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 Ren Can , Chuan Bei Mu Chuan Bei Mu , or Dong Chong Xia Cao Dong Chong Xia Cao .
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 Ren Can radix Ginseng
dang shen Dang Can radix Codonopsis
bai zhu Bai Zhu rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae
gan cao Gan Cao radix Glycyrrhizae
shan yao Shan Yao rhizoma Dioscoreae
da jao Da Zao fructus Jujubae
(2) *** (Tonify Yang) ***
lu rong Lu Rong cornu Cervi Pantotrichum
rou cong rong Rou Cong Rong herba Cistanches
yin yang huo Yin Yang Huo herba Epimedii
du zhong Du Zhong cortex Eucommiae
xu duan Xu Duan radix Dipsaci
gou ji Gou Ji fructus Psoraleae
bu gu zhi Bu Gu Zhi rhizoma Cibotii
dong chong xia cao Dong Chong Xia Cao Cordyceps
yi zhi ren Yi Zhi Ren fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae
ge jie Ha Jie Gecko
(3) *** (Tonify Blood) ***
dang gui Dang Gui radix Angelicae Sinensis
hu tao rou Hu Tao Rou semen Juglandis
shu di huang Shou Di Huang radix Rehmanniae Preparata
he shou wu He Shou Wu radix Polgoni Multiflori
e jiao A Xiao Colla Corii Asini
(4) *** (Tonify Yin) ***
nan sha shen Nan Sha Can radix adenophorae
bei sha shen Bei Sha Can radix Glehniae
tian men dong Tian Men Dong radix Asparagi
mai men dong Mai Men Dong radix Ophiopogonis
shi hu Shi Hu herba Dendrobii
huang jing Huang Jing rhizoma Polgonati
yu zhu Yu Zhu rhizoma Polgonati Odorati
shan zhu yu Shan Zhu Yu fructus Corni
gou qi zi Gou Qi Zi fructus Lycii
nu zhen zi Nu Zhen Zi fructus Ligustri Lucidi
mo han lian Han Lian Cao herba Ecliptae
bie jia Bie Jia carapax Trionycis
gui ban Gui Ban plastrum Testudinis
(B) Stabilise and Bind
wu wei zi Wu Wei Zi fructus Schisandrae
wu mei Wu Mei fructus Mume
wu bei zi Wu Bei Zi galla Chinensis
fu xiao mai Fu Xiao Mai fructus Tritici Levis
he zi He Zi fructus Chebulae
shi liu pi Shi Liu Pi pericarpium Granati
rou dou kou Rou Dou Kou semen Myristicae
lian zi Lian Zi semen Nelumbinis
qian shi Qian Shi semen Euryales
sang piao xiao Sang Piao Shao ootheca Mantidis
wu zei gu Wu Zei Gu os Sepiae
bin lang Bin Lang semen Arecae
(C) Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing
zi wan Zi Wan radix Asteris
bai bu Bai Bu radix Stemonae
kuan dong hua Kuan Dong Hua flos Farfarae
sang bai pi Sang Bai Pi cortex Mori Radicis
ma dou ling Ma Dou Ling fructus Aristolochiae
ting li zi Ting Li Zi semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae
(D) Regulate Blood: Stop Bleeding
san qi (tianqi) San Qi radix Notoginseng
qian cao Qian Cao radix Rubiae
(E) Regulate Blood: Invigorate Blood
shui zhi Shui Zhi Hirudo
chuan xiong Chuan Qiong rhizoma Chuanxiong
ru xiang Ru Xiang Olibanum
mo yao Mei Yao Myrrha
yu jin Yu Jin radix Curcumae
e zhu E Zhu rhizoma Zedoariae
dan shen Dan Can radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae
(F) Transform Phlegm-cold
ban xia Ban Xia rhizoma Pinelliae
tian nan xing Tian Nan Xing rhizoma Arisaematis
bai jie zi Bai Jie Zi semen Sinapis Albae
xuan fu hua Xuan Fu Hua flos Inulae
(G) Regulate Qi
fo shou Fo Shou fructus Citri Sarcodactylis
mu xiang Mu Xiang radix Aucklandiae
wu yao Wu Yao radix Linderae
xiang fu Xiang Fu rhizoma Cyperi
ju pi (chen pi) Chen Pi pericarpium Citri Reticulatae
ju hong Ju Hong exocarpium Citri Rubrum
qing pi Qing Pi pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride
zhi ke Zhi Ke fructus Aurantii
