# Ethnomedicine/Ethnomedicine by Culture Group/Traditional Chinese Medicine

There are a few branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat the human body. One of the main branches is the use of herbal medicine. Herbs may be used singly or combined into formulas to be more effective. When used in combination, herbs are sometimes called patent formulas, although they may or may not be patented in the legal sense of the term. Many of these formulas have been published in ancient texts, and some of them have been published in modern books, such as "Pharmacopoeia of The People’s Republic of China (Volume I)". State Pharmacopoeia Commission of the PRC (2005). Chemical Industry Press. ISBN 7117069821.
Below are a sample of these formulas:

## Ankun Zanyu Wan

按坤赞育丸 (Pinyin: ànkūn zànyù wán, Traditional Chinese: 按坤贊育丸)
A large black honeyed pill used in traditional Chinese medicine to "nourish qi and blood, regulate menstruation and relieve leukorrhagia, when there are symptoms of deficiency of qi and blood, deficiency of liver and kidney and poor health after postpartum, indicated by abdomen pain".
The formulation of the pill is:
| Name | Chinese | Grams |
| Rhizoma Cyperi (processed with vinegar) | 香附 (醋制) | 96 |
| Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum | 鹿茸 | 24 |
| Colla Corii Asini | 阿胶 | 24 |
| Placenta Hominis | 紫河车 | 20 |
| Radix Paeoniae Alba | 白芍 | 16 |
| Radix Angelicae Sinensis | 当归 | 16 |
| Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae | 牛膝 | 14 |
| Radix Cyathulae | 川牛膝 | 14 |
| Radix Glehniae | 北沙参 | 12 |
| Myrrha (processed with vinegar) | 没药 (醋制) | 12 |
| Radix Asparagi | 天冬 | 11. 5 |
| Fructus Psoraleae (processed with salt) | 补骨脂 (盐炙) | 11 |
| Arillus Longan | 龙眼肉 | 10 |
| Poria | 茯苓 | 8 |
| Cortex Phellodendri | 黄柏 | 8 |
| Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis | 龟板 | 8 |
| Herba Cynomorii | 锁阳 | 8 |
| Cortex Eucommiae (processed with salt) | 杜仲 (盐炙) | 8 |
| Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae | 秦艽 | 8 |
| Carapax Trionycis (processed with vinegar) | 鳖甲 (醋制) | 8 |
| Folium Artemisiae Argyi (carbonized) | 艾叶 (炭) | 8 |
| Radix Cynanchi Atrati | 白薇 | 8 |
| Rhizoma Corydalis (processed with vinegar) | 延胡索 (醋制) | 8 |
| Fructus Corni (processed with wine) | 山茱萸 (酒制) | 8 |
| Cauda Cervi | 鹿尾 | 7.5 |
| Fructus Lycii | 枸杞子 | 6 |
| Flos Celosiae Cristatae | 鸡冠苗 | 6 |
| Radix Astragali | 黄芪 | 6 |
| Olibanum (processed with vinegar) | 乳香 (醋制) | 6 |
| Halloysitum Rubrum (calcined) | 赤石脂 (煅) | 6 |
| Colla Cornus Cervi | 鹿角胶 | 6 |
| Semen Cuscutae | 大豆菟丝子 | 4 |
| Herba Cistanches (processed with wine) | 肉苁蓉 (酒制) | 6 |
| Caulis Spatholobi | 鸡血藤 | 4 |
| Herba Taxilli | 桑寄生 | 4 |
| Succinum | 琥珀 | 4 |
| Radix Glycyrrhizae | 甘草 | 4 |
| Radix Ginseng | 人参 | 2 |
| Radix Linderae | 乌药 | 3 |
| Crinis Carbonisatus | 血余炭 | 2 |
| Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (stir-baked with bran) | 白术 (麸炒) | 24 |
| Stigma Croci | 红花 | 0.8 |
| Radix Rehmanniae | 生地黄 | 16 |
| Fructus Amomi | 砂仁 | 24 |
| Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum | 沉香 | 13 |
| Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (stir-baked) | 酸枣仁 (炒) | 16 |
| Radix Dipsaci | 续断 | 10 |
| Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae | 陈皮 | 14 |
| Exocarpium Citri Rubrum | 橘红 | 8 |
| Rhizoma Chuanxiong | 川芎 | 12 |
| Rhizoma Alismatis | 泽泻 | 8 |
| Radix Scutellariae | 黄芩 | 10 |
| Herba Artemisiae Annuae | 黄花蒿 | 6 |
| Radix Polygalae (processed) | 远志 (制) | 8 |
| Semen Myristicae (roasted in ash) | 肉豆蔻 (灰碳碚) | 6 |
| Rhizoma Ligustici | 藁本 | 6 |
| Flos Carthami | 红花 | 4 |
| Radix Bupleuri | 柴胡 | 6 |
| Radix Aucklandis | 木香 | 2 |
| Folium Perillae | 苏叶 | 5 |
| Radix Rehmanniae Preparata | 熟地黄 | 16 |
| Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae | 丹参 | 2 |

