Qiing Xiang Zi

Celosia Seeds
Qing Xiang Zi
Pharmaceutical name: Semen Celosiae Argenteae
Properties: bitter, sweet, cold
Channels entered: LV
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Disperses Wind-heat, eliminates Liver-fire, removes nebula, improves visual acuity
2. Calms and supresses Liver-yang
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 15g

Jue Ming Zi

Foetid Cassia seeds, Cassia
Jue Ming Zi
Pharmaceutical name: Semen Cassiae
Properties: bitter, sweet, cold
Channels entered: LV, KD, LI
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Disperses Wind-heat, clears Liver-fire, and improves visual acuity
2. Lubricates the intestines and relaxes the bowels
3. Supresses Liver-yang
4. Prevents atherosclerosis: lowers BP and serum cholesterol
Dosage & Administration: 9 - 15g. For preventing aatherosclerosis up to 30g

Jue Ming Zi

Foetid Cassia seeds, Cassia
Jue Ming Zi
Pharmaceutical name: Semen Cassiae
Properties: bitter, sweet, cold
Channels entered: LV, KD, LI
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Disperses Wind-heat, clears Liver-fire, and improves visual acuity
2. Lubricates the intestines and relaxes the bowels
3. Supresses Liver-yang
4. Prevents atherosclerosis: lowers BP and serum cholesterol
Dosage & Administration: 9 - 15g. For preventing aatherosclerosis up to 30g

Xia Ku Cao

Selfheal Spike, Prunella
Xia Ku Cao
Pharmaceutical name: Spica Prunellae Vulgaris
Properties: bitter, acrid, cold
Channels entered: LV, GB
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Clears Liver-fire and brightens the eyes
2. Eliminates Phlegm-fire, and resolves the hard clumps
3. Lowers blood pressure: Hypertension due to ascendant Liver-Yang
Dosage & Administration: 9- 15g, up to 30g

Lu Gen

Reed rhizome
Lu Gen
Pharmaceutical name: Rhizoma Phragmitis Communis
Properties: sweet, cold
Channels entered: LU, ST
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Clears Heat and generates fluids
2. Clears Lung heat to relieve cough
3. Clears Stomach heat and stops vomiting
4. Promotes urination in heat patterns
5. Promotes rashes to the surface
Dosage & Administration: 15 - 30g

Lian Xin

Lotus Plumule
Lian Xin
Pharmaceutical name: Plumuia Nelumbinis Nuciferae
Properties: bitter, cold
Channels entered: HT, PC
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Subdues Heart-fire and relieves pain
2. Stops bleeding and astringes the essence
Dosage & Administration: 1.5 - 6g, powder form 1.5 - 3g

Dan Zhu Ye

Lophatherum Stem and Leaves
Dan Zhu Ye
Pharmaceutical name: Herba lophateri Gracilis
Properties: sweet, bland, cold
Channels entered: HT, SI, ST
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Clears Heat and reduces restlessness and irritability
2. Clears blazing stoamch or heart fire
3. Promotes urination
Dosage & Administration: 6 - 9g

Zhi Zi

Cape Jamine Fruit, Gardenia
Zhi Zi
Pharmaceutical name: Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis
Properties: cold
Channels entered: HT, LV, LU, ST, SJ
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Clears Heat and relieves restlessness
2. Drains Damp Heat from San Jiao, Promotes urination
3. Cools the blood and stops bleeding
4. Clears Fire-toxins
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 12g. Used raw for heat clearing and carbonized to stop bleeding

Zhi Mu

Anemarrhena Rhizome
Zhi Mu
Pharmaceutical name: RHizoma Anemarrhenae
Properties: bitter, cold
Channels entered: LU, ST, KD
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Clears Heat and purges fire from Lungs and Stomach
2. Nourishes Kidney and Lung Yin and moistens dryness
3. Clears deficient heat and generates fluids
Dosage & Administration: 6 - 12g

Shi Gao

Gypsum
Shi Gao
Pharmaceutical name: Gypsum
Properties: sweet, acrid, very cold
Channels entered: LU, ST
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Clears Heat and subdues fire
2. Clears excess Lung heat
3. Clears Stomach or Heart fire
4. Topical astringent for eczema, burns, and ulcerated sores
Dosage & Administration: 9 - 30g

Sheng Ma

Bugbane Rhizome, Black Cohosh Rhizome, Cimicifuga
Sheng Ma
Pharmaceutical name: Rhizoma Cimicifugae
Properties: sweet, acrid, cool
Channels entered: LI, LU, SP, ST
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Reliebes exterior Wind-Heat and promotes the eruption of measles
2. Elevates the Yang Qi and lifts the sunken
3. Clears Heat and eliminates Fire-toxin
Dosage & Administration: 1.5 - 9g. Honey stir-baked foro raising yang-qi

Chai Ru

Thorowax Root, Bupleurum
Chai Ru
Pharmaceutical name: Radix Bupleuri
Properties: bitter, acrid, cool
Channels entered: GB, LV, PC, SJ
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Releases the shao-yang stage and clears heat
2. Disperses the Liver Qi and removes the Liver Qi stagnation
3. Lifts the Yang Qi and relieves diarrhea
4. Lifts the lucid yang to ease the upper orfices and arrests diarrhea
5. Lowers blood pressure
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 12g

