Herbs - Study Cards

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Zi Cao

Zi Cao
Pin Yin
Zǐ Cǎo
Chinese
紫草
English
Lithospermum Roots
Category
Clear Heat Resolve Toxins
Organs
Heart • Liver • Pericardium
Taste
Sweet • Bitter
Temperature
Cold
Key Things
Moisten Intestine • Move + Cool Blood • Treat Poisoning -Chan Su • Reduce Itching • Treat Burns • Vent Rashes
Actions
Clear heat, cool blood, invigorate blood, clear rashes, moisten intestines, resolve toxins, clear Damp Heat
Indications
toxic heat, blood heat, vaginal itching, eczema, measles, chickenpox, rashes, sores
Dosage
3g - 9g

Zao Jiao Ci

Zao Jiao Ci
Pin Yin
Zào Jiǎo Cì
Chinese
皂角刺
English
Gleditsia thorns
Category
Phlegm Cold
Organs
Liver • Stomach • Lung
Taste
Pungent
Temperature
Warm
Key Things
Expel Pus
Actions
Reduce toxicity, discharge pus, invigorate blood, reduce swelling, vent rashes, expel wind, kill parasites [21]
Indications
parasites, premature sores
Dosage
3g - 9g
CC
open sores, forbidden for pregnancy

Tu Bie Chong

Tu Bie Chong
Pin Yin
Tǔ Biē Chóng
Chinese
土鳖虫
English
Ground Beetle
Category
Invigorate Blood
Sub Cat
Regulate Menses, Traumatic Injuries
Organs
Liver
Taste
Salty
Temperature
Cold
Actions
break blood stasis, heal tendons, mend bones
Indications
amenorrhea, abdominal masses, severe blood stasis, traumatic injuries to tendons, bones, ligaments, bruises
Dosage
3g - 10g
CC
Pregnancy, blood thinner medication

Shen Jin Cao

Shen Jin Cao
Pin Yin
Shēn Jīn Cǎo
Chinese
伸筋草
English
Ground pine
Category
Drain Dampness
Sub Cat
Wind Damp Bi Bones and Sinews
Organs
Spleen • Liver • Kidney
Taste
Bitter, Pungent
Temperature
Warm
Actions
dispel Wind, dry dampness, relax sinews, invigorate Bloood and collaterals
Indications
Wind damp Bi - particularly with joint stiffness; swelling and pain with external/internal trauma, hemiplegia stiffness
Dosage
6g - 15g
CC
Pregnancy

Qiang Lang

Qiang Lang
Pin Yin
Qiāng Láng
Chinese
蜣螂
English
Dung Beetle
Category
Downward Draining
Organs
Large Intestine • Liver
Taste
Salty • Slightly toxic
Temperature
Cold
Actions
Reduce toxicity, move Blood, calm Shen, relieve constipation
Indications
Abdominal mass, sores and boils, hemorrhoids, constipation, mania, epilepsy.
Dosage
3g to 6g
CC
Pregnancy

Feng Fang

Feng Fang
Pin Yin
Fēng Fáng
Chinese
蜂房
English
Hornet's Nest
Category
Topical Application
Organs
Stomach • Lung
Taste
Sweet • Toxic
Temperature
Neutral
Actions
Reduce toxicity • Alleviate Pain • Dispel Wind
Indications
toxic sores, itchy wind rashes, toothache, parasites, ringworms, pinworms, breast tumors, nasaopharyngeal carcinoma, rheumatoid arthritis
Dosage
3g to 6g
CC
Pregnancy, Qi and Blood Deficiency, Pus filled sores

Ling Xiao Hua

Ling Xiao Hua
Pin Yin
LÍng Xiāo Huā
Chinese
凌霄花
English
Campsis Flower
Category
Regulate Blood
Sub Cat
Reduce Masses
Organs
Liver • Pericardium
Taste
Sweet • Sour
Temperature
Slightly Cold
Actions
Reduce masses • Cool blood • Dispel Blood Stasis
Indications
blood stasis, abdominal masses, amenorrhea, breast lumps, traumatic injuries
Dosage
3g to 9g
CC
Pregnancy

Ji Zi Huang

Ji Zi Huang
Pin Yin
Jī Zi Huáng
Chinese
鸡子黄
English
Chicken Egg Yolk
Category
Tonify Yin
Sub Cat
Moisten Dryness
Organs
Heart • Kidney
Taste
Sweet
Temperature
Neutral
Actions
Nourish yin • Moisten dryness • Expel wind • Tonify blood
Indications
Yin deficiency • Blood deficiency • Internal wind
CC
high cholesterol • hypertension • atherosclerosis • heart disease

