203 entries
Chinese herbs A–Z
A single flat alphabetical list, for quick reference and printing. Each name opens its full page; use search to look up a term instead. Back to the chinese herbs gallery.
A
- Ai Ye ài yè Ai Ye (艾叶, mugwort leaf) is a warm, aromatic leaf that warms the channels and stops bleeding. It is slightly toxic because of its thujone-bearing volatile oil, and it is…
- An Xi Xiang ān xī xiāng An Xi Xiang (安息香, benzoin) is a neutral, acrid and bitter resin that opens the orifices and revives consciousness. It is classified non-toxic, used with caution in…
B
- Ba Ji Tian bā jǐ tiān Ba Ji Tian (巴戟天, morinda root) is a warm, sweet and acrid root that tonifies Kidney Yang and strengthens the sinews and bones. It is non-toxic with a wide safety margin…
- Bai Dou Kou bái dòu kòu Bai Dou Kou (白豆蔻, white cardamom) is a warm, acrid and aromatic seed that transforms Dampness and moves Qi. It is non-toxic, generally safe in pregnancy where it is used…
- Bai He bǎi hé Bai He (百合, lily bulb) is a slightly cool, sweet and bitter bulb that nourishes Yin and moistens the Lungs. It is non-toxic and food-grade, used with caution in…
- Bai Hua She bái huā shé Bai Hua She (白花蛇, agkistrodon) is a warm, sweet and salty animal medicine that dispels Wind and unblocks the channels. It is toxic - the live snake has hemotoxic venom -…
- Bai Hua She She Cao bái huā shé shé cǎo Bai Hua She She Cao (白花蛇舌草, hedyotis) is a cold, sweet and bitter herb that clears heat toxin and drains dampness. It is non-toxic but very cold, and prolonged use…
- Bai Jie Zi bái jiè zǐ Bai Jie Zi (白芥子, white mustard seed) is a warm, acrid seed that warms the Lungs and transforms phlegm-fluid. Crushed and wetted it releases mustard oil, which is…
- Bai Mao Gen bái máo gēn Bai Mao Gen (白茅根, lalang grass rhizome) is a cold, sweet rhizome that cools the Blood and stops bleeding. It is non-toxic and one of the gentlest bleeding-stopping…
- Bai Shao bái sháo Bai Shao (白芍, white peony root) is a slightly cold, bitter and sour processed root that nourishes the Blood and softens the Liver. It is non-toxic and is the classical…
- Bai Xian Pi bái xiǎn pí Bai Xian Pi (白鲜皮, dittany root bark) is a cold, bitter and aromatic bark that clears heat, dries dampness and stops itching. It is classically non-toxic but has a modern…
- Bai Zhi bái zhǐ Bai Zhi (白芷, dahurian angelica root) is a warm, acrid and aromatic root that releases the exterior and relieves frontal headache. Its furanocoumarins make skin…
- Bai Zhu bái zhú Bai Zhu (白术, atractylodes rhizome) is a warm, sweet and bitter rhizome that tonifies Spleen Qi and dries dampness. It is non-toxic and is the central Spleen tonic of the…
- Bai Zi Ren bǎi zǐ rén Bai Zi Ren (柏子仁, arborvitae seed) is a neutral, sweet seed that nourishes the Heart and calms the Spirit. It is non-toxic and food-grade, safe in pregnancy,…
- Ban Lan Gen bǎn lán gēn Ban Lan Gen (板蓝根, isatis root) is a cold, bitter root that clears heat toxin and benefits the throat. It is non-toxic but can irritate the digestive tract, so it is a…
- Ban Xia bàn xià Ban Xia (半夏, Pinellia) is a warm, acrid tuber that dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm. Raw Ban Xia is toxic, and the herb is contraindicated in pregnancy because it…
- Ban Zhi Lian bàn zhī lián Ban Zhi Lian (半枝莲, bearded scutellaria) is a cold, acrid and bitter whole plant that clears heat toxin and resolves stasis. It is non-toxic and easily confused with the…
- Bei Sha Shen běi shā shēn Bei Sha Shen (北沙参, glehnia) is a slightly cool, sweet and bitter root that nourishes Yin and clears the Lungs. It is non-toxic and gentle, safe in pregnancy,…
- Bi Xie bì xiè Bi Xie (萆薢, dioscorea rhizome) is a neutral, bitter rhizome that separates the clear from the turbid and drains dampness. It is non-toxic with steroidal saponins as its…
- Bian Xu biǎn xù Bian Xu (萹蓄, knotgrass) is a slightly cool, bitter herb that clears Heat and promotes urination. It is non-toxic, but pharmacological studies show its extracts can…
