Cyperus tuber (Xiangfu)

Cyperus tuber (Xiangfu) Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma Cyperi Botanical Name: Cyperus rotundus L. Common Name: Cyperus tuber, Nutgrass rhizome Source of Earliest Record: Mingyi Bielu Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The rhizomes are dug in September or October. They are cleaned and dried in the sun. The fibrous roots are burned away, leaving the rhizomes ready for use. Properties & Taste: Pungent, slightly bitter, slightly sweet and neutral Meridians: Liver and triple jiao Functions: 1. To promote the free flow of qi in the liver; 2. To regulate menstruation … Xem tiếp

Dogwood fruit (Shanzhuyu)-Cornus officinalis

Dogwood fruit (Shanzhuyu) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Corni Botanical Name: Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. Common Name: Cornus fruit, Dogwood fruit Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Name: The ripe fruit is gathered from October to November. The fruit is baked or boiled, after which the fruit pit is removed. The fruit is then dried in the sun or baked again. Properties & Taste: Sour and slightly warm. Meridians: Liver and kidney. Functions: 1. To tonify the liver and kidneys; 2. To astringe the … Xem tiếp

Evodia fruit (Wuzhuyu)-Evodia rutaecarpa

Evodia fruit (Wuzhuyu) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Evodiae Botanical Name: Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. Common Name: Evodia fruit Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The fruit is gathered in August or November and dried in the sun. It is then soaked in the decoction of Licorice root (Gancao). Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter, hot and slightly toxic Meridians: Liver, spleen and stomach Functions: 1. To dispel cold and stop pain; 2. To pacify the liver and direct rebellious qi downward; 3. To stop … Xem tiếp

Mulberry bark (Sangbaipi)-Morus alba L.

Mulberry bark (Sangbaipi) Pharmaceutical Name: Cortex Mori Botanical Name: Morus alba L. Common Name: Mulberry bark, Morus bark Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The bark of the root is collected in winter. It is cleaned, cut into pieces and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Sweet and cold Meridian: Lung Functions: 1. To reduce heat from the lungs and soothe asthma; 2. To promote urination and reduce edema. Indications & Combinations: 1. Heat in the lungs manifested as cough with … Xem tiếp

Astragalus root (Huangqi)

Astragalus root (Huangqi) Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Astragali Botanical Name: 1. Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.; 2. Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongolicus (Bge.) Hsiao Common Name: Astragalus root Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The four year old roots are dug in spring or autumn, but autumn ones are of better quality. After the fibrous roots are removed, the roots are dried in the sun, soaked again in water and cut into slices. Properties & Taste: Sweet and slightly warm. Meridians: Spleen and lung … Xem tiếp

Capejasmine (Zhizi)

Capejasmine (Zhizi) Pharmaceutical Name: Pructus Gardeniae Botanical Name: Gardenia jaminoides Ellis Common Name: Gardenia fruit, Capejasmine fruit. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The fruit is gathered in autumn or winter when it is ripe. Either the raw herb or the carbonized herb is used. Properties & Taste: Bitter and cold. Meridians: Heart, liver, lung, stomach and triple jiao. Functions: 1. To clear heat and reduce fire; 2. To cool blood and release toxins; 3. To eliminate dampness Indications & Combinations: 1. … Xem tiếp

Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua)

Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua) Pharmaceutical Name: Flos chrysanthemi Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. Common Name: Chrysanthemum flower Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The chrysanthemum flower is gathered and then dried in the shade. Properties & Taste: Pungent, sweet, bitter and slightly cold Meridians: Lung and liver. Functions: 1. To dispel wind and clear heat; 2. To release toxins and brighten the eyes; 3. To pacify the liver Indications & Combinations: 1. Wind-heat exterior syndrome manifested as fever, headache, chills and sore throat. … Xem tiếp

Dadder seed (Tusizi)

Dadder seed (Tusizi) Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Cuscutae Botanical Name: 1. Cuscuta chinensis Lam.; 2. Cuscuta japonica Choisy Common Name: Dadder seed, Cuscuta seed. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The ripe seeds are collected in autumn, and then they are dried in the sun or boiled. Properties & Taste: Pungent, sweet and neutral Meridians: Liver and kidney Functions: 1. To tonify kidneys and control essence; 2. To nourish liver and brighten the eyes Indications & Combinations: 1. Deficient kidneys manifested as impotence, … Xem tiếp