## Anwei Pian

安胃片 (Pinyin: ānwèi piàn)
A whitish to yellowish tablet used in traditional Chinese medicine to "promote the flow of qi and activate blood circulation, to counteract acidity and relieve gastric pain in the stomach".
The formulation of the pill is:
| Name | Chinese | Grams |
| Rhizoma Corydalis (processed with vinegar) | 延胡索 (醋制) | 63 |
| Alumen (calcined) | 白矾 (煅) | 250 |
| Endoconcha Sepiae | 海螵蛸 | 187 |

## Anyang Jingzhi Gao

安阳精制膏 (Pinyin: ānyáng jīngzhì gāo, Traditional Chinese: 安陽精制膏)
A red plaster used in traditional Chinese medicine to "dissolve lumps, remove blood stasis, relieve pain, strengthen muscles and tendons, activate blood circulation, and to dispel wind and cold". It is typically pasted on the skin when there is "numbness in the extremities".
The formulation of the plaster is:
| Name | Chinese | Grams |
| Radix Aconiti | 生川乌 | 24 |
| Radix Aconiti Preparata | 制川乌 | 24 |
| Radix Linderae | 乌药 | 24 |
| Radix Ampelopsis | 白蔹 | 24 |
| Radix Angelicae Dahuricae | 白芷 | 24 |
| Rhizoma Bletillae | 白芨 | 24 |
| Semen Momordicae | 木鳖子 | 24 |
| Caulis Aristolochiae Manshuriensis | 关木通 | 24 |
| Fructus Chaenomelis | 木瓜 | 24 |
| Rhizoma Sparganii | 三棱 | 24 |
| Rhizoma Curcumae | 莪术 | 24 |
| Radix Angelicae Sinensis | 当归 | 24 |
| Radix Paeoniae Rubra | 赤芍 | 24 |
| Cortex Cinnamomi | 桂皮 | 24 |
| Radix et Rhizoma Rhei | 大黄 | 48 |
| Fructus Forsythiae | 连翘 | 48 |
| Resina Draconis | 血竭 | 10 |
| Resina Ferulae | 阿魏 | 10 |
| Olibanum | 乳香 | 6 |
| Myrrha | 没药 | 6 |
| Catechu | 儿茶 | 6 |
| Mentholum | 薄荷脑 | 8 |
| Methyl Salicylate | 水杨酸甲酯 | 8 |
| Borneolum Syntheticum | 冰片 | 8 |

