Herbal ID Flashcards
Ba Ji Tian
Nature: acrid, sweet, slightly warm
Enters: Kidney
Pharmaceutical Name: Morindae Officinalis Radix
English translation: Morinda root,
Indications: Tonify Yang
Tonifies the Kidneys and fortifies the yang: KD yang deficiency with such symptoms as impotence, male or female infertility, premature ejaculation.
Disperses Wind Dampness and strengthens the sinews and bones: W/C/D painful obstruction (Bi) with underlying KD deficiency. Joint pain and difficulty moving.
Yán hú suŏ
Nature: acrid, bitter, warm
Enters: Heart, Liver, Stomach
Pharmaceutical Name: Corydalis Rhizoma
English translation: Corydalis rhizome
Actions: Invigorates the blood, strongly stops pain. (painkiller in TCM)
Indications:
• Invigorates the blood, promotes the movement of qi, and alleviates pain: for pain of almost any kind affecting the chest, abdomen, or limbs, including that due to blood stasis and trauma. Especially useful for epigastric pain and dysmenorrhea.
Huai Niú xī
(Has tonifying function. It does not move blood stasis as well as similar herb Chuan Niu Xi)
Nature: Bitter, Sour, Neutral
Enters: Liver, Kidney
Pharmaceutical Name: Achyranthis bidentatae radix
English translation: achyranthes root
Actions: unprepared form: breaks up blood stasis, unblocks menstruation, guides blood to descend, directs fire downward; prepared form: tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, strengthens the sinews and bones.
- *Indications**:
- *Invigorates the blood** and dispels blood stasis: for blood stasis patterns with such symptoms as dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, and retained lochia. Also used for post-traumatic pain.
Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, strengthens the sinews and bones, and benefits the joints: for pain and soreness affecting the lower back and knees due to deficiency. (elderly: especially lower limbs)
Induces the downward movement of blood and fire: for chaotic movement of hot blood in the upper burner or yin deficiency with ascending fire. Manifestations include nosebleed, vomiting blood, toothaches, bleeding gums. Also for dizziness, headache, and blurred vision due to ascendant Liver Yang. (blood pressure)
Clears damp-heat in the lower burner: for cases of damp heat pouring downward manifesting as knee pain or lower back damp painful obstruction. It is also an auxiliary herb for painful urinary dribbling or vaginal discharge. Especially useful for painful urinary dribbling with stones accompanied by lower back pain and bloody urine. (Assisting herb for painful urination and swollen knees)
Bai He
Nature: sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold
Enters: Heart, Lung
Pharmaceutical Name: Lilii Bulbus
English translation: Lily bulb
Indications: Tonify Yin
Moistens the Lungs, clears heat, and stops cought: for dry Lung or Lung-heat coughs and sore throat.
Clears the Heart and calms the spirit: insomnia, restlessness and irritability in the aftermath of a febrile disease.
Bai Shao
Nature: bitter, sour, mildy cold
Enters: Liver, Spleen
Pharmaceutical Name: Paeoniae Radix alba
English translation: White peony root, peony
Indications: Tonify Blood
Nourishes the blood and regulates the menses: blood deficiency with such symptoms as menstrual dysfunction, vaginal discharge, and uterine bleeding accompained by a pale, lusterless complexion, and dull, lusterless nails.
Calms and curbs the LV Yang and alleviates pain: flamk, chest, or abdominal pain from LV Qi stagnation.
Ban Xia
Nature: acrid, warm, toxic
Enters: Lung, Spleen, Stomach
Pharmaceutical Name: Pinelliae Rhizoma praeparatum
English translation: pinellia rhizome
Indications: Warm Herbs that Transform Cold-Phlegm
Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, and causes rebellious qi to descend: cough with copious sputum, cold phlegm in the Lungs.
Directs rebellious qi downward and stops vomiting: nausea and vomiting due to cold, thin mucus, Stomach deficeincy or pregnancy.
