How to Learn Chinese Herb4

8/13/2019 How to Learn Chinese Herb4

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-learn-chinese-herb4 1/140

HOW TO STUDY

CHINESE HERB

Luzhou Medical College Jiang Hua



Contents

Four natures1

Five flavors2

Lifting,lowering,floating and sinking3

Meridian tropism of Chinese medicinal herbs4



PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

The reason that Chinese medicinal herbs can prventand treat disease is due to their various internalnatures.

The properties and actions of Chinese mecicinal herbsrefer to their natures and effects relating to

treatments, and they are the essential basis of theanalyses and clinical usage of Chinese medicinal herbs,and are also summarized in medical practice and onthe basis of the theories of yin-yang , zang fu,meridian, and therapeutic principles of traditional

Chinese medicine, etc.. The theories of their properties are mainly

summarized as the four natures and fiveflavors,floating and sinking,meridian tropism,andtoxity, etc..



Herbs

Four

natures

Nature

Five

flavors

Lifting

Lowering

floating

sinking

Meridian

tropism



What is Four natures(四性)of Chinese medicinal herbs?





Diagram

Yang

Yang

Yin

Yin

Hot

Warm

Cool

Cold



wheras cold and cool or hot and warm are onlydifferent ,to some degrees , in their variance .

Generally speaking,

cold cool nature can clear away heat,purge fireand eliminate toxic material, which are mainlyused for heat- syndrome ;

warm hot nature have the action of expelling coldand restoring yang, which are mainly used for coldsyndrome .



In addition ,there are also some Chinesemedicinal herbs known as :

neutral ones whose cold or hot nature is

not so remarkable and whose action is

relatively mild. But actually they stillhave differenced in the tendency to cool

or warm so that they are still in the

range of four natures.



1.1 Cold nature

石膏Shigao Gypsum Fibrosum)

Medicinal Properties Bitter and sweet

in flavor, extreme cold in nature and

attributive to the lung and stomach

meridian. Actions Clear away heat and purge fire

, relieve restlessness and thist , and

induce astringent and promote tissue

regeneration.



青蒿Qinghao

(Herba Artemisiae Annuae)

Medicinal Properties Bitter and pungent in flavor,cold in nature and attributive to the liver,

gallbladder and kidney meridians.

Actions Clear away asthenic- heat and summer-

heat and prevent recurrence of malaria.



1.2 Cool nature

薄荷Bohe (Herba Menthae)

Medicinal Properties Pungent in flavor, cool

in nature and attributive to the lung and liver

meridian.

Actions Expel wind and heat, clear away heatfrom the head and eye , ease the throat ,

promote eruption ,soothe the liver and

disperse stagnation of liver –qi.



小蓟Xiaoji

( Herba Cephalanoploris)

Medicinal Properties Sweet in flavor, cool innature and attributive to the heart and liver

meridians.

Actions Cool the blood and stop bleeding,

eliminate toxic materials to treat carbuncle.





当归 Danggui

( Radix Angelicae Sinensis)

Medicinal Properties Sweet and pungent inflavor, warm in nature and attributive to the

liver, heart and spleen meridians.

Actions Nourish the blood, promote blood

circulation, relieve pain and moisten theintestine.



1.4 Hot nature

干姜Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis)

Medicinal Properties Pungent in flavor , hotin nature and attributive to the spleen,

stomach,heart and lung meridian.

Actions Warm the middle-energizer to expel

cold, restore yang and dredge channels ,warm the lung to resove phlegm.



Sichuan pickled vegetable

GingerHot pepper

Xiao huixiang

Suye

pepper

1. ＋Radish

2. ＋ Garlic

3. ＋ pepper4. ＋cowpea

5. ＋ Carrot Cake



1.5 Mild nature

佩兰Peilan Herba Eupatorii

Medicinal Properties Pungent in flavor. blandin nature and attributive to the spleen,

stomach and lung meridians.

Actions Eliminate dampness dut to acromatic

nature, clear away summer-heat from thesuperficies.



We should know that treating diseases withherbs is to make use of their cold or hot nature

to correct the phenomena of overabundance of

heat or cold in the body to restore them as much

as possible to the normal state.Therefore ,on the base of syndrome

differentiation , you must distinguish heat and

cold nature of disease, and have a good

understanding of the cold or hot property of

Chinese medicinal herbs,and then selectivel

apply corresponding medicinal herbs so that

you can achieve the desired results.





Such as Ganjiang( Rhizoma Zingiberis) andHuanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis) can both beused to treat diarrhea, but the former is hot innature, therefore , used to treat diarrhea of

cold type while the latter cold in nature isindicated for diarrhea of heat type. If you don’tconsider their properties,cold or hot, whenyou apply medicinal herbs to treat heat orcold syndromes respectively with hot or coldmedicineal herbs , you cannot achievedesired results of treatment and even bringabout harmful results.



