Herb Catalog

Zhu Ru is sweet and cold and good at clearing and resolving heat-phlegm. When phlegm-heat removed, lung qi is purified and cough is stopped. When phlegm-fire is cleared, heart spirit is calmed and restlessness and insomnia will disappear. For cough due to lung heat and yellow and sticky phlegm, it is usually combined with other heat-clearing and phlegm-resolving antitussives such as Gua Lou, Sang Bai Pi and Huang Qin. For phlegm-fire stirring up manifested by chest oppression, profuse phlegm, restlessness and insomnia, it is combined with phlegm-resolving and tranquilization herbs so as to obtain the action of clearing and resolving heat-phlegm as well as tranquilization and removing restlessness.

Zhu Ling is known as Polyporus, or ‘Pig’s fungus’. In TCM, it promotes urination, leeches dampness, and facilitates fluid metabolism. For medicinal use, good quality Zhu Ling is heavy and solid. The surface should be smooth and black while the inside should be white and without holes. In Chinese medicine, the herb is generally used in its raw, dried form, without special preparation.

Zhi Zi is also known as Gardenia fruit, or Cape jasmine fruit. In TCM, It resolves constrained heat, soothes irritability, clears damp heat downwards, and cools blood. Gardenia fruits are harvested when they begin to turn yellow, usually after a frost in October. The fruit is then dried in the sun for several days, and then dried completely in shade with good air circulation. The best quality Zhi Zi for medicinal use consists of small, unbroken fruits with a thin pericarp, having a reddish yellow in color inside and out.

Being bitter and sweet in flavor and cold in nature, Zhi Mu is good for clearing heat and has the actions of moistening and clearing heat and purging fire by entering lung and stomach meridians. It works the same as Shi Gao in the light of clearing excess heat at qi system. As a common used herb for treating the hyperactivity of pathogenic heat manifested as the lingering high fever, sweat, irritability and thirst, with surging and big pulse, Zhi Mu is often combined with Shi Gao for mutual reinforcement. For instance, Shi Gao and Zhi Mu are combined for mutual reinforcement in Bai Hu Tang from Shang Han Lun. For Zhi Mu has the actions of nourishing stomach yin and generating fluids to quench the thirst, it is used to treat thirst and over drinking caused by exuberant heat consuming clear fluids.

Zhen Zhu Mu is the shell of Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea), Cristaria plicata ( Leach) of family Unionidae or the shell of Pteria martensii (Dunker) of family Pteriidae. The unionidae is from rivers and lakes in China, and the Pteria martensii is from the coast area of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan provinces in China. It is similar to Shi Jue Ming in pacifying liver, subduing yang and clearing liver heat, but its action is weaker than that of Shi Jue Ming. It is good at calming heart and inducing tranquilization to enter heart meridian. So it is mutually reinforced by Shi Jue Ming

Zhe Bei Man (or Mu) has similar action to Chuan Bei Mu but bitterer and colder with strong action of clearing fire especially clearing and resolving heat-phlegm as well as directing downward and purging lung qi. It is mostly suitable for the cough caused by external wind-heat invasion and phlegm-heat accumulation of lung. For external wind-heat invasion, lung heat and exuberant phlegm, it is usually combined with wind-heat dispersing herbs and lung-clearing and cough-stopping herbs such as Sang Ye, Niu Bang Zi and Qian Hu. For cough of phlegm-heat, it is also combined with heat-clearing and phlegm-heat-resolving herbs such as Gua Lou, Zhi Mu and Zhu Ru.

Yuan Zhi (Bot: Radix Polygalae Tenuifoliae) is collected in spring and autumn, removed from rootlet and soil, and dried in the sun. It has the following properties:Calms the Heart; Calms the Mind; Transforms Phlegm; Opens the orifices; Resolves furuncle and edemas.

Yuan Hu unblocks blood vessels, dissolves blood stasis and alleviates pain as a miraculous herb of activating blood, moving qi and relieving pain. It is indicated for all kinds of pain through combinations, especially good at various pain of internal Zang. For intolerable stomachache, it is used as powder singly and taken with wine. For stomachache of cold pattern, it is combined with interior-warming analgesics such as Gui Zhi, Hua Jiao and Gao Liang Jiang, etc. For stomachache due to qi stagnation, it is combined with qi-moving analgesics such as Xiang Fu, Mu Xiang and Sha Ren, etc. For stomachache due to blood stasis, it is combined with blood-activating analgesics such as Dan Shen and Wu Ling Zhi.

Yu Zhu (or Polygonatum odoratum) is classified as a Fragrant Solomonseal Rhizome; it has the following properties: Nourishes Yin; Moistens the Lungs; Promotes generation of Body Fluids; Nourishes the Stomach. The rhizomes are collected in summer and autumn, removed from the fibrous root, washed clean, dried in the sun to soften, rubbed repeatly and dried in the air until the drug is devoid of hard core, and then dried in the sun thoroughly. Or after washing steamed thoroughly, or rubbed to translucent after thoroughly steaming, and dried in the sun. The rhizomes can also be processed with honey.

In Chinese medicine, Yu Jin (or Tumeric Tuber) has the following clinical Usage and Indications: Invigorate blood, break up stasis – used topically and internally for traumatic pain, and to speed healing process of chronic sores. It also promotes movement of Qi – liver qi stagnation, menstrual pain, chest, flank pain. It is used to clear body heat, cool the blood or hot phlegm obstruction of heart orifices with symptoms like anxiety, agitation, seizures. It can also benefit gallbladder affected by jaundice.

