Herb ID/Pre-Midterm Flashcards
Ku Shen
Sophoriae Flavascentis Radix
Clear Heat, Dry Damp
Bitter, Cold
ST, LI, HT, SI, LV, UB
Disperses wind
Kills parasites
Stops itching
Promotes urination
Gui Zhi
Cinnamomi Ramulus
Warm Acrid, Release the Exterior
Sweet, Acrid, Warm
HT, LU, UB
*Disperses wind in tai-yang stage
Warms and unblocks channels and collaterals
Warms the yang, transforms thin mucus
Assists heart yang and unblocks yang qi of chest
Warms the middle and directs turbid yin downward
Sang Ye
Mori Folium
Cool Acrid, Release the Exterior
Sweet, Bitter, Cold
LU, LV
Moistening
Calms the liver and clears the eyes
Stops bleeding
Bai Zhi
Angelicae Dahuricae Radix
Warm Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Warm
LU, ST, SP
*Treats yang ming headache
Exppels wind, eliminates dampness, unblocks nasal passages, alleviates pain
Reduces swelling and expels pus
Alleviates discharge
Sheng Di Huang
Rehmanniae Radix
Clear Heat, Cool Blood
Bitter, Sweet, Cold
HT, LV, KD
*Nourishes the yin
*Generates fluids
*Very cloying
Ma Huang
Ephedrae Herba
Warm Acrid, Release the Exterior
Warm, Acrid, Slightly Bitter
LU, UB
2-9g
*Disperses wind cold in tai yang stage
*One of the most moving herbs in the category (along with Jing Jie)
Induces sweating
Calms wheezing, stops coughing
Promotes urination and reduces edema
Useful for wind-damp painful obstruction
Sheng Jiang
Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens
Warm, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Slightly Warm
LU, SP, ST
Warms the middle burner and alleviates vomiting
Warms the lungs and stops cough
Relieves toxicity
Mu Zei
Equiseti Hiemalis Herba
Cool, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Sweet, Bitter, Neutral
LU, LV, GB
Clears the eyes and reduces superficial visual obstructoin
Stops bleeding
Shi Gao
Gypsum Fibrosum
Clear Heat, Drain Fire
Sweet, Acrid, Very Cold
LU, ST
*Good for heat on wei/qi level; releases heat by venting outward
Clears excess heat from the lungs
Clears blazing stomach fire
Treats eczema, burns and ulcerated sores
Jing Jie
Schizonepetae Herba
Warm, Acrd, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Slightly Warm, *Aromatic
LU, LV
*Able to strongly dispel wind cold OR wind heat
Vents rashes and alleviates itching
Charred form stops bleeding *(because treats intestinal wind)
*Comparable to Fang Feng, yet releases wind at a more superficial level
Long Dan Cao
Gentianae Radix
Clear Heat, Dry Damp
Bitter, Cold
LV, GB, ST
Drains damp-heat from the liver and gallbladder channels
Drains and pacifies excessive liver fire
Xiang Ru
Moslae Herba
Warm, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Aromatic, Slightly Warm
LU, ST
*Summertime Ma Huang
Induces sweating and releases the exterior
Promotes urination and reduces swelling
Niu Bang Zi
Arctii Fructus
Cool Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Bitter, Cold
LU, ST
Disperses wind-heat and benefits the throat
Resolves toxicity and vents rashes
Moistens the intestines
Huang Lian
Coptidis Rhizoma
Clear Heat, Dry Damp
Bitter, Cold
ST, LI, HT, LV
1.5-9g
*treats middle burner
Stops bleeding
Clears heat topically
Tian Hua Fen
Trichosanthis Radix
Clear Heat, Drain Fire
Bitter, Slighty Sweet, Cold
LU, ST
Reduces swelling
Generates fluids
Moistens and clears heat from stomach and lung
Resolves toxicity and expels pus
*Slight moving ability; may be used for breast lumps
Fang Feng
Saposhnikoviae Radix
Warm, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Sweet, Slightly Warm
UB, LV, SP
*Used for all wind disorders
*Most moist herb in category; least drying; NOT lubricating
*Goes well with Jing Jie (expels wind deeper in the body compared to Jing Jie)
Relieves spasms
Qin Pi
Fraxini Cortex
Clear Heat, Dry Damp
Bitter, Cold, Astringent
LV, GB, ST, LI
Drains liver fire and benefits the eyes
Disperses wind-dampness
Calms wheezing and stops cough
Xi Xin
Asari Herba
Warm, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Warm *Slightly Toxic
HT, LU, KD
1-3g
*Contraindicated on those with heart problems