Ge Gen

Kudzu Root, Pueraria
Ge Gen
Pharmaceutical name: Radix Puerariae
Properties: sweet, acrid, cool
Channels entered: Spleen, Stomach
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Releases Wind-Heat from exterior and muscles
2. Generates fluid and allays thirst
3. Promotes the eruption of measles or rashes
4. Lifts the lucid yang to ease the upper orfices and arrests diarrhea
5. Lowers blood pressure
Dosage & Administration: 6 - 12g

Dan Dou Chi

Prepared Soybean
Dan Dou Chi
Pharmaceutical name: Semen Sojae Praeparatum
Properties: sweet, slightly bitter, warm (prepared w/ Ma Huang and Zi Su Ye), cold (prepared w/ Sang Ye and Qing Hao)
Channels entered: Lung, Stomach
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Relieves exterior: for wind-heat or wind-cold
2. Releases irritability
3. Cools the blood and stops bleeding
Dosage & Administration: 6 - 15g

Ju Hua

Chrysanthemum Flower
Ju Hua
Pharmaceutical name: Flos Chrysanthemi Morifolii
Properties: bitter, slightly cold
Channels entered: Liver, Lung
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Expel Wind and clears heat
2. Drains Liver-fire and benefits eyes
3. Anchors the Liver-yang and extinguishes wind
4. Clears Fire-toxin
Dosage & Administration: 4.5 - 15g

Man Jing Zi

Vitex Fruit
Man Jing Zi
Pharmaceutical name: Fructus Viticis
Properties: bitter, acrid, cold
Channels entered: Bladder, Liver, Stomach
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Disperses Wind-heat
2. Clears heat and benefits the head and eyes
3. Drains dampness
Dosage & Administration: 6 - 12g

Sang Ye

White Mulberry Leaf
Sang Ye
Pharmaceutical name: Folium Mori Albae
Properties: sweet, bitter, cold
Channels entered: Liver, Lung
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Expel Wind-heat, disperses the Lung Qi, and relieves coughing
2. Drains Liver-fire to treat eye disease
3. Cools the blood and stops bleeding
4. relieves night sweating: 6 - 9g powder, taken with rice congee
Dosage & Administration: 4.5 - 15 g. Also as external wash for eye problem

Chan Tui

Cicada Moulting
Chan Tui
Pharmaceutical name: Periostracum Cicadae
Properties: sweet, salty, slightly cold
Channels entered: Lung, Liver
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Disperses Wind-Heat
2. Promotes the eruption of measles or rashes, reduces itching
3. Clears the eyes and removes nebula
4. Expels Wind and relieves spasm, pacifies infants
5. Moistens the throat and opens the voice
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 9g

Niu bang Zi

Great Burdock Fruit, Arcticum
Niu bang Zi
Pharmaceutical name: Fructus arctii Lappae
Properties: acrid, bitter, cold
Channels entered: Lung, Stomach
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Disperses Wind-Heat and eases the throat
2. Reduces swellings and toxins
3. Promotes the eruption of measels and vents rashes, alleviates itching
4. Moistens the intestines and promotes bowel movement
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 9g

Bo He

Field Mint, Mentha
Bo He
Pharmaceutical name: Herba Menthae Haplocalycis
Properties: acrid, aromatic, cooling
Channels entered: Lung, Liver
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Disperses Wind-Heat
2. Clears heat and the eyes and eases the throat
3. Promotes the eruption of measels and vents rashes
4. Disperses the Liver Qi and relieves Liver Qi stagnation
Dosage & Administration: 1.5 - 6g

Warm-Acrid Herbs
that Release the Exterior:
Cang Er Zi
Xin Yi Hua
Xiang Ru
Sheng Jiang
Xi Xin
Bai Zhi
Gao Ben
Qiang Huo
Fang Feng
Jing Jie
Zi Su Ye
Gui Zhi
Ma Huang

Cang Er Zi

Cockleburr Fruit, Xanthium
Cang Er Zi
Pharmaceutical name: Fructus Xanthii Siberici
Properties: sweet, slightly bitter, warm, toxic
Channels entered: Lung
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Opens the nasal passages
2. Dispels wind and expels dampness
3. Releases exterior-wind and relieves pain
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 9g

Xin Yi hua

Magnolia Flower
Xin Yi hua
Pharmaceutical name: Flos Magnoliae Lilliflorae
Properties: Acrid, Warm
Channels: Lung, Stomach
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Disperses Wind and opens the nasal passages and sinuses
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 9g, in decoction wrapped by cheesecloth bad to avoid hairy texture which irritates the throat

Xiang Ru

Aromatic madder, Elsholtzia
Xiang Ru
Pharmaceutical name: Herba Elsholtziae seu Moslae
Properties: acrid, aromatic, slightly warm
Channels entered: Lung, Stomach
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Relieves the exterior, induces sweating, dispels summer-heat and transforms phlegm and dampness
2. Regulates water metabolism by inducing urination, reduces edema
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 9g. Concentrated decoction used for edema