Yu Mi Xu

Yu Mi Xu
Pin Yin
Yù Mǐ Xū
Chinese
玉米须
English
Corn Silk
Category
Drain Dampness
Organs
Bladder • Gallbladder • Liver
Taste
Sweet • Bland
Temperature
Neutral
Key Things
Kidney stones
Actions
Drain dampness • Promote urination • Clear damp heat from LV/GB
Indications
Kidney stones • Dampness • Xiao Ke • Jaundice • LV/GB damp heat • Edema • Painful urinary dysfunction
Dosage
9g to 60g

Zhu Ling

Zhu Ling
Pin Yin
Zhū Líng
Chinese
猪苓
English
Polyporus
Category
Drain Dampness
Organs
Bladder • Kidney
Taste
Sweet • Bland
Temperature
Neutral
Actions
Drain dampness • Promote urination • Clear damp heat
Indications
Dampness • Edema • Scanty urination • Dysuria • Damp heat Lin
Dosage
5g to 10g
CC
Not for long term use • Yin deficiency

Zhi Gan Cao

Zhi Gan Cao
Pin Yin
Zhì Gān Cǎo
Chinese
炙甘草
English
Honey Fried Licorice
Category
Tonify Qi
Organs
Heart • Pericardium • Kidney • Bladder • Small Intestine • Stomach • Spleen • Lung • Large Intestine • San Jiao • Liver • Gall Bladder
Taste
Sweet
Temperature
Warm
Actions
Increase the effectiveness of Gan Cao, particularly with: Tonify middle • Tonify Heart and Spleen Qi • Harmonize other herbs
Indications
Coughing • Wheezing • Leg spasms • Abdominal spasms • Irregular pulse • Sores • Abscess • Shortness of breath • Loose stool • Irregular pulse • Qi and blood deficiency • Lassitude • Dry cough • Toxicity from herb, food, or drug
Dosage
2g to 12g

Yi Yi Ren

Yi Yi Ren
Pin Yin
Yì Yǐ Rén
Chinese
薏苡仁
English
Coix Seeds
Category
Drain Dampness
Sub Cat
Wind Damp Bi Bones and Sinews
Organs
Lung • Kidney • Spleen • Stomach
Taste
Sweet • Bland
Temperature
Slightly Cold
Key Things
Dissipate Nodules • Expel Pus • Stop Diarrhea • Treat Hepatitis
Actions
Strengthen Spleen • Clear Damp Heat at any level • Promote urination • Clear abscess in Lung and Large Intestine • clear Wind Damp Bi for bones and sinews
Indications
Lung or Large Intestine abscess, plantar warts, nodules, Wind Damp Bi bones and sinews, joint stiffness, joint spasms, greasy tongue, slippery pulse, digestive issues, edema, Urinary Track Infection, Leg Qi edema
Dosage
9g to 30g
CC
None noted

Tong Cao

Tong Cao
Pin Yin
Tōng Cǎo
Chinese
通草
English
Rice Paper Herb
Category
Drain Dampness
Sub Cat
Relieve UTI
Organs
Lung • Stomach
Taste
Sweet • Bland
Temperature
Cool
Actions
Dry dampness • Promote urination • Increase lactation
Indications
UTI • Dysuria • Damp heat • Edema
CC
Pregnancy

Shi Wei

Shi Wei
Pin Yin
Shí Wéi
Chinese
石韦
English
Pyrrosia Leaf
Category
Drain Dampness
Sub Cat
Relieve UTI
Organs
Bladder • Lungs
Taste
Bitter • Sweet
Temperature
Cool
Key Things
Stop Bleeding • Stop Cough/Wheezing • Dissolve KD Stone
Actions
Promote urination • Relieve UTI • Reduce edema • Relieve cough • Dispel phlegm • Stop bleeding
Indications

Sheng Jiang Pi

Sheng Jiang Pi
Pin Yin
Shēng Jiāng Pí
Chinese
生姜皮
English
Raw Ginger Peel
Category
Drain Dampness
Sub Cat
Promote Urination Reduce Edema
Organs
Spleen • Stomach • Bladder
Taste
Acrid
Temperature
Cool
Key Things
Promote Urination
Actions
Promote urination • Reduce edema • Harmonize Middle Jiao
Indications
Edema • Urinary dysfunction • Lower Jiao dampness
Dosage
4g to 10g