Donkey hide gelatin (Ejiao)-Equus asinnus

Donkey hide gelatin (Ejiao) Pharmaceutical Name: Colla Corii Asini Zoological Name: Equus asinnus L. Common Name: Gelatin, Donkey hide gelatin, Ass hide glue. Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The glue is fried from the skin of a donkey. Properties & Taste: Sweet and neutral Meridians: Lung, liver and kidney Functions: 1. To nourish blood; 2. To stop bleeding; 3. To replenish yin and moisten the lungs Indications & Combinations: 1. Blood deficiency manifested as dizziness, blurred vision and palpitations. Donkey hide … Xem tiếp

Fennel fruit (Xiaohuixiang)-Foeniculum vulgare

Fennel fruit (Xiaohuixiang) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Foeniculi Botanical Name: Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Common Name: Fennel fruit Source of Earliest Record: Xinxiu Bencao Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The fruit is gathered in late summer or early autumn and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm. Meridians: Liver, kidney, spleen and stomach. Functions: 1. To dispel cold and stop pain; 2. To regulate qi and harmonize the stomach Indications & Combinations: 1. Cold stagnation in the liver meridian manifested as hernia. Fennel fruit (Xiaohuixiang) is used … Xem tiếp

Grossy privet fruit (Nuzhenzi)-Ligustrum lucidum

Grossy privet fruit (Nuzhenzi) Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Ligustri lucidi Botanical Name: Ligustrum lucidum Ait. Common Name: Ligustrum seed, Grossy privet fruit Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The ripe fruit is gathered in autumn, then steamed and dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Sweet, bitter and cool Meridians: Liver and kidney Functions: 1. To tonify the liver and kidneys; 2. To clear heat and brighten the eyes Indications & Combinations: 1. Deficient yin of the liver and kidneys manifested as early … Xem tiếp

Mulberry leaf (Sangye)-Morus alba L.

Mulberry leaf (Sangye) Pharmaceutical Name: Folium Mori Botanical Name: Morus alba L. Common Name: Morus leaf, Mulberry leaf Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The leaves are gathered in autumn, during the period of Frost’s Descent (eighteenth solar term), then dried in the sun. Properties & Taste: Sweet, bitter and cold Meridians: Lung and liver. Functions: 1. To expel wind and clear heat; 2. To clear heat in the liver and benefit the eyes Indications & Combinations: 1. Wind-heat exterior syndrome manifested … Xem tiếp

Atractylodes rhizome (Cangzhu)

Atractylodes rhizome (Cangzhu) Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma atractylodis Botanical Name: 1. Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC.; 2. A. chinensis (DC.) Koidz.; 3. Atractylodes japonica koidz. ex Kitam. Common Name: Atractylodes rhizome Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The rhizomes are dug in spring or autumn; those gathered in autumn are better. After the fibrous roots have been removed, the rhizomes are cleaned and dried in the sun, soaked in water and cut into slices. The raw slices are then fried until yellowish in color. … Xem tiếp

Carbonized human hair (Xueyutan)

Carbonized human hair (Xueyutan) Pharmaceutical Name: Crinis carbonisatus Common Name: Carbonized human hair Source of Earliest Record: Mingyi Bielu. Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: Human hairs are carbonized. Properties & Taste: Bitter and neutral. Meridians: Liver and stomach. Functions: To stop bleeding and release blood stagnation Indications & Combinations: Hemorrhages: a) bleeding occurring in the upper part of the body Carbonized human hair (Xueyutan) is used with the juice of Lotus node (Oujie); b) bleeding occurring in the lower part of the bodyCarbonized human hair (Xueyutan) is used … Xem tiếp

Chuanxiong rhizome (Chuanxiong)

Chuanxiong rhizome (Chuanxiong) Pharmaceutical Name: Radix chuanxiong Botanical Name: Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. Common Name: Chuanxiong rhizome, Szechuan lovage root Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The rhizomes are dug in late May. The fibrous roots are soaked and cut into slices. Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm Meridians: Liver, gall bladder and pericardium Functions: 1. To invigorate blood and promote qi circulation; 2. To expel wind and stop pain. Indications & Combinations: 1. Blood and qi stagnation: a) irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea and … Xem tiếp