2. What is Five flavors（五味） of Chinesemedicinal herbs?



The five flavors of Chinese medicinal herbs refer tothe five different tastes, pungent, sweet, sour, bitter

and salty, which can be tasted by the tongue. With the

development of the theoty dealing with the medicinal

properties , some flavors are summarized out of

clinical actions of Chinese medicinal herbs, therefore, there is a little difference between the flavors of

medicinal herbs and the tastes got by tongue.

The Chinese medicinal herbs with same flavor mostly

possess similar actions , and the medicinal herbswith different flavors show different actions in the

treatment .



Cycle Diagram

salty

pungent

sweet

sour

bitter

Five flavors

Real tast andfunction



Pungent:

Pungent is a flavor of medicinal herbs thathas an action of

dispersing and promoting circulation of qi

and blood.

Pungent medicinal herbs are generally

indicated for exterior syndromes due to

invasion of exogenous facors and syndromes

of stagnation of qi and blood.Keyword: Moving

Direction: Out ward, Upward and Forward



麻黄（herba ephedrae）

Medicinal Properties Pungent and slightlybitter in flavor, warm in nature , and attributive

to the lung and bladder meridian.

Actions Induce sweating to relieve superficies

disperse the lung to relieve asthma andpromote diuresis to subside edema.







木香Muxiang

( Radix Aculandiae)

Medicinal Properties Pungent and bitter inflavor, warm in nature and attributive to the

spleen, stomach, large intestine and

gallbladder meridian.

Actions Promote circulation of qi andalleviate pain.



红花 Honghua (Flos Carthami)

Medicinal Properties Pungent in flavor, warmin nature and attributive to the heart and liver

meridian.

Actions Promote blood circulation to remove

blood stasis, promote menstruation andalleviate pain.



麝香Shexiang

(Moschus)

Medicinal Properties Pungent in flavor, warmin nature and attributive to the heart and

spleen meridians.

Actions Regain consciousness , activate the

blood, disperse stasis, arrest pain and induceabortion.



2.2 Sweet:

Sweet flavors has the nourishing ,harmonizing and moistening actions.

These sweet in flvor are generally indicated

for deficiency syndromes, incoordination

between the spleen and stomach, certain painsyndromes , constipation due to intestine-

heat , cough due to lung-heat, etc..

Keyword: Tonifying ;Easing

Direction: Staying

Gancao



甘草Gancao

( Radis Glycyrrhizae)

Medicinal Properties Sweet in flavor, mild innature, and attributive to heart, lung, spleen

and stomach meridians.

Actions Enrich qi and invigorate the stomach

and spleen, moisten the lung and resolvephlegm , clear away heat and toxin ,relieve

spasm and alleviate pain.



黄芪 Huangqi

(Radix Astragali)

Medicinal Properties Sweet in flavor ,slightlywarm in nature, and attributive to the spleen

and lung meridians.

Actions Tonify qi to invigorate yang; benefit

the lung to strghthen the body ; promotediuresis and relive edema; relieve skin

infection and promte tissue regeneration.



蜂蜜Fengmi (Mel)

Medicinal Properties Sweet in flavor, mild innature , and attributive to the lung, spleen and

large intestine meridians.

Actions Nourish the stomach and spleen,

alleviate pain and moisten the intestine.



2.3 Sour:

Sour flavor has absorbing, consolidating andastringent actions.

Those sour in flavor are often used to treat

incessant perspiration, chronic cough,

chronic diarrhea, emission, spermatorrhea,enuresis ,frequent micturition, prolonged

leucorrhea, etc., caused by loss of essence

due to asthenia of healthy qi.

Keywords: Absorbing.

Direction: Inwards



乌梅Wumei

( Fructus Mume)

Medicinal Properties Sour in flavor, mild innature and attributive to the liver, lung and

large intestine meridian.

Actions Astringe the lung to relieve cough,

astringe the intestine to arrest diarrhea,promote production of the body fluids to

quench thirst, relieve ascaris colic and

alleviate pain.



五味子Wuweizi

(Fructus Schisandrae)

Medicinal Properties Sour in floavor, warm in nature,and attributive to the lung, heart and kidney

meridians.

Actions Astringe the lung to treat cough and asthma

and nourish the kidney ,promote the production of

body fluid and constrain perspiration, astringe the

essence and stop diarrhea, nourish the heart and

calm the mind.



白芍药Baishaoyao

( Radix Paeoniae Alba)

Medicinal Properties Bitter and sour in flavor,slightly cold in nature and attributive to the

liver and spleen meridians.

Actions Enrich the blood and regulated

menstruation, astringe yin and arrestsweating , calm the liver and arrest pain.



2.4 Bitter:

Bitter flavor has the actions of drying orresolving dampness, purging and lowering .

