Medicinal Herbs

Botanical Name: Polygoni multiflori Radix preparata Category: Tonify the Blood Taste: Bitter, Sweet, Astringent Temperature: Slightly Warm Channels Entered: Liver, Kidney Dosage: 9-30g Key Characteristics: Nourishes the blood and yin and preserves the essence....

Botanical Name: Rehmanniae Radix preparata Category: Tonify the Blood Taste: Sweet Temperature: Slightly Warm Channels Entered: Heart, Kidney, Liver Dosage: 9-30g Key Characteristics: Tonifies the blood, enriches the yin, generates essence, and augments the marrow....

Botanical Name: Agrimoniae Herba Category: Stop Bleeding Taste: Astringent, Bitter Temperature: Neutral Channels Entered: Lung, Spleen, Liver Dosage: 6-12g Key Characteristics: Binds and inhibits bleeding (internal & external) Restrains diarrhea Kills Parasites...

Botanical Name: Notoginseng Radix Alternate Name: Tian Qi Category: Stop Bleeding Taste: Wweet, slightly Bitter Temperature: Warm Channels Entered: Liver, Stomach Dosage: 3-9g in decoctions; 1-1.5g in pills and powders up to three times a day. Key...

Botanical Name: Euryales Semen Category: Stabilize & Bind Taste: Sweet, Astringent Temperature: Neutral Channels Entered: Kidneys, Spleen Dosage: 9-15g Key Characteristics: Tonifies and restrains the Spleen and Kidneys, and eliminates dampness. Cautions &...

Botanical Name: Myristicae Semen Category: Stabilize & Bind Taste: Acrid Temperature: Warm Channels Entered: Large Intestine, Spleen, Stomach Dosage: 3-9g Key Characteristics: Warms the Spleen and Stomach, promotes the movement of qi, and binds up the Intestines....

Botanical Name: Mume Fructus Category: Stabilize & Bind Taste: Sour, Astringent Temperature: Warm Channels Entered: Large Intestine, Liver, Lung, Spleen Dosage: 6-12g Key Characteristics: Preserves the Lungs, binds up the Intestine, stops bleeding, generates...

Botanical Name: Schisandrae Fructus Category: Stabilize & Bind Taste: Sour, Sweet Temperature: Warm Channels Entered: Heart, Kidney, Lung Dosage: 3-6g Key Characteristics: Contains leakage of Lung qi, grasps the qi, enriches the Kidneys, stops diarrhea, nourishes...

Botanical Name: Corni Fructus Category: Stabilize & Bind Taste: Sour Temperature: Slightly Warm Channels Entered: Kidney, Liver Dosage: 6-12g Key Characteristics: Augments the Liver and Kidneys, secures the primal qi, and prevents abandonment. Cautions and...

Botanical Name: Massa Medicata Fermentata Category: Relieve Food Stagnation   Taste: Sweet, Acrid Temperature: Warm Channels Entered: Stomach, Spleen   Dosage: 6-15g     Cautions & Contraindications: None   Actions & Indications:...

Botanical Name: Crataegi Fructus Category: Relieve Food Stagnation Taste: Sour, Sweet Temperature: Slightly Warm Channels Entered: Liver, Spleen, Stomach Dosage: 9-12g Cautions and Contraindications: Use with caution in those with weakness or deficiency of the Spleen...

Botanical Name: Mori Cortex Category: Relieve Cough and Wheeze Taste: Sweet Temperature: Cold Channels Entered: Lung Dosage: 6-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated for cough or wheezing from Lung cold. Actions & Indications: Drains heat from the...

Botanical Name: Eriobotryae Folium Category: Relieve Cough and Wheeze Taste: Bitter Temperature: Neutral Channels Entered: Lung, Stomach Dosage: 6-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution for cough or vomiting due to cold. Actions & Indications:...

Botanical Name: Perilliae Fructus Category: Relieve Cough and Wheeze Taste: Acrid, Aromatic Temperature: Warm Channels Entered: Lung, Large Intestine Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated where there is severe diarrhea from qi deficiency....