Qu Mai

Qu Mai
Pin Yin
Qú Mài
Chinese
瞿麦
English
Dianthus
Category
Drain Dampness
Sub Cat
Relieve UTI
Organs
Heart • Small Intestine • Bladder
Taste
Bitter
Temperature
Cold
Key Things
Moisten Intestine, Move Blood
Actions
Drain damp heat • Invigorate blood • Promote urination • Lin Zheng • Regulate menses • Breaks up blood stasis • Unblock constipation
Indications
Constipation • Amenorrhea • Blood stasis • Heart fire pouring to Small Intestine • Lin Zheng
Dosage
5g - 15g
CC
Pregnancy

Mu Tong

Mu Tong
Pin Yin
Mù Tōng
Chinese
木通
English
Akebia
Category
Drain Dampness
Sub Cat
Relieve UTI
Organs
Bladder • Small Intestine • Heart
Taste
Bitter
Temperature
Slightly Cold
Key Things
HT Heat to SI • Promote Lactation
Actions
Relieve UTI • Promote urination • Drain Heart heat • Promote lactation
Indications
Hematuria • Lin Zheng • Poor lactation • Heart fire • UTI
Dosage
3g to 9g

Lu Hui

Lu Hui
Pin Yin
Lú Huì
Chinese
芦荟
English
Aloe Juice Concentrate
Category
Downward Draining
Sub Cat
Purgative
Organs
Large Intestine • Stomach • Liver
Taste
Bitter
Temperature
Cold
Key Things
Expel Parasites • Treat Hepatitis
Actions
Clear heat • Drain fire • Push out accumulations • Cool Liver • Kill parasites • Tonify stomach
Indications
Heat constipation • Irritability • Liver fire • Insomnia • Heart fire • Liver channel heat • Tinea
Dosage
10g to 15g whole leaf decoction
CC
Lactation • Pregnancy • Children • Diarrhea • Menses • Uterine bleeding

Lian Xu

Lian Xu
Pin Yin
Lián Xū
Chinese
莲须
English
Lotus Flower Stamen
Category
Stabilize + Bind
Organs
Heart • Kidney
Taste
Astringent • Sweet
Temperature
Neutral
Actions
Clear heart heat, stabilize essence, retrains fluid leakage, stop bleeding [22]
Indications
Heart Yin Deficiency, Spermatorrhea, Kidney deficiency, Leukorrhea, Enuresis, Epistaxis, Uterine bleeding, Heart heat with excessive dreaming
Dosage
1.5g to 5g

Jing Mi

Jing Mi
Pin Yin
Jīngmǐ
Chinese
粳米
English
Japonica Rice
Category
Tonify Yang
Organs
Spleen • Stomach
Taste
Sweet
Temperature
Warm
Actions
Tonify Qi • Tonify Yang • Generate fluids
Indications
Qi deficiency • Fluid deficiency • Spontaneous sweating
Dosage
9g to 15g

Huo Ma Ren

Huo Ma Ren
Pin Yin
Huǒ Má Rén
Chinese
火麻仁
English
Cannabis Seeds
Category
Downward Draining
Sub Cat
Moisten laxatives
Organs
Large Intestine • Spleen • Stomach
Taste
Sweet
Temperature
Neutral
Actions
Moisten intestines, nourish Yin fluids, unblock dry bowels[25]
Indications
constipation in the elderly, Yin deficiency constipation, Blood deficiency constipation
Dosage
9g - 15g

Hua Shi

Hua Shi
Pin Yin
Huáshí
Chinese
滑石
English
Talcum
Category
Drain Dampness
Organs
Bladder • Stomach
Taste
Sweet • Bland
Temperature
Cold
Key Things
Summer Heat
Actions
Clear heat • Drain dampness • Clear summer heat
Indications
Lin Zheng (Xue, Re, Shi-re, Shi) • Dampness • Summer heat(watery diarrhea, irritability, thirst, dysuria) • UTI • Topical for skin issues (eczema, athlete's foot, damp rash)
Dosage
10g - 15g; external and internal applications
CC
Spleen deficiency, polyuria, weak body fluid, spermatorrhea [18]