The fragrant yellow flowers of the honeysuckle vine are used in herbal medicine around the world for cleansing, consuming, and digesting and the flowers of Lonicera japonica, or Japanese honeysuckle, have the added property of stimulating circulation to remove inflammation. The fragrance is said to induce dreams of passion and love. One of the most enduring folk tales is that if one brings a honeysuckle in bloom into their home, a wedding will follow within a year. Used in Asia medicinally for thousands of years, honeysuckle is an anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, diuretic, and used to reduce blood pressure. The buds and flowers are made into puddings and syrups, and the stems and flowers, used together, are made into an infusion for help with upper respiratory tract infections.

Xue Yu Tan is bitter and astringent. It is used in charcoal form. It can astringe and stop bleeding with the combining action of resolving stasis. It has the feature of stopping bleeding without remaining stasis and is indicated for all kinds of bleeding. It is used both externally and internally. For nasal bleeding and gum bleeding, it is used alone externally. For hemoptysis or hematemesis, it is usually combined with stasis-resolving hemostatics. For instance it is combined with Hua Rui Shi and San Qi in Hua Xue Dan from Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu. For hematochezia due to fire of large intestine, it is combined with herbs that can clear fire of intestine and cool blood to stop bleeding. For instance it is combined with Di Yu and Huai Hua in San Hui San from Lei Zheng Zhi Cai.

Xin Yi (Hua) is the chinese equivalent of Magnolia flower, Lily tree. In TCM, it expels wind-cold and unblocks nasal passages. Native to East Asia, Magnolia denudata still grows wild in east-central China. It has been cultivated in Chinese gardens for over 1000 years, at least since the Tang dynasty. It bears creamy white flowers on bare branches in the early spring and is commonly depicted in traditional Chinese painting, regarded as a symbol of purity, feminine sweetness and beauty.

Xian Fu, also known as Cyperus, Nut-grass, or Purple Nutsedge Moves and regulates Liver qi, regulates menstruation and alleviates pain. For medicinal use, the rhizomes are harvested and cleaned. Large, hard rhizomes with intense fragrance are considered the best quality. Small, lightweight, wrinkled rhizomes are poor quality.

Xia Ku Cao is the spike or whole plant of the perennial herb, Prunella vulgaris L. (Family Labiaceae), grown in the regions throughout China, mainly produced when its spikes become withered, and dried in the sunlight. Bitterness and pungent in flavour, coldness in nature, it acts liver and gallbladder channels. Its bitter flavour and cold property clear the heat and fire, and the pungency resolves the hard lumps. The herb can clear the excessive fire from liver and gallbladder to improve vision, and reduce the phlegm- fire stasis to remove scrofula. It is an important herb for treating conjunctival congestion, headache, and scrofula caused by phlegm-fire stasis.

Xixin is the pungent in flavour, warm in nature and acts on the heart, lung and Kinney channels. Pungent for dispersion, warm for removing blockage, aromatic for moving from exterior to interior, it can disperse cold from exterior, dispel cold from interior, warm the lung, clear passages and relieve pain with good effect. It is an important herb for treatment of Yang insufficiency caused by exopathogens, headache due to pathogenic wind, cold fluid retention, cough and asthma.

Wu Zhu Yu is a powerful herb in the Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia. It is the small, reddish-brown fruit from the Evodia tree, which is native to parts of China and Korea. Traditionally, Wu Zhu Yu is used for its warming effects, its pain-relieving effects, and its qi-lowering capability. It warms the middle, disperses cold, and descends rebellious Stomach Qi. Many formulas containing Wu Zhu Yu relieve headache, menstrual pain, and a wide variety of digestive problems. Some common formulas containing Wu Zhu Yu are: Wu Zhu Yu Tang, Si Shen Wan, and Zuo Jin Wan. The pharmacologic properties of this fruit are: analgesic, anthelmintic, astringent, carminative, decongestant, diuretic, stimulant, stomachic, and uterotonic.

Schisandra chinensis or Wǔ Wèi Zi, (五味子 in Chinese), literally “five flavor berry” is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Schisandra berries are most often used in dried form, and boiled to make a tea. Chemical constituents include the lignans schizandrin, deoxyschizandrin, gomisins, and pregomisin, which are found in the seeds of the fruit. In traditional Chinese medicine, Schisandra chinensis is believed to: Astringe Lung Qi and nourish the Kidneys; Restrain the essence and stop Diarrhea–astringent Kidneys; Arrest excessive sweating from Yin or Yang deficiency; Calm the Spirit by tonification of Heart and Kidney; Generate body fluids and alleviate thirst.

Wu Mei, or Mume fruit, has five main indications: It inhibits leakage of lung qi – lung deficiency cough. It Binds intestines – chronic diarrhea or dysentery. It Generates fluids – alleviates thirst due to heat from deficiency or qi and yin deficiency, xiao ke. It expels roundworm – alleviates abdominal pain. Finally, it stops bleeding – blood in the stool, uterine bleeding with blood deficiency signs (dryness, thirst, parched mouth).

Rhus chinensis, Wu Bei Zi (五倍子) in Chinese, also known as the Chinese sumac or nutgall tree, is a plant species in the genus Rhus. The species is used to produce galls, called Chinese galls, which are rich in gallotannins, a type of hydrolysable tannins. Chinese galls are used in Chinese medicine to treat coughs, diarrhea, night sweats, dysentry and to stop intestinal and uterine bleeding. Wu Bei Zi compounds possess strong antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiarrheal and antioxidant activities; the herb has long been considered to possess many medicinal properties. Gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid), isolated from Wu Bei Zi, induces apoptosis in human monocytic lymphoma cell line U937 and may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent against lymphoma. The gall of Rhus chinensis inhibits alpha-glucosidase activity.

