Chinese herbology

Chinese herbs do not grow in China only. If you find the right climate and soil type, you can grow many of those herbs overseas. For instance, American Ginseng is grown in Wisconsin State.

The raw herbs available in retail have the following natural features:
 Part of a plant: root, leave, seed, flowers, branch, etc.
 Unprocessed except being cut, sliced, and cleansed of dirt.
 Dried because the dried form weighs less and can be stored longer.
 Some herbs can be eaten after boiling because they turn soft.
 Most herbs cannot be eaten for they remain very coarse after boiling.
 Herbs in general do not taste good. Most taste bitter and earthly. Some taste neutral. A few taste even sweet.
 Inexpensive except for a few like Ren Shen 人參, Chuan Bei Mu 川貝母, or Dong Chong Xia Cao 冬虫夏草.

Herbal tea 
How do people take the raw herbs? Raw herbs are usually taken orally by extracting the essence out of them. The natural way being practiced since ancient time is to boil and brew the herbal package in water to get a dark brown solution called herb tea that never tastes good. One hour of brewing should be good enough. Then you drink one or two cups a day. Honey or sugar may be added to make it taste less bad. The herbal package can be conveniently modified by changing some ingredients to make it work for you. So an herbal package is really tailor-made for you only.

Tablet form 
Raw herbs can be dried and grounded into a powder then compressed into a tablet which is better than buying your own tablets or having to buy gel capsules

Capsule form 
Raw herbs can be made into capsules at home. All you need is a tailor-made package of raw herbs. Turn it into fine powder with a powerful grinder, and put the powder into empty gel capsules. When you swallow the capsules, your digestive system has to extract the essence out of the raw herb powder. Whereas if you drink the herb tea, the essence extraction is already done after brewing. The herbal solution will readily be absorbed by your body. Furthermore, the herb tea has a history spanning over two thousand years. How many years of history does the tablet or capsule have besides offering convenience?

Healing properties 
 Herbs have natural healing effects on organs, blood, and various unhealthy conditions.
 In contrast to Western pharmaceuticals, which are mainly designed to fix or suppress certain health conditions, herbs have additional enhancing and strengthening values on the body.
 Due to their strengthening and enhancing values, herbs can also be used for preventive measures.
 The herbal effects are natural and mild, with little adverse side effects.
 Each herb has multiple effects on the body, in addition to one major effect.
 Herbs do not work singly because the effects of one herb are too gentle.
 The effects of herbs rely on synergies because of their overlapping multiple effects. Therefore, an herbal package of different herbs put together can deliver a much greater effect than a single herb of equal weight.
 How to create synergy for an herbal package is an essential knowledge and experience that distinguish a good herbalist from a mediocre one.