Bai Zhu
Nature: bitter, sweet, warm
Enters: Spleen, Stomach
Pharmaceutical Name: Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma
English translation: (white) atractylodes rhizome
Indications: Tonify Qi
Tonifies the Spleen and augments the qi: Spleen or Stomach deficiency, diarrhea, fatigue, lack of appetite.
Dries Dampness and promotes water metabolism: edema, reduced urination due to Spleen deficiency.
Cang Er Zhi
Nature: sweet, bitter, warm, toxic
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Opens the nasal passageways
Sinus problems with a thick, viscous discharge.
Dispel exterior wind: Splitting H.A. that radiates to the back of the neck.
Chai Hu
Nature: bitter, acrid, cool
Enters: Gallbladder, Liver, Pericardium, TB
Pharmaceutical Name: Bupleuri Radix
English translation: bupleurum, hare’s root
Indications: Cool Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Resolves lesser yang disorders and reduces fever: alternating chills and fever accompanied by bitter taste, flank pain, irritability, vomiting
Spreads Liver qi and relieves constraint: dizziness, vertigo, chest and flank pain.
Chen Pi
Nature: acrid, bitter, warm, aromatic
Enters: Lung, Spleen, Stomach
Pharmaceutical Name: Citri reticulatae Pericarpium
English translation: aged tangerine peel, citrus
Indications: Regulate Qi
Regulates the qi, adjusts the middle, and relieves the diaphragm: epigastric or abdominal distention, fullness, bloating, belching and nausea and vomiting.
Dries dampness and transforms phlegm: phlegm damp coughs with a stifling sensation in the chest and/or diaphragm, and copious, viscous sputum.
Chuan Xiong
Nature: acrid, warm
Enters: Liver, Gall bladder, Pericardium
Pharmaceutical Name: Chuanxiong Rhizoma
English translation: chuanxiong root,
Indications: Regulate Blood
Invigorates the blood and promotes the movement of qi: any blood stasis pattern. dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, diffucult labor or retained lochia.
Expels wind and alleviates pain: a leading herb for any externally-contracted wind disorder characterized by headace, dizziness or painful obstruction.
Da Huang
Nature: bitter, cold
Enters: Heart, Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach
Pharmaceutical Name: Rhei Radix et Rhizoma
English translation: rhubarb root and rhizome
Indications: Downward Draining: purgative
Drain heat and purges accumulations: high fever, profuse sweating, thirst, constipation, abdominal distention and pain, delirum.
Drains fire: intense fever, sore throat, hot, swollen and painful eyes or fire toxin sores due to heat excess obstructing the blood level.
Dān Shēn
Nature: bitter, slightly cold
Enters: Heart, Pericardium, Liver
Pharmaceutical Name: Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix
English translation: Salvia root
Actions: Invigorates the blood, tonifies the blood, calms irritability due to blood heat.
Invigorates the blood and dispels stasis: for a wide variety of blood stasis disorders in any part of the body. Most commonly used for problems affecting the lower abdomen, chest, or hypochondria. It is a very important herb in gynecology.
Clears heat and soothes irritability: especially useful for restlessness, irritability, palpitations, and insomnia due to heat entering the nutritive level. Can also be used in patterns of Heart and Kidney yin deficiency.
Cools the blood and reduces abscesses: as an adjunctive herb to treat sores or the early stages of breast abscesses. (goes to pericardium)
Dang Gui
Nature: sweet, acrid, warm
Enters: Heart, Liver, Spleen
Pharmaceutical Name: Angelicae sinensis Radix
English translation: tangkuei, Chinese angelica root
Actions: Tonify the blood, invigorates the blood, regulates menstruation, alleviates pain.
Tonifies the blood and regulates teh menses: blood deficiency, pallid ashen complexion, lusterless nails, tinnitus, blurred vision and palpitations.
Moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels: dry intestines due to blood deficiency.
Du Zhong
Nature: sweet, slightly acrid, warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Tonify the Yang
Tonify the Liver and Kidney: painful or weak low back and knees.
Calms the fetus: restless fetus and or bleeding during pregnancy.
Fang Feng
Nature: acrid, sweet, slightly warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Release the Exterior
Release the exterior and expel wind: H.A., chills and body ache.