Tong Cao is sweet and tasteless in flavour, and slightly cold in nature.It cats on lung and stomach channels. Being sweet and tasteless for inducing diuresis and excreting dampness, and slightly cold for clearing heat, the herb can ensure proper downward flowing of heat to treat stranguria, and clear breast channel to stimulate milk secretion. It has the effects of clearing heat, inducing diuresis, promoting Qi circulation and stimulating milk secretion. The herb is indicated for stranguria due to heat, galactostasis and other syndromes.

Tian Ma or Gastrodia is a perennial plant that grows wild in the forests of Sichuan and Yunnan. Gastrodia is known for its property of calming erratic wind, settling tremors and convulsions, and reducing pain. It is commonly used in migraines, numbness of limbs, childhood fits and dizziness. In the hands of experienced herbalists, Gastrodia has been known to cure epilepsy. Also, Gastrodia is commonly used as a main ingredient in herbal formulas that address hypertension.

Tia Hua Fen is also known as Trichosanthes root, Chinese cucumber, or Snakegourd. In TCM, it drains heat, generates fluids, alleviates thirst, transforms phlegm, and reduces swelling. The root of Tricosanthes kirilowii is dried for the herb Tian Hua Fen, while the whole fruit is dried as the herb Gua Lou, the fruit peel is Gua Lou Pi, and seeds are Gua Lou Ren. Roots are harvested in late fall when the plant is dormant.

Tai Zi Shen, or Pseudostellaria heterophylla, known commonly as Hai Er Shen (Chinese: 孩兒參, Kid Ginseng), and false starwort, is an adaptogen in the Caryophyllaceae family that is used in Chinese medicine and herbalism to tonify the qi and generate yin fluids. It is known as the “ginseng of the lungs”. The plant is a low growing plant of the pink family that is grown in Southern China in the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Henan, Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Shanxi

Su Mu (Sappan wood) is used for blood stagnation manifested as dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and postpartum abdominal pain. Sappan wood (Sumu) is used with Chinese angelica root (Danggui), Red peony (Chishao) and Safflower (Honghua). It also swellings and pains caused by external injuries. Sappan wood (Sumu) is used with Frankincense (Ruxiang) and Myrrh (Moyao).

The name Su Geng refers to the stem of Perilla frutescens, which is pungent-spicy, sweet and warm. It enters through the lung, spleen and stomach meridians. The herb promotes qi in the chest and diaphram (relieving distention and pain in the chest, abdomen and costal region) and calms restless fetuses. Perilla stem (Sugeng) is usually combined with Cyperus tuber (Xiangfu) and Tangerine peel (Chenpi).

Si Gua Lo, known as Luffa, Loofah, or Smooth Luffa, resolves toxicity, reduces swelling, unblocks channels and colaterals, invigorates blood, and transforms phlegm. Smooth luffa is indigenous to India and Egypt. In China the very young fruits are cooked as a vegetable similar to zucchini. For medicinal purposes, good quality Si Gua Lou should have the skin and seeds removed, consisting of clean, white pieces with a fine reticular network.

Shi Hu, or Bushel of Stone nourishes Stomach and Kidney yin, clears heat from deficiency, generates fluids, and tonifies essence. the plant belomngs to the orchid family. The most common substitution for this herb is Ephemerantha fimbriata, which has very similar attributes and functions.

Sheng Ma is acrid, slightly sweat and slightly cold. The channels Sheng Ma influences are Lung, Spleen, Stomach, and Large Intestines. The herb discharges exterior conditions and vents rashes, clears heat, resolves toxicity and raises the Yang. In TCM, Sheng Ma bulk herb is used in the daily dosage of 3 to 9 g. In most cases, bulk herbs are cooked in boiling water to make tea or soup for consumption.

Sha Ren is used for indigestion, abdominal distention and pain, epigastric distention and pain, lack of appetitie, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Sha Ren has demonstrated inhibiting and stimulating gastrointestinal effects and mild antiplatelet effects. Sha Ren is shown to be effective on patients with nausea and peptic ulcer disease .Sha Ren has anti-platelet action and caution should be used with patients taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant meds. This possible interaction is undocumented.

Sang ye, or White mulberry leaf disperses wind-heat, calms Liver, clears eyes, clears Lungs, moitens dryness, cools blood, and stops the bleeding. In Chinese medicine, various parts of the White Mulberry are used. The leaves (Sang Ye), root bark (Sang Bai Pi), twigs (Sang Zhi), and dried fruit (Sang Shen) are all used medicinally.

San Qi, or Panax notoginseng is a species of the genus Panax. The scientific names for the plant commonly used are either Panax notoginseng or Panax pseudoginseng, and is most commonly referred to as notoginseng. The herb is also referred to as pseudoginseng, and in Chinese it is called 田七 (Tiánqī), Tienchi ginseng, or sanchi. Notoginseng belongs to the same scientific genus as Asian ginseng. In Latin, the word panax means “cure-all”, and the family of ginseng plants is one of the most well-known herbs. Panax pseudoginseng is not an adaptogen like the better known Panax species, but it is famous as a hemostatic herb that both invigorates and builds blood.

Rou Gui, or Cinnamon Bark (肉 桂) has a acrid, sweet and very warm. It is use as tonic for stomach, rid of wind, to promote sweating, for headache, anemia, cold limbs, to promote urination. It promotes lung qi in chill and fever, cold phlegm, diarrhea, muscle spasm, headache, back pain, sweating. It also strengthening muscles and bones, promoting circulation. It use in impotence due to lack of fire.

Qing Dai, a traditional Chinese medicine, is derived from dried leaves and stems of baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek., Polygonumtinctorium Ait., or Isatis indigotica Fort. Its main production is Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hebei and other places. The best quality of Qingdai is Fujian’s production, called “Jian Qingdai”. It is harvested and collected leaves of above said plants in fall, then immersed them into water to rotten, taken out the rotten leaves before added to a defined mount of lime milk, fully stirred immersion, and when the color of immersion changed from black green to deep red, taken out liquid foam and dried in the sun, finally, grinded powder.

