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Chinese Herbal Medicine > Introduction to Herbs > Flashcards

Introduction to Herbs Flashcards

1
Q

First book to focus on descriptions of individual herbs

A

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing
Divine Husbandman’s Classic
364 kinds of herbs. The term “medicine property” first appears in this book

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2
Q

Materia Medica that divided herbs into 3 categories

A 
Tao Hongjing: Collection of Commentaries on the Classic Materia Medica
Three Categories of herbs:
Upper - tonifying
Middle - most herbs (moving, sour, etc)
Lower - herbs w/ toxicity
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3
Q

China’s first illustrated materi medica

A

Tang Materia Medica, compiled bhy government

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4
Q

Omissions from the Classic of Meteria Medica

A

Cheng ZangQi

Seven forms of pprescriptions

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5
Q

Major Materia Medica od the Song Dynasty

A

The Materia Medica Arranged According to Pattern

Very prosperous dynasty

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6
Q

Li Shizhen’s materia medica

A

The Grand Materia Medica, 1st printed in 1596, is the best known example of TCM sustances.
Li Shizhen is China’s celebrated herbalist

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7
Q

Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Substances

A

printed 1977, newer and more entries than older materia medicas

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8
Q

Chinese Materia Medica

A

printed 2002, Newer and more entries than older materia medicas

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9
Q

1st book to outline the 8 therapeutic methods

A

Medical Revelations: Cheng Zhong Ling

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10
Q

The 8 Therapeutic Methods

A 
Sweating, Vomiting, Purging (draining)
Harmonizing
Warming
Clearing
Dispersing
Tonifying
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11
Q

1st book outlining linkages between herbs and particular organs, channels

A

Origins of Medicine, by Zhang Yuan Su

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12
Q

Factors of herbal efficacy: growth and gathering conditions

A
  1. Best quality from native growing places
  2. Gathering time - when effective ingredients reach maximum
    Whole plant - fully grown-up or blossom
    Leaf - Blossom or fully flowering
    Flower - Fully opened up
    Seed & Fruit - reach the full maturity
    Root - Fedruary & August
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13
Q

Objectives of processing methods

A

Reduce or remove toxicity or side effects
Change the function of the herb
Easier to store
Get rid of impurities and easier to be taken in

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14
Q

Processing Methods

A

Mechanical Methods
Methods that utilize water
Methods that utilize heat
Methods utilizing both heat and water

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15
Q

Mechanical methods of processing herbs

A

Cleaning, peeling, scraping, grinding, etc

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16
Q

Herbal processing methods which utilize water

A

Soaking
Bleaching (rinsing)
Aqeous Trituration - minerals ground to a powder with water

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17
Q

Herbal processing methods which utilize heat

A

Dry Frying (browning, deep frying, charring)
Frying with liquid (Honey, vinegar, wine, juice )
Calcining (makes mineral substances brittle like tortoise or oyster shell)
Roasting in ashes (Wrap herb in mud or wet paper & roast on coals)

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18
Q

Herbal processing methods utilizing both heat & water

A

Steaming
Boiling
Quenching
Simmering

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19
Q

“Four” Qi

A 
Cold
Hot
Cool
Warm
Neutral
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20
Q

“Five” Tastes

A 
Sour 
Bitter
Sweet
Acrid
Salty
Bland
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21
Q