Those bitter in flavor are used in wide range

and often used for constipation due to fire-

heat, asthma, cough due to adverse rising oflung-qi , damp-heat or cold- damp syndrome.



黄连Huanglian

（Rhizoma Coptidis）

Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, cold innature and attributive to the heart, liver, stomach

and large intestine meridians.

Actions Clear away heat and remove dampness ,

purge the sthenic fire and eliminate toxicmaterials.

D h



大黄 Dahuang

(Radix et Rhizoma Rhei)

Medicinal Properties Bitter inflavor ,cold innature and attributive to the spleen, stomach,

large intestine, liver and heart meidians.

Actions Remove stagnation by purgation,

clear away heat and purge fire, cool the bloodand stop bleeding, remove toxin and promote

blood circulation to remove blood stasis.



杏仁 Xingren

( Semen Armeniacae Amarum)

Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, slightlywarm in nature ,mildly toxic and attributive to

the lung and large intestine meridians.

Actions Relieve cough and dyspnea,

moisten the intestine and relax the bowels.



2.5 Salty:

Salty flavor has the effects of softening hardnodes of masses and promoting defecation,

etc.

so salty medicinal herbs are often used for

the syndromes such as scrofula , superficialnodule, abdominal mass and internal

accumulation with dry stool.

Keyword : Soften

Direction : Downwards



芒硝 Mangxiao

( Natrii Sulfas)

Medicinal Properties Salty and Bitter inflavor, cold in nature and attributive to the

stomach and large intestine meridian.

Actions Soften dried feces to induce

downward discharging, clear away heat.



石决明Shijueming

( Concha Haliotidis)

Medicinal Properties Salty in flavor, cold innature, and attributive to the liver meridian.

Actions Calm the liver, suppress the

hyperactive yang and clear away liver-fire to

improve eyesight.



2.6 Astringent and bland:

In addition to the five flavors that the basictastes of Chinese medicinal herbs, there are

also astringent and bland.

TCM holds that astringent flavor falls under

the sour flavor category

and bland flavor falls under the sweet,

and also there are similar actions between

sour and astringent flavor, sweet and blandflvor. so they are still included in the five

flavors.



Astringent

Longgu; Muli; Chishizhi;Yuyuliang

龙骨 Longgu (Os Draconis)

Medicinal Properties Sweet and pungent in

flavor, slightly cold in nature and attributive to

the heart and liver meridians.

Actions Tranquilize the mind, calm the liver

and suppress the hyperactive yang ,astringe

and invigorate the kidney to preserveessence.

Bland



Bland

Fuling,Zhuling

茯苓Fuling (Poria)

Medicinal Properties Sweet and bland in

flavor, mild in nature,and attributive to the

heart, spleen and kidney meridian.

Actions promote diuresis to resolve dampness

from the lower energizer, invigorate the spleen

and tranquilize the mind.



3 What is lifting,lowering,floating andsinking propertied of Chinese medicinal

herbs?





3.1 Lifting

action : toward the upper parts.

Indicated for a disease in a lower and deeper

parts.

Such as Huangqi( Radis Astragali)

,Chaihu(Radix Bupleuri), and Shengma(

Rhizoma Cimicifugae) ,etc.. can raise splenic

qi and are indicated for syndrome of

visceroptoses with hypospenic qi such aschronic diarrhea and lingering dysentery,

prolapse of the rectum, prolapse of uterus

and gastroptosis.



升麻 Shengma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae)

Medicinal Properties Pungent and sweet in flavor,

slightly cold in nature and attributive to the spleen,

stomach and large intestion meridian.

Actions Expel pathogenic factors from the

superficies and promote eruption of measles, clear

away heat and remove the toxic materials, and uplift

yang-qi of the spleen.



3.2 lowering

function toward the lower parts and possess theaction of descending adverse qi and are indicated forthe disease due to adverse ascending of pathogenicfactors,

like Daizheshi(Haematitum) ,Chenxiang(Lignum

Aqulariae Resinatum) and Shijueming (ConchaHaliotides) can descend adverse flow of qi and fire,subdue exuberant yang of the liver and descendadverse qi of the lung and stomach and are indicatedfor bleeding, painful swollen gum and aphthae due to

ascendancy of rebellious qi and fire; dizziness due toexuberance of liver-yang, cough and dyspnea due toabnormal rising of lung-qi, nausea and vomiting andeructation dut to abnormal rising of stomach-qi .



Medicinal Properties Bitter,pungent and saltyin flavor, slightly warm in nature and

attributive to the spleen, lung, stomach and


Actions Descend the adverse-rising qi,resolve phlegm and arrest vomiting.

旋复花Xuanfuhua ( Flos Inulae)



3.3 Floating

function toward the upper and outward parts,generally exert the effects of sweating and

dispersing and are indicated for the disease in

the upper and superficial parts.