Expel wind dampness and alleviate pain: Exterior wind dmap pain obstruction (wind bi)
Fu Ling
Nature: sweet, bland, neutral
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Drain Dampness
Promote urination and leech out dampness: diarrhea, edema.
Calms the shen: insomnia, palpitations
Fu Zi
Nature: acrid, hot, toxic
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Indications: Warm the Interior and Expel Cold
Revive yang and rescues from rebellion: diarrhea with undigested food, cold extremities.
Warms the Fire and assists the yang: Indicated for deficiency of the HT, SP or KD yang.
Gan Cao
Nature: sweet, natural
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Tonify Qi
Tonifies the Spleen and augments the qi: shortness of breath, loose stools.
Moistens the lung and stops cough: cough and wheezing
Gui Zhi
Nature: acrid, sweet, warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation: Cinnamon Twig
Actions: Release the Exterior
Warms and unblocks the channels and collaterals: Wind cold damp painful obstruction.
Warms the yang: edema with urinary dysfunction, dizziness.
Hong Hua
Nature: acrid, warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Invigorate blood and regulate the menses
Invigorate blood and regulate the menses: abdominal masses and abdominal pain.
Tonify blood: amenorrhea
Huang Bai
Nature: bitter, cold
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Clear Heat and dry dampness
Drain damp heat in the lower jiao: thick yellow vaginal discharge, foul-smelling diarrhea
Drain Kidney Fire: nightsweats, steaming bone disorder.
Huang Lian
Nature: bitter, cold
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Clear Heat, Dry Dampness
Clear heat and drain dampness: diarrhea or dysenteric disorder.
Drains fire and resolve fire toxicity: high fever, irritability
Huang Qi
Nature: sweet, slightly warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Tonify Qi
Tonify qi and blood: postpartum fever due to qi and blood deficiency.
Tonifies the Spleen and raises the yang: lack of appetite, fatigue, diarrhea
Huo Po
Nature: bitter, acrid, warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Transform dampness
Promote qi in the middle jiao and resolve stagnation: abdominal distension, food stagnation.
Redirect qi downward, reduce phelgm: cough and wheezing
Jin Yin Hua
Nature: sweet, cold
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Clear Heat
Clear heat and resolves toxicity: hot painful sore, intestinal abcess.
vent and disperse externally contracted wind heat: fever, sore throat.
Lian Qiao
Nature: bitter, slightly acrid, cool
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Clear Heat
Clear heat and resolve toxicity: fever, sore throat
Reduces abcess and dissipates clumps: external sores, internal abscesses, scrofula.
Ma Huang
Nature: acrid, slightly bitter, warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Release the Exterior
Induce sweating and release the exterior: chills, fever, H.A.
Dissiminates and facilitates lung qi: cough and wheezing
Mai Men Dong
Nature: sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Tonify yin
Moistens the lungs and nourishes yin: hacking, dry cough or cough with thick sputum.
Augments the Stomach yin and generates fluids: dry tongue and mouth.
Mu Dan Pi
Nature: acrid, bitter, slightly cold
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Clear Heat, Drain Fire
Clears heat and cools the blood: nosebleed, blood in sputum/vomit.
Invigorate blood and dispel blood stasis: amenorrhea, abdominal masses
Mu Xiang
Nature: acrid, bitter, warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Regulate Qi
Promote the flow of Qi and stops pain: lack of appetite, abdominal pain and distension, nausea
Regulate stagnant qi in the intestines: diarrhea, dysenteric disorders, abdominal pain
Nu Zhen Zi
Nature: bitter, sweet, cool
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Tonify Yin
Nourish and tonify LV and KD: dizziness, soreness of lower back, spots before eyes.
Augments LV and KD and improves vision: diminished visual acuity.
Sang Bai Pi
Nature: sweet, cold
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Transform phlegm and stop cough
Drains heat from the Lungs and stops cough: cough and wheezing due to lung heat.
Promote urination and reduce edema: facial edema, urinary difficulty.
