Introduction To The Traditional Chinese Herbs

Welcome to the herb page of our website. The herbal medicine portion of Traditional Chinese Medicine is truly an amazing treasure with over 2000 herbs listed in the classical pharmacopoeia and some 900 different formulas that deal with the large variety of ailments that afflicts humanity. The herbs are typically formulated in accordance with the traditional Chinese medical model which is quite different than how we think of medicine in our modern context. However different the viewpoint and the terminology, Traditional Chinese Medicine has successfully treated illnesses from typhoid and diabetes, to the common cold. We ignore this wisdom and our own peril.

The following pictures and descriptions are a short list of common herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Is our sincere hope that this wisdom that has been developed over the past 5000 years can be utilized and improperly integrated into our modern Healthcare system, thus relieving a large portion of suffering with a minimal amount of side effects.

1. Gou Ji – Rz Ciboti Barometz

2. Chen Pi – Citri Reticulatae

3. Hong Hua – Flos Carthami

4. Dong Gui – Rx Angelicae Sinensis

5. Mei Gui Hua – Flos Rosa Rogusa

6. Shi Hu – Hb Dendrobii

7. Huang Qi – Rx Astragualus

8. a. Fang Feng - Radix Saposhnikoviae / b. Fang Ji - Rx phaniae Tetrandrae

9. Jin Yin Hua – Flos Lonicerae Japonicae (Honeysuckle)

10. Dang Shen – Rx Codonopsis

11. Zhu Ru - Caulis Bambusae in Teaniis

12. Dan Zhu Ye – Hb Lophatheri Gracilis-

13. Xing Ren - S Armeniacae Amarum -

14. Zi Su Ye – Folium Perillae Frutecentis-

15. Zhi Ke – Fr Citri seu Ponciri / Fr Citri seu Ponciri Immaturus roasted-

16. Shi Chang Pu – Rz Acori Graminei

17. Bai Dou Kou – Fr Amomi Cardamomi-b. / Bai He – Bulbus Lilii -

18. Rou Dou Kou – S. Myristicae Fragranticis -

19. Sang Piao Xiao – Ootheca Mantidis -

20. Song Jie – Lignum Pini Nodi -b. / Su Xin Hua - Flos Jasmini

1. Gou Ji – Rz Ciboti Barometz
a. Translated as “dog spine” this herb tonifies the liver and kidney, strengthens the tendons and bones, and is used for lower back pain and stiffness in the joints.

2. Chen Pi – Citri Reticulatae
a. This herb is slightly warm, bitter, and fragrant. It strengthens the screen and digestive functions repeating stagnant patterns such as gastric for abdominal distention, fllness, bloating, and lack of appetite. It also dries damp and phlegm, and is good for vomiting.

3. Hong Hua – Flos Carthami
a. Also known as safflower flower this herb is warm and used for congealed blood from trauma, or stagnation. It is used for menstrual pain, masses, abdominal pain and sprains or strains.

4. Dong Gui – Rx Angelicae Sinensis
a. Also known as women’s ginseng, this herb is warm, strengthens the blood, promotes circulation, regulates menstruation, and moistens the intestines.

5. Mei Gui Hua – Flos Rosa Rogusa
a. This herb is sweet, slightly bitter, and warm. It is used for irregular and painful menstruation, symptoms including construction in the chest, abdominal distention, belching and poor appetite.

6. Shi Hu – Hb Dendrobii
a. This herb is sweet, slightly salty, and cold. It nourishes Yin, clears heat, and generates fluids. It is useful for parched mouth, severe thirst, and fever from dehydration.

7. Huang Qi – Rx Astragualus
a. This well known and widely used herb is sweet and slightly warm. It is known for its notifying effects on the immune system, while strengthening the functions of the spleen, stomach, and lungs. It is useful for your appetite, fatigue, diarrhea, pro lapsed uterus, frequent colds, shortness of breath, excessive sweating from exhaustion, edema, and blood deficiency.

8. Fang Feng - Radix Saposhnikoviae /
a. This herb is mildly spicy, sweet, and warm. It is typically used for external conditions such as influenza and cold, body aches, damp retention and mild skin disorders such as itching. It is counter indicated in conditions of high heat or fever.
b. Fang Ji - Rx phaniae Tetrandrae
i. Flavors associated with this herb include spicy, bitter, and cold is often used informed was for urinary tract infection, and is a diuretic.