Usage of some Chinese herbs 

(A) General Tonics

(1) *** (Tonify Qi) ***

ren shen	人参	radix Ginseng

dang shen	党参	radix Codonopsis

bai zhu	白朮     	rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae

gan cao	甘草	radix Glycyrrhizae

shan yao	山药	rhizoma Dioscoreae

da jao	大枣	fructus Jujubae

(2) *** (Tonify Yang) ***

lu rong	 鹿茸	cornu Cervi Pantotrichum

rou cong rong	肉蓯蓉	herba Cistanches

yin yang huo	淫羊霍	herba Epimedii

du zhong	杜仲	cortex Eucommiae

xu duan	 续断	radix Dipsaci

gou ji	狗 脊	fructus Psoraleae

bu gu zhi	补骨脂   	rhizoma Cibotii

dong chong xia cao	冬虫夏草	Cordyceps

yi zhi ren	益智仁	fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae

ge jie	 蛤蚧	Gecko

(3) *** (Tonify Blood) ***

dang gui	当归    	radix Angelicae Sinensis

hu tao rou	胡桃肉	semen Juglandis

shu di huang	熟地黄	radix Rehmanniae Preparata

he shou wu	何首乌   	radix Polgoni Multiflori

e jiao	阿胶	Colla Corii Asini

(4) *** (Tonify Yin) ***

nan sha shen	南沙参	radix adenophorae

bei sha shen	北沙参	radix Glehniae

tian men dong	天门冬	radix Asparagi

mai men dong	麦门冬	radix Ophiopogonis

shi hu	石斛	herba Dendrobii

huang jing	黄精	rhizoma Polgonati

yu zhu	玉竹	rhizoma Polgonati Odorati

shan zhu yu	山茱萸	fructus Corni

gou qi zi	枸杞子	fructus Lycii

nu zhen zi	女贞子	fructus Ligustri Lucidi

mo han lian	旱莲草     	herba Ecliptae

bie jia	鱉甲 	carapax Trionycis

gui ban	龟板	plastrum Testudinis

(B) Stabilise and Bind 

wu wei zi	五味子	fructus Schisandrae

wu mei	乌梅	fructus Mume

wu bei zi	五倍子	galla Chinensis

fu xiao mai	浮小麦	fructus Tritici Levis

he zi	訶子	fructus Chebulae

shi liu pi	石榴皮	pericarpium Granati

rou dou kou	肉荳蔻   	semen Myristicae

lian zi	 莲子	semen Nelumbinis

qian shi	芡实	semen Euryales

sang piao xiao	桑螵蛸	ootheca Mantidis

wu zei gu	乌贼骨	os Sepiae

bin lang	檳榔	semen Arecae

(C) Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing

zi wan	紫菀	radix Asteris

bai bu	百部	radix Stemonae

kuan dong hua	款冬花	flos Farfarae

sang bai pi	桑白皮	cortex Mori Radicis

ma dou ling	马兜铃	fructus Aristolochiae

ting li zi	葶靂子	semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae

(D) Regulate Blood:  Stop Bleeding

san qi (tianqi)	三七	radix Notoginseng

qian cao	茜草	radix Rubiae

(E) Regulate Blood:  Invigorate Blood

shui zhi	水蛭	Hirudo

chuan xiong	川芎	rhizoma Chuanxiong

ru xiang	乳香	Olibanum

mo yao	没药	Myrrha

yu jin	鬱金	radix Curcumae

e zhu	莪朮	rhizoma Zedoariae

dan shen	丹参	radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae

(F) Transform Phlegm-cold

ban xia	半夏	rhizoma Pinelliae

tian nan xing	天南星	rhizoma Arisaematis

bai jie zi	白芥子	semen Sinapis Albae

xuan fu hua	旋覆花	flos Inulae

(G) Regulate Qi

fo shou	佛手	fructus Citri Sarcodactylis

mu xiang	木香	radix Aucklandiae

wu yao	乌药	radix Linderae

xiang fu	香附	rhizoma Cyperi

ju pi (chen pi)	陈皮	pericarpium Citri Reticulatae

ju hong	橘红	exocarpium Citri Rubrum

qing pi	青皮	pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride

zhi ke	枳壳	fructus Aurantii

zhi shi	枳实	fructus Aurantii Immaturus

chen xiang	沉香	lignum Aquilariae Resinatum

chuan lian zhi	川楝子	fructus Toosendan

yan hu suo	延胡索	rhizoma Corydalis

xie bai	薤白	bulbus Allii Macrostemi

(H) Regulate Digestion

shan zhu yu	山茱萸	fructus Crataegi

mai ya	 麦芽	fructus Hordei germinatus

gu ya	穀芽	fructus Oryzae germinatus

lai fu zi	莱菔子	semen Raphani

ji nei jin	鸡内金	endothelium corneum Gigeriae galli

shen qu	   神麴   massa Fermentata Medicinalis

(I) Dispel Wind Dampness

du huo	        獨活	radix Angelicae Pubescentis

wei ling xian	威靈仙	radix Clematidis

fang ji 	防己 	radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae

qin jiao	秦艽	radix Gentianae Macrophyllae

mu gua	番木瓜	fructus Chaenomelis

sang ji sheng	桑寄生	ramulus Taxilli

wu jia pi	五加皮	cortex Acanthopanacis

bai hua she	白花蛇	Agkistrodon seu Bungarus

hu gu	虎骨	os Tigris

wu shao she	烏梢蛇	Zaocys

cang zhu	蒼朮  	rhizoma Atractylodis

hou po	厚樸	cortex Magnoliae Officinalis

huo xiang	藿香	herba Agastaches

pei lan	佩蘭	herba Eupatorii

sha ren	砂仁	fructus Amomi

bai dou kou	白豆蔻   	fructus Amomi Rotundus

cao guo	草果	fructus Tsaoko

(J) Warm, pungent, Release Exterior Wind Cold