Botanical Name: Asteris Radix Category: Relieve Cough and Wheeze Taste: Bitter, Acrid Temperature: Slightly Warm Channels Entered: Lung Dosage: 5-9g Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Relieves coughs and expels phlegm: an important herb...

Botanical Name: Armenicae Semen Category: Relieve Coughing and Wheezing English Name: Apricot seed Taste: bitter Temperature: slightly warm Channels Entered: Lung, Large Intestine Dosage:3-9g Cautions and Contraindications: Slightly toxic. Should not be used for...

Botanical Name: Auklandiae Radix Category: Regulate the Qi Taste: Bitter, Acrid Temperature: Warm Channels Entered: Large Intestine, Spleen, San Jiao, Gallbladder Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution with those with depleted fluids, yin xu,...

Botanical Name: Santali Albi Lignum Category: Regulate the Qi Taste: Acrid, Aromatic Temperature: Warm Channels Entered: Lung, Stomach, Spleen Dosage: 2-5g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated when there is fire or significant yin xu.  Actions &...

Botanical Name: Linderae Radix Category: Regulate the Qi Taste: Acrid Temperature: Warm Channels Entered: Lung, Spleen, Bladder, Kidney Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Because this herb is acrid, warm, and drying, it can disperse the qi and deplete the...

Botanical Name: Cyperi Rhizoma Category: Regulate the Qi Taste: Bitter, Acrid Temperature: Neutral Channels Entered: San Jiao, Gallbladder, Liver Dosage: 6-12g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in those with qi xu and no stagnation, or in those with...

Zhi Qiao Botanical Name: Aurantii Fructus Category: Regulate the Qi Taste: Bitter, Acrid Temperature: Slightly Cold Channels Entered: Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution during pregnancy. Actions &...

Botanical Name: Aurantii Fructus Immaturus Category: Regulate the Qi Taste: Bitter, Acrid Temperature: Slightly Cold Channels Entered: Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution during pregnancy and in those with...

Botanical Name: Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium Category: Regulate the Qi Taste: Bitter, Acrid Temperature: Warm Channels Entered: Stomach, Gallbladder, Liver Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Because this herb fiercely consumes the qi, it should be...

Botanical Name: Polygalae Radix Category: Nourish the Heart and Calm the Spirit Taste: Bitter, Acrid Temperature: Slightly Warm Channels Entered: Heart, Lung Dosage: 6-15g Key Characteristics: Transforms phlegm Opens the Heart orifice Reestablishes harmonious...

Botanical Name: Ziziphi spinosae Semen Category: Nourish the Heart and Calm the Spirit Taste: Sweet, Sour Temperature: Neutral Channels Entered: Gallbladder, Heart, Liver, Spleen Dosage: 9-15g Key Characteristics: Nourishes the Heart yin and Liver blood Promotes sleep...

Botanical Name: Trogopterori Faeces Category: Invigorate the Blood Taste: Bitter, Sweet Temperature: Warm Channels Entered: Liver Dosage: 3-9g. Place in a separate cotton bag before decocting. Cautions & Contraindications: Disperses blood stasis and alleviates...

Botanical Name: Vaccariae Semen Category: Invigorate the Blood Taste: Bitter Temperature: Neutral Channels Entered: Liver, Stomach Dosage: 4.5-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated during pregnancy. Actions & Indications: Promotes the movement of...

Botanical Name: Achyranthis bidentatae Radix Category: Invigorate the Blood Taste: Bitter, Sour Temperature: Neutral Channels Entered: Liver, Kidney Dosage: 6-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated during pregnancy or in those with excessive...

Botanical Name: Olibanum Category: Invigorate the BloodTaste: Acrid, BitterTemperature: WarmChannel Entered: Heart, Liver, SpleenDosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in the absence of stasis and during pregnancy. Use with caution in those...

Botanical Name: Sparganii Rhizoma Category: Invigorate the BloodTaste: Acrid, BitterTemperature: NeutralChannels Entered: Liver, SpleenDosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated during pregnancy or in those with excessive menstruation. Actions...

Botanical Name: Persicae Semen Category: Invigorate the Blood Taste: Bitter, SweetTemperature: NeutralChannels Entered: Heart, Large Intestine, Liver, LungDosage: 4.5-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in those with blood deficiency. Contraindicated...