- Bie Jia biē jiǎ Bie Jia (鳖甲, soft-shelled turtle shell) is a salty and cold shell that nourishes Yin, subdues Yang and softens masses. It is non-toxic, but heavy-metal accumulation and…
- Bo He bò hé Bo He (薄荷, field mint) is a cool, aromatic herb that disperses Wind-Heat and clears the head. It is non-toxic, and the menthol that gives it its action is also why it…
- Bu Gu Zhi bǔ gǔ zhǐ Bu Gu Zhi (补骨脂, psoralea fruit) is a warm, acrid fruit that tonifies Kidney Yang and secures essence. It is slightly toxic: roughly 57 % of reported adverse reactions…
C
- Can Sha cán shā Can Sha (蚕沙, silkworm faeces) is a warm, sweet and acrid animal-derived material that dispels Wind-Dampness and harmonizes the middle. Its hexagonal cross-section with…
- Cang Zhu cāng zhú Cang Zhu (苍术, atractylodes rhizome) is a warm, strongly aromatic rhizome that dries dampness and dispels Wind-Dampness. It is non-toxic but drying enough to deplete Yin…
- Cao Dou Kou cǎo dòu kòu Cao Dou Kou (草豆蔻, katsumada seed) is a warm, acrid and aromatic seed that transforms Dampness and moves Qi. It is non-toxic, but some traditional sources advise against…
- Cao Guo cǎo guǒ Cao Guo (草果, tsaoko fruit) is a warm, acrid fruit that dries Dampness and warms the Middle. It is non-toxic and notably not listed among the pregnancy-prohibited or…
- Chai Hu chái hú Chai Hu (柴胡, bupleurum root) is a cool, bitter and acrid root that harmonizes the Shao Yang and courses the Liver. It is non-toxic at clinical doses, with a…
- Chan Tui chán tuì Chan Tui (蝉蜕, cicada slough) is a cool, sweet and salty shed insect skin that disperses Wind-Heat and vents rashes. It is non-toxic with a wide safety margin; sourcing…
- Che Qian Cao chē qián cǎo Che Qian Cao (车前草, plantain herb) is a cold, sweet herb that clears heat, promotes urination and stops cough. It is non-toxic and has been eaten as food as well as used…
- Che Qian Zi chē qián zǐ Che Qian Zi (车前子, plantain seed) is a cold, sweet seed that drains damp-heat and promotes urination more strongly than the herb. It is non-toxic and mucilaginous, so it…
- Chen Pi chén pí Chen Pi (陈皮, aged tangerine peel) is a warm, acrid and bitter peel that regulates Qi and strengthens the Spleen. It is the gentle Qi-moving herb that keeps richer…
- Chi Shao chì sháo Chi Shao (赤芍, red peony root) is a slightly cool, bitter and sour root that clears Heat, cools the Blood and invigorates Blood. It is the cooling, moving counterpart to…
- Chong Lou chóng lóu Chong Lou (重楼, Paris rhizome) is a slightly toxic rhizome whose steroidal saponins both treat and irritate. The ceiling is 9 g in decoction, and pregnancy is…
- Chuan Bei Mu chuān bèi mǔ Chuan Bei Mu (川贝母, Fritillaria) is a slightly cool, bitter and sweet bulb that clears Heat and moistens the Lungs. It is non-toxic, but it is classically incompatible…
- Chuan Niu Xi chuān niú xī Chuan Niu Xi (川牛膝, Cyathula) is a neutral, sweet and bitter root that invigorates Blood and dispels stasis. It is non-toxic but contraindicated in pregnancy because of…
- Chuan Xin Lian chuān xīn lián Chuan Xin Lian (穿心莲, Andrographis) is a cold, bitter herb that clears Heat and resolves toxicity. It is non-toxic, used with caution in pregnancy because animal studies…
- Chuan Xiong chuān xiōng Chuan Xiong (川芎, ligusticum) is a warm, acrid aromatic rhizome that moves Blood and Qi together and relieves pain. It is non-toxic, but excess causes headache, dizziness…
- Cong Bai cōng bái Cong Bai (葱白, spring onion bulb) is a warm, acrid bulb that releases the exterior, disperses Wind-Cold and unblocks Yang. It is a culinary herb, non-toxic and generally…
D
- Da Huang dà huáng Da Huang (大黄, rhubarb root) is a cold, bitter root and the strongest purgative in the materia medica. It is non-toxic at dose, but anthraquinone laxative use carries the…
- Da Zao dà zǎo Da Zao (大枣, red jujube) is a warm, sweet food fruit that tonifies the middle and calms the spirit. It is non-toxic and serves as the harmonizer in a large number of…