Qin Jiao has been used in Chinese herbalism for over 2,000 years and, like other members of this genus, the roots contain some of the most bitter compounds known and make an excellent tonic for the whole digestive system, working especially on the stomach, liver and gall bladder[238, 254]. The root is analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antirheumatic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic and hypotensive. The root is used internally in the treatment of digestive problems, arthritis, allergic inflammations, low-grade fever in chronic diseases, jaundice and hepatitis. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use.

Pu Huang is known as Cattail pollen, Typha pollen, or Bulrush. In TCM, it stops bleeding, invigorates the blood, and promotes urination. Typha is a marginal aquatic perennial plant that can be found growing in temperate and tropical regions around the world. It forms dense clumps around lakes and large ponds, spreading by thick rhizomes in shallow water and can become very invasive unless the water is quite deep. The characteristic fuzzy cylindrical flower spikes of the plant give rise to its vernacular name, “Water Candle”.

Pi Ba (or: Ba) Ye is known as Loquat leaf or Eriobotrya. It is used to transform phlegm, clear Lung heat, direct Lung qi downward, harmonize Stomach, clear Stomach heat, and alleviate nausea. Eriobotrya japonica is known as the loquat, a fruit tree indigenous to Japan and southeastern China, often mentioned in ancient Chinese literature and poetry. The loquat fruit is called “pi pa”, because its shape resembles that of a mandolin-like Chinese musical instrument called pi pa.

Sterculia scaphigera is a deciduous tropical nut-bearing tree of genus Sterculia. Seeds of this plant are known as Pang Da Hai in Chinese-speaking countries and are used as herbal remedies in Indonesian and Chinese medicine. Beverages brewed from S. scaphigera seeds have the consistency of weak tea or higher, and are often drunk together with the boiled pulp of the seed. They are traditionally taken as a restorative to treat loss of the voice from the common cold, flu, laryngitis, and for this reason are a popular refreshment served at Karaoke

Mu Xiang (Aucklandia lappa Decne.) is grown in Yunnan, Guangxi provinces in China, India and Burma; Chuan Mu Xiang is grown in Sichuan province and the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. It is good at promoting flow of spleen-stomach qi and alleviating pain, so it is the essential herb for gastric and abdominal distending pain. For spleen and stomach qi stagnation syndrome manifested as gastric and abdominal distending pain, it is usually combined with the qi-moving and middle-energizer regulating herbs. For instance it is combined with Chen Pi, Zhi Qiao and Hou Po in Mu Xiang Shun Qi Wan from Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng. For the syndrome of food retention and qi stagnation manifested as gastric and abdominal distending pain, nausea and vomiting, belching and foul stool, it is usually combined with the digestant herbs

Mu Tong is also known as Akebia, a native plant to northeastern China, Korea, and Japan. in TCM, it promotes and unblocks urination, promotes urination and drains heat from the Heart via the Small Intestine, and facilitates lactation. At present, Akebia trifolata caulis is the plant used for the herb Mu Tong, as it is effective and entirely safe.

Mu Gua (Fructus Chaenomelis) is the ripe fruits of Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai of family Rosaceae. It can dispel wind-damp and sooth tendons and vessels. It specializes in removing dampness and is rated as the essential herb for treating dampness arthralgia characterized by spasm of tendons and vessels. With warm nature, it can remove dampness and relax tendons. It is the commonly used herb for treating downward flow of damp turbidity to the foot and edema, and can be combined with dampness-drying, qi-moving, and diuresis-inducing herbs.

Also known as Rose hips, Mei Gua Hua are used for the creation of herbal tea, jam, jelly, syrup, beverages, pies, bread and marmalade, amongst others. A few rose species are sometimes grown for the ornamental value of their hips; such as Rosa moyesii, which has prominent large red bottle-shaped fruits. Rose hips have recently become popular as a healthy treat for pet chinchillas. Chinchillas are unable to manufacture their own Vitamin C, but lack the proper internal organs to process a variety of foods. Rose Hips provide a sugar free, safe way to increase the Vitamin C intake of chinchillas. Rose hips may also be fed to horses. The dried and powdered form can be fed at a maximum of 1 tablespoon per day to help increase coat condition and help with new hoof growth. The fine hairs found inside rose hips can be used as itching powder. Roses may be propagated from hips by removing the seeds from the aril (the outer coating) and sowing just beneath the surface of the soil. Placed in a cold frame or a greenhouse, the seeds take at least three months to germinate.

Mang Xiao (Natrii Sulfas)—is the crystal refined from processed Glauber’s salt of family of Sulfates. Being bitter and cold with action of purgation and heat clearing, it excels at relaxing bowels and purging heat; while being salty with action of soften hardness, it excels at soften dry and hard stool. So it is much suitable for dry stool stagnation due to excess heat accumulation. It has the action of clearing heat and relieving swelling when being used topically. For interior excessive fire-heat manifested as sore throat, mouth and tongue ulcer, and gum swelling pain, it can be used singly or combined with heat-clearing, toxin-removing and abscess-curing herbs, such as Peng Sha, Bing Pian and Zhu Sha in Bing Peng San from Wai Ke Zheng Zong.

Mai Ya (Fructus Hordei Germinatus) promotes digestion and invigorate spleen, stop lactation and release distension. This herb is sweet and bland and has the actions of promoting digestion and invigorating spleen, especially helping the digestion of starch food. In addition, it has the accompanied action of soothing liver. For hypochondriac pain or gastric and abdominal pain caused by liver qi stagnation or disharmony of liver-stomach, it can be combined with Chuan Lian Zi and Chai Hu.

