Chinese Medicine Herb Basic Theory AFEA by Amanda Flashcards
Go back to the basics
What does the flavor Acrid/Spicy/Pungent do?
Disperse and Move Qi and Blood.
Release Exterior
Invigorate Blood/Qi
(Metal. Goes up the Nose)
What are the cautions for Acrid/Spicy/Pungent flavors?
Qi or Yin deficiency or in spontaneous perspiration.
What does the flavor Sour/Astringent do?
Constrict, Solidify and Nourish Fluids, Stabilize substances, Prevent leakage of fluids.
Tend to nourish yin, blood or body fluids because holding them in.
Sour/Astringent herbs are good for someone with:
Cough, diarrhea, bleeding, leucorrhea, urinary incontinence, enuresis, nocturnal emissions, perspirations due to debility
What does the flavor Bitter do?
Drain and Dry
Descend: Xing ren apricot, Da huang rhubarb
Dry Damp- (Bitter Cold) 3 Huang’s
(Bitter Warm) Tang zhu grey atractylodes
What does the flavor Sweet do?
Tonify, Harmonize, Moisten
What does the flavor Bland do?
Leach out dampness and promote urination.
Bitter herbs are NOT used for
Yin deficiency (bitter drains down)
What does Salty do?
Softens (hard masses) and Purge (opens and drains bowels)
Sweet & Sour herbs help to generate:
Yin
Sweet & Acrid herbs help to generate:
Yang
Flowers and heads of plants in general move Qi in what direction?
Up
Leaves, Peels and barks help go to where on the body?
Go to the body’s surface, treat skin, respiratory system
Stems and Vines help go to where on the body?
Channels and Sinews
Roots go where in the body?
They penetrate deeper to Yin organ
Inner parts of plants go where in the body?
The heart
Shells and Minerals tend to do what?
Anchor the shen and Qi
Animal based herbs tend to do what?
To be warm and salty; and stronger then plants.
Tonify yang and extinguish wind
Seeds tend to do what?
Moisten and Nourish (like Water element)
Fruits tend to do what to the body?
Nourish the spleen (they are sweet)
Upper body ailments are treated with the _________ parts of plants?
upper
Lower body ailments are treated with the _________ parts of plants
lower
Release Exterior herbs have what taste?
Warm/Cool
Release Exterior Herbs enter what channels?
BL, LU
What action does Release exterior have?
Releases exterior through sweating, uninhibit Lung Qi