- Dan Dou Chi dàn dòu chǐ Dan Dou Chi (淡豆豉, fermented soybean) is a cool, bitter and acrid fermented seed that releases the exterior. It is non-toxic, but traditional sources suggest it may…
- Dan Nan Xing dǎn nán xīng Dan Nan Xing (胆南星, bile-processed Arisaema) is a cool, bitter and acrid preparation that clears Heat and transforms Phlegm. It is classified slightly toxic because the…
- Dan Shen dān shēn Dan Shen (丹参, red sage) is a slightly cold, bitter root that moves the Blood and cools it. It is non-toxic and a classical top-grade herb, but its blood-activating…
- Dan Zhu Ye dàn zhú yè Dan Zhu Ye (淡竹叶, lophatherum) is a cold, sweet and bland grass leaf that drains heat and fire and promotes urination. Despite the name it is not a bamboo; it is…
- Dang Gui dāng guī Dang Gui (当归, angelica sinensis) is a warm, sweet and acrid root that nourishes the Blood and moves it - the central Blood tonic. It is non-toxic, with an antiplatelet…
- Dang Shen dǎng shēn Dang Shen (党参, Codonopsis) is a neutral, sweet root that tonifies the middle and augments Qi. It is non-toxic, generally safe in pregnancy, breastfeeding and children,…
- Di Fu Zi dì fū zǐ Di Fu Zi (地肤子, kochia fruit) is a cold, bitter and sweet fruit that clears damp-heat and stops itching. It is non-toxic with a wide safety margin in animal studies.
- Di Gu Pi dì gǔ pí Di Gu Pi (地骨皮, wolfberry root bark) is a cold, sweet root bark that clears deficiency heat and cools the Blood. It is the same plant as the Gou Qi Zi fruit, but it…
- Di Long dì lóng Di Long (地龙, earthworm) is a cold, salty animal material that settles Wind, clears heat and unblocks the collaterals. Its body contains lumbrilysin and lumbrofebin; the…
- Di Yu dì yú Di Yu (地榆, Sanguisorba) is a slightly cool, bitter, sour and astringent root that cools the Blood and stops bleeding. It is non-toxic, used with caution in pregnancy,…
- Dong Gua Zi dōng guā zǐ Dong Gua Zi (冬瓜子, winter melon seed) is a cool, sweet seed that clears the Lungs and transforms Phlegm. It is non-toxic and food-derived, but several classical and…
- Du Huo dú huó Du Huo (独活, pubescent angelica) is a warm, bitter and acrid root that dispels Wind-Dampness for the lower body. It is non-toxic and is often adulterated with Dang Gui…
- Du Zhong dù zhòng Du Zhong (杜仲, eucommia bark) is a warm, sweet bark that strengthens the sinews and bones and calms the fetus. Its elastic threads identify it, and it is non-toxic with…
E
- E Jiao ē jiāo E Jiao (阿胶, donkey-hide gelatin) is a neutral, sweet processed gelatin that nourishes Blood and stops bleeding. It is non-toxic, traditionally used and considered…
F
- Fang Feng fáng fēng Fang Feng (防风, saposhnikovia) is a warm, acrid and sweet root that disperses Wind, drains dampness and settles spasm. It is non-toxic with a very wide animal safety…
- Fang Ji fáng jǐ Fang Ji (防己, stephania root) is a bitter, cold and slightly toxic root that dispels Wind-Dampness and moves water. Its critical issue is identity: the Aristolochia…
- Fu Ling fú líng Fu Ling (茯苓, Poria) is a neutral, sweet fungus that drains dampness, strengthens the Spleen and calms the spirit. It is non-toxic, eaten as food and medicine for two…
- Fu Ling Pi fú líng pí Fu Ling Pi (茯苓皮, Poria peel) is a neutral, sweet and bland peel that promotes urination and reduces oedema. It is non-toxic and generally safe in pregnancy,…
- Fu Xiao Mai fú xiǎo mài Fu Xiao Mai (浮小麦, shrivelled wheat) is a cool, sweet grain that consolidates the exterior and stops sweating. It is non-toxic and food-grade, safe in pregnancy,…
G
- Gan Cao gān cǎo Gan Cao (甘草, liquorice root) is the sweet harmonizer of the materia medica, tonifying the middle and moderating other herbs. Glycyrrhizin can cause pseudoaldosteronism…
- Gan Jiang gān jiāng Gan Jiang (干姜, dried ginger) is a hot, acrid rhizome that warms the middle and dispels Cold. It is the interior-warming form of ginger, distinct from the fresh root,…
