Taste and function

Question 1

Acrid

Answer 1

release the exterior
disperse outward

Question 2

sweet

Answer 2

tonify deficiency,
harmonise herbs within a formula

Question 3

sour

Answer 3

stabilize and bind
astringe

Question 4

bitter

Answer 4

clear heart
purge Fire
drain downwards
dry damp

Question 5

salty

Answer 5

purge excess
soften hardness

Question 6

bland

Answer 6

promote urination

Question 7

Examples of directionality

Answer 7

Hang qi - strongly raises qi
Chai Hu and Sheng Ma - raise the yang
Zhi Ban Xia - descends rebellious qi downwards

Question 8

Dui Yao

Answer 8

Combining herbs into pairs (or 3s)
stimulating the therapeutic actions or to balance out the harsher effects of one herb.
Examples:
Bai Zhu & Fu Ling - ton Qi & Clear Damp
Dang Gui & Bai Shao
Tao Ren & Hong Hua - invgorate Blood in Lower Jiao

Question 9

Formula construction:
Chief herb

Answer 9

Jun Yao
used to treat key symptoms, is the essential ingreduient, usually in a large dose

Question 10

Formula construction:
Deputy herb

Answer 10

Chen Yao
reinforces the effect of chief herb, treats associated or coexisting pattern

Question 11

Formula construction:
Assistant herb

Answer 11

Zuo Yao
reinforces chief & deputy, or directly treats secondary symptoms, or counteracts toxicity or minimise drastic effects, or has an opposite effect and works in synergy to treat the main pattern

Question 12

Formula construction:
Envoy herb

Answer 12

Shi Yao
channel guiding or to an area of the body, harmonises formula