9. Jin Yin Hua – Flos Lonicerae Japonicae (Honeysuckle)
a. Honeysuckle is mildly sweet, cold, and affects the lungs, stomach, and large intestine. It’s commonly used to clear infections including respiratory, sinus, skin such as acne, and detoxify as the blood.

10. Dang Shen – Rx Codonopsis
a. Dang Shen is warm, sweet, and affects the Spleen and lungs. It is also know as “poor man’s ginseng” since its healing properties are nearly the same but not as strong as ginseng. It is used to strengthen the immune system, promote body fluids and strengthen digestion, increase white and red blood count.

11. Zhu Ru - Caulis Bambusae in Teaniis
a. One of three types of bamboo used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhu Ru is cool, sweet, affects the lungs, stomach and gall bladder, clears phlegm heat (yellow mucous), calms anxiety, cools stomach heat.

12. Dan Zhu Ye – Hb Lophatheri Gracilis
a. Another form of bamboo, Dan Zhu Ye is cold and affects the heart, stomach, and small intestine.

13. Xing Ren - S Armeniacae Amarum
a. Also known as bitter almond seed it is actually the apricot kernel and is bitter, slightly warm, and moist, affecting the lungs and large intestine. Typically used for cough, asthma, allergies, and constipation from dryness.
b. / Xu Duan – Rx Dispaci
i. It is warm, sweet, slightly spicy and affects the liver and kidneys. It promotes the healing of bones and sinews and is typically used in formulas to heal back and spinal injuries.

14. Zi Su Ye – Folium Perillae Frutecentis
a. This herb is a common beverage used on the summer to relief heat by opening the pores. It is spicy, warm, and affects the lungs and spleen. Often used in formulas for chill condition of colds, it also expels toxins from fish and shellfish.

15. Zhi Ke – Fr Citri seu Ponciri / Fr Citri seu Ponciri Immaturus roasted
a. Peel of the bitter orange is slightly cool, bitter, and affects the stomach and spleen. It clears phlegm and is often used in formulas to relief respiratory infections or any excess phlegm accumulation.

16. Shi Chang Pu – Rz Acori Graminei
a. This herb is warm, spicy and clears phlegm affects the heart, stomach and liver. It clears and calms the mind, often included in formulas that to remove dampness with cloudy of foggy thinking.
b. / Sheng Ma – Rz Cimicifugae
i. It is cold, spicy, bitter, sweet, and affect the lung, spleen, stomach and large intestine. It is alos good for clearing heat, toxins and useful for raising prolapsed organs.

17. Bai Dou Kou – Fr Amomi Cardamomi
a. Also known as Cardamom Fruit, this herb is warm, slightly spicy, and affects the lungs, spleen, and stomach. Common uses include moving the digestion, bloating, warming the stomach and nausea.
b. / Bai He – Bulbus Lilii
i. The common name is lily bulb and it is cool, sweet and affects the lungs and heart. Common uses include moistening the lungs, dry cough, general sense of dryness.

18. Rou Dou Kou – S. Myristicae Fragranticis
a. Also called nutmeg this herb is warm, spicy, astringent, and affects the stomach, spleen, and large intestine. Common uses include warming and moving the digestive tract, loose stools and diarrhea.

19. Sang Piao Xiao – Ootheca Mantidis
a. This is the egg casing from the praying mantis and is considered neutral, sweet, salty, astringent, and affects the kidneys and liver. It strengthens the kidneys, antidiuretic, and is often used in formulas to strengthen the bladder and prevent leakage.

20. Song Jie – Lignum Pini Nodi
a. This warm and bitter herb affects the liver and comes from the nodes of the pine tree. It clears wind and damp which are classical TCM terms that apply to joint pain. It is used in formulas for rheumatoid arthritis.
b. / Su Xin Hua - Flos Jasmini
i. The Jasmine Immature Flower is neutral, bitter, and affects the liver. By regulating the liver function this herb improves moods and is referred to by some practitioners as “happy tea.”