- Ge Gen gé gēn Ge Gen (葛根, kudzu root) is a cool, sweet and acrid starchy root that releases the muscle layer and generates fluids. It is non-toxic and food-grade; the caution is its…
- Gou Qi Zi gǒu qǐ zǐ Gou Qi Zi (枸杞子, goji berry) is a neutral, sweet fruit that nourishes the Liver and Kidneys and benefits the eyes. It is non-toxic and food-grade, safe in pregnancy,…
- Gou Teng gōu téng Gou Teng (钩藤, Uncaria) is a cool, sweet stem that extinguishes Wind and stops spasms. It is non-toxic, has a complex relationship with pregnancy where it is…
- Gua Lou guā lóu Gua Lou (瓜蒌, trichosanthes fruit) is a cold, sweet and bitter gourd fruit that clears heat, transforms phlegm and broadens the chest. It is non-toxic; its seed oils give…
- Gui Ban guī bǎn Gui Ban (龟板, turtle plastron) is a cold, salty and sweet shell that nourishes Yin and anchors Yang. It is non-toxic but contraindicated in pregnancy because of its cold,…
- Gui Zhi guì zhī Gui Zhi (桂枝, cinnamon twig) is a warm, acrid and sweet young twig that releases the muscle layer and warms the channels. It is non-toxic and is the herb Gui Zhi Tang is…
H
- Hai Zao hǎi zǎo Hai Zao (海藻, Sargassum) is a cold, bitter and salty seaweed that softens hardness and dissipates nodules. It is non-toxic but incompatible with Gan Cao under the…
- He Shou Wu hé shǒu wū He Shou Wu (何首乌, fleeceflower root) is the prepared Essence-and-Blood tonic. The pharmacopoeia calls it non-toxic, but NMPA bulletins and an HLA-B*35:01 susceptibility…
- He Ye hé yè He Ye (荷叶, lotus leaf) is a neutral, bitter leaf that clears Summer-Heat and resolves Dampness. It is non-toxic and food-grade, used with caution in pregnancy because of…
- Hong Hua hóng huā Hong Hua (红花, safflower) is a warm, acrid flower that invigorates the Blood and regulates menstruation. It is non-toxic and cheap - and it is the commonest adulterant of…
- Hou Po hòu pò Hou Po (厚朴, Magnolia bark) is a warm, bitter and acrid bark that dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm and moves Qi. It is the herb that resolves fullness and distension in…
- Hua Shi huá shí Hua Shi (滑石, talc) is a cold, sweet mineral that clears heat and promotes urination. It is chemically inert, but natural talc can contain asbestos fibres, so…
- Huai Hua huái huā Huai Hua (槐花, sophora flower) is a slightly cool, bitter flower that cools the Blood and stops bleeding. It is non-toxic, used with caution in pregnancy because of its…
- Huai Niu Xi huái niú xī Huai Niu Xi (怀牛膝, achyranthes root) is a neutral, bitter and sour root that moves the Blood downward and strengthens the lower body. It is non-toxic, but its saponins…
- Huang Bo huáng bò Huang Bo (黄柏, phellodendron bark) is a cold, bitter bark that clears lower-body damp-heat and deficiency heat. It contains berberine and is non-toxic at dose, but is too…
- Huang Lian huáng lián Huang Lian (黄连, coptis) is the archetypal bitter-cold herb, clearing heat, drying dampness and draining fire. Berberine is under 5 % bioavailable orally, and the real…
- Huang Qi huáng qí Huang Qi (黄芪, astragalus) is the great Qi tonic, consolidating the exterior, lifting sinking Qi and generating flesh. It is non-toxic and on China's dual-use food and…
- Huang Qin huáng qín Huang Qin (黄芩, scutellaria) is a bitter-cold root clearing heat and drying dampness, classically for the upper burner. Baicalin and baicalein are its main compounds;…
- Huo Xiang huò xiāng Huo Xiang (藿香, Agastache) is a slightly warm, acrid and aromatic herb that transforms Dampness and harmonises the Middle. It is non-toxic, widely used in children, and…
J
- Ji Li jí lí Ji Li (蒺藜, tribulus) is a slightly toxic fruit that subdues Liver Yang and dispels Wind. In sheep the fresh plant causes hepatogenous photosensitivity; the processed…
- Ji Xue Teng jī xuè téng Ji Xue Teng (鸡血藤, spatholobus) is a warm, sweet vine that both moves and tonifies the Blood and unblocks the collaterals. It is non-toxic with a very wide safety margin.