Sheng Jiang

Fresh Ginger Rhizome
Sheng Jiang
Pharmaceutical name: Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis
Properties: acrid, warm
Channels entered: Lung, Spleen, Stomach
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Induces sweating, Relieves the exterior and dissipates cold
2. Warms the middle jiao and relieves vomiting
3. Disperses Cold, transfroms phlegm and reduces coughing
4. Detoxes other herbs and substances
5. Harmonizes the Ying and Wei Qi
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 10g

Xi Xin

Chinese Wild Ginger
Xi Xin
Pharmaceutical name: herba cum radice Asari
Properties: acrid, warm
Channels entered: Lung, Kidney
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Induce sweating to disperse exteriror and expel cold
2. Disperses Wind and stops pain
3. Warms the Lungs and resolves phlegm-rheum
4. Opens the sensory orfices and nasal passages
Dosage & Administration: 1 - 3g. Nasal and oral disorder: suck powder into the affected area

Bai Zhi

Chinese Angelica Root
Bai Zhi
Pharmaceutical name: Radix Angelicae Dauricae
Properties: acrid, warm
Channels entered: Lung, Stomach
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Disperses wind-cold, induces sweating
2. Reduces swelling and promotes discharge of pus
3. Dries dampness and controls discharge
4. Opens the nasal passages
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 9g
Notes: may cause dermatitis

Gao Ben

Chinese Lovage root, Ligusticum Root
Gao Ben
Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma et Radix ligustici
Properties: acrid, warm
Channels entered: Bladder
Actions and Clinical Apllications:
1. Dispels wind-cold and cold-damp and reduces pain
2. Moderates Spasm
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 9g

Qiang Huo

Notopterygium Root
Qiang Huo
Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii
Properties: acrid, bitter, aromatic, warm
Channels entered: Bladder, Kidney
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Relieves the exterior, dissipates cold and damp, induces sweating
2. Expels Wind-Damp Bi in the upper body
3. Guides the Qi to the Tai Yang and Du channels
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 10g
Notes: Overdose may cause nausea and vomiting

Fang Feng

Ledebouriella (root, siler)
Fang Feng
Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Ledobouriella
Properties: acrid, sweet. slightly warm
Channels entered: Bladder, Lung, Spleen

Jing Jie

Schizonepeta (stem or bud)
Jing Jie
Pharmaceutical Name: Herba seu Flos Schizonepetae
Properties: acrid, sweet, slightly warm
Channels Entered: Bladder, Lung, Spleen
Actions and Clinical Apllications:
1. Relieves the exterior and dispels wind
2. Promtes rashes to the exterior and reduces itching
3. Controls bleediong when charred
4. Soothes the throat
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 9g
Notes: In decoction, add last 5 mins. to cook

Zi Su ye

Perilla Leaf
Zi Su ye
Pharmaceutical name: Folium Perillae Fructescentis
Properties: acrid, aromatic, warm
Channels Entered: Lung, Spleen
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Relieves exterior and Dissipates cold
2. Circulates Qi, harmonizes and strengthens the middle jiao
3. Calms the restless fetus
4. Reduces fish and crab poisoning
Dosage & Administration: 3 - 9g, 15 minute decoction


Notes:
Zi Su Geng (perrilla stem/perillae acutate)
Channels Entered: Lung, Spleen and Stomach
Properties: slightly warm, acrid, sweet
Actions:
1. Disperses the chest, harmonizes the middle jiao, directs the Qi downward and stops pain
2. Calms the fetus

Gui Zhi

Cinnamon Twig
GuiZhi
Pharmaceutical name: Ramulas Cinnanomi Cassiae
Properties: acrid, sweet, warm
Channels Entered: Heart, Lung, Bladder
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Harmonizes the Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Protective) Qi
2. Warms and promotes the flow of Qi in the channels
3. Warms the Yang, opens Qi obstruction and moderates Qi
4. Strengthens the Heart Yang, unblocks Yang Qi obstruction in the chest
Dosage & Administration: 3 – 10g
Notes:
1. Precautions for pregnancy
2. Not for exterior excess or deficiency heat

Ma Huang

Ephedra Stem
Ma Huang
Pharmaceutical name: Herba Ephedrae
Properties: acrid, slightly bitter, warm
Channels Entered: Lung, Bladder
Actions & Clinical Applications:
1. Relieves exterior, disperses cold, and induces sweating
2. Circulates Lung Qi and relieves wheezing or coughing
3. Regulates water metabolism, promotes urination, and reduces edema
4. Opens nasal passages, releases the skin rashes and relieves itching
Dosage & Administration: 1.5 – 10g (over dosage can cause toxic symptoms)
Raw for inducing sweating, and stir-baked or honey-fried for asthma
Pharmacological Actions:
Major Ingredients: 0.48 2.48% (1-Ephedrine, d-pseudo ephedrine, norephedrine)
Effect on cardiovascular system: ephedrine shows a vasoconstrictive and raises blood pressure
Respiratory effect: the water extract and ephedrine ornorephedrine have dilated the branch tract and expectorant effect
Dilates pupils