Disperses cold and releases the exterior
Dispels wind, and relieves pain
Warms the lungs and transforms thin mucus
Unblocks and facilitates the orifices
Bai Wei
Cynanchi Radix
Clear Heat from Deficiency
Bitter, Salty, Cold
LU, ST, KD
Promotes urination
Resolves toxicity and treats sores
Ju Hua
Chrysanthemi Flos
Cool, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Sweet, Bitter, Slightly Cold
LU, LV
4.5-15g
*Mild
*Similar to Sang Ye
Calms the liver and clears the eyes *(nourishes the eye but does not eliminate superficial visual obstruction like Mu Zei)
Extinguishes wind
Resolves toxicity
Huang Qin
Scutellariae Radix
Clear Heat, Dry Damp
Bitter, Cold
ST, LI, LU, GB
*Upper jiao
Stops bleeding
Calms the fetus
Sedates ascendant liver yang
Fu Ping
Spirodelae Herba
Cool, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Cold
LU, UB
*Strongest herb in this category
Induces sweating and releases the exterior
Vents rashes and stops itching
Promotes urination and reduces swelling
Xin Yi Hua
Magnoliae Flos
Warm, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Warm
LU, ST
*Used almost exclusively for wind-cold and unblocking nasal passages
decoct in a bag
Xuan Shen
Scrophulariae Radix
Clear Heat, Cool Blood
KD, LU, ST
Bitter, Salty, Sweet, Cold
Nourishes the yin
Dissipates Nodules
*Cloying, though not as much as Sheng Di Huang
Zi Su Ye
Perillae Folium
Warm, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Aromatic, Warm
LU, SP
Promotes the movement of qi and expands the chest
Can calm a restless fetus
Resolves seafood poisoning
*Harmonizes the middle
Lian Zi Xin
Nelumbinis Plumula
Clear Heat, Drain Fire
Bitter, Cold
HT, PC
1.5-3g
Drains heart fire
Stops bleeding and binds the essence
*Best herb for circulatory or emotionally-induced fever
*Does not reach heart directly, addresses via the PC
Chai Hu
Bupleuri Radix
Cool, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Bitter, Acrid, Cool
LV, GB, PC, SJ
Treats alternating chills and fever (shao yang)
Releases heat in the muscle layer
Raises the clear qi
Spreads liver qi and relieves constraint
Jue Ming Zi
Cassiae Semen
Clear Heat, Drain Fire
Bitter, Sweet, Salty, Slightly Cold
LI, KD, LV
Clears liver and the eyes
Calms the liver and anchors errant yang
Moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels
Recently used to prevent arherosclerosis as it lowers both blood pressure and serum cholesterol
Xi Gua
Citrulli Fructus
Clear Heat, Drain Fire
Sweet, Cold
HT, ST, UB
Clears summertime heat
Generates fluids
Promotes urination
*Natural Bai Hu Tang-White Tiger Decoction
Dan Zhu Ye
Lophateri Herba
Clear Heat, Drain Fire
Sweet, Bland, Cold
HT, SI, ST
Eliminates irritability *via HT channel, through SI channel & out in urine
Promotes urination
Zhi Mu
Anemarrhenae Rhizoma
Clear Heat, Drain Fire
Bitter, Sweet, Cold
LU, ST, KD
Enriches yin and moistens dryness
Generates fluids
Ameliorates the dryness of tonifying or warming substances
*good pair with Huang Bai for tonifying yin
Man Jing Zi
Viticis Fructus
Cool, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Bitter, Acrid, Cold
UB, LV, ST
Clears and benefits the head and eyes
Treats bi syndrome
Cong Bai
Allii Fistulosi Bulbus
Warm, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Warm
LU, ST
*Strong effects but not long lasting
*Good for digestion/perspiration and initial-stage colds
Induces sweating
Unblocks the yang
Resolves toxicity and disperses clumps
Lu Gen
Phragmitis Rhizoma
Clear Heat, Drain Fire
Sweet, Cold
LU, ST
Generates fluids
Promotes urination
Encourages rashes to come to the surface
*Light and lifting herb
Di Gu Pi
Lycii Cortex
Clear Heat from Deficiency
Sweet, Bland, Cold
KD, LV, LU
Eliminates heat from both excess and deficiency in the blood
Used for steaming bone disorder
Clears and drains lung heat
Huang Bai
Phellodendri Cortex
Clear Heat, Dry Damp
Bitter, Cold
KD, UB
*Lower burner
Drains kidney fire
Treats steaming bone disorder
Drains fire and resolves toxicity
Zi Cao
Arnebiae Lithospermi Radix
Clear Heat, Cool Blood
Sweet, Cold
HT, LV