su geng	        苏梗	caulis Perillae

zi su ye	苏叶	folium Perillae

xiang ru	香薷	herba Elsholtziae

jing jie	荆芥	herba Schizonepetae

fan feng	防风	radix Ledebouriellae

jiang huo	薑活	radix Angelicae Dahuricae

bai zhi	        白芷	rhizoma seu radix Notopterygli

cang er zi	苍耳子	fructus Xanthii

xin yi	辛荑花	flos Magnoliae

bo he	薄荷	herba Menthae

niu bang zi	牛蒡子	fructus Arctii

can tui	蝉蜕 	periostracum Cicadae

dan dou chi	淡豆豉 	semen Sojae preparatum

ju hua	菊花	flos Chrysanthemi

ge gen	葛根	radix Puerariae

chai hu	柴胡	radix Bupleuri

sheng ma	升麻	rhizoma Cimicifugae

ma huang	麻黄 	radix Ephedrae

gui zhi	        桂枝	ramulus Cinnamomi

(K) Regulate BloodL  Stop Bleeding

zhu ma gen	苧麻根	radix Boehmeriae

bai mao gen	白茅根   	rhizoma Imperatae

ce bai ye	侧柏叶	cacumen Biotae

huai hua	槐花	flos Sophorae

da ji	大蓟	herba seu Radix Cirsii Japonici

xiao ji	小蓟     	herba Cephalanoploris

di yu	地榆	radix Sanguisorbae

xian he cao	仙鹤草	herba Agrimoniae

bai jiang	(败酱草)	rhizoma Bletillae

qian cao	茜草	radix Rubiae

ai ye	艾叶	folium Artemisiae Argyi

pu huang	蒲黄	pollen Typhae

(L) Drain Dampness

fu ling 	茯苓	Poria

zhu ling	豬苓	Polyporus Umbellatus

ze xie	        澤瀉	rhizoma Alismatis

yi yi ren	薏苡仁	semen Coicis

che qian zi	车前子	semen Plantaginis

hua shi	滑石	Talcum

mu tong	木通	caulis Akebiae

jin qian cao	金钱草	herba Lysimachiae

tong cao	通草	medulla Tetrapanacis

shi wei	石苇	folium Pyrrosiae

yin chen hao	茵陈蒿     	herba Artemisiae Scopariae

bi xie	萆薢	rhizoma Dioscoreae Septemlobae

(M) Drain Fire

shi gao	        石膏	gypsum Fibrosum

zhi mu	        知母	rhizoma Anemarrhenae

tian hua fen	天花粉	radix Trichosanthis

lu gen	芦根	rhizoma Phragmitis

huang lian	黄莲	rhizoma Coptidis

huang qin	黄芩	radix Scutellariae

huang bai	黄柏 	cortex Phellodendri

zhi zi	梔子     	fructus Gardeniae

long dan cao	龙胆草    	radix Gentianae

xia ku cao	夏枯草	spica Prunellae

ku shen	苦参	radix Sophorae Flavescentis

jue ming zi	决明子   	semen Cassiae

(N) Relieve Fire Toxins

jin yin hua	金银花	flos Lonicerae

ren dong teng	忍冬藤	caulis Lonicerae

lian qiao	连翘	fructus Forsythiae

pu gong ying	蒲公英	herba Taraxaci

zi hua di ding	紫花地丁	herba Violae

da qing ye	大青叶   	folium Isatidis

qing dai	青黛	indigo Naturalis

ban lan gen	板蓝根	radix Isatidis

chuan xin lian	穿心莲	herba Andrographitis

yu xing cao	鱼腥草	herba Houttuyniae

shan dou gen	山豆根	radix Sophorae Tonkinensis

she gan	射干	rhizoma Belamcandae

ma chi xian	马齿莧	herba Portulacae

bai tou weng	白头翁	radix Pulsatillae

hong teng	红藤	caulis Sargentodoxae

qin pi	秦皮	cortex Fraxini

(O) Cool Blood

shui niu jiao	水牛角	cornu Bubali

sheng di huang	生地黄	radix Rehmanniae

xuan shen	玄参	radix Scrophulariae

xi jiao	        西角	cornu Rhinocerotis

bai jiang	败酱草	herba Patriniae

mu dan pi	牡丹皮	cortex Moutan Radicis

chi shao	赤芍	radix Paeoniae Rubra

zi cao	紫草	radix arnebiae seu lithospermi

(P) Cleasr Deficient Heat

qing hao	青蒿	herba Artemisiae Annuae

bai wei	  白薇	radix cynanchi Atrati

di gu pi	地骨皮	cortex Lycii Radicis

yin chai hu	銀柴胡	radix Stellariae

(Q) Purge Downwards, Cathartically Drain Downwards

da huang	大黃	radix et rhizoma Rhei

mang xiao	芒硝	natrii Sulfas

fan xie ye	番瀉葉	folium Sennae

da ma ren	大麻仁	fructus Cannabis

gan sui	     甘遂	radix Kansui

yu li ren	郁李仁	semen Pruni

da ji	大戟	radix Euphorbiae Pekinensis

yuan hua	芫花	flos Genkwa

qian niu zi	牽牛子	semen Pharbitidis

(R) Warm Interior and Expel Cold

rou gui	        肉桂     	cortex Cinnamomi

wu zhu yu	吴茱萸	fructus Evodiae

xi xin	        细辛	herba Asari

hua jiao	花椒	pericarpium Zanthoxyli

ding xiang	丁香	flos Caryophylli

gao liang jiang	高莨姜   	rhizoma Alpiniae Officinarum

xiao hui xiang	小茴香	fructus Foeniculi

fu zi	地肤子 	radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata

chuan wu tou	川乌头	radix Aconiti

cao wu tou	草乌头	radix Aconiti Kusnezoffiae

wu tou	乌头	radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata

gan jiang	乾薑	rhizoma Zingiberis

(S) Expel Parasites

shi jun zi	使君子	fructus Quisqualis

da fu pi	大腹皮	pericarpium Arecae

lei wan	        雷丸	Omphalia

ku lian pi	苦莲皮	cortex Meliae

nan gua zi	南瓜子	semen Cucurbitae

he cao ya	鹤草牙 	gemma Agrimoniae

he shi		fructus Carpesii