- Jiang Huang jiāng huáng Jiang Huang (姜黄, Turmeric rhizome) is a warm, acrid and bitter rhizome that invigorates Blood, breaks up stasis and moves Qi. It is classified as a Blood-breaking herb…
- Jie Geng jié gěng Jie Geng (桔梗, platycodon) is a neutral, bitter and acrid root that diffuses Lung Qi and benefits the throat. Its saponins are haemolytic in vitro but harmless orally -…
- Jin Qian Cao jīn qián cǎo Jin Qian Cao (金钱草, lysimachia) is a cool, sweet and slightly salty creeping herb that clears damp-heat and expels urinary stones. It is non-toxic with very low animal…
- Jin Yin Hua jīn yín huā Jin Yin Hua (金银花, honeysuckle) is a cold, sweet flower bud that clears heat toxin and disperses Wind-Heat. It is non-toxic and on the medicine-food homologous list, with…
- Jing Jie jīng jiè Jing Jie (荆芥, schizonepeta) is a slightly warm, acrid aromatic herb that releases the exterior and vents rashes. It is non-toxic; its pulegone and menthofuran are…
- Ju Hua jú huā Ju Hua (菊花, chrysanthemum) is a cool, sweet and bitter flower that disperses Wind-Heat, calms Liver Yang and brightens the eyes. It is non-toxic; the main caveat is…
K
- Ku Shen kǔ shēn Ku Shen (苦参, sophora) is a cold, bitter root that clears damp-heat and stops itching. It is non-toxic in decoction, but its quinolizidine alkaloids can be toxic in…
- Kun Bu kūn bù Kun Bu (昆布, kelp) is a cold, salty seaweed that softens hardness and dissipates nodules. It is non-toxic, but its very high iodine content is a risk to fetal thyroid…
L
- Lai Fu Zi lái fú zǐ Lai Fu Zi (莱菔子, radish seed) is a neutral, acrid and sweet seed that reduces food stagnation and directs Qi downward. It is non-toxic and food-derived, safe in…
- Li Pi lí pí Li Pi (梨皮, pear peel) is a cool, sweet and astringent peel that clears Heart Heat and moistens the Lungs. It is non-toxic and food-grade, safe in pregnancy,…
- Lian Qiao lián qiáo Lian Qiao (连翘, forsythia) is a slightly cold, bitter fruit that clears heat toxin and disperses nodules. It is non-toxic and is the partner of honeysuckle in Yin Qiao…
- Lian Zi lián zǐ Lian Zi (莲子, lotus seed) is a neutral, sweet and astringent food seed that strengthens the Spleen, secures essence and calms the spirit. Its bitter embryo, Lian Zi Xin,…
- Lian Zi Xin lián zǐ xīn Lian Zi Xin (莲子心, lotus plumule) is a cold, bitter seed-heart that clears Heart Fire and calms the Spirit. It is non-toxic, has no recorded pregnancy contraindication or…
- Long Dan Cao lóng dǎn cǎo Long Dan Cao (龙胆草, gentian) is the bitterest, coldest herb in common use, draining Liver and Gallbladder fire. It is non-toxic, but prolonged use damages the Spleen and…
- Long Gu lóng gǔ Long Gu (龙骨, fossil bone) is a heavy mineral material that calms the spirit and subdues Yang. It is calcium phosphate with trace minerals and is non-toxic, with the Yao…
- Long Yan Rou lóng yǎn ròu Long Yan Rou (龙眼肉, longan flesh) is a warm, sweet fruit that tonifies the Heart and Spleen. It is non-toxic and food-grade, used with caution in pregnancy, especially…
- Lu Gen lú gēn Lu Gen (芦根, reed rhizome) is a cold, sweet rhizome that clears Heat, drains Fire and generates fluids. It is non-toxic and one of the few herbs the classical texts…
- Lu Rong lù róng Lu Rong (鹿茸, deer antler velvet) is a warm Yang and Essence tonic. It is non-toxic, but its ascending nature makes it wrong for Yin deficiency or Blood Heat - nosebleeds…
M
- Ma Bian Cao mǎ biān cǎo Ma Bian Cao (马鞭草, verbena) is a slightly toxic-by-label herb that moves the Blood and clears heat. In practice its toxicity is very low, with only occasional mild…