Resolves fire toxicity while venting rashes
Clears damp-heat from the skin
Yin Chai Hu
Stellariae Radix
Clear Heat from Deficiency
Sweet, Slightly Cold
LV, ST
Causes heat from deficiency to recede
Clears heat and reduces childhood nutritional impairment
Mou Dan Pi
Moutan Cortex
Clear Heat, Cool the Blood
Acrid, Bitter, Slightly Cold
HT, LV, KD
*Best herb for venting; very moving and invigorating
*Used for steaming bone disorder
Clears heat from deficiency (although not in this category)
Dispels blood stasis
Clears ascending liver fire
Drains pus, and reduces swelling
Qing Hao
Artemisiae Annuae Herba
Clear Heat from Deficiency
Bitter, Cold
KD, LV, GB
Do not cook for long
Clears summerheat
Useful for steaming bone disorder
Stops bleeding (due to heat)
Checks malarial disorder - for alternating fever and chills (shao yang)
*Clears all types of yin level heat without injuring qi, blood or yin
Xi Jiao
Cornu Rhinoceri
Clear Heat, Cool Blood
Salty, Bitter, Cold
HT, LV, ST
.5-1.5g
*One of the best herbs for clearing blood-level heat
Stops bleeding
Eliminates toxins and clears blotches on the skin
Calms the shen and extinguishes liver wind
Shui Niu Jiao
Bubali Cornu
Clear Heat, Cool Blood
Salty, Cold
HT, LV, ST
30-120g
*Similar to Xi Jiao, however not nearly as strong
Arrests tremors
Xia Ku Cao
Prunellae Spica
Clear Heat, Drain Fire
Bitter, Acrid, Cold
LV, GB
Clears liver yang and brightens the eyes
Clears and dissipates nodules
Recently used for hypertension *(only if hypertension is causing liver yang rising)
Chan Tui
Cicadae Periostracum
Cool, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Sweet, Salty, Slightly Cold
LU, LV
Vents rashes
Clears the eyes and removes superficial visual obstruction
Stops spasms and extinguishes wind
*Used for loss of voice because insect is so loud
*Used to release the exterior because it is the physical outer molting of the insect
Ge Gen
Puerariae Radix
Cool, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Sweet, Acrid, Cool
SP, ST
Raises the clear yang qi
Releases the muscle layer
Generates fluids
Vents and discharges measles
Raises the yang and stops diarrhea
Treats symptoms of hypertension *(only because it can be found in a formula which treats some sx of hypertension)
*Disperses heat in the yang ming channel
Zhi Zi
Gardeniae Fructus
Clear Heat, Drain Fire
Bitter, Cold
HT, LU, ST, LV, SJ
*One of the best and most frequently herb to clear heat because it goes to so many organs, and addresses all 3 jaios because it enters SJ
Eliminates irritability
Resolves dampness
Resolves toxicity
Reduces swelling and moves blood stasis due to trauma
*Used as an herbal anti-biotic because can address inflammation conditions associated with heat
Bo He
Menthae Haplocalycis Herba
Cool, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Aromatic, Coolong
LU, LV
Clears and benefits the head, eyes and throat (upper burner heat)
Vents rashes
Allows constrained liver qi to flow freely
Expels turbid filth
Gao Ben
Ligustici Rhizoma
Warm, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Warm
UB, DU
*Very yang herb
*Treats back pain
Dispels wind, overcomes dampness, and alleviates pain (ie: wind-cold damp painful obstruction)
Cang Er Zi
Xanthii Fructus
Warm, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Bitter, Sweet, Toxic, Warm
LU
*Toxicity stimulates and encourages body to drive out toxin
Disperses wind and dampness, and opens the nasal passages
Qiang Huo
Notopterygii Rhizoma seu Radix
Warm, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Acrid, Bitter, Aromatic, Warm
KD, UB
Treats pain in the occipital region
Unblocks painful obstruction and alleviates pain
Guides qi to the greater yang channle and governing vessel
*Compared to Du Huo, this herb treats upper jiao conditions
Dan Dou Chi
Sojae Semen Preparatum
Cool, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Cold or Warm
LU, ST
Eliminates irritability
*Great to use when one is overcoming a cold but can still slightly feel it lingering in their body
Sheng Ma
Cimicifugae Rhizoma
Cool, Acrid, Release the Exterior
