Herbs- what they do

Question 1

Bò Hé (peppermint)

Answer 1

Functions:
* Disperses Wind-Heat, clears and benefits the head,
eyes, and throat
* Vents rashes
* Allows constrained Liver Qi to flow freely
* Expels turbid filth
Fever, slight aversion to cold, cough, headache,
red eyes, sore throat, and a floating, rapid pulse
SHOULD BE ADDED LAST. COOKED NO LONGER THAN 5-10 MIN

Question 2

Dà Huáng (chinese rhubarb/ big yellow)

Answer 2

Functions:
* Drains heat and purges accumulations
* Drains fire
transforms dampness, and promotes urination
* Drains heat from the blood
* Invigorates the blood and dispels blood stasis
* Clears heat and reduces fire toxicity
CAUTION WITH PREGNANCY

Question 3

Huǒ Má Rén (hemp seed, cannabis semen)

Answer 3

Functions:
* Nourishes and moistens the Intestines, helps with constipation
* Nourishes the yin
* Clears heat and promotes healing of sores
CAN BE TOXIC IN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS

Question 4

Gān Suì

Answer 4

Functions:
* Drains water downward and drives out thin mucus
* Drives out phlegm
* Clears heat and reduces swelling
This is a violent, cathartic herb that causes one to
pass water anally
Incompatible with Gān Cǎo , Glycyrrhizae Radix

Question 5

Fú líng

Answer 5

Functions:
* Promotes urination and leaches out dampness
* Strengthens the Spleen and harmonizes the middle
burner
* Strengthens the Spleen and transforms phlegm
* Quiets the Heart and calms the spirit
* Urinary difficulty, diarrhea, or edema due to
stagnation of fluids or dampness
* Can be used in cases of scanty painful urination due
to damp-heat

Question 6

Shí Gāo (gypsum)

Answer 6

Functions:
* Clears heat and drains fire
* Clears heat from excess from the Lungs
* Clears blazing Stomach fire
* For eczema, burns, and ulcerated sore
COLDEST

Question 7

Shēng Dì Huáng

Answer 7

Functions:
* Clears heat and cools the blood
* Nourishes the yin and generates fluids
Clears heat and cools the blood
* Ying Level Heat
* Fever that is worse at night, dryness of the
mouth, absence of thirst, faint skin eruptions or
maculae, irritability, insomnia, a deep red or
scarlet tongue body with little or no coating, and
a thin, rapid pulse

Question 8

Huáng Qín

Answer 8

Functions:
* Clears heat and dries dampness
* Clears heat and resolves toxicity, especially in the
upper burner
* Clears heat and stops bleeding
* Clears heat and calms the fetus
* Sedates ascendant Liver yang

Question 9

Jīn Yín Huā (honeysuckle)

Answer 9

Functions:
* Clears heat and resolves fire toxicity
* Vents and disperses externally-contracted wind-heat
* Clears damp-heat from the lower burner
clear Fire due to yin deficiency
* Liver and Kidney yin deficiency
* Tidal fevers or afternoon fevers, heat in the palms and
soles, night sweats and loss of semen, tongue body is red
with scanty coating, and a thin, rapid pulse

Question 10

Qīng Hāo

Answer 10

Functions:
* Clears summer-heat (Low fever, headache, dizziness, foul-smelling diarrhea, and a stifling sensation in the chest)
* Clears fever from yin or blood deficiency
* Cools the blood and stops bleeding
* Checks malarial disorders

Question 11

Gui Zhi

Answer 11

Functions:
* Releases the exterior and assists the yang
* Warms and unblocks the channels and collaterals
* Warms the yang and transforms thin mucus
* Assists the Heart yang and unblocks yang qi of the chest
* Warms the channels, vessels, and collaterals
* Warms the middle and directs yin downward