- Ma Chi Xian mǎ chǐ xiàn Ma Chi Xian (马齿苋, purslane) is a cold, sour edible herb that clears heat toxin and cools the Blood. It carries oxalic acid comparable to spinach, so blanching matters…
- Ma Huang má huáng Ma Huang (麻黄, ephedra) is the strongest exterior-releasing herb, opening the Lungs and inducing sweat. Its ephedrine is a sympathomimetic with an amphetamine-like…
- Mai Dong mài dōng Mai Dong (麦冬, ophiopogon) is a slightly cold, sweet and bitter tuber that nourishes Yin and generates fluids. It is non-toxic, a food-medicine, and gentler than Tian Men…
- Mang Xiao máng xiāo Mang Xiao (芒硝, Glauber's salt) is a refined sodium sulfate that purges heat and softens stool. It is non-toxic, but as an osmotic laxative its risks are dehydration and…
- Mo Han Lian mò hàn lián Mo Han Lian (墨旱莲, Eclipta) is a cold, sweet and sour whole plant that nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin and cools the Blood. It is non-toxic, generally considered safe in…
- Mo Yao mò yào Mo Yao (没药, myrrh) is a neutral, bitter and acrid resin that invigorates Blood and dispels stasis. It is non-toxic but contraindicated in pregnancy because of its potent…
- Mu Dan Pi mǔ dān pí Mu Dan Pi (牡丹皮, tree peony bark) is a slightly cold, bitter and acrid bark that cools the Blood, moves stasis and clears deficiency heat. It is non-toxic with a wide…
- Mu Gua mù guā Mu Gua (木瓜, chaenomeles) is a warm, sour fruit that relaxes the sinews and resolves dampness. It is non-toxic - and it is not the tropical papaya of the same name.
- Mu Tong mù tōng Mu Tong (木通, akebia stem) promotes urination and clears Heart fire. Its toxicity depends entirely on species: Akebia and Clematis are safe, while the banned Aristolochia…
N
- Niu Bang Zi niú bàng zǐ Niu Bang Zi (牛蒡子, burdock seed) is a cold, acrid seed that disperses Wind-Heat, vents rashes and benefits the throat. It is non-toxic; its cold slippery nature can…
- Niu Huang niú huáng Niu Huang (牛黄, cow bezoar) is a cool, bitter and sweet animal medicine that clears the Heart and opens the orifices. It is non-toxic but contraindicated in pregnancy per…
- Nu Zhen Zi nǚ zhēn zǐ Nu Zhen Zi (女贞子, Ligustrum) is a cool, sweet and bitter fruit that tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin. It is non-toxic and relatively safe in pregnancy, used in breastfeeding…
P
- Pi Pa Ye pí pá yè Pi Pa Ye (枇杷叶, loquat leaf) is a slightly cool, bitter leaf that clears Lung Heat, stops cough and harmonises the Stomach. It is non-toxic and generally safe in…
- Pu Gong Ying pú gōng yīng Pu Gong Ying (蒲公英, dandelion) is a cold, sweet and bitter edible herb that clears heat toxin and disperses nodules. It is non-toxic and food-grade, with Asteraceae…
- Pu Huang pú huáng Pu Huang (蒲黄, cattail pollen) is a neutral, sweet pollen that stops bleeding and invigorates Blood. It is non-toxic but contraindicated in pregnancy because…
Q
- Qian Cao qiàn cǎo Qian Cao (茜草, Rubia) is a cold, bitter root that cools the Blood and stops bleeding. It is non-toxic but contraindicated in pregnancy because its water extract has an…
- Qiang Huo qiāng huó Qiang Huo (羌活, Notopterygium) is a warm, acrid and bitter root that releases the exterior and disperses Cold. It is non-toxic, strongly dispersing, and used with caution…
- Qin Jiao qín jiāo Qin Jiao (秦艽, gentiana) is a neutral, bitter and acrid root that dispels Wind-Dampness and clears deficiency heat. It is non-toxic, with occasional palpitations or…
- Qin Pi qín pí Qin Pi (秦皮, ash bark) is a cold, bitter and astringent bark that clears damp-heat and astringes the bowel. Its coumarins give it mild anticoagulant properties.