Mai Dong or Mai Men Dong is also known as Ophiopogon tuber. The sweet and slightly bitter and cold herb has been used in TCM as anti-arrhythmia, Anti shock, anti bacterial agent and improve contraction of heart muscles, and improves toleration of lack of oxygen, protect heart muscle, enhance immune system, lower blood sugar, etc., as it moistens the Lung and Lung-Yin, benefits the Stomach, promotes generation of Body Fluids, clears the Heart, calms restlessness and anxiety, etc., by enhancing the functions of hear, lung and stomach channels.

Ma Huang, commonly known as Ephedra, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 5,000 years for the treatment of asthma and hay fever, as well as for the common cold. Ephedra is both a stimulant and a thermogenic; its biological effects are due to its ephedrine and pseudoephedrine content. These compounds stimulate the brain, increase heart rate, constrict blood vessels (increasing blood pressure), and expand bronchial tubes (making breathing easier). Their thermogenic properties cause an increase in metabolism, evidenced by an increase in body heat. Ephedra is used therapeutically as a diaphoretic to help expel exterior pathogens and regulate the proper functioning of the lungs. Ephedra has also been used for weight loss, sometimes in combination with aspirin and caffeine

Lu Lu Tong (Beautiful Sweetgum Fruit) dispels wind and dredge meridians, promote diuresis and eliminate dampness. It is indicated for amenorrhea, stomachache, edema, abdominal distension, hypogalactia, muscular constricture in hands and feet, arthritis, anal fistula, sores and boils, tinea and eczema. It is contraindicated to pregnant women.

Lu Hui is the concentrated juice exsiccation of Aloe barbadensis Miller. The juice of plant can be gathered and then decocted into dense paste all over the year. Being bitter and cold with the action of purgation and heat clearing, it can both relax bowels with purgative and clear heat, which is similar to that of Da Huang. It excels at clearing liver fire and is indicated for excess fire in liver meridian manifested as constipation, yellow urination, dizziness and headache, irritability, convulsion.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the tiny green mung beans (lu dou) eaten as soup or congee can expel toxins.Beans are among the super-nutritious foods, and mung beans are among the best. Rich in protein, fiber and good carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamins. According to TCM, since mung beans are “cold” (yin), they help dispel internal heat, clear away toxins, promote urination and relieve hot weather ailments and rashes.

Ling Zhi is also known as Lucid Ganoderma. The sweet and netral herb has been used in TCM to treat cough, asthma, tinnitus, deafness and lassitude of the loins and knees, palpitation, insomnia and amnesia, hepatitis B, etc. as it nourishes Yin and Blood, strengthens the Spleen tonifies Qi and Body Fluids, calms the Mind, strengthens the Stomach, etc., by enhancing the functions of Lung, Kidney, Liver, Heart, Spleen and Stomach channels.

Li Zhi He is also known as litchi seed. The sweet, astringent, slightly bitter and warm herb has been sued in TCM as Antioxidant, anti viral and anti mutagenic agent and to lower blood sugar, blood cholesterol, etc., as it regulates the Qi, stops pain, disperses cold and stagnation, etc., by enhancing the functions of liver and stomach channels.

Lang Du is also known as River radis euphordiae lantu. The acrid, slightly bitter and sweet netrual and toxic herb has been used in TCM to get rid of worms, treat swelling, relieve pain in stochmach, etc., as its eliminates Phlegm, get rid of roundworms, calms pain, etc., by enhancing the function of lung, liver and kidney channels

Kuan Dong Hua is also known as common coltsfoot flowers. The acrid, warm herb has been used in TCM to calm cough and asthma, stimulate respiratory and cardiovascular effects, expel phlegm, etc., as it moistens the Lungs, moves Qi downwards, calms cough, transforms Phlegm, etc., by enhancing the functions of lung channels

Jie Geng is also known as Platycodon or Balloon flower. The plant is easy to grow, cold resistant, and does well in a variety of growing conditions from full sun to part shade. It disseminates and opens Lung qi: it also dispels phlegm.

Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome) drains internal ‘fire’ from the body, relieves toxicity – high fever, irritability, disorientation, delirium, painful, red eyes, red tongue, sore throat, boils, carbuncles, abscesses. It can also clear heat, drain dampness – for damp-heat in the stomach or intestine, diarrhea or dysenteric disorder, vomiting and/or acid regurgitation due to stomach heat, helping with irritability, insomnia

Huang Jing (Siberian Solomon Seal Rhizome) has the following clinical usage and indications: Tonify spleen qi and yin – with poor appetite, fatigue, dry mouth, loss of taste, dry stool, dry red tongue. Moistens the lungs – dry cough, little sputum due to lung qi and yin deficiency. Tonify kidneys, strengthen jing – lower back pain/weakness, lightheadedness.

Huáng bǎi (黄栢 or 黃栢, literally “yellow fir”) or huáng bò (黄檗) is one of the fifty fundamental herbs of traditional Chinese medicine. Known also as Cortex Phellodendri, it is the bark of one of two species of Phellodendron tree: Phellodendron amurense or Phellodendron chinense. The bark is categorized in a traditional Chinese medicine counterpart of humorism, Wu Xing, as bitter and cold, affecting the kidney, urinary bladder and large intestine meridians. Is said “to clear heat and dry dampness”, and “to reduce fire and release toxins”.

Hu Zhang (Bushy Knotweed Root). Clinical Usage and Indications: invigorates blood and dispels stasis – amenorrhea, wind-damp painful obstruction, traumatic injury. Clears heat and resolves dampness – damp heat jaundice, turbid vaginal discharge. Drains heat, transforms phlegm – cough due to lung heat, constipation. Discharges toxins – burns, carbuncles (topically).