For instance, Mahuang( Herba Ephedrae),Zisu( Folium Perillae), Fangfeng( Radix

Saposhnikoviae) and Duhuo( Radix Angelicae

Pubescentis ) can dispel wind-cold and

dampness from the exterior and are indicated

for wind and cold exterior-syndrome, wind-

damp type of Bi-syndrome,etc..



紫苏叶Zisuye( Folium Periillae)

Medicinal Properties Pungent in floavor,warm in nature, and attributive to the lung and

spleen meridian.

Actions Relieve superficial pathogenic

factors to dissipate cold, and promote thecirculation of qi and regulate the function of

the stomach.



3.4 sinking

function toward the lower and inward parts,have the effects of lowering the adverse flow

of qi and relaxing bowels and are indicated for

the disease in the lower and interior.

For instance, Dahuang (Radix et RhizomaRhei) and Mutong( Caulis Akebiae) separately

have the effects of relaxing the bowels and

promoting diuresis and are used to treat

constipation , abdominal distention and pain,

and dysuria, etc..



木通Mutong( Caulis Akebiae)

Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, cold innature and attributive to the heart, small

intestine and bladder meridians.

Actions Clear away heart-heat, promote

diuresis, menstruation and lactation.



two couples whose direction of actions is opposite.

Lifting and floating are similar in their actions, so aresinking and lowering.

Therefore lifting and floating may be calledconcurrently, so may sinking and lowering .

The lifting and floating medicinal herbs moving in

ascending and outward directions generally exert theeffects of invigorating splenic yang, reliebingsuperficies, dispelling wind and cold, andresuscitation, etc.;

the lowering and sinking medicinal herbs moving in

descending and inward directions generally have theeffects of clearing away heat, lowring the adverseflow of qi, purging, promoting diuresis, tranquilizingthe mind, suppressing the hyperactive yang andstopping wind, and astringing, etc..



The lifting, lowering, floating and sinking ofmedicinal herbs are generally based upon

their natures, flavors and qualities.

Generally speaking,

pungent and sweet in flavor, warm and heat innature are mostly lifting and floating in their

actions while those bitter,

sour and salty , and cold or cool in nature aremostly sinking and lowering in their actions.



flowers, leaves, and branches, etc., which are light in

property are mostly lifting and floating in theiractions,

while those of fruits,seeds, and minerals,etc., whichare heavy in property are mostly sinking andlowering.

But there is an additional small number of Chinesemedicinal herbs, for example, Houpo (CortexMagnoliae Officinalis) , a bark kind, pungent, bitterand warm in its flavor and nature can lower qi andrelieve dyspnea. Xuanfuhua ( Flos Inulae), a flower

kind, can lower qi and Chuanxiong ( RhizomaChuanxiong), a root kind ,can move in upper directioneven to the head and eyes and yet in descendingdirection to uterus( blood sea).



It may be affected by some medicinal processing of

medicinal combination.

For instance, the sinking or lowering medicinal herbs

can turn into the lifing or floating ones when they are

stir-baked with wine; in the same way,

the lifting or floating herbs will turn into the sinking

or lowering ones, which enter the kidney when they

are stir-baked with a salt solution, and when they are

used in combination with a variety of strong sinking

or lowering herbs, their lifting or floating actions arechanged into obscurity.



What is meridian tropism of Chinesemedicinal herbs?



Meridian tropism refers to that medicinalherbs may often produce their therapeutic

effects on some portion of a human body in

preference, that is to say, their therapeutic

action is mainly related to some viscus orchannel or some channels in predominance

but it may seem to produce fewer effects on

or seem not related to the other viscera and

channels.

4 1Li G llbl dd idi



4.1Liver – Gallbladder meridian

青皮 Qingpi( Pericarpium Citri ReticulataeVride)

Medicinal Properties Bitter and pungent in

flavor, warm in nature and attributive to the

liver, gallbladder and stomach meridians.Actions Soothe the liver to break qi

stagnation, eliminate mass and relieve

dyspepsia.

Shuizhi( Hirudo)



水蛭 Shuizhi( Hirudo)

Medicinal Properties Salty and bitter inflavor, mild in nature, mildly toxic and

attributive to the liver meridian.

Actions Remove blood stasis.

Quanxie( Scorpio)



全蝎 Quanxie( Scorpio)

Medicinal Properties pungent in flavor, mildin nature, toxic, and attributive to the liver

meridian.

Actions Stop endogenous wind to relieve

convulsion, eliminate toxic materials anddisperse the lumps, and drege the meridian

and alleviate pain.

天麻 Tianma( Rhi G t di )



( Rhizoma Gastrodiae)

Medicinal Properties Sweet in flavor, mild innature and attributive to the liver meridian.

Actions Stop endogenous wind to arrest

convulsion, calm the liver and suppress yang.

柴胡Chaihu( R di B l i)



( Radix Bupleuri)

Medicinal Properties Bitter and pungent inflavor, slightly cold in nature and attributive to

the liver and gallbladder meridians.