zhi shi Zhi Shi fructus Aurantii Immaturus
chen xiang Chen Xiang lignum Aquilariae Resinatum
chuan lian zhi Chuan Lian Zi fructus Toosendan
yan hu suo Yan Hu Suo rhizoma Corydalis
xie bai Xie Bai bulbus Allii Macrostemi
(H) Regulate Digestion
shan zhu yu Shan Zhu Yu fructus Crataegi
mai ya Mai Ya fructus Hordei germinatus
gu ya Gu Ya fructus Oryzae germinatus
lai fu zi Lai Fu Zi semen Raphani
ji nei jin Ji Nei Jin endothelium corneum Gigeriae galli
shen qu Shen Qu massa Fermentata Medicinalis
(I) Dispel Wind Dampness
du huo Du Huo radix Angelicae Pubescentis
wei ling xian Wei Ling Xian radix Clematidis
fang ji Fang Ji radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae
qin jiao Qin Qiu radix Gentianae Macrophyllae
mu gua Fan Mu Gua fructus Chaenomelis
sang ji sheng Sang Ji Sheng ramulus Taxilli
wu jia pi Wu Jia Pi cortex Acanthopanacis
bai hua she Bai Hua She Agkistrodon seu Bungarus
hu gu Hu Gu os Tigris
wu shao she Wu Shao She Zaocys
cang zhu Cang Zhu rhizoma Atractylodis
hou po Hou Pu cortex Magnoliae Officinalis
huo xiang Huo Xiang herba Agastaches
pei lan Pei Lan herba Eupatorii
sha ren Sha Ren fructus Amomi
bai dou kou Bai Dou Kou fructus Amomi Rotundus
cao guo Cao Guo fructus Tsaoko
(J) Warm, pungent, Release Exterior Wind Cold
su geng Su Geng caulis Perillae
zi su ye Su Xie folium Perillae
xiang ru Xiang Ru herba Elsholtziae
jing jie Jing Jie herba Schizonepetae
fan feng Fang Feng radix Ledebouriellae
jiang huo Jiang Huo radix Angelicae Dahuricae
bai zhi Bai Zhi rhizoma seu radix Notopterygli
cang er zi Cang Er Zi fructus Xanthii
xin yi Xin Ti Hua flos Magnoliae
bo he Bo He herba Menthae
niu bang zi Niu Pang Zi fructus Arctii
can tui Chan Shui periostracum Cicadae
dan dou chi Dan Dou Shi semen Sojae preparatum
ju hua Ju Hua flos Chrysanthemi
ge gen Ge Gen radix Puerariae
chai hu Chai Hu radix Bupleuri
sheng ma Sheng Ma rhizoma Cimicifugae
ma huang Ma Huang radix Ephedrae
gui zhi Gui Zhi ramulus Cinnamomi
(K) Regulate BloodL Stop Bleeding
zhu ma gen Zhu Ma Gen radix Boehmeriae
bai mao gen Bai Mao Gen rhizoma Imperatae
ce bai ye Ce Bo Xie cacumen Biotae
huai hua Huai Hua flos Sophorae
da ji Da Ji herba seu Radix Cirsii Japonici
xiao ji Xiao Ji herba Cephalanoploris
di yu Di Yu radix Sanguisorbae
xian he cao Xian He Cao herba Agrimoniae
bai jiang (Bai Jiang Cao ) rhizoma Bletillae
qian cao Qian Cao radix Rubiae
ai ye Ai Xie folium Artemisiae Argyi
pu huang Pu Huang pollen Typhae
(L) Drain Dampness
fu ling Fu Ling Poria
zhu ling Zhu Ling Polyporus Umbellatus
ze xie Ze Xie rhizoma Alismatis
yi yi ren Yi Yi Ren semen Coicis
che qian zi Che Qian Zi semen Plantaginis
hua shi Hua Shi Talcum
mu tong Mu Tong caulis Akebiae
jin qian cao Jin Qian Cao herba Lysimachiae
tong cao Tong Cao medulla Tetrapanacis
shi wei Shi Wei folium Pyrrosiae
yin chen hao Yin Chen Hao herba Artemisiae Scopariae
bi xie Bei Jie rhizoma Dioscoreae Septemlobae
(M) Drain Fire
shi gao Shi Gao gypsum Fibrosum
zhi mu Zhi Mu rhizoma Anemarrhenae
tian hua fen Tian Hua Fen radix Trichosanthis
lu gen Lu Gen rhizoma Phragmitis
huang lian Huang Lian rhizoma Coptidis
huang qin Huang Qin radix Scutellariae
huang bai Huang Bo cortex Phellodendri
zhi zi Zhi Zi fructus Gardeniae
long dan cao Long Dan Cao radix Gentianae
xia ku cao Xia Ku Cao spica Prunellae
ku shen Ku Can radix Sophorae Flavescentis
jue ming zi Jue Ming Zi semen Cassiae