Hu Po is the Chinese name of Amber. It is used to arrest tremors, stop palpitations, calm the spirit – tremor, palpitation, anxiety, excessive dreams, insomnia, poor memory, convulsions, seizures. It also helps invigorate the blood, dissipate stasis – amenorrhea with pain, palpable masses, coronary heart disease. It can Promote urination, reduce swellings, promote healing of sores, carbuncles, ulcers, genital swelling and pain.

Hong Hua, known as Saffron, helps in the digestive process, has carminative properties and also helps regulate menstruation. The bitter properties of Saffron bestow it with tonical properties for the stomach while the crocetia that it contains has a effect on reducing cholesterol. In Gynecology, it is sometimes recomended to help alleviate uncomfortable menstruation or the lack of menstruation; however, it must always be used with caution. Saffron also stimulates sweating and is sometimes used to help reduce fevers.

He Shou Wu is the prepared root of Polygonum multiflorum, the same plant as Ye Jiao Teng, which is the stalks and stems of the vine. In fact an alternate name for Ye Jiao Teng is Shou Wu Teng. For medicinal use, the roots are harvested in the spring or fall after 3-4 years of growth, though fall harvested roots are considered best. Roots are cleaned, sliced and dried in the sun. The best roots are large, dense and starchy, not light and fiberous. Sheng He Shou Wu is the unprocessed root, which has a very different medicinal function than that of the processed root. In its unprepared form, the herb is not a tonic but moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels. It is also used to treat chronic malarial disorders with qi and blood deficiency.

Longan Flesh, is also known as gui yuan 桂圓, yuan yan. It has sweet and neutral properties. It is use for treating the heart and spleen.

Gui Jia (Jiao) is good for nourishing yin and blood, stopping bleeding. It can be used for yin deficiency, hot flashes bone steaming, night sweating, soreness sensation on lumbar region and knees, blood deficiency, lusterless yellowness, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, leucorrhea.

Gu Sui Bu is also known as Drynaria Rhizome. It tonifies kidneys – weak low back and knee, it helps with diarrhea, tinnitus, decreased hearing, toothache, bleeding gums due to deficient kidneys. It is also used for mending sinews and bones due to falls, fractures, contusions, sprains. Furthermore, it stimulates growth of hair – used topically as a tincture for alopecia.

Gou Ji (also known as Goji, or Wolfberries) have long played important roles in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) where they are believed to enhance immune system function, improve eyesight, protect the liver, boost sperm production and improve circulation, among other effects. In TCM terms, wolfberries are sweet in taste and neutral in nature. They act on the liver, lungs, and kidneys and enrich yin. They can be eaten raw, consumed as juice or wine, brewed into an herbal tea or prepared as a tincture. The berries are also used in traditional Korean medicine, traditional Japanese medicine and traditional Tibetan medicine.Wolfberry fruits also contain zeaxanthin, an important dietary carotenoid selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea where it is thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering roles. A human supplementation trial showed that daily intake of wolfberries increased plasma levels of zeaxanthin.

Gé Gēn, called Kudzu in the west (Chinese: 葛根), contains a number of useful isoflavones, including daidzein (an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent). Daidzin is a cancer preventive and is structurally related to genistein (an antileukemic agent). Kudzu is a unique source of the isoflavone puerarin. Kudzu root compounds can affect neurotransmitters (including serotonin, GABA, and glutamate.) It has shown value in treating migraine and cluster headaches. It is recommended for allergies and diarrha. In traditional Chinese medicine, kudzu is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs. It is used to treat tinnitus, vertigo, and Wei syndrome (superficial heat close to the surface).

Gao Liang Jiang is a Chinese herb that belongs to the category of herbs that warm the interior. It warms the Stomach, disperses cold, stops pain, directs rebellious qi downward. The drug is collected at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, removed from fibrous root and remaining leaf scales, washed clean, cut into sections, and dried in the sun.

Fu Shen is also known as Spirit Poria. This herb Promotes Urination and Resolves dampness. Because of it neutral property, Fu Ling is frequently used to promote urination and eliminate dampness without damaging qi. It is uzeful for conditions that are excess or deficient, hot or cold. Strengthens the Spleen with qi deficiency is the leading cause of accumulation of dampness.

Fu Ling, or Wolfiporia Extensa is a fungus in the Polyporaceae family used as a medicinal mushroom in Chinese medicine. The poria with reddish inner side of the superficial layer is called red poria and the poria with white inner side of the superficial layer is called white poria. The poria produced in Yunnan Province is famous and therefore the drug is also called Yunnan poria Yunling. After collection, it is dried in shade, sliced, and used unprepared. The mushroom is used for inducing diuresis, excreting dampness, invigorating the spleen, replenishing the middle-jiao, and tranquilizing the mind.

Fang Feng is the chinese name of the Ledebouriella root, or Siler. Its clinical Usage and Indications are: Releasing exterior, expel wind-cold (headache, chills, body ache). Treating Bi-Syndromes, Wind-Damp; alleviating pain, relieving spasms (not very strong, only as a supporting herb) such as trembling hands and/or feet. It is also used for spleen/Liver intestinal issues – painful diarrhea, bright blood in stool and migraines

Eucommia is a small tree native to China. It is near threatened in the wild, but is widely cultivated in China for its bark, highly valued in herbology such as Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The bark is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat lower back pain, aching knees, and to prevent miscarriage. Also used to “tonify” the Yang.

Angelica sinensis, commonly known as “dong quai” or “female ginseng” is a herb indigenous to China and is widely used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat gynecological ailments, fatigue, mild anemia and high blood pressure. It has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and sedative effects. The plant’s phytochemicals consist of: coumarins, phytosterols, polysaccharides, ferulate, and flavonoids. It has antioxidant activity and it is also used as an aphrodisiac.

