Intro to Herbs Flashcards
What are the four natures (Si Qi) of herbs in TCM?
1.Cold (Han)
2. Cool (Liang)
3. Neutral (Ping)
4. Warm (Wen)
5. Hot (Re)
These natures refer to the thermal properties of the herbs.
What are the five main tastes (Wu Wei) of herbs?
- Acrid/Pungent
- Sweet
- Sour
- Bitter
- Salty
Each taste is associated with specific therapeutic functions.
What is the function of acrid/pungent herbs?
Acrid/pungent herbs:
- Release the exterior
- Invigorate & promote circulation of Qi, blood, and body fluids
- Disperse outwards
*AcRID/pungent herbs get RID of exterior pathogenic factors by releasing, invigorating, and dispersing outward
Mainly used to treat exterior patterns and disorders of qi stagnation and blood stasis.
What is the function of sweet herbs?
Sweet herbs tonify, nourish, and harmonize
Commonly used to treat deficiency patterns and to harmonize properties of herbs within a formula.
What is the function of sour herbs?
Sour herbs:
- Consolidates
- Astringes
- Reduces loss of body fluids
- Draws inward
*Sour herbs draw their C.A.R.D. inward
Used to treat sweating from deficiency, chronic diarrhea, and vaginal discharge.
What is the function of bitter herbs?
Bitter herbs:
- Drain downards
- Dry Dampness
- Detoxify
- Sedate Heat
- Purge Fire
*Bitter herbs: DD, DD, D, Heat/Fire
Often used for excess heat patterns, rebellious qi, and damp conditions.
What is the function of salty herbs?
Salty herbs:
- Purge excess
- Soften hardness (i.e. hard nodules)
- Moisten/lubricate the intestines
Used to dissipate lumps and nodules.
What is the function of bland herbs?
Bland herbs leech dampness and promote urination
Primarily used for disorders caused by damp obstruction.
What is the function of cold herbs?
Cold herbs clear heat STRONGLY
…as they are antipyretic, antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory
Caution for diarrhea as cold can damage Spleen yang.
What is the function of cool herbs
Cool herbs clear heat GENTLY while allowing movement
Less extreme than cold herbs.
What is the function of warm herbs?
Warm herbs GENTLY dispel chill while promoting circulation
Used to improve organ function.
What is the function of hot herbs?
Hot herbs heat up STRONGLY, warm interior excess cold, and restore devastated yang
Caution for yin damage and depletion of body fluids.
What does ‘upward-bearing’ mean in the context of herbs?
Rising or sending up
Associated with lighter, upward-moving qi.
What does ‘downward-bearing’ mean in the context of herbs?
Falling or sending down
Often related to heavier, downward-bearing qi.
What is channel affiliations in TCM?
Channel affiliation signifies the major therapeutic functions an herb performs along one or more channel
Each herb is ascribed to one or more of the twelve channels in TCM.
What does the term ‘toxicity’ imply in herbal medicine?
Toxicity refers to where an over-dosage may lead to toxic reactions or severe side effects.
Toxicity is categorized as slightly toxic, toxic, or extremely toxic.
What is the purpose of processing herbs?
Processing herbs:
- Eliminates/reduces toxicity
- Increase its curative effects
- Modifies characteristics
- Enhance quality
- Facilitates decoction and storage
Processing adapts herbs for effective treatment.
What is the common dosage range for most herbs?
3-10 grams/day
Dosage varies based on patient constitution and disease nature.
What is the most widely used form of herbal administration in China?
Decoctions (tang)
Herbs are cooked over low flame and taken lukewarm.
What is the significance of decocted first in herbal preparation?
Certain herbs require longer cooking time for solubility or to reduce toxicity
Examples include minerals and certain toxic substances.
What are the two main types of herbal preparations?
Pills (wan) and Powders (san)
Each has different characteristics and applications.
What is ‘Mutual Accentuation’ in herb combining concepts?
When two herbs with similar functions are combined to enhance therapeutic actions
This combination increases the overall effectiveness.
What does ‘Mutual Incompatibility’ in herb combining concepts?
Two herbs create toxicity or side effects when combined, caused by neither when used alone.
This is the worst possible combination in herb combining concepts
This is considered the worst combination.
What is ‘Mutual Enhancement’? in herb combining concepts?
When two herbs with different functions, one enhances the other.
What are the three components of a Pharmaceutical name?
Part of the plant used, genus, species
What does the term ‘Flos’ refer to in Chinese herb nomenclature?
Flower
What is the Pharmaceutical name for fruit?
Fructus
What does ‘Ramulus’ translate to in English?
Branch (twig)
What is the meaning of ‘Semen’ in the context of Chinese herbs?
Seed
What does ‘Folium’ refer to?
Leaf
What is the term for the entire above-ground plant in Chinese herbal nomenclature?
Herba
What does ‘Pericarpium’ mean?
Fruit wall (like an orange peel)
What is the meaning of ‘Rhizoma’?
Rhizome (a fleshy horizontal underground stem)
What does ‘Radix’ indicate in herbal names?
Root
What is the term for bulb in Chinese herbal nomenclature?
Bulbus
What does ‘Os’ refer to?
