Herb Categories

Question 1

WARE

Answer 1

Warm Acrid Herbs That Release the Exterior

Question 2

CARE

Answer 2

Cool Arid Herbs that Release the Exterior

Question 3

What are the actions and cautions of WARE herbs?

Answer 3

Promote sweating to release pathogens from the superficial level. Caution with Yin or Qi deficiency, patients already sweating and DO NOT use long term

Question 4

WARE herbs - taste/temp/channels

Answer 4

acrid/warm/LU

Question 5

What are the actions and cautions of CARE herbs?

Answer 5

Dispel wind-heat to release the exterior AND use caution in patients with deficiency, sweating, or with long term use

Question 6

CARE herbs - taste/temp/channels

Answer 6

acrid/cool/LU , LV

Question 7

What are the actions and cautions of herbs that drain fire?

Answer 7

Clear heat and drain fire. These herbs treat Qi level or Yangming level heat, characterized by the Four Bigs (fever, pulse, sweat, thirst)

These herbs are cold and bitter; they may damage the Spleen

Question 8

Herbs That Drain Fire - taste/temp/channels

Answer 8

Bitter or Sweet/cold/LU,ST,HT, LV

Question 9

What are the actions and cautions of herbs that cool blood?

Answer 9

Clear heat from the Ying and Xue levels. Because heat at the blood level can damage yin, some of these herbs are sweet and nourish fluids.

These herbs are cold and bitter; they may damage the Spleen.

Question 10

Herbs That Cool Blood - taste/temp/channels

Answer 10

Bitter/Sweet,/Salty, Cold, LV, HT

Question 11

What are the actions and cautions of herbs that clear heat and dry dampness?

Answer 11

Clear heat and dry dampness (dysentery, urination problems, jaundice, skin problems)

These herbs are cold and bitter; they may damage the Spleen

Question 12

Herbs That Clear Heat and Dry Dampness - taste/temp/channels

Answer 12

Bitter/cold/???

Question 13

What are the actions and cautions of herbs that clear heat and resolve toxicity?

Answer 13

Clear heat toxicity (skin infections with pus, dysentery, viral infections)

These herbs are cold and bitter; they may damage the Spleen

Question 14

Herbs That Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity - taste/temp/channels

Answer 14

bitter/cold/???

Question 15

What are the actions and cautions of herbs that clear heat from deficiency?

Answer 15

Clear heat due to Liver and Kidney yin deficiency

These herbs are cool in temperature; use caution with weak middle-jiao

Question 16

Herbs That Clear Heat from Deficiency - taste/temp/channels

Answer 16

Sweet and Bitter/Cold/LV, KI

Question 17

What are the 3 types of Downward Draining herbs?

Answer 17

Purgatives, Moist Laxative, Harsh Expellents

Question 18

Downward Draining - Purgatives?

Answer 18

These herbs strongly induce diarrhea and should not be used with seniors, children, or people with a weak constitution. They are typically bitter and cold, and they treat constipation due to heat.

Bitter/cold/LI

Question 19

Downward Draining - Moist Laxatives?

Answer 19

These herbs tend to be oily seeds. Unlike Purgatives, Moist Laxatives gently relieve constipation and may take some time to work.

Sweet/Neutral/LI

Question 20

What are the actions and cautions of herbs that drain dampness?

Answer 20

Promote urination (edema, lin syndrome, jaundice)

Use caution with yin deficiency and depleted fluids

Question 21

Downward Draining - Harsh Expellents?

Answer 21

These herbs are very strong and usually toxic. They should only be used in small doses, and only if the patient is strong enough to take them.

Toxic/Cold or Hot/LI,KI,LU

Question 22

Herbs That Drain Dampness - taste/temp/channels

Answer 22

Bland or Bitter/Neutral or cold/KI,UB,SP

Question 23

What are the actions and cautions of herbs that dispel wind dampness?

Answer 23

Bi Syndrome — often translated as “painful obstruction disorder” or “impediment syndrome” — is a pain condition similar to arthritis caused by an external invasion of wind, cold, and dampness.

Most of these herbs are warm, acrid and aromatic. They can easily cause dryness.

Question 24

Herbs That Dispel Wind Dampness - taste/temp/channels

Answer 24

Acrid or bitter or sweet/ warm / LV, KI

Question 25

What are the actions and cautions of aromatic herbs that transform dampness?

Answer 25

Awaken the Spleen to transform dampness

These herbs are warm, acrid and drying. They may exhaust qi or dry up yin.

Question 26

Aromatic Herbs That Transform Dampness - taste/temp/channels

Answer 26

acrid, aromatic or bitter/warm/SP, ST

Question 27

There are three ways to treat bi syndrome:

Answer 27

• expel wind-cold-damp
• smooth, stretch, relax, open, and unblock the channels
• tonify Liver and Kidney yin