herbs 1 - tastes & properties

Question 0

5 tastes (wei) + additional

Answer 0

1. acrid (xin) - disperse and move
2. sweet (gan) - tonify, harmonize & sometimes thought to moisten
3. bitter (ku) - drain and dry
4. sour (suan) - astringe & prevent or reverse abnorm leakage of fluids & energy
5. salty (xian) - purge and soften

bland (dan) - no taste, leach out dampness & promote urination
aromatic (xiang) - ability to penetrate through turbidity & revive a particular fx
astringent (se) - ability to prevent leakage of fluids

Question 1

four qi or temperature characteristics (5 designations)

Answer 1

1. hot (re)
2. cold (han)
3. warm (wem)
4. cool (liang)
5. neutral (ping)

hot > warm > slightly warm > neutral > slightly cold > cool > cold

Question 2

ascription of actions to herbs

Answer 2

sourness enters the LV
acridity enters the LU
bitterness enters the HT
saltiness enters the KD
sweetness enters the SP

Question 3

which 2 combo produces yang

Answer 3

?

Question 4

which to combo produces yin & preserve the body fluids

Answer 4

??

Question 5

how can these flavors tx specific conditions

Answer 5

???

Question 6

8 parameters (ba gang)

Answer 6

exterior v interior
hot v cold
excess v deficiency
yang v yin

Question 7

6 channels

Answer 7

yang :
tai tang - SI UB
shao yang - SJ GB
yang ming - LI ST

yin:
tai yin - LU SP
shao yin - HT KD
jue yin - PC LV

Question 8

4 levels

Answer 8

wei
qi
ying
xue (blood)

Question 9

3 jiaos

Answer 9

upper
middle
lower

Question 10

directional properties of herbs

*what can each be used to tx

Answer 10

floating and ascending

sinking and lowering

Question 11

8 therapeutic methods (ba fa)

• what kind of pathology are they used to tx
• how does the pathogen enter the body & how are they expelled?

Answer 11

1. promote sweat (han fa)
2. induce vomiting (tu fa)
3. purge (xia fa)
4. harmonize (he fa)
5. warm (wen fa)
6. clear (qing fa)
7. tonify (nu fa)
8. reduce (xiao fa)

Question 12

how to come up with the formula?

*understand caution and contraindications

Answer 12

sx > dx > TP > rx

Question 13

dosage what does this refer to?

Answer 13

??

Question 14

what is the classical measurement?

Answer 14

??

Question 15

what is the modern measurement??

Answer 15

??

Question 16

what is the most common dosage range?

Answer 16

?

Question 17

what herbs are typically higher dose? lower dose?

Answer 17

higher dose -

lower dose -

Question 18

techniques for combining herbs: mutual accentuation (xiang xu)

Answer 18

combo of 2 substances w. similar fx to accentuate their therapeutic actions

Question 19

techniques for combining herbs: mutual enhancement (xiang shi)

Answer 19

a combo in which toxicity or side effects of one substane is(are) reduced or eliminated by another substance

Question 20

techniques for combining herbs: mutual antagonism (xiang wu)

Answer 20

ability of 2 substances to minimize or neutralize each other positive effects

Question 21

techniques for combining herbs: mutual incompatibility (xiang fan)

Answer 21

the combo if 2 substances gives rise to side effects or toxicity, which would not be caused by either substance when used alone

Question 22

sing effect (dan xing)

Answer 22

the use of one medicinal substance to tx a patient (ie Ren Shen)

Question 23

composition of formulas: cheif (king, sovereign, lord)

Answer 23

the substance that provides the main therapeutic thrust of the Rx

Question 24

composition of formulas: deputies (ministers, associates)

Answer 24

enhance or assist the therapeutic actions of the chief

Question 25

composition of formulas: assistants (adjuncts)

Answer 25

provide one or more of the following fx: tx accompanying symptoms; moderate the harshness or toxicity of the primary substance; assist the cheif and deputies in accomplishing their main objective; or provide assistance from another therapeutic diretion

Question 26

composition of formulas: envoy (messenger, couriers)

Answer 26

either guide the other medicines to a specific channel or organ, or exert harmonizing influence, as is often the case with Gan Cao

Question 27

gong bu

Answer 27

simultaneous attack and reinforcement, often seen in patterns of exces with underlying deficiency (ie Zi Su Ye with Ren Shen)

Question 28

name of herbs are

Answer 28

based on colors - know the pinyin of basic colors
based on smell & taste - know the pinyin (ie xiang, gan, etc)
based on direction (north, south, east, west)