Medicinal Herbs

Andrographitis Herba Category: Clear Heat, Resolve Toxicity Taste: BitterTemperature: ColdChannels: Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Small IntestineDosage: 6-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Because this herb is bitter and cold it can readily injure the Stomach qi...

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...

Isatidis Baphicacanthis Radix Category: Clear Heat, Resolve Toxicity Taste: BitterTemperature: ColdChannels: Stomach, Heart, LiverDosage: 15-30g; 60-120g when a large dose is required Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution in those with deficiency of the...

Isatidis Folium Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity Taste: bitter, saltyTemperature: coldChannels: Lung, Stomach, HeartDosage: 9-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases of cold from deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach. Actions & Indications:...

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...

Forsythiae Fructus Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity Taste: bitter, slightly sweet, slightly acridTemperature: slightly coldChannels entered: Heart, Lung, GallbladderDosage: 6-15g Cautions and Contraindications: None Actions and Indications: Clears heat and resolves...

Lonicerae Flos Category: Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity Taste: SweetTemperature: ColdChannels entered: Large Intestine, Lung, StomachDosage: 6-20g (smaller doses for exterior wind-heat, larger ones for heat toxin, sores, abscesses) Cautions and Contraindications:...

Cassiae Semen Category: Clear Heat, Drain Fire Taste: Bitter, Sweet, SaltyTemperature: Slightly ColdChannels: Large Intestine, Kidney, LiverDosage: 9-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Because this is a cold herb that has laxative properties, it should not be used...

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...

Phragmitis Rhizoma Clear Heat, Drain Fire Taste: SweetTemperature: ColdChannels: Lung, StomachDosage: 15-30g Cautions & Contraindications: Use with caution in those with cold from deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach. Actions & Indications: Clears heat and...

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 &...

Lophatheri Herba Category: Herbs that Clear Heat & Drain Fire Taste: Sweet, BlandTemperature: ColdChannels: Stomach, Heart, Small IntestineDosage: 6-9 Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Clears heat and eliminates irritability: for...

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: Citri Reticulatae Exocarpium RubrumCategory: Regulate the Qi   Taste: Bitter, AcridTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Lung, Stomach Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: s  This is an acrid, dispersing substance that is bitter and drying....

Botanical Name: Scutellariae RadixCategory: Clear Heat and Dry Damp Taste: BitterTemperature:Channels Entered: lung, stomach, large intestine Dosage: 3-9g Actions and Indications: Clears heat and dries dampness: a major herb for damp heat in the stomach or intestines...

Botanical Name: Coptidis RhizomaCategory: Clear Heat and Dry Damp Taste: bitterTemperature: coldChannels Entered: Heart, Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach Dosage: 1.5-9g Cautions and Contraindications: Should be used with caution in those with patterns of cold, yang...

Botanical Name: Phellodendri CortexEnglish Name: phellodendron bark Category: Clear Heat and Dry Damp Taste: bitterTemperature: coldChannels Entered: kidney, bladder Dosage: 3-12g Cautions and Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases of cold from deficiency in the...

Botanical Name: Gentianae RadixCategory: Clear Heat, Dry Damp Taste: BitterTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Stomach, Gallbladder, Liver Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindincated in cases of cold from deficiency of the Spleen or Stomach. Actions...

Botanical Name: Sophorae flavescentis RadixCategory: Clear Heat, Dry Damp Taste: BitterTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Large Intestine, Stomach, Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder, Liver Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases of cold...

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: Angelicae dahuricae RadixCategory: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior Taste: AcridTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Lung, Spleen, Stomach Dosage: 3-9g Key Characteristics: Releases the exterior Opens the orifices (especially nose) Dries...

Botanical Name: Ligustici RhizomaCategory: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior Taste: AcridTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Bladder, Governing vessel Dosage: 3-9g Key Characteristics: Powerfully ascending nature reaches the vertex where it treats headaches...

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: Xanthii FructusCategory: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release Exterior Taste: Bitter, Sweet, ToxicTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Lung Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Overdosage can lead to vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Several...

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: Alli fistulosi BulbusCommon Name: Scallion Category: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior Taste: AcridTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Lung, Stomach Dosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in those with profuse sweating...

Botanical Name: Saposhnikoviae Radix Category: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior Taste: Acrid, SweetTemperature: Slightly WarmChannels Entered: Bladder, Liver ,Spleen Dosage: 4.5-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated with exuberant fire from...

Botanical Name: Schizonopetae HerbaCategory: Warm, Acrid herbs that Release the Exterior  Taste: AcridTemperature: Slightly WarmChannels Entered: Lung, Liver Dosage: 4.5-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated with deficiency of the exterior, fully...