- Qing Hao qīng hāo Qing Hao (青蒿, Artemisia annua) is a cold, bitter herb that clears deficiency Heat and is the source of artemisinin. It is non-toxic, used with caution in pregnancy, and…
- Qing Pi qīng pí Qing Pi (青皮, green tangerine peel) is a warm, bitter and acrid peel that soothes the Liver and breaks Qi stagnation. It is non-toxic, used with caution in pregnancy…
- Quan Shen quán shēn Quan Shen (拳参, bistort) is a cool, bitter and astringent rhizome that clears heat toxin, cools the Blood and stops bleeding. It is classed slightly toxic, though the rat…
R
- Ren Dong Teng rěn dōng téng Ren Dong Teng (忍冬藤, honeysuckle stem) is a cold, sweet stem that clears Heat and eliminates toxins. It is non-toxic and mild, with no specific pregnancy contraindication…
- Ren Shen rén shēn Ren Shen (人参, ginseng) is the great Qi tonic and an upper-grade herb. It is non-toxic, but use in excess-heat or in excess produces the "ginseng abuse syndrome" of…
- Rou Cong Rong ròu cōng róng Rou Cong Rong (肉苁蓉, cistanche) is a warm, sweet and salty desert stem that tonifies Kidney Yang and moistens the bowel. It is non-toxic and one of the gentler warming…
- Rou Dou Kou ròu dòu kòu Rou Dou Kou (肉豆蔻, nutmeg) is a warm, acrid seed that warms the Middle and binds the intestines. It is classified non-toxic, but myristicin content warrants care in…
- Rou Gui ròu guì Rou Gui (肉桂, cinnamon bark) is the bark of the same tree as Gui Zhi, warming the interior and guiding fire back to its source. Its coumarin content is the hepatotoxicity…
- Ru Xiang rǔ xiāng Ru Xiang (乳香, frankincense) is a warm resin that moves Blood and Qi and relieves pain. It was classically called slightly toxic, and its practical limit is gastric…
S
- San Qi sān qī San Qi (三七, notoginseng) is a non-toxic root that both stops bleeding and moves the Blood. Its critical hazard is the look-alike Tu San Qi, which carries hepatotoxic…
- Sang Bai Pi sāng bái pí Sang Bai Pi (桑白皮, mulberry root bark) is a cold, sweet bark that drains Lung Heat, stops cough and promotes urination. It is non-toxic, has a long paediatric record, and…
- Sang Ji Sheng sāng jì shēng Sang Ji Sheng (桑寄生, mulberry mistletoe) is a non-toxic hemi-parasite that nourishes Liver and Kidney and dispels Wind-Dampness. Because it is parasitic, its chemistry…
- Sang Piao Xiao sāng piāo xiāo Sang Piao Xiao (桑螵蛸, mantis egg-case) is a neutral, sweet and salty animal medicine that tonifies the Kidneys and secures essence. It is non-toxic, classically used…
- Sang Ye sāng yè Sang Ye (桑叶, mulberry leaf) is a cold, sweet and bitter leaf that disperses Wind-Heat and clears the Lungs. It is non-toxic and food-grade, safe in pregnancy,…
- Sang Zhi sāng zhī Sang Zhi (桑枝, mulberry twig) is a neutral, bitter twig that dispels Wind-Dampness and unblocks the collaterals. It is non-toxic, but classical sources advise against use…
- Sha Ren shā rén Sha Ren (砂仁, amomum) is a warm aromatic fruit that transforms dampness and warms the middle. It is non-toxic and food-homologous, and is often confused with Yi Zhi Ren.