Botanical Name: Lycopi Herba Category: Invigorate the Blood Taste: Bitter, AcridTemperature: Slightly WarmChannels Entered: Liver, SpleenDosage: 9-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with cautions in those with blood deficiency or in the absence or blood stasis....

Botanical Name: Leonuri Herba Category: Invigorate the Blood Taste: Acrid, BitterTemperature: Slightly ColdChannels Entered: Heart, Liver, BladderDosage: 9-15g (large doses up to 30g) Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in those with yin deficiency or...

Botanical Name: Curcumae Radix Category: Invigorate the Blood Taste: Acrid, BitterTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Heart, Lung, LiverDosage: 6-12g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution during pregnancy. Actions & Indications: Invigorates the blood...

Botanical Name: Corydalis Rhizoma Category: Invigorate the Blood Taste: Acrid, BitterTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Heart, Liver, Stomach Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Inappropriate during pregnancy unless warranted by exceptional circumstances....

Botanical Name: Pharbitidis Semen Category: Harsh Expellants Taste: bitter, acrid, toxicTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Lung, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, KidneyDosage: 3-6g; crush before decocting Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated during...

Botanical Name: Scolopendra Category: Extinguish Wind and Stop Tremors Taste: AcridTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: LiverDosage: 1-3g in decoctions; 0.6-1g when powdered and swallowed. Key Characteristics: Extinguishes wind Stops spasms, seizures, and convulsions...

Botanical Name: Scorpio Category: Extinguish Wind and Stops Tremors Taste: Salty, AcridTemperature: NeutralChannels Entered: LiverDosage: 2-4.5g in decoctions; 0.6-1g when powdered and swallowed. Key Characteristics: Strongly extinguishes Liver wind Stops spasms and...

Botanical Name: Haliotidis Concha Category: Extinguish Wind and Stop Tremors Taste: SaltyTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Kidney, LiverDosage: 15-30g Key Characteristics: Cools Liver heat Anchors Liver yang Extinguishes Liver wind Nourishes Liver yin Cautions &...

Botanical Name: Gastrodiae Rhizoma Category: Extinguish Wind and Stop Tremors Taste: SweetTemperature: NeutralChannels Entered: LiverDosage: 3-9g Key Characteristics: Calms the Liver with gentle nourishment Extinguishes wind Cautions and Contraindications: None...

Botanical Name: Artemisiae Scopariae Herba Category: Drain Dampness Taste: BitterTemperature: Slightly ColdChannels: Stomach, Spleen, Gallbladder, LiverDosage: 9-30g Cautions & Contraindications: Careful with high dosages. Actions & Indications: Clears heat,...

Botanical Name: Alismatis Rhizoma Category: Drain Dampness Taste: Sweet, BlandTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Bladder, KidneyDosage: 4.5-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution in those with sunken middle burner qi. Actions & Indications: Promotes...

Botanical Name: Polyporus Category: Drain Dampness Taste: Sweet, Bland Temperature: Slightly Cold Channels Entered: Spleen, Bladder, Kidney Dosage: 6-12g Cautions & Contraindications: Do not use in the absence of dampness. Actions & Indications: Promotes...

Botanical Name: Diathi Herba Category: Drain Dampness Taste: Bitter Temperature: Cold Channels Entered: Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder Dosage: 9-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in pregnancy. Actions & Indications: Clears damp-heat, promotes...

Botanical Name: Akebiae Caulis Category: Drain Dampness Taste: Bitter Temperature: Slightly Cold Channels Entered: Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder Dosage: 3-6g Cautions & Contraindications: Caution during pregnancy. Actions & Indications: Promotes urination...

Botanical Name: Coicis Semen Category: Drain Dampness Taste: Sweet, Bland Temperature: Slightly Cold Channels Entered: Lung, Stomach, Spleen, Kidney Dosage: 9-30g Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Facilitates the resolution of dampness...

Botanical Name: Taxilli Herba Category: Dispel Wind-Dampness Taste: Bitter, Sweet Temperature: Neutral Channels: Kidney, Liver Dosage: 9-15g Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, strengthens the sinews and...