Actions Regulate the functional relation of

internal organs to relieve fever, diperse thestagnated liver-qi and uplift yang-qi to raise

sinking.

青黛Qingdai( I di N t li )



( Indigo Naturalis)

Medicinal Properties Salty in flavor, cold innature and attributive to the liver meridian.

Actions Clear away heat and liver-fire, and

relieve toxin, cool blood and disperse

maculae, and stop convulsion.

茵陈蒿 Yinchenhao



( Herba Artemisiae Scopariae)

Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, slightlycold in nature and attrivutive to the spleen,

stomach, liver and gallbladder meridians.

Actions Clear away heat and eliminate

dampness, drain the gallbladder to relieve jaundice.



桂枝Guizhi( Ram l s Cinnamomi)



( Ramulus Cinnamomi)

Medicinal Properties Pungent and sweet inflavor, warm in nature, and attributive to the

heart, lung and bladder meridians.

Actions Induce sweating to relieve

superficies and activate yang and circulate qiby warming meridian.

淡竹叶Danzhuye(Herba Lophatheri)



(Herba Lophatheri)

Medicinal Properties Sweet and bland inflavor, cold in nature and attributive to the

heart, stomach and small intestine meridians.

Actions Clear away heat to relieve

restlessness, clear away heart-fire andpromote diuresis.

4.3 Spleen- Stomach meridian



p

人参 Renshen( Radix Ginseng)

Medicinal Properties Sweet and slightlybitter in flavor, warm in nature, and attributive

to the spleen, lung and heart meridians.

Actions Invigotate renal qi, strengthen qi of

the spleen and lung, promote production of

the body fluids to quench thirst, and calm the

mind to promote intelligence.

白术Baizhu( Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae)



( Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae)

Medicinal Properties Bitter and sweet inflavor, warm in nature, and attributive to the

spleen and stomach meridians.

Actions Invigorate the spleen and benefit qi,

eliminate dampness and promote diuresis,stop sweating and soothe the fetus.

山药Shanyao( Rhizoma Dioscoreae)



y ( )

Medicinal Properties Sweet in flavor, mild innature, and attributive to the spleen, lung and

kidney meridians.

Actions Invigorate the spleen and stomach;

promote production of the body fluids andbenefit the lung, invigorate the kidney and

preserve the essence.

半夏 Banxia( Rhizoma Pinelliae)



( Rhizoma Pinelliae)

Medicinal Properties Pungent in flavor, warmin nature,toxic and attributive to the spleen,

tomach and lung meridians.

Actions Dry dampness and eliminate

phlegm, lower the adverse rising qi to stopvomiting, disperse stagnation and lumps and

externally disperse swelling and relieve pains.

4.4 Lung-Large intestine meridian



g g

苍耳子Cang’erzi ( Fructus Xanthii)

Medicinal Properties Pungent and bitter in

flavor, warm in nature, mildly toxic and

attributive to lung meridian.

Actions Expel wind and dampness, clear thenasal passage and alleviate pain.

桔梗Jiegeng( Rradix Platycodi)



Medicinal Properties Bitter and pungent in

flavor, bland in nature and attributive to the

lung meridian.

Actions Disperse the lung to resolve phlegm,

ease the throat and drain the pus.



瓜蒌Gualou ( Fructus Trichosanthis)



Medicinal Properties Sweet and slightly

bitter in flavor and cold in nature and

attributive to the lung, stomach and large

intestine meridian.

Actions Clear away lung-heat and resolvephlegm,ease the chest and disperse lumps,

lubricate the intestine and relax the bowel.

番泻叶Fanxieye( Folium Sennae)



( Folium Sennae)

Medicinal Properties Sweet and bitter in

flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the


Actions Purge and relax the bowels.

4.5 Kidney- Bladder meridian



鹿茸Lurong ( Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum)

Medicinal Properties Sweet and salty in flvor,

warm in nature, and attributive to the liver and

kidney ,Du meridians.

Actions Nourish kidney-yang, promote theproduction of the essence and blood,

strengthen tendons and bones.

龟版Guiban

(Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis)



(Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis)

Medicinal Properties Sweet amd salty in

flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the

liver, kidney , heart ,and Ren meridians.

Actions Nourish yin and suppress the

hyperactive yang , benefit the kidney andstrengthen the bone, enrich the blood and

nourishing the heart, regulate menstruation

and relieve bleeding.

猪苓Zhuling( Polyporus)



Medicinal Properties Sweet and bland in

flavor, mild in nature and attributive to the

kidney and bladder meridians.

Actions Promote diuresis to resolve

dampness.

羌活Qianghuo



( Rhizoma et Radix Nottopterygii)

Medicinal Properties Pungent and bitter in

flavor ,warm in nature, and attributive to the

bladder and kidney meridians.

