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
蜂蜜 / 石蜜
Fēng Mì / Shí Mì • honey • Mel • Apis cerana Properties: • sweet and neutral
Fēng Mì / Shí Mì according to Dr. Lee?
Main Ability: • moderates urgency SHL Formulas: • Da Wu Tou Jian • Wu Tou Tang • Wu Tou Gui Zhi Tang • Da Ban Xia Tang • Gan Sui Ban Xia Tang • Gan Cao Fen Mi Tang * also used in forming honey pills *
Guì Zhī according to Bensky?
• Herbs that release the exterior
• Heart, Lung, Bladder
• Release the exterior & assist the yang
• Warms & unblocks the channels & collaterals
• Warms the yang & transforms thin mucous
• Assists the heart yang & unblocks the yang qi of the chest
• Warms the channels, vessels and collaterals
Warms the middle & directs turbid yin downward
Gān Cǎo according to Bensky?
- Herbs that tonify qi
- All 12 channels
- Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi
- Moistens the Lung & stops coughs
- Moderates spasm & alleviates pain
- Clears heat & resolves fire toxicity
- Used as antidote for variety of toxic substances
- Moderates & harmonized the characteristics of other herbs
Sháo Yào (Bái/Chì) according to Bensky?
Bái Sháo
• Herbs that tonify blood
• Liver, Spleen
• Nourishes the blood & regulates the menses
• Calms & curbs the liver yang & alleviates pain
• Preserves the yin & adjusts the nutritive & protective levels
Chì Sháo
• Herbs that invigorate the blood
• Liver, Spleen
• Invigorates the blood & dispels blood stasis
• Clears heat & cools the blood
Shēng Jiāng according to Bensky?
- Herbs that release the exterior
- Lung, Spleen, Stomach
- Release the exterior & disperse cold
- Warms the middle burner & alleviates vomiting
- Warms the Lung & stops cough
- Resolves toxicity
Dà Zǎo according to Bensky?
- Herbs that tonify qi
- Spleen, Stomach
- Tonifies the spleen & augments the qi
- Nourishes the blood & calms the spirit
- Moderates & harmonized the harsh properties of other herbs
Jiāo Yí (Yí Táng) according to Bensky?
- Herbs that tonify qi
- Lung, Spleen, Stomach
- Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi
- Tonifies the middle burner qi & alleviates pain
- Moistens the Lung & stops coughs
Huáng Qí according to Bensky?
- Herbs that tonify qi
- Lung, Spleen
- Tonifies the qi & blood
- Tonifies the Spleen & raises the yang
- Augments the protective qi & stabilizes the exterior
- Promotes the discharge of pus & generates flesh
- Wasting & thirsting disorder, numbness of the limbs, paralysis & painful obstruction