Botanical Name: Siegesbeckiae Herba Category: Dispel Wind-Dampness Taste: BitterTemperature: ColdChannels: Kidney, LiverDosage: 9-15g Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Dispels wind-dampness and unblocks the channels and collaterals: for...

Botanical Name: Eleutherococci Gracilistyli Cortex Category: Dispel Wind-Dampness Taste: Bitter, AcridTemperature: WarmChannels: Kidney, LiverDosage: 4.5-9g Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Dispels wind-dampness and strengthens the...

Botanical Name: Mori Ramulus Category: Dispel Wind-Dampness Taste: Bitter, NeutralChannels: LiverDosage: 9-15g Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Dispels wind, unblocks the channels and collaterals, and benefits the joints: for wind-damp...

Botanical Name: Clematidis Radix Category: Dispel Wind-Dampness Taste: Acrid, SaltyTemperature: WarmChannels: BladderDosage: 6-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Because this herb is very piercing and mobilizing, excessive use will readily injure the normal qi.  It...

Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix Category: Dispel Wind-Dampness Taste: Bitter, AcridTemperature: Slightly ColdChannels: Stomach, Gallbladder, LiverDosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: s  Inappropriate for those with loose stools due to Spleen deficiency. Actions...

Cimicifugae Rhizoma Category: Cool, Acrid Release the Exterior Taste: Sweet, AcridTemperature: Slightly ColdChannels: Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, SpleenDosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Because this herb has an ascending, floating nature, it should...

Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam Cool & Transform Phlegm-Heat Taste: sweetTemperature: slightly coldChannels: Lung, Stomach, GallbladderDosage: 4.5-9g Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Clears and transforms phlegm-heat: for heat in the...

Bulbus Fritillaria Thumbergii Cool & Trasform Phlegm-Heat Taste: BitterTemperature: ColdChannels: Lung, HeartDosage: 4.5-9g Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Clears and transforms phlegm-heat: for acute Lung heat patterns with...

Peucedani Radix Category: Cool and Transform Phlegm-Heat Taste: bitter, acridTemperature: slightly coldChannels: LungDosage: 3-9g Cautions and Contraindications: This is a bitter, draining herb and should not be used for cough due to fire from yin deficiency, or cough...

Belamcandae Rhizoma Clear Heat, Resolve Toxicity Taste: BitterTemperature: ColdChannels: LungDosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in those with loose stools, as ingestion can lead to watery diarrhea.  Relatively contraindicated during...

Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma Category: Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity Taste: Sweet, BlandTemperature: NeutralChannels: Stomach, LiverDosage: 15-60g Cautions & Contraindications: There is one reported case of an allergic reaction with pruritus, papulous erythema, and...

Violae Herba Category: Clear Heat, Resolve Toxicity Taste: Bitter, AcridTemperature: ColdChannels: Heart, LiverDosage: 15-30g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution for yin-type sores. Actions & Indications: Clears heat and resolves toxicity: for...

Taraxaci Herba Clear Heat, Resolve Toxicity Taste: bitter, sweetTemperature: coldChannels: Stomach, LiverDosage: 9-30g Cautions & Contraindications: Large doses may cause mild diarrhea. Actions & Indications: Reduces abscesses and dissipates nodules: for...

Chrysanthemi Indici Flos Category: Clear Heat & Resolve Toxicity Taste: bitter, acridTemperature: slightly coldChannels: Lung, LiverDosage: 9-15g Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Drains fire and resolves fire toxicity: for...

Trichosanthis Radix Category: Clear Heat, Drain Fire Taste: Bitter, SweetTemperature: ColdChannels: Lung, StomachDosage: 10-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution in those with cold from deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach. Traditionally, it is not to...

Prunellae Spica Herbs that Clear Heat & Drain Fire Taste: Bitter, AcridTemperature: CoolChannels: Liver, GallbladderDosage: 9-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution in those with Spleen and Stomach weakness and deficiency. Actions &...

Gardenia Fructus Herbs Clear Heat & Drain Fire Taste: BitterTemperature: ColdChannels: Lung, Stomach, Heart, San Jiao, LiverDosage: 6-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in those with cold from deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach with reduced...