Actions Expel wind and dampness, dispel

cold to relieve pain.

4.6 Triple energizer- Pericardium meridian



栀子 Zhizi(Fructus Gardeniae)

Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, cold innature and attributive to the heart, liver and

triple energizer meridians.

Actions Purege excess fire to relive vesation,clear away heat and remove dampness, cool

blood and remove toxic materials, subside

swelling to alleviate pain.

香附Xiangfu( Rhizoma Cyperi)



Medicinal Properties Pungent, slightly bitter

and sweet in flavor, mild in nature and

attributive to the liver and triple energizer

meridians.

Actions Soothe the liver to regulate qi andregulate menstruation to relieve pain.

丹参 Danshen( Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae)



( Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae)

Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, slightly

cold in nature and attributive to the heart,

pericardium and liver meridians.

Actions Promote blood circulation to remove

blood stasis, regulate menstruation to relievepainm cool the blood to relieve carbuncle, and

clear away heat from the heart and tranquilize

the mind.

川芎 Chuanxiong( Rhizoma chuanxiong)



( Rhizoma chuanxiong)

Medicinal Properties Pungent in flavor, warm

in nature and attrivutive to the liver,

gallbladder and pericardium meridians.

Actions Promote the circulation of the blood

and qi, expel wind and alleviate pain.

Meridian tropism



Meridian tropism

Basis theory of viscera and meridians, and the indication of

syndromes. For instance,Mahuang( Herba Ephedrae) and Xingren( Semen

Armeniaccae Amarum) effective to syndromes of the disorder ofthe lung meridian marked by cough and dyspnea are attributedto the lung-meridian;

Qingpi(Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride) andXiangfu(Rhizoma Cyperi) indicated for syndromes of thedisorder of the liver-meridian marked by distending pain ofbreast and hypochondrium and hernia pain are attributed to theliver meridian.

So generally speaking, what meridian or meridians a medicinal

herb is attributed to is just related to the certain meridian ormeridians on which the herb may work. The more meridians theherb can be attributed means the wider the herb can be used totreat the disorders of these meridians.



So the theory of meridian tropism plays a

certain role in clinical selection of Chinese

medicinal herbs according to syndromes,

giving a rise of direction and strengthening

the therapeutic effects, and in addition, youcan take this theory to probe their potential

effects of some medicinal herbs and to extend

their applying range.



But in clinical practice, owing to frequent occurrence of

transmission of a disease between zangfu-organs or meridiansin addition to the Chinese medicinal herbs only for one viscus ormeridian, those for the other viscera or meridians are alsousually used together.

For instance, when treating lung disorders affects the spleen,both the medicinal herbs for treating lung disorders and

invorgorating the spleen should be used too, which is calledsupplementing the spleen to nourish the lung.

For the same reson, a syndrome with hyperactivity of liver-yangdue to insufficiency of kidney-yin should be treated incombination with the medicinal herbs nourishing kidney- yin to

have the liver nourished and deficiency of yang calmed, which isthe method of nourishing renal yin to tonify liver yin.





What should we pay attention to dowhen using the poisonous Chinesemedicinal herbs ?



“ treating virulent pathogen with poisonous agents”, that is ,

some poisonous medicinal herbs with obvious therapeuticeffects, under the safety of administration, may be used properlyfor such serious intractable disease as malignant boil withswelling, scabies, scrofula, goiter,cancer tumor and abdominalmass.

Toxicity refers to a harmful effect of a medicinal herbs to the

human body, a poisonous medicinal material being known as atoxin. The medicinal herbs drastic or poinsonous in nature, ifused improperly, can do harm to the body for the light and cancause death for the severe. In order to ensure safety in the useof medicinal herbs, their toxicity must be thoroughlyunderstood.

In order to ensure the safety in administration of medicinalherbs and bring therapeutic effects into play and avoidpoisonous reaction ,we shoud pay attention to the foullowingpoints.

5.1 Strictly processing



The toxicity can be reduced by being processed.

Therefore, you must strictly follow the process rulesof preparing raw medicinal materials.

Badou( Fructus Crotonis), a kind of drastic purgatives

that is poisonous in nature, easily results in

poisoning if not prepared into Badushuang( SemenCrotonis Pulveratum) which is taken orally.

After Fuzi( Radix Aconiti) is prepared through

soaking, its toxicity decreases and it can be widely

used and meanwhile does not easily cause poisoning.







What is compatibility of Chinesemedicinal herbs?



Compatibility of Chinese medicinal herbs refers to the

combination of more than two herbs with purpose inthe light of the clinical requirement and medicinal

properties and actions. It is the main method of

medicinal application in clinic and also the basis of

making up for formulae of Chinese medicinal herbs. The relationship between a single and the compatible

ingredients was generalized previously by ancient

physicians as seven aspects. Except that singular

application means using a single medicinal herb, theother six aspects mainly denote the relationship of

compatibility between Chinese medicinal herbs.