Cool, Acrid, Slightly Cold
ST, LI, LU, SP
Raises yang qi
*Best herb for venting rashes, esp. measles
*very lifting herb
She Gan
Belamcandae Rhizoma
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Bitter, Cold
LU
Improves the condition of the throat
Transforms phlegm and clears the lungs
Shan Dou Gen
Sophoriae Tonkinensis Radix
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Bitter, Cold
LU, LI
*Very fibrous
*Great for upper respiratory infections
Improves the condition of the throat
Bai Tou Weng
Pulsatillae Radix
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Bitter, Cold
ST, LI
Primarily used for dysenteric disorders
Cools the blood
Ma Chi Xian
Portulacae Herba
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Sour, Slippery, Cold
LV, LI
Used as an antidote for the pain and swelling of wasp stings and snakebites
Cools the blood
For damp-heat or fire toxin dysenteric disorders
Stops uterine bleeding
Unblocks painful dribbling
Pu Gong Ying
Taraxaci Herba
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Bitter, Sweet, Cold
LV, ST
Clears the liver and clears the eyes
Unblocks painful urinary dribbling
*Good pair with Sang Ye
*Good herbal anti-biotic
Tu Fu Ling
Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Sweet, Bland, Neutral
LV, ST
Eases the joints
*Bland property assists in leeching out dampness
Bai Xian Pi
Dictamni Cortex
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Bitter, Cold
SP, ST
Clears Damp-heat
Stops Itching
Expels wind
Lu Dou
Phaseoli Radiati Semen
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Sweet, Cold
HT, ST
Clears summerheat
Antidote for poisoning from Zhi Fu Zhi or fava beans
Zi Hua Di Ding
Violae Herba
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Bitter, Acrid, Cold
HT, LV
Can be used topically-esp for sores on the head and back
He Ye
Nelumbinis Folium
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Bitter, Slightly Sweet, Neutral
HT, LV, SP
Treats summerheat patters
Raises and clears the yang of the spleen
Stops bleeding (even better when charred)
Da Qing Ye
Isatidis Folium
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Bitter, Salty, Very Cold
HT, LU, ST
Cools the blood
Dissipates maculae *(b.c. of salty property)
*Mostly in qi level but has ability to reach the blood level
*Rare for botanical plant to be very cold
Ban Lan Gen
Isatidis Radix
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Bitter, Cold
HT, LU, ST
Cools the blood
Benefits the throat
*Stops bleeding caused by heat in the blood
Qing Dai
Indigo Naturalis
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Salty, Cold
LU, LV, ST
*Has ability to penetrate into deeper levels such as blood level (compared with other herbs in this category)
Cools the blood
Extinguishes wind
Treats summerheat affecting the liver
Clears liver fire
Drains lung heat
Lian Qiao
Forsythiae Fructus
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Bitter, Slightly Acrid, Slightly Cold
HT, LU, GB
Cools and vents heat, particularly in the heart and upper burner
*Great to pair with Jin Yin Hua
Jin Yin Hua
Lonicerae Flos
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Sweet, Cold
LU, LI, ST
*One of the best herbs in this category to address inflammation and infection on the surface
Stops bleeding (both charred and uncharred form)
Cools the blood
Vents and disperses externally contracted wind-heat
Clears damp-heat from the lower burner
treats dysenteric bleeding disorders
Bai Jiang Cao
Patriniae Herba
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Acrid, Bitter, Slightly Cold
LI, LV, ST
Invigorates the blood
Dispels blood stasis and stops pain
Bai Hua She She Cao
Hedyotis Diffusae Herba
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Bitter, Sweet, Cold
LI, ST, LV, SI
Promotes urination
For hot painful urinary dribbling and damp-heat jaundice
Chuan Xin Lian
Andrographitis Herba
Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Bitter, Cold
LI, ST, LU, SI
For damp-heat dysenteric disorder
For hot, painful urinary dribbling