guan zhong	贯眾（贯仲）	rhizoma Dryopteris Crassirhizomae

fei zi	榧子	semen Torreyae

(T) Calm Shen

long gu	     龙骨	os Draconis

suan zao ren	酸枣仁   	semen Ziziphi Spinosae

yuan zhi	远志	radix Polygalae

bai zi ren	柏子仁	semen Biotae

(U)Extinguish Internal Wind and Stop Tremors

mu li	牡蠣	concha Ostreae

zhen zhu	珍珠	Magarita

zhen zhu mu	珍珠母	concha Margaritifera Usta

dai zhe shi	代赭石	Haematitum

ling yang jiao	铃羊角	cornu Saigae Tataricae

tian ma	天麻	rhizoma Gastrodiae

(V) Open Orifices

she xiang	麝香 	Moschus

niu huang	牛黄	calculus Bovis

Bing Pian	冰片	borneolum Syntheticum

su he xiang	苏合香	Storax

shi chang pu	石菖蒲	rhizoma Acori Graminei

Notes 
 
(1)The terms used here reflect typical TCM usage (as translated literally from individual Chinese characters), and may not reflect their meanings in TCM, namely, meanings that are normative, figurative or metaphorical when read in context. The meanings of these terms are therefore different from that in common English usage. In particular, they are not to be used for purposes of self-diagnosis, much less for self-medication. For example, "Xia Huo" means "To reduce fire", but "fire" here does not refer to combustion involving oxygen. Even within TCM, there are various meanings of "fire", and it can refer to "real" or "false" fire. The 3 herbs mentioned above cannot be used to reduce "false fire", or fires of yin deficiency in the zhang organs.

(2) An example of the non-literal use of transliterated characters is "long gu" which literally means "dragon bones". This term cannot possible refer to Chinese dragons, since they do not exist. However, one can easily buy "long gu" from any TCM herbal shop. Another term that cannot be taken literally is "di long" which literally means "earth dragon".

(3) Although the above herbs are common in TCM prescriptions, they cannot be purchased if we refer only to their Latin names. One likely reason is that TCM pharmacists rarely, if ever, use the Latin names of the herbs. The Chinese names, or the transliterated names (pinyin) should be used instead. For example, if we ask for "flos Lonicerae" we will almost certainly get a blank look. However, if we ask for "Jin Yin Hua" or	金银花 we will connect immediately, even though the pharmacist may speak any of the large number of Chinese dialects (such as Cantonese, where the herb is known as "Kum Gen Fa", or Golden Silver Flower, in Hong Kong). Wherever possible, use the written form (金银花) to avoid miscommunication and/or mis-pronunciation, since there is no dialect form of the written language.

(4) There are a large number of synonyms of the herb names, in both Chinese, English and Latin. This makes it even more essential to use the written form of the Chinese names to ensure accuracy.

(5) Some herbs are prone to adulteration, substitution, or both. For example, Ling Zhi Cao (Cordyceps) can be substituted with an inactive form of the herb. If an extract is first made with water, the herb will be tasteless when dried and re-used/recycled. On the other hand, the genuine Ling Zhi tastes bitter, but few consumers would know the difference, especially if the herb is mixed in a prescription and boiled together with other herbs. The pharmacists themselves may not be aware, as some may trust their suppliers implicitly, and do not conduct regular testing.

(6) Animal-based "herbs" are prone to substitution or adulteration, including Xiong Dan (bear bile / gall bladder) which looks very much like Niu Dan (bovine bile /gall bladder) when the gall bladder is dried, although Niu Dan is far less bitter in taste. Some are simply unavailable because they are banned in many countries. These include tiger parts, such as Hu Gu (tiger bone) which is substituted by bobcat bone, and Chuan San Jia (scales of the pangolin) which has no animal-based substitute. Niu Huang (bovine gallstone) is unavailable in many Western countries and Singapore because of its potential impact on pregnant women, although Niu Huang Pills with about 2% of Niu Huang are available in many Asian countries.

Herbs