6.1 Mutual reinforcement:



That is , two or more ingredients with similar

properties and effects are used in combination toreinforce each other’s action.

Dahuang( Rhizoma et Radix Rhei) and Mangxiao

(Natrii Sulfas) which are both purgative, after they are

used in combination, can reinforce each other’soriginal purgativing action;

Honghua( Flos Carthami) and Taoren( Semen

Persicae) of blood invigorating herbs used in

combination can reinforce their action of invigoratingherbs used in combination can reinforce their action

of invigorating the blood and removing blood

obstruction.

6.2 Mutual assistance:



Chinese medicinal herbs that are not certainly similar but have

some relationship in the aspect of medicinal properties andactions are used in combination, in which one herb is taken asthe dominate factor and the others as its assistants to raise itstherapeutic effects.

Huangqi( Radix Astragali) with the effect of tonifying qi andpromoting the flow of water is used in combination with Fangji(

Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae) with the effects of promoting theflow of water and permeating the dampness, the latterreinforcing the former’s action of promoting the flow of water, sothir combination can be used for edema due to spleen-dificiency;Shigao(Gypsum Fibrosum) with the effect of clearing away heatand purging fire in combination with Xixin( Herba Asari) can

purge fire to relieve pain and treat toothache due to stomach-fire.

6.3 Mutual restraint:



mutual restraining effect of different

medicines to weaken or neutralize eachother’s harmfulness, such as toxity or side-effects.

the poisonous action of Banxia( RhizomaPineliae) or Nanxing( Rhizoma Arissaematis)may be decrease or eliminated by Shengjiang(Rrizoma Zingiberis Recens), therefore we saythere is mutual restraint between Banxia(

Rhizoma Pineliae) or Nanxing( RhizomaArisaematis ) and shengjiang( RhizomaZingiberis Recens).

6.4 Mutual detoxication:



one medicinal herb can relieve or remove

toxic properties and side-effects of the others.

So actually we can see that mutual restraint

and mutual detoxication refer to same thing,

yet each one is putting its constraint into theothers.

6.5 Mutual inhibition:



when two herbs are used together, one herb

and the other act on each other, resulting in

their original actions being weakened, even

lose of their medicinal effects. For instance,

the qi- tonifying effect of Renshen( RadixGinseng) can be weakened by Laifuzi( Semen

Raphani),so we say there is mutual inhibition

between them.

6.6 Incompatibility :



toxic reaction or side-effects may result when

two incompatible ingredients are used in

combination. For instance, there are eighteen

incompatible medicaments which are believed

to give rise to serious side effects if given incombination.



In clinical application of medicinal herbs, We should

make the widest possible use of the two kinds ofingredients with the relation of mutual reinforcementor mutual assistance so as to make full use of theircoordination and reinforcing each other’s action andto raise their therapeutic effects and extend the rangeof their treatment.

When we use medicinal herbs with toxity or severeside-effects, we should choose the herbs with therelation of mutual restraint of mutual detoxicationwith the purpose of weakening or eliminating eachother’s toxic action or side-effects.

the relation of mutual inhibition and incompatibilityshould be avoided as much as possible to use incombination to prevent the therapeutic effects fromdecreasing or losing. Or to stop producing toxin andside effects.









19 med8caments of mutualantagonisms

Liuhuang - -- Qianniuzi

Dingxiang-- --Yujin

Chuanwu,Caowu- --Xijiao

Yaxiao- -- Sanleng, danggui

Guangui- --Wulingzhi





What is the processing of Chinesemedicinal herbs?



The processing of the herbs ,we alsocall it Paozhi in TCM.

We refer to various process ofpreparing crude medicinal materials

according to the theries of TCM andrequirements of therapy,prescription ,preparation of forms, and storage ofChinese medicinal herbs.

It includes common or specialtreatment of crude or part of crudemedicinal materials.



Since most Chinese medicinal herbs come

from the crude plants, some of them aremixed with impurity in the collecting process,some may easily change their properties andare not to be stored for a long time, some are

violently toxic and are not to be takendirectly and may need to be treated in specialway so as to tally with the needs oftreatment.

Therefore , it is necessary for them to beprocessed so as to produce satisfactorymedicinal effects and ensure safety in clinicalpractice before their use and preparation.



What is the purposes of processingChinese medicinal herbs?

1. Removing or reduce the toxity , drastic properties

and side effects of some chinese mdicinal herbs



Removing or reduce the toxity :Chuanwu, Caowu, Gansui,Tiannanxing, Banxia

reduce side effects: Changshan ,after

stir-baked with wine , easily inducevomiting and if used to preventrecurrence of malaria.

2. Promoting therapeutic effects



Roasted with honey: Baibu, Pipaye ,can

promote nourishing the lung to relievecough.