## Awei Huapi Gao

阿魏化痞膏 (Pinyin: āwèi huàpǐ gāo)
A black plaster spread on cloth, used in traditional Chinese medicine to "treat abdominal masses due to stagnation of qi and congealed blood that is accompanied by epigastric and abdominal pain, and a feeling of fullness and distension in the chest and hypochondriac regions". It is traditionally plastered on the "umbilicus or the afflicted area after being softened by heating".
The formulation of the plaster is:
| Name | Chinese | Grams |
| Rhizoma Cyperi | 香附 | 20 |
| Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis | 厚朴 | 20 |
| Rhizoma Sparganii | 三棱 | 20 |
| Rhizoma Curcumae | 莪术 | 20 |
| Radix Angelicae Sinensis | 当归 | 20 |
| Radix Aconiti Preparata | 制川乌 | 20 |
| Radix Aconiti (not prepared) | 生川乌 | 20 |
| Bulbus Allii | 大蒜 | 20 |
| Fructus Quisqualis | 使君子 | 20 |
| Radix Angelicae Dahuricae | 白芷 | 20 |
| Squama Manis | 穿山甲 | 20 |
| Semen Momordicae | 木鳖子 | 20 |
| Catharsius | 蜣螂 | 20 |
| Rhizoma Picrorhizae | 胡黄连 | 20 |
| Radix et Rhizoma Rhei | 大黄 | 20 |
| Semen Ricini | 蓖麻子 | 20 |
| Olibanum | 乳香 | 3 |
| Myrrha | 没药 | 3 |
| Aloe | 芦荟 | 3 |
| Resina Draconis | 血竭 | 3 |
| Realgar | 雄黄 | 15 |
| Cortex Cinnamomi | 桂皮 | 15 |
| Camphora | 樟脑 | 15 |
| Resina Ferulae | 阿魏 | 20 |

## Babao Kunshun Wan

八宝坤顺丸 (Pinyin: bābǎo kūnshùn wán, Traditional Chinese: 八寶坤順丸)
A blackish-brown honeyed pill used in traditional Chinese medicine to "nourish blood and regulate menstruation". It is typically prescribed when there is "deficiency of both blood and qi, with abdominal pain, aching in the loins and legs, and edema of the lower extremities during menstrual periods".
The formulation of the pill is:
| Name | Chinese | Grams |
| Radix Rehmanniae Preparata | 熟地黄 | 80 |
| Radix Rehmanniae | 生地黄 | 80 |
| Radix Paeoniae Alba | 白芍 | 80 |
| Radix Angelicae Sinensis | 当归 | 80 |
| Rhizoma Chuanxiong | 川芎 | 80 |
| Radix Ginseng | 人参 | 40 |
| Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae | 白术 | 80 |
| Poria | 茯苓 | 80 |
| Radix Glycyrrhizae | 甘草 | 40 |
| Herba Leonuri | 益母草 | 40 |
| Radix Scutellariae | 黄芩 | 80 |
| Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae | 牛膝 | 40 |
| Exocarpium Citri Rubrum | 橘红 | 80 |
| Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum | 沉香 | 40 |
| Radix Aucklandiae | 木香 | 16 |
| Succinum | 琥珀 | 40 |

## Baidai Wan

白带丸 ( , Pinyin: báidài wán, Traditional Chinese: 白帶丸) A herbal pill used in traditional Chinese medicine to "remove damp-heat and arrest excessive leucorrhea”.
The formulation of the pill is:
| Name | Chinese | Grams |
| Cortex Phellodendri (stir-baked with wine) | 黄柏 (酒炒) | 150 |
| Cortex Ailanthi | 樗白皮 | 300 |
| Radix Paeoniae Alba | 白芍 | 100 |
| Radix Angelicae Sinensis | 当归 | 100 |
| Rhizoma Cyperi (processed with vinegar) | 香附 (醋制) | 50 |

## Baochi San

保赤散 (Pinyin: bǎochì sǎn)
A herbal pill used in traditional Chinese medicine to "promote digestion, remove retained food, relieve abdominal distension, eliminate phlegm and induce sedation".
The formulation of the pill is:
| Name | Chinese | Grams |
| Massa Medicata Fermentata (stir-baked) | 神曲 (炒) | 250 |
| Semen Crotonis Pulveratum | 巴豆霜 | 150 |
| Rhizoma Arisaematis (processed) | 天南星 (制) | 400 |
| Cinnabaris | 硃砂 | 250 |

## Baofukang Shuan

保妇抗拴 (Pinyin: bǎofùkàng shuān, Traditional Chinese: 保婦抗拴)
A milky white, yellow or brown herbal suppository used in traditional Chinese medicine to "activate the flow of qi and remove blood stasis, promote the growth of muscles, and relieve pain due to symptoms of colpomycosis, senile vaginitis and erosion of the cervix”.
The formulation of the pill, using polyoxyethylene stearate as a carrier, is:
| Name | Chinese | Grams |
| Oleum Curcumae | 莪术油 | 82 |
| Borneolum Syntheticum | 冰片 | 75 |