Yang tastes

A

Acrid, Sweet, Bland

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22
Q

Yin Tastes

A

Bitter, Sour, Salty

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23
Q

Acrid

A

Disperse & move

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24
Q

Sweet

A

Tonify, harmonize, moisten

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25
Bitter
Drain & dry
26
Sour
Astringent & prevent abnormal leakage of fluids and energy
27
Salty
Purge & soften
28
Bland
Leech out dampness & promote urination
29
Astringent
Prevent the leakage of fluids
30
Up and floating herbs
acrid, sweet, warm, hot
31
Down and sinking herbs
sour, bitter, salty, astringent
32
Toxicity
Use toxic herbs to treat toxicity
33
Herbs entering lung channel
Jie geng and Xing ren
34
Herbs entering Liver channel
quan xie (calms liver wind)
35
Herbs entering Heart chnnel
zhu sha
36
Mutual accentuation
2 substances with similar functions to accentuate their actions Examples: Shi Gao & Zhi Mu Da Huang & Mang Xiao
37
Mutual enhancement
one substance enhances the effect of the other Ex) Fu ling & Huang Qi Ex) Da Huang & Huang Qin
38
Mutual Counteraction
The toxicity or side effects of 1 substance are reduced or eliminated by another substance Ex) Ban xia & Sheng Jiang Nan Xing & Sheng Jiang
39
Mutual Suppression
Converse of mutual counteraction. Aka from the perspective of the toxic herb being suppressed Ex) Sheng Jiang kills toxicity of ban xia
40
Mutual antagonism
The ability of 2 substances to minimize or neutralize each other's positive effects Ex) Ren Shen & Lai Fu Zi 19 antagonisms
41
Mutual incompatibility
The combination of 2 substances give rise to side effects or toxicity which would not be caused by either if used alone 18 incompatibilities
42
Single effect herbs
Like shen ren & huang qin
43
Principles of combining substances
Chief Deputies Assistants Envoys
44
Chief herb in a formula
Principal ingredient, provides the main effect
45
Deputies in a formula
Enhance or assist the actions of the chief
46
Assistants in a formula
Treat accompanhying symptoms; moderate the harshness or toxicity of the primary substances; assist chief & deputies, or provide assistance from another therapeutic direction
47
Envoys in a formula
Guhide the other medicines to a specific channel or organ, or exert a harmonizing influence
48
Most common form of herbal delivery
Decoctions
49
Why are some herbs decocted 1st?
``` Toxic - cooked for 30-45 minutes Minerals and shells - 10-20 minutes lightweight substances used in large dosage - 20 min Ex) Zhi Chuan Wu Zhi Fu Zi Zhi Cao Wu Shi Jue Ming Long Gu Mu Li Ci Shi Zhen Zhu Dai Zhe Shi Gui Ban Bie Jia Shi Gao Shui Niu Jiao Si Gua Luo ```
50
Why are some herbs added at the end?
``` Aromatic herbs maintain potency if cooked for only 4-5 minutes Ex) Bo He Mu Xiang Sha Ren Bai Dou Kou Qing Hao Da Huang ```
51
Why are some herbs decocted in gauze?
Prevents raw herb from stimulating the throat or digestive tract. Ex) Xuan fu hua Che qian zi Chi shi zhi
52
Why are some herbs decocted or simmered separately?
Rare or expensive substances Ex) Ren Shen Xi yang shen Lu rong
53
Delivery methods
Decoctions, Pills, Powders, Special pills, Syrups, Plasters, Medicinal wines
54
How long to cook Release the Exterior Herbs?
generally cook for short amount of time
55
How long to cook tonifying herbs?
genreally cook for longer amount of time
56
When to take herbs (arouhnd meals)?
Tonifying - Usually before meal Purging - On empty Stomach BUT in general taken after a meal is safest, relies less on digetive strength of the patient.
57
Why are some herbs dissolved in the strained decoction?
because they are highly viscous or sticky (they will stick to the pot and burn) Ex) E Jiao Yi tang
58
Why are some herbs taken first and "chased" by the decoction?
``` because they are expensive or aromatic, like precious hornsThese herbs are taken as a powder. Ex)Chuan bei mu San qi Niu huang Zhu li ```
59
What are the 19 antagonisms? (we need only 5 pairs)
``` Ba Dou - qian niu zi Ding Xiang - yu jin Zhi Wu Tou - xi jiao Ren Shen - wu ling zhi Rou Gui - chi shi zhi ```
60
18 incompatibilities: Which herbs are incompatible with Gan Cao?
Gan Sui Da Ji Yuan Hua Hai Zao
61
18 incompatibilities: which herbs are incompatible with Zhi Wu Tou?
``` Bei Mu Gua Lou Zhi Ban Xia Bai Lian Bai Ji ```
62
18 incompatibilities: which herbs are incompatible with Li Lu?
``` Ren Shen Sha Shen Dan Shen Ku Shen Xi Xin Bai Shao ```

Chinese Herbal Medicine (33 decks)

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