Stir-baked with wine: Chuanxiong, Danggui,can promote warming channels to circulate

the blood. Prepared with vinegar can strengthen the

effects of relieving pain,soothing the liverand regulating liverqi ---Yanhusuo,Xiangfu

Stir-baked with earth or rice:---strengthenthe effect of invigorating the spleen torelieve diarrhea .: Baizhu



4. Facilitating decocting and taking medicine, making

preparation and storing medicine



Most botanical medicinal herbs after cut into

segments or pieces will be easily decocted inwater and their effective domponents will beeasily dissolved out or the forms ofmedicines will be easily prepared.

Most minerals and shells of chinesemedicinal herbs, after calcined or quenched with vinegar, will be easy to ground intopowder. Some medicinal herbs are to be stir-

baked and fully dried so as to be kept for along time from being moldy and rot.



Purify and cutting



Discarding impurity: - mud,impurity,non-pharmaceutical

Breaking into fine pieces: be poundedor ground into powder for convenience

in decoction ,making preparations oradministrating.

Cutting: pieces, parts or tiny bit

Processing with water



Whashing

Softening

Rinsing（for removing the salty elements, offensive

smell , poisonous substances from the medicinals by

putting them a certain time in a large container with

water which must be running or changed frequently）



Powder-refining method with water: for refining and getting the fine powder by grinding the

insoluble and minerals in water.

Firstly applied to crush the medicinal materials intoparticles,

then grind them in a mortar which contains a certain amountof clean water.

During grinding , the supernatant suspension is decanted and

then water is added again. The procedures above may berepeated until all the coarse particles are ground into fineparticles.

The sediment of coarse particles will be left when thesupernatant fluid of suspension is decanted, from which finepowder is precipitated, separated and then dried in the sun foruse.

The medicinal herb through powder- refining method withwater as pure, fine and smooth, easily absobed and lightstimulative when used exteriorly; during this process, theloss of medicinal materials can also be reduced.）

Processing with fire



Parching: 炒

1 simple parching 清炒 Parching till become yellowish

Stir-baked into yellow surface of till they bulge whilethere is no change in their interior.----can reduce thecoldness and change the tastes.

Parching till become burnt-collor

Toasted into burnt yellow or burnt-brown surface andyellow interior with burnt odor.--- promoteinvigorating the spleen and digestion.

Parching till become carbonized:

Surface becomes burnt black and the interior is burntyellow while their medicinal properties still exist.---arresting hemorrhage can be reinforced.



2 Complex parching 辅料炒

Stir-baking with certain amount of

solid adjuvants until the degree needed.

The commonly-used adjuvants are mud,

bran, rice, talc or powder of surf clamshell, etc.



Zhi:炙

Stir-baking with liquid adjuvants

The commonly used liquid adjuvantsinclude honey, wine,vinegar, salty

solution , and ginger juice.



Processing



Stir-baking

with liquid adjunvants

Salt- solution

Ginger juice

Moisten the lung and relive cough

Spleen and stomach, reduce toxic

Tonifying kidney ,nourishi yin, lowing fire

Relieving cold, vomiting

and reduce toxicity

Honey



Calcining:煅

Treating crude medicinal materials bydirect or indirect burning with strongfire .----to make them pure, clean,

crispy, easy to be powdered andeffective components decocted out or

produce better therapeutic effects.



Hard minerals or shells may be burned

directly till they are thoroughlyreddish, then they are quickly put intovinegar or clean water.

Some herbs like Xueyutan, Zonglvtan should be burned and carbonized in asealed refractory container till itsbottom gets fully flushed.



Roasting in hot ashes:煨

Wrap the raw medicinal materials withwet paper or dough and roast them insmouldering ashes till the coat

becomes burnt black so as to eliminatesome oil, irritant materials or reducetoxic side effects.



Other processing method



Germination:crude seeds are germinated to

certain highness, which are then dried. Fermatation: crude materials are fermented

at certain temperature with a series ofprocedures.

Frost-like powder: crude seed is frosted onthe surface of defatted herbal seed with aseried of procedures.

Put mangxiao into watermelon in windy

place, there would be a frost layer beproduced.



How to design a formula?

Huangdi Neijing· Zhizhenyao Dalun Di qishisi pian

（those qi are at spring）



Excess

Evil qi

Treat adjuvant relax dispersing

wind Pungent

cool

bitter sweet pungent

heat Salty

Cold

Sweet

bitter

sour（to astringent） Bitter

dampness Bitter

hot

Sour

bland

bitter （to dry） bland （topurge）

fire Salty

Cool

Bitter

Pungent

sour（to astringent） Bitter

dryness Bitter

Warm

Sweet

Pungent

bitter （to

make it down）

Coldness Sweet

hot

Bitter

Pungent

Pungent （to moisten） Salty （topurge）

Bitter （toconsolidate）



Documents

How to Learn Chinese Herb4