 3. To tranquilize the … Xem tiếp

Morinda root (Bajitian)-Morinda officinalis How

Morinda root (Bajitian) Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Morindae officinalis Botanical Name: Morinda officinalis How Common Name: Morinda root Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The roots are dug in spring or winter. After the fibrous roots have been removed and the roots are dried in the sun, the dried roots are steamed or soaked. The core of the root is discarded, and the remaining root is cut into slices. Properties & Taste: Pungent, sweet and slightly warm. Meridian: Kidney Functions: 1. To tonify … Xem tiếp

Arisaema tuber (Tiannanxing)

Arisaema tuber (Tiannanxing) Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma Arisaematis. Botanical Name: 1. Arisaema consanguineum Schott.; 2. Arisaema amurense Maxim.; 3. Arisaema heterophyllum Bl. Common Name: Arisaema tuber. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The tuberous rhizomes are dug in autumn or winter. After the fibrous roots and bark have been removed, the rhizomes are dried in the sun and cut into slices. Properties & Taste: Bitter, pungent and warm. Meridians: Lung, liver and spleen. Functions: 1. To dry dampness and resolve phlegm; 2. To … Xem tiếp

Butterflybush flower (Mimenghua)

Butterflybush flower (Mimenghua) Pharmaceutical Name: Flos Buddlejae Botanical Name: Buddleja officinalis Maxim. Common Name: Buddleja, Butterflybush flower. Source of Earliest Record: Kaibao Bencao. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The flower buds are gathered in spring and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Sweet and slightly cold. Meridian: Liver. Functions: 1. To clear heat in the liver; 2. To brighten the eyes and reduce corneal opacity. Indications & Combinations: 1. Heat in the liver manifested as red, painful and swollen eyes, photophobia, excessive tearing and corneal opacity. Butterflybush … Xem tiếp

Chinese angelica root (Danggui)

Chinese angelica root (Danggui) Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Angelicae sinensis Botanical Name: Angelica sinensis (oliv.) Diels Common Name: Chinese angelica root Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The roots are dug in late autumn. After the fibrous roots have been removed, the roots are laced, or smoked, with sulfur and cut into slices. Properties & Taste: Sweet, pungent and warm Meridians: Liver, heart and spleen. Functions: 1. To replenish blood; 2. To invigorate blood and stop pain; 3. To moisten the intestines Indications … Xem tiếp

Croton seed (Badou)

Croton seed (Badou) Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Crotonis Botanical Name: Croton tiglium L. Common Name: Croton seed Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The ripe seeds are gathered in autumn, dried in the sun and ground into powder. Properties & Taste: Pungent and very toxic Meridians: Stomach and large intestine Functions: 1. To drain accumulated cold downward; 2. To transform water and reduce edema; 3. To resolve phlegm and benefit throat Indications & Combinations: 1. Abdominal pain and constipation due to cold or … Xem tiếp