Bone
Provide an example of a Pharmaceutical name for a root.
Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae (white peony root)
What is the Pin Yin term for chrysanthemum flower?
Ju Hua
What does ‘Hong’ mean in common Pin Yin terms?
Red
What does ‘Qing’ translate to in the context of colors?
Blue-green
What is the meaning of ‘Chi’ in Pin Yin terms?
Red
What is the English translation of ‘Bai’?
White
What does ‘Zi’ signify in Chinese herb nomenclature?
Purple
What does ‘Jin’ mean in the context of colors?
Gold
What is the Pin Yin term for yellow?
Huang
What does ‘Yin’ refer to?
Silver
What is the meaning of ‘Hei’?
Black
What does ‘Shi’ translate to?
Stone
What does ‘Hua’ mean?
Flower
What is the term for ocean in Pin Yin nomenclature?
Hai
What does ‘Sang’ refer to?
Mulberry
What does ‘Xiang’ indicate?
Fragrant
What does ‘Da’ signify?
Big
What does ‘Chuan’ mean?
From Sichuan
What does ‘Gu’ refer to?
Bone
What does ‘Bei’ indicate in terms of direction?
Northern
What does ‘Nan’ mean?
Southern
Fill in the blank: Flowers affect the _______ part of the body.
Upper
Fill in the blank: Roots affect the _______ levels of the body.
Deeper
Fill in the blank: Seeds affect the lower parts and lubricate _______.
Intestines
True or False: Minerals have a stimulating effect.
False
Fill in the blank: Barks and peels affect the _______.
Skin
What is ‘Mutual Counteraction’ in herb combining concepts?
This sounds like a bad thing, but it actually is positive.
This is when one herb’s toxicity is reduced or eliminated by another herb.
Also known as ‘Mutual Fear’
What is ‘Mutual Suppression’ in herb combining concepts?
Exactly the same as above, except the emphasis is on the herb that controls; so, Sheng Jiang “kills” the toxicity of Ban Xia. Also a good thing
Also known as ‘Mutual Killing’
What is ‘Mutual Antagonism’ in herb combining concepts?
This is not so good. Two substances neutralize each other’s positive effects.
What are the four levels of heat in TCM?
- Wei Stage (i.e. Wind-Heat or Wind-Cold attack)
- Qi Stage (Heat moves to the internal organs, e.g. lungs, stomach, intestines)
- Ying Stage (Heat moves deeper, causing mental/emotional symptoms and possibly rash)
- Xue/Blood Stage (Deepest level, affecting heart, and causing bleeding and/or LOC)
What is the etiology (cause of disease) in Heat patterns?
- Transmission from an exogenous pathogenic factor to the Exterior level of the body (Heat, Wind, Dryness, or Summer-Heat)
- Stagnation of Qi or Blood
- Dysfunction of the zang-fu
- Constitutional excess of Yang or Yin
What are the signs/symptoms of Heat?
Fever, aversion to heat, sensation of warmth, sweating, redness, hyperactivity
Restlessness, irritability
Burning pain, inflammation,
Thick/sticky/scanty body fluids, dryness, constipation, scanty/dark urine
Red tongue with yellow coating, bitter taste in the mouth
What are the signs/symptoms of Heat in the Lungs?
Hemoptysis (coughing blood), Epistaxis (nosebleed), cough with scanty/thick/yellow phlegm
What are the signs/symptoms of Heat in the Liver?
Anger, headache, vertigo, red eyes, profuse menses
What are the signs/symptoms of Heat in the Stomach?
Halitosis (bad breath), mouth sores, acid reflux, burning epigastric pain, hematemesis (vomiting blood), voracious appetite, bleeding gums
What are the signs/symptoms of Heat in the Heart?
Mania, palpitations, insomnia, mouth ulcers (especially on the tip of the tongue), incessant talking
What are the signs/symptoms of Heat in the Large Intestine?
Constipation, burning pain around the anus
What are the signs/symptoms of Heat in the Urinary Bladder?
Scanty/dark urine, burning pain in urination
What are the signs/symptoms of Heat in the Kidney?
Night sweats, evening hot flashes, heat in the palms/soles
*Heat in the Kidney indicates Yin deficient heat
What are the signs/symptoms of Excess Heat?
Complexion: ENTIRE face red
Thirst: Desire to drink COLD water
Fever: High
Feeling of heat: ALL day
Sweat: During the DAY
What are the signs/symptoms of Deficiency Heat?
Complexion: Red cheeks, “malar flush”
Thirst: Desire to drink WARM drinks, small sips
Fever: Low-grade, evening/night fever
Feeling of heat: Afternoon or evening only
Sweat: During the NIGHT
Why do Excess and Deficiency Heat require different treatments?
In the case of Excess Heat, using sweet/cold herbs (to tonify, nourish, harmonize a deficiency) will create more Heat and dampness, further complicating the condition.
In the case of Deficiency Heat, using bitter/cold herbs (to drain downward, purge fire) will deplete Yin and cause further deterioration of the condition.
What are the 8 Principles in TCM?
- Yin / 2. Yang
- Cold / 4. Hot
- Interior / 6. Exterior
- Deficiency / 8. Excess?