Botanical Name: Cinnamomi RamulusCategory: Warm, Acrid herbs that Release the Exterior Taste: Acrid, SweetTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Heart, Lung, Bladder Dosage: 3-9g; for decoctions, add near the end of cooking Cautions & Contraindications:...

Botanical Name: Ephedrae HerbaCategory: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior Taste: Acrid, Slightly BitterTemperature: WarmChannels entered: Lung, Bladder Dosage: 2-9g Key Characteristics: Induces sweating Calms wheezing Promotes urination Cautions &...

Citri reticulatae PericarpiumRegulate the Qi Taste: Acrid,Bitter, AromaticTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Lung, Spleen, Stomach Dosage: 3-9g Cautions and Contraindications: This herb is bitter and drying.  It should be used with caution in those with heat from...

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: Cynanchi atrati Radix Category: Clear Heat from Deficiency Taste: Bitter, SaltyTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Lung, Stomach, Kidney Dosage: 3-12g Cautions & Contraindications: None Actions & Indications: Clears heat and cools the blood: for...

Botanical Name: Lycii Cortex Category: Clear Heat from Deficiency Taste: Sweet, BlandTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Lung, Kidney, LiverDosage: 6-15g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated for those with loose stools due to Spleen deficiency. 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: Tsaoko Fructus Category: Aromatic Transform Dampness Taste: AcridTemperature: WarmChannels Entered: Stomach, SpleenDosage: 3-6g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases with yin or blood deficiency. Actions & Indications: Strongly...

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: Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen Category: Aromatic Transform Dampness Taste: Acrid, AromaticTemperature: WarmChannels: Stomach, SpleenDosage: 3-6g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases with yin or blood deficiency. Actions &...

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...

Botanical Name: Chrysanthemi FlosCommon Name: Chrysanthemum Flower Category: Cool, Acrid Release the Exterior Taste: Bitter, SweetTemperature: Slightly ColdChannels Entered: Lung, LiverDosage: 4.5-15g; Can be used in decoction, or crushed into a paste for topical...

Cicadae Periostracum Cool, Acrid Release the Exterior Taste: Sweet, SaltyTemperature: Slightly ColdChannels: Lung, LiverDosage: 3-9g; Crush before decocting. Cautions & Contraindications: Many premodern materia medica texts record the use of this substance for...

Botanical Name: Amomi Fructus Rotundus Category: Aromatic Transform Dampness Taste: Acrid, Aromatic Temperature: Warm Channels: Lung, Stomach, SpleenDosage: 3-6g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated in those with yin or blood deficiency. Actions &...

Bupleuri Radix Cool, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior Taste: Bitter, acridTemperature: coolChannels Entered: Gallbladder, Liver, Pericardium, San Jiao (Shao Yang and Jue Yin)Dosage: 3-9g (up to 18g) Cautions & Contraindications: Should not be used when the...

Menthae haplocalycis HerbaCool, Acrid herbs that Release the Exterior Menthae haplocalycis Herba is officially listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as the dried aerial part of Mentha haplocalyx Briq. (Fam. Labiatae). This herb is used for fever due to exogenous...

Atractylodis Rhizoma Aromatic Transform Dampness Taste: Bitter, AcridTemperature: WarmChannels: Stomach, SpleenDosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated for internal heat from yin deficiency or where there is profuse sweating form deficiency in...

Pogostemonis Agastaches Herba Aromatic Transform Dampness Taste: AcridTemperature: Slightly WarmChannels: Lung, Stomach, SpleenDosage: 3-9g Cautions & Contraindications: Contraindicated where there is blazing fire from yin deficiency. Actions & Indications:...

Magnoliae officinalis Cortex Aromatic Herbs that Transform Dampness Taste: bitter, acridTemperature: warmChannels Entered: Large Intestine, Lung, Spleen, StomachDosage: 3-9g Cautions and Contraindications: Use with caution during pregnancy Actions and Indications:...

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...

Ci ShiMagnetitum Anchor, Settle & Calm the Spirit Taste: Acrid, SaltyTemperature: ColdChannels Entered: Kidney, LiverDosage: 15-30g Key Characteristics: Sedates and calms the spirit Weighs down the yang while nourishing the true yin Improves acuity of hearing and...

Ostreae Concha Anchor, Settle & Calm the Spirit Taste: Salty, AstringentTemperature: CoolChannels Entered: Liver, KidneyDosage: 9-30g; should be cooked first when used in decoctions. Key Characteristics: Secures deficiency leading to leakage and loss Softens...

Fossilia Ossis MastodiAnchor, Settle, & Calm the Spirit Taste: Sweet, AstringentFlavor: NeutralChannels Entered: Heart, Liver, KidneyDosage: 15-30g Key Characteristics: Calms with heaviness Binds with astringency (loss of fluids due to deficiency) Secures the...