Sang Ji Sheng (Mulberry)
Nature: bitter, sweet, neutal
Enters: KD, LV
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Indications: Dispel Wind Damp
Tonify LV and KD and expel wind damp: soreness and pain in the lower back and legs.
Nourish Blood and calm the womb: restless fetus or uterine bleeding during pregnancy.
Sha Ren
Nature: Acrid, warm, aromatic
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Transform Dampness
Promote the movement of qi and transform dampness and strenghthen the Spleen: vomiting and diarrhea
Calms the fetus: restless fetus, morning sickness
Suan Zao Ren
Nature: Sweet, Sour, Neutral
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Calm the Spirit
Nourishes the Heart Yin, augments LV blood and calms the shen: irritability, insomnia, palpitations.
Prevents abnormal sweating: spontaneous sweating and nightsweats.
Shan Zu Yu
Nature: sour, slighty warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Stabilize and bind
Stabilize the Kidney and secures the essence: urinary frequency, spermatorrhea
Tonifies and augments the LV and KD: dizziness, weakness of low back and knees
Tai Zi Shen
Nature: sweet, slightly bitter, neutral
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Tonify Qi
Strengthen the Spleen and augment the qi: fatigue, lack of appetite.
Generate fluids: thirst, fever or summer heat in children.
Tian Ma
Nature: Sweet, Neutral
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Extinguish Wind and Stop Tremors
Calms the LV and Extinguish Wind: H.A. dizziness, epilepsy
Extinguish wind and alleviate pain: wind-stroke with hemiplegia, dizziness.
Wu Wei Zi
Nature: sour, sweet, warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Stabilize and Bind
Contains the leakage of Lung qi: chronic cough and wheezing.
Tonify Kidneys, bind up essence: nocturnal emissions, spermatorrhea, vaginal discharge.
Wu Yao
Nature: acrid, warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Regulate Qi
Promote the movement of qi and alleviates pain: stifling sensation in the chest, abdominal pain.
Warm the Kidney: urinary frequency or incontinence.
Xia Ku Cao
Nature: bitter, acrid, cold
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Clear heat, Drain fire,
Clears LV fire and brightens the eyes: red, painful, swollen eyes.
Clears heat and dissipates nodules: swollen glands, goiter.
Xin Yi Hua
Nature: acrid, warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Release the Exterior
Unblocks the nasal passages: Nasal discharge, lack of smell.
Expels wind cold: H.A.
Yi Yi Ren
Nature: sweet, bland, slightly cold
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Drain Dampness
Drains dampness and strengthen the Spleen: edema, diarrhea
Clear heat and expel pus: carbuncles, abscesses
Yu Jin
Nature: acrid, bitter, cold
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Invigorate Blood
Invigorate blood and stop pain: chest, abdominal or menstrual pain.
Calm the shen: anxiety, agitation
Yuan Zhi
Nature: bitter, acrid, slightly warm
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Calms the spirit
Calms the spirit and quietsw the Heart: insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, restlessness.
Expels phlegm and clears the orifices: emotional and mental disorentation, spasms, seizures.
Ze Xie
Nature: sweet, bland, cold
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Drain Dampness
Promote urination and leech out dampness: urinary difficulty, edema, uti
Settles ministeral fire in Kidney: Spermatorrhea due to lower burner damp heat disturbing minister fire of the kidney.
Zhi Zi
Nature: bitter, cold
Enters: Heart, Lung, Stomach, Live, TB
Pharmaceutical Name: Gardeniae Fructus
English translation: gardenia fruit, Cape jasmine fruit
Actions: Clear heat, Drain fire,
Drains heat and eliminates irritability: fever, irritability, restlessness, stifling sensation in the chest, insomnia or delirious speech.
Clears heat and resolves dampness: painful urinary dripping due to damp heat in teh lower burner, jaundice.
Zhi Ke (bitter orange)
Nature: bitter, acrid, slightly cold
Enters:
Pharmaceutical Name:
English translation:
Actions: Regulate Qi
Promote the flow of Qi in the chest: cough, distention.
Qi stagnation: constipation.
