Group 1 Flashcards
According to the Neijing, what are the functions of Acrid, Sweet, Bitter, Sour, Salty, and Bland?
Acrid can disperse, and make things move.
Sweet can build, slow, and harmonize.
Bitter can drain, and make dry and firm.
Sour can gather and astringe.
Salty can descend and soften.
Bland can permeate, benefit, and create flow.
桂枝
Guì Zhī • cinnamon twig • Cinnamomi Rammulus • Cinnamomum cassia Properties: • acrid, sweet and warm
Guì Zhī according to Dr. Lee?
Main Ability:
• assists heart & connects yang
Mainly Treats:
• counterflow (d/t insufficiency of heart/chest yang)
Clinical Applications:
• chest tightness w/ tachycardia. pulsation/palps
• running piglet, qi rushing up to chest/throat, fright, anxiety, panic attack
• release the exterior
• sweating
• headache
• body pain
甘草
Gān Cǎo • licorice root • Glycyrrhizae Radix • Glycyrrhiza uralensis Properties: • sweet and neutral
Gān Cǎo according to Dr. Lee?
Main Ability: • moderates (relaxes) urgency Mainly Treats: • urgency Clinical Applications • tightness, spasm, tension, pain • counterflow, vexation, restlessness, agitation, palpitation • poison, toxicosis (also, relieving potential urgency caused by other herbs) • sore throat
芍藥（白 / 赤）
Shaoyao (Baishao 白芍 / Chishao 赤芍) • [white / red] peony root • Paeoniae Radix [alba / rubra] • Paeonia lactiflora Properties: • bitter (sour) and neutral (slightly cold)
Sháo Yào (Bái/Chì) according to Dr. Lee?
Main Ability: • breaks open yin congealment and spreads yang's harmony Mainly Treats: • knots and hypertonicity (esp. in abdomen) Clinical Applications • hypertonicity, pain • abdominal pain, fullness • constipation/diarrhea • blood pattern
生薑
Shēng Jiāng • ginger • Gingiberis Rhizoma recens • Zingiber officinale Properties: • acrid and slightly warm
Shēng Jiāng according to Dr. Lee?
Main Ability: • disperse water, dampness, and cold in the stomach Mainly Treats: • nausea Clinical Applications: • nausea, vomiting, retching • digestive reversal - belching, hiccups • excessive drooling and sputum • abdominal distention • cold
大棗
Dà Zǎo • jujube, Chinese date • Jujubae Fructus • Ziziphus jujuba Properties: • sweet and warm
Dà Zǎo according to Dr. Lee?
Main Ability: • moderates urgency Mainly Treats: • pulling tightness and stiffness Clinical Applications: • vexation, restlessness, agitation, zang zao (w/ gan cao) • pain - pulling, stiff quality • cough (w/ water expelling herbs)
膠飴（飴餹）
Jiāo Yí (Yí Táng) • malt sugar, maltose • Maltosum, Saccharum Granorum Properties: • sweet and slightly warm
Jiāo Yí (Yí Táng)
Main Ability: • moderates urgency Only Three Formulas in SHL: • Xiao Jiang Zhong Tang • Huang Qi Jiang Zhong Tang • Da Jiang Zhong Tang * Jiang Zhong = constructing the middle * Symptoms: • abdominal pain, taxation, malnutrition • exam = emaciation, dry skin, thin and tight abdominal wall
黃耆
Huáng Qí • astragalus root • Astragali Radix • Astragalus membranaceus Properties: • sweet and slightly warm
Huáng Qí according to Dr. Lee?
Mainly Ability:
• raises and brings the qi to the surface
Mainly Treats:
• surface layer of water causing excessive sweats, swelling, sores, numbness, etc
Clinical Application:
• excessive sweating
• swelling pain
• chronic non-healing sores, abscesses
• weak puffy flesh (constitutional feature)
• abnormal skin sensation
