Week 1 - Week 2 (Quiz 1) Flashcards
What are the four natures (si qi) of herbs in TCM?
Cold (han), Cool (liang), Neutral (ping), Warm (wen), 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?
Release the exterior, disperse outwards, invigorate & promote circulation of qi, blood, and body fluids
Mainly used to treat exterior patterns and disorders of qi stagnation and blood stasis.
What therapeutic effects do sweet herbs provide?
Tonifying, nourishing, harmonizing effects
Commonly used to treat deficiency patterns and to harmonize properties of herbs within a formula.
What is the role of sour herbs?
Consolidates & astringes, draws inward, reduces body fluid loss
Used to treat sweating from deficiency, chronic diarrhea, and vaginal discharge.
What actions do bitter herbs perform?
Sedate heat, purge fire, detoxify, dry dampness, drain downwards
Often used for excess heat patterns, rebellious qi, and damp conditions.
What are the effects of salty herbs?
Purge excess, soften hardness, moisten & lubricate the intestines
Used to dissipate lumps and nodules.
What is the function of bland herbs?
Leech dampness and promote urination
Primarily used for disorders caused by damp obstruction.
What are the thermal properties of cold herbs?
Clear heat strongly, antipyretic, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory
Caution for diarrhea as cold can damage Spleen yang.
What do cool herbs do?
Clear heat gently, allow movement
Less extreme than cold herbs.
What is the role of warm herbs?
Warm gently, dispel chill, promote circulation
Used to improve organ function.
What do hot herbs do?
Heat up strongly, warm interior excess cold, restore devastated yang
Caution for yin damage and depletion of body fluids.
What does ‘upward-bearing’ signify in the context of herbs?
Rising or sending up
Associated with lighter, upward-moving qi.
What does ‘downward-bearing’ mean?
Falling or sending down
Often related to heavier, downward-bearing qi.
What is the significance of channel affiliations in TCM?
Herbs perform major therapeutic functions by acting along one or more channels
Each herb is ascribed to one or more of the twelve channels in TCM.
What does the term ‘toxicity’ imply in herbal medicine?
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?
To eliminate/reduce toxicity, increase curative effects, modify characteristics, enhance quality, facilitate 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’ mean?
Two herbs create toxicity or side effects when combined, caused by neither when used alone
This is considered the worst combination.
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