Codonopsis pilosula (Chinese: 党参; pinyin: dǎngshēn), also known as dang shen or poor man’s ginseng, is a perennial species of flowering plant native to Northeast Asia and Korea and usually found growing around streambanks and forest openings under the shade of trees. The roots of C. pilosula (radix) are used in traditional Chinese medicine to lower blood pressure, increase red and white blood cell count, cure appetite loss, strengthen the immune system, and replenish qi. The roots are harvested from the plant during the third or fourth year of growth and dried prior to sale. The root is also used as a gentler and more economical substitute for Panax ginseng.

Dan Dao Chi (or Dan Dou Chi) releases exterior for hot or cold pathogens, relieves irritability, disperses constrained heat above diaphram For the herb Dan Dou Chi, the black soybean is prepared with other exterior releasing herb such as Qing Hao (Artemisiae annuae) and Sang Ye (Mori alba) in order to increase its medicinal effectiveness. The added herbs are cooked into a decoction, which is then used to steam the soybeans until very soft. The beans are then mixed with the herb dregs from the decoction, left to ferment for some time, and then dried.

Dong Gua Pi is the peel of Chinese wintermelon. It is commonly used for Hot-Lin Syndrome. Dong Gua Pi is often used externally to address Damp-Heat toxin on the skin. For medicinal use, the peel should be sliced in long thin pieces that when dried will be grayish green in color. The winter melon seeds (Dong Gua Ren) are also used in Chinese medicine.

Da Zao (or Jujube) fruits are used in Chinese and Korean traditional medicine, to alleviate stress, and also for its antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, sedative, antispastic, antifertility/contraception, hypotensive, cardiotonic, antioxidant, immunostimulant and wound-healing properties. The plant may help prevent impairment of hippocampal memory. A controlled clinical trial found the fruits helpful for chronic constipation. The fruit, being mucilaginous, is very soothing to the throat and decoctions of jujube have often been used in pharmacy to treat sore throats.

Da Hui Xiang, also Ba Jiao Hui Xiang, or the Star Anise Fruit in English, is a fantastic little creation of nature. This is one of our favorite herbs, with its deep Licorice-like aroma and fascinating design. A Cold-Dispersing, warming herb, Star Anise warms the Kidney and Liver, relieves pain, and has a mild ability to regulate circulation as well. We sell whole intact Star Anise with a fresh and robust aroma. Star Anise is acrid and sweet in flavor, and energetically warming. Star Anise enters the Liver, Kidney, and Spleen meridians.

Da Huang is the Chinese name of Rhubarb. Da Huang drains heat and purges accumulations (associated with high fever, profuse sweating, thirst, constipation, abdominal distention and pain, delirium, yellow tongue coating, and full pulse, which indicates intestinal heat excess or yang ming stage illness). It also drains heat from the blood (signaled by blood in the stool from bleeding hemorrhoids or heat in the intestine) and addresses vomting blood or nosebleed accompanied by constipation. It can invigorate the blood and dispels blood stasis – amenorrhea, abdominal masses, fixed pain due to blood stasis (recent and long-term blood stasis). Finally, it helps clearing heat and reduces fire toxicity – for burns, hot skin.

Da Fu Pi is known as Areca Peel, or Betel Husk. It promotes the downward movement of Qi, reduces stagnation (such as food stagnation and qi obstruction with epigastric and abdominal distention), belching, acid regurgitation, constipation. It also expels damp, promoting urination – edema, dampness in the stomach and intestines.

(Chuan) Xu Duan, or Japanese Teasel Root is used to tonify liver and kidney, strengthen sinews and bones, addressing lower back and/or knee weakness and pain and stiff joints. It tonifies without causing stagnation. The root can also stop uterine bleeding, calm the fetus (or the related bleeding during pregnancy), and the risk of miscarriage. It can also be used to promote blood circulation, alleviate painand traumatic injuries in the lower back and legs, external conditions such as sores.

Chuan Lian Zi, known as Sichuan Pagoda Tree Fruit promotes the movement of Qi and stops pain (flank, rib, or abdominal pain due to liver qi stagnation or liver-stomach disharmony); it also helps with hernial disorders, and is good with heat signs. It clears heat, dries dampness, regulates qi, alleviates pain due to damp-heat stagnant qi. Furthermore, it kills parasites and stops pain associated with presence of roundworms and tape worms. It can be compared to Xia Ku Cao, Long Dan Cao, Zhi Zi for its usage in clearing liver heat function.

Chi Shao is the root of Peony (白芍, 赤芍) and comes in two varieties: bai shao(white) and chi shao (red), the root of the plant is used in both varieties. Chi Shao (common Name: Red Peony Root) has the following TCM. qualities: Sour, Bitter, Cool. Meridians: Liver, Spleen. It Clears the heat, cools blood, invigorates blood and dispel stasis to treat irregular menses, dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhea, abdominal pain, and fixed abdominal masses.

Chenpi or chen pi is sun-dried tangerine (mandarin) peel used as a traditional seasoning in Chinese cooking and traditional medicine. They are aged by storing them dry. They have a pungent and bitter taste.

Cāng zhú (苍术 or 蒼术 or 蒼朮), also known as black Atractylodes rhizome or Rhizoma Atractylodes, is the dried rhizome of Atractylodes Lancea. The medicine is distinguished from Bái Zhú (白术 or 白朮, or Atractylodes Macrocephala), which is typically cultivated, whereas Cāng Zhú more often tends to be collected in the wild. In traditional Chinese medicine the herb is described as spicy, pungent, bitter, warm, and aromatic, acting on the spleen and stomach meridians. It is also used to treat night blindness or optic atrophy, either alone or as a component of Shi Ju Ming and to relieve stagnant liver qi, reducing stress and relieving depression, in mixtures such as Jue Ju Wan.

