herbs 3 classification handout 3 Flashcards
Herbs that regulate the qi (理氣藥)
Chen Pi, Qing Pi Zhi Shi, Zhi Ke Xiang Fu Mu Xiang Xie Bai Chuan Lian Zi
I know that hundred diseases engender from the qi.
- Su Wen, chapter 39
How?
Anger makes qi go up, joy makes qi loose, sadness makes qi reduced, fear makes qi go down, cold makes qi contracted, warmth makes qi perspire, startling makes qi disturbed, labor makes qi used, thinking makes qi bind.
Tangerine peel varieties:
chen pi (ripe tangerine peel), ju hong (tangerine flavedo -red- no pith), qing pi (unripe tangerine peel)
Bitter orange varieties:
zhi shi (unripe bitter orange), zhi ke (more mature bitter orange)
青皮
Qīng Pí
unripe tangerine peel
Qīng Pí
unripe tangerine peel
bitter, acrid, warm
o Spreads the liver qi and breaks up stagnant qi
o Dissipates clumps and reduces stagnation
枳殼
Zhǐ Ké
bitter orange
Zhǐ Ké
bitter orange
bitter, acrid, slightly cold
o Promotes the flow of qi
香附
Xiāng Fù
cyperus
Xiāng Fù
cyperus
acrid, slightly bitter, slightly sweet, neutral
o Spreads and regulates liver qi
o Regulates menstruation and alleviates pain
- They say “an excellent herb for women.”
木香
Mù Xiāng
Aucklandiae Radix
Mù Xiāng
Aucklandiae Radix
acrid, bitter, warm
o Promotes the movement of qi and stops pain
o Adjusts and regulates stagnant qi in the intestines
o Strengthens the spleen and prevents stagnation
Compare Mu Xiang to Xiang Fu
Mu Xiang (aucklandia) is used more often for spleen and stomach qi stagnation, while Xiang Fu for liver qi stagnation
川楝子
Chuān Liàn Zǐ
toosendan fruit,
Sichuan chinaberry,
Sichuan pagoda tree
Chuān Liàn Zǐ
toosendan fruit,
bitter, cold, slightly toxic
o Dredges liver qi, releases constraint, stops pain, and conducts heat out from below
o Kills parasites and stops pain
*Chuan Lian Zi (toosendan) is bitter and cold, so it can be used for qi stagnation with heat.
Herbs that regulate the blood (理買蓌)
- stop bleeding (止血藥)
San Qi Pu Huang Qian Cao Gen Ai Ye Xian He Cao
三七
Sān Qī - 3, 7 (leaves)
Notoginseng Radix
pseudoginseng root
Sān Qī (3, 7 - leaves)
Notoginseng Radix
pseudoginseng root
sweet, slightly bitter, warm
o Stops bleeding and transforms blood stasis
o Reduces swelling and alleviates pain
*San Qi (notoginseng) - Important herb for traumatic injury.
It is used as the main herb in a popular patent formula, Yun Nan Bai Yao.
蒲黃
Pú Huáng
Typhae Pollen
cattail pollen
Pú Huáng
Typhae Pollen
cattail pollen
sweet, acrid, neutral
o Stops bleeding
o Invigorates the blood and dispels blood stasis
o Promotes urination and stops bleeding
- It was used in Zhang Zhongjing formula Pu Hui San for urinary inhibition in Jingui Yaolue.