Chinese herbology

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.

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

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?

• 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.

(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 shifructus 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

(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.