Bing Lan, or Semen Arecae Catechu, also known as Betel Nut, can be used to kill and expell parasitic agents such as tapeworms, fascioplopsis, pinworms, roundworms, and blood flukes. Caution should be used, as overdoses can cause increased salivation, vomiting, diuresis, and stupor.

Bie Jia, also known as Chinese Soft Turtle Shell is used to nourish the yin, anchor yang – yin deficiency with fever, steaming bone, night sweats, and is also often used when these symptoms are accompanied by internal liver wind symptoms. Bie Jia invigorates the blood, promotes menses, dissipates nodules – chest and flank accumulations causing pain, amenorrhea, malarial disorders with palpable masses, excessive menses due to heat in the blood.

Xing Ren or Bei Xing Ren or Ku Xing Ren is also known as Bitter Apricot Kernel. The warm, bitter and slightly toxic herb has been used in TCM to treat coughing and asthma, enhance bowl movement. moisten the intestine, etc, as it calms cough and asthma, enhances expeling of phlegm, stop conspitation, etc., by enhancing the function of lung and large intestine channels.

Bei Sha Shen (Chinese: 北沙參) is native to eastern Asia, particularly eastern China, Japan, and far-eastern Russia, and western North America from Alaska to northern California. The plant is best known as a Chinese herbal remedy for cough.

Chinese Peony (芍 or 白芍, pronounced in Chinese “sháo” or “bái sháo”; “bái” meaning “white”), and common garden peony is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Paeoniaceae, native to central and eastern Asia from eastern Tibet across northern China to eastern Siberia. It is used as a medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine, to reduce fever and pain, and on wounds to stop bleeding and prevent infection. An antispasmodic effect is also recorded in the Japanese pharmacopoeia. The leaves of many cultivars are high in oleanolic and ursolic acid.

Ban xia, is one of the most important herbs in Chinese Medicine to transform phlegm and stop coughing. The herb is warm and drying and should be used only in people who are not hot or dry (known as “Yin deficient”.) It is used in small 3-6 gram dosages in herbal formulas to warmly dry the lungs, to stop nausea and vomiting, and to address goiters or scrofula. Slices of the dried root are also used as a base for moxibustion. Because the raw root is toxic, it is soaked in water to remove oxalates and other irritants, or processed with ginger. Unprocessed root is only used externally in Chinese Medicine.

Bǎn lán gēn (Eng: Indigowoad Root – Chinese: 板藍根) is a traditional Chinese medicine herb that comes from the roots of woad. The herb is cultivated in various regions of northern China, namely Hebei, Beijing, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jiangsu, and Gansu. The roots are harvested during the autumn, then dried and processed into granules, which are most commonly consumed dissolved in hot water or tea. The product, called Banlangen Keli, is very popular throughout China, and used to remove toxic heat, soothe sore throat and to treat influenza, measles, mumps, syphilis, inflammation or scarlet fever.

Bai Qian, or Cynanchum stauntonii, is used in treatments of cough due to influenza, bronchitis, asthma with abundance of phlegm. Usually bai qian is being used together with zi wan and ban xia. It can be used in both cold type and hot type of cough.

Bai wei, or Swallowwort root, relieves heat, edema, snake bite, toxic sores, swollen and painful throat; it also promotes urination. Cardiac tonic ingredients of bai wei stimulate the heart muscle and improve contraction and slow down heart rate. Bai wei can also inhibit pneumococcus.

Bai Qian, or Cynanchum stauntonii, is used in treatments of cough due to influenza, bronchitis, asthma with abundance of phlegm. Usually bai qian is being used together with zi wan and ban xia. It can be used in both cold type and hot type of cough.

Bai Ji Li, better known as Tribulus terrestris, is mainly produced in north eastern, northern part of China and in Qinghai, Xizang, and along the Yangtze River of China. It is mainly indicated for: achy loin due to deficiency, spermatorrhea, leukorrhea, headache, dizziness, pink eyes with tears, keratitis, cloudiness in cornea, chronic bronchitis with coughing, milk not flowing, itchiness, rash, vitiligo

Bai Ji or Hyacinth Bletilla is bitter-sweet and puckery in flavour, slightly cold in nature. It acts on the lung, liver and stomach channels. Being sticky, puckery and acting on blood; having strong effect of stopping bleeding by astringency, the herb is indicated for hemoptysis, haematemesis, traumatic bleeding and other kinds of bleeding caused by hurt in the lung and stomach. With its astringing nature, it can also be used to heal wounds and promote tissue regeneration.

Bai He, or Lilium brownii, is indicated for: chronic cough, blood-streaked sputum, difficult to solve chronic low grade fever, insomnia with abundance of dreams, inability to concentrate, restlessness, irritability, due to chronic febrile disease with yinxu (yin deficient) Also for palpitations due to qixu (qi deficient) 氣虛 and yinxu (yin deficient). Main applications include: treating of stomach ulcers, treatment of pain in solar plexus because of spleen deficient, treatment of Dengue Fever during frequent urination period, treatment of neurasthenia and treatment of boils.

Bai Mao Gen or Cogongrass Rhizome is a herb is sweet in flavour, cold in nature, which acts on the heart, lung, stomach and urinary bladder channels. Being sweet and cold for clearing heat and moistening dryness, and acting on blood in the heart channel, the herb can clear heat from blood to stop bleeding; acting on Qi in the lung and stomach, the herb can clear heat from the lung and stomach to promote body fluids and moisten dryness. As a sweetherb, it can induce diuresis to treat stranguria. Therefore, the herb is indicated for bleeding due to blood-heat, dryness-heat in the lung and stomach, strangury due to heat, and defficulty and pain in urination.