(N) Relieve Fire Toxins
jin yin hua Jin Yin Hua flos Lonicerae
ren dong teng Ren Dong Teng caulis Lonicerae
lian qiao Lian Qiao fructus Forsythiae
pu gong ying Pu Gong Ying herba Taraxaci
zi hua di ding Zi Hua Di Ding herba Violae
da qing ye Da Qing Xie folium Isatidis
qing dai Qing Dai indigo Naturalis
ban lan gen Ban Lan Gen radix Isatidis
chuan xin lian Chuan Xin Lian herba Andrographitis
yu xing cao Yu Xing Cao herba Houttuyniae
shan dou gen Shan Dou Gen radix Sophorae Tonkinensis
she gan She Gan rhizoma Belamcandae
ma chi xian Ma Chi Xian herba Portulacae
bai tou weng Bai Tou Weng radix Pulsatillae
hong teng Hong Teng caulis Sargentodoxae
qin pi Qin Pi cortex Fraxini
(O) Cool Blood
shui niu jiao Shui Niu Jiao cornu Bubali
sheng di huang Sheng Di Huang radix Rehmanniae
xuan shen Xuan Can radix Scrophulariae
xi jiao Xi Jiao cornu Rhinocerotis
bai jiang Bai Jiang Cao herba Patriniae
mu dan pi Mu Dan Pi cortex Moutan Radicis
chi shao Chi Shuo radix Paeoniae Rubra
zi cao Zi Cao radix arnebiae seu lithospermi
(P) Cleasr Deficient Heat
qing hao Qing Hao herba Artemisiae Annuae
bai wei Bai Wei radix cynanchi Atrati
di gu pi Di Gu Pi cortex Lycii Radicis
yin chai hu Yin Chai Hu radix Stellariae
(Q) Purge Downwards, Cathartically Drain Downwards
da huang Da Huang radix et rhizoma Rhei
mang xiao Mang Xiao natrii Sulfas
fan xie ye Fan Xie Xie folium Sennae
da ma ren Da Ma Ren fructus Cannabis
gan sui Gan Sui radix Kansui
yu li ren Yu Li Ren semen Pruni
da ji Da Ji radix Euphorbiae Pekinensis
yuan hua Yuan Hua flos Genkwa
qian niu zi Qian Niu Zi semen Pharbitidis
(R) Warm Interior and Expel Cold
rou gui Rou Gui cortex Cinnamomi
wu zhu yu Wu Zhu Yu fructus Evodiae
xi xin Xi Xin herba Asari
hua jiao Hua Jiao pericarpium Zanthoxyli
ding xiang Ding Xiang flos Caryophylli
gao liang jiang Gao Lang Jiang rhizoma Alpiniae Officinarum
xiao hui xiang Xiao Hui Xiang fructus Foeniculi
fu zi Di Fu Zi radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata
chuan wu tou Chuan Wu Tou radix Aconiti
cao wu tou Cao Wu Tou radix Aconiti Kusnezoffiae
wu tou Wu Tou radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata
gan jiang Gan Jiang rhizoma Zingiberis
(S) Expel Parasites
shi jun zi Shi Jun Zi fructus Quisqualis
da fu pi Da Fu Pi pericarpium Arecae
lei wan Lei Wan Omphalia
ku lian pi Ku Lian Pi cortex Meliae
nan gua zi Nan Gua Zi semen Cucurbitae
he cao ya He Cao Ya gemma Agrimoniae
he shi fructus Carpesii
guan zhong Guan Zhong (Guan Zhong ) rhizoma Dryopteris Crassirhizomae
fei zi Fei Zi semen Torreyae
(T) Calm Shen
long gu Long Gu os Draconis
suan zao ren Suan Zao Ren semen Ziziphi Spinosae
yuan zhi Yuan Zhi radix Polygalae
bai zi ren Bo Zi Ren semen Biotae
(U)Extinguish Internal Wind and Stop Tremors
mu li Mu Li concha Ostreae
zhen zhu Zhen Zhu Magarita
zhen zhu mu Zhen Zhu Mu concha Margaritifera Usta
dai zhe shi Dai Zhe Shi Haematitum
ling yang jiao Ling Yang Jiao cornu Saigae Tataricae
tian ma Tian Ma rhizoma Gastrodiae
(V) Open Orifices
she xiang She Xiang Moschus
niu huang Niu Huang calculus Bovis
Bing Pian Bing Pian borneolum Syntheticum
su he xiang Su He Xiang Storax
shi chang pu Shi Chang Pu 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 Jin Yin Hua 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 (Jin Yin Hua ) 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