Hu Tao Ren

Hu Tao Ren
Pin Yin
Hú Táo Rén
Chinese
胡桃仁
English
Walnuts
Category
Tonify Yang
Organs
Kidney • Lung • Large Intestine
Taste
Sweet
Temperature
Warm
Key Things
Moisten Intestine • Stop Cough/Wheezing • Treat Lumbago
Actions
Moisten intestines • Unblock constipation • Tonify Kidneys
Indications
Knee and back pain • Kidney yang deficiency • Frequent urination • Kidney not grasping Lung Qi • Constipation • Kidney Jing Deficiency
Dosage
9g to 30g
CC
Yin deficiency heat • Loose stool • Phlegm fire

Hu Jiao

Hu Jiao
Pin Yin
Hú Jiāo
Chinese
胡椒
English
Black Pepper
Category
Warm Interior Expel Cold
Organs
Stomach • Large Intestine
Taste
Acrid
Temperature
Hot
Key Things
Relieve Toothache
Actions
Warms middle jiao • Relieve pain • Dispel cold
Indications
Dosage
1.5g - 4.5g crushed
CC
Yin deficiency heat • Pregnancy • Hemmorhoids • Bleeding

Gua Lou Ren

Gua Lou Ren
Pin Yin
Guā Lóu Rén
Chinese
栝楼仁
English
Snake Gourd Seed
Category
Phlegm Cough + Wheezing
Organs
Stomach • Large Intestine • Lung
Taste
Sweet
Temperature
Cold
Key Things
Moisten Intestine
Actions
Promote urination • Clear heat • Moisten intestines • Unblock constipation
Indications
Dry constipation • Edema • Breast abscess • Phlegm heat cough • Chest phlegm accumulation • Stubborn phlegm
Dosage
2g - 18g

Gua Lou Pi

Gua Lou Pi
Pin Yin
Guā Lóu Pí
Chinese
栝楼皮
English
Gua Lou Pi
Category
Phlegm Cough + Wheezing
Organs
Stomach • Large Intestine • Lung
Taste
Sweet
Temperature
Cold
Actions
Clear Lung Heat and chest congestion, regulate Qi, moisten lungs, transform hot phlegm , expands the chest
Indications
Xiong Bi, Lung Heat, stubborn phlegm, chest congestion, chest pain worse with pressure, yellow sputum, Lung Qi Stagnation
Dosage
6g - 12g [18]
CC
Phlegm cold and dampness • Stomach/Spleen deficiency cold

Fu Shen

Fu Shen
Pin Yin
Fú Shén
Chinese
茯神
English
Poria with Pine Root
Category
Calm Shen
Organs
Heart • Spleen
Taste
Sweet • Bland
Temperature
Neutral
Key Things
Insomnia, palpitations, or forgetfulness
Actions
Calms Shen • Quiet heart • Treat irritability • Promote urination
Indications
Disturbed shen • Dysuria • Insomnia • Irritable bowel syndrome • Spleen Qi deficiency • Dampness • Edema •
CC
None noted

Dong Kui Zi

Dong Kui Zi
Pin Yin
Dōng Kuí Zi
Chinese
冬葵子
English
Malva Seeds
Category
Drain Dampness
Organs
Large Intestine • Small Intestine • Bladder
Taste
Sweet
Temperature
Cold
Key Things
Nodules • Moisten Intestines • Promote Lactation
Actions
Promote urination • Moisten intestine • Promote lactation • Regulate water • Unblock constipation • Relieve UTI
Indications
Dry constipation • Stone Lin • Bloody Lin • Insufficient lactation • Breast abscess • Dampness • Urinary tract infection • Edema
Dosage
3g - 14g
CC
Pregnancy • Spleen and stomach deficiency cold

Dong Gua Zi

Dong Gua Zi
Pin Yin
Dōng Guā Zǐ
Chinese
冬瓜子
English
Winter Melon Seeds
Category
Drain Dampness
Organs
Lung • Small Intestine • Large Intestine • Stomach
Taste
Sweet
Temperature
Cold
Key Things
Expel Pus
Actions
Dry dampness • Transform phlegm • Clear heat • Discharge pus
Indications
Intestine Heat • Lung heat • Intestinal abscess • Thick and yellow sputum • Damp heat leukorrhea Summer damp heat • Edema • Bronchitis

Di Fu Zi

Di Fu Zi
Pin Yin
Dì Fū Zi
Chinese
地肤子
English
Kochia Fruit
Category
Drain Dampness
Organs
Kidney • Bladder
Taste
Sweet • Bitter
Temperature
Cold
Key Things
Reduce Itching • Treat Leukorrhea
Indications
Dosage
3g - 15g