Category: Herbs that Drain Fire Pharmaceutical: Citrulli FructusEnglish: watermelon fruit Taste: sweetTemperature: coldChannels entered: Bladder, Heart, StomachDosage:15-30g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution in those with cold from deficiency of the...

Anemarrhenae Rhizoma Category: Herbs that Drain Fire Taste: Bitter, SweetTemperature: ColdChannels entered: Lung, Stomach, KidneyDosage: 6-12g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases of cold from deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach, or diarrhea....

Gypsum FibrosumCategory: Herb that Clear Heat Taste: Sweet, AcridTemperature: Very ColdChannels: Lung, StomachDosage: 15-60g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases of cold from deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach. Contraindicated in cases of fever...

Botanical Name: Fraxini CortexCategory: Clear Heat, Dry Damp Taste: Astringent, BitterTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Large Intestine, Stomach, Gallbladder, Liver Dosage: 6-12g Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Cools heat, resolves...

Botanical Name: Notopterygii Rhizoma seu RadixCategory: Warm, Acrid, Release the Exterior Taste: Acrid, Bitter, AromaticTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Bladder, Kidney Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated for blood-deficient painful...

Botanical Name: Asari HerbaCategory: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior Taste: AcridTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Lung, Heart, Kidney Dosage: 1-3g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated where there is profuse sweating from qi deficiency, or...

Botanical Name: Magnoliae FlosCategory: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior Taste: AcridTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Lung, Stomach Dosage: 3-9g; crush before decocting Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases of fire from yin...

Sheng Jiang Botanical Name: Zingiberis Rhizoma recensCommon Name: Fresh Ginger Category: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior Taste: AcridTemperature: Slightly WarmChannels Entered: Lung, Spleen, Stomach Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: As with...

Botanical Name: Scrophulariae Radix Category: Clear Heat, Cool the Blood Taste: Bitter, Sweet, SaltyTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Lung, Stomach, KidneyDosage: 9-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases of cold dampness of the Spleen and...

Botanical Name: Rehmanniae Radix Category: Clear Heat, Cool the Blood Taste: ColdTemperature: Sweet, BitterChannels Entered: Heart, Kidney, LiverDosage: 9-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated with significant dampness from Spleen deficiency or with...

Botanical Name: Bubali Cornu Category: Clear Heat, Cool the Blood Taste: SaltyTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Heart, Liver, StomachDosage: 30-120g in decoction; 6-15g as a powder Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution in those with cold from deficiency...

Botanical Name: Stellarie Radix Category: Clear Heat from Deficiency Taste: SweetTemperature: Slighty ColdChannels Entered: Stomach, LiverDosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in those with blood deficiency without heat. Actions &...

Botanical Name: Artemisiae annuae Herba Category: Clear Heat from Deficiency Taste: BitterTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Kidney, Liver, GallbladderDosage: 6-12g Cautions and Contraindications: Contraindicated in those with weak digestion or watery diarrhea....

Botanical Name: Amomi Fructus Category: Aromatic Transform Dampness Taste: Acrid, AromaticTemperature: WarmChannels: Stomach, SpleenDosage: 3-6g Cautions & Contraindications: Do not use in cases of heat from yin deficiency. Actions & Indications: Promotes the...

Botanical Name: Perilliae Folium Category: Warm, Acrid, Release the Exterior Taste: Acrid, AromaticTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Lung, Spleen Dosage: 5-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in those with warm pathogen disease, or with qi and...

Botanical Name: Mori Folium Common Name: Mulberry LeafCategory: Cool, Acrid Release the Exterior Taste: Bitter, SweetTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Lung, LiverDosage: 4.5-9g Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Disperses and scatters...

Botanical Name: Arctii FructusCategory: Cool, Acrid Release the Exterior Taste: Bitter, AcridTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Lung, StomachDosage: 6-12g; should be ground or crushed before decocting. Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution in cases of Qi...

Acori tatarinowii RhizomaAromatic Open the Orifices Taste: Acrid, Bitter, AromaticTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Heart, StomachDosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, or where there is...