- Shan Yao shān yào Shan Yao (山药, Chinese yam) is a neutral, sweet food-medicine that benefits Qi and nourishes Yin. The raw tuber's oxalate raphides irritate the hands, and cooking or…
- Shan Zhu Yu shān zhū yú Shan Zhu Yu (山茱萸, cornus) is a slightly warm, sour fruit that nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin and secures Essence. The pit must always be removed, because it opposes the…
- She Chuang Zi shé chuáng zǐ She Chuang Zi (蛇床子, cnidium) is a slightly toxic fruit that warms Kidney Yang and dries dampness. Its osthole and furanocoumarins bring overdose symptoms and skin…
- She Gan shè gān She Gan (射干, belamcanda) is a cold, bitter rhizome that clears heat and expels phlegm from the throat. It is low risk, with a classical warning that prolonged use causes…
- She Xiang shè xiāng She Xiang (麝香, musk) is a warm, acrid and strongly aromatic substance that opens the orifices and revives consciousness. It is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy,…
- Sheng Di Huang shēng dì huáng Sheng Di Huang (生地黄, raw rehmannia) is a cold, sweet and bitter root that cools the Blood and nourishes Yin. It is non-toxic, with a rich sticky nature that can impair…
- Sheng Jiang shēng jiāng Sheng Jiang (生姜, fresh ginger) is a warm, pungent food-medicine that releases the exterior and stops vomiting. Fresh ginger is safe; rotten ginger contains hepatotoxic…
- Sheng Ma shēng má Sheng Ma (升麻, cimicifuga) is a slightly cold, acrid and sweet rhizome that vents rashes and lifts sinking Yang. Only the rhizome is medicinal; the whole plant and excess…
- Shi Chang Pu shí chāng pú Shi Chang Pu (石菖蒲, sweet flag) is a warm, acrid aromatic rhizome that opens the orifices and transforms phlegm. Its beta-asarone has a genotoxicity question at high…
- Shi Gao shí gāo Shi Gao (石膏, gypsum) is a cold, sweet mineral that clears Yang Ming heat. Two rules govern it: raw mineral only for internal use - calcined gypsum is never swallowed -…
- Shi Hu shí hú Shi Hu (石斛, Dendrobium) is a slightly cool, sweet stem that nourishes Stomach Yin and generates fluids. It is non-toxic, but pregnancy safety is not established, there…
- Shu Di Huang shú dì huáng Shu Di Huang (熟地黄, prepared rehmannia) is the great Blood and Essence tonic, steamed until black and sticky. It is non-toxic, but its rich cloying nature impairs…
- Shui Niu Jiao shuǐ niú jiǎo Shui Niu Jiao (水牛角, water buffalo horn) is a non-toxic animal material that cools the Blood and settles fright. Its safety margin is wide; the real questions are…
- Shui Zhi shuǐ zhì Shui Zhi (水蛭, leech) is a neutral, salty and bitter whole leech that breaks Blood and expels stasis. It is classified slightly toxic and absolutely contraindicated in…
- Suan Zao Ren suān zǎo rén Suan Zao Ren (酸枣仁, sour jujube seed) is a neutral, sweet and sour seed that nourishes the Heart and calms the spirit. It has extremely low toxicity and is the leading…
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- Tai Zi Shen tài zǐ shēn Tai Zi Shen (太子参, Pseudostellaria) is a neutral, sweet and bitter tuber that tonifies Qi and strengthens the Spleen. It is non-toxic and mild, safe in pregnancy and…
- Tao Ren táo rén Tao Ren (桃仁, peach kernel) is a slightly toxic seed that moves the Blood and moistens the bowel. Its amygdalin at 2-3.6 % releases hydrogen cyanide, so processing and…
- Tian Hua Fen tiān huā fěn Tian Hua Fen (天花粉, trichosanthes root) is a cold, sweet and slightly bitter root that clears heat and generates fluids. Trichosanthin is harmless orally - denatured by…
- Tian Ma tiān má Tian Ma (天麻, gastrodia) is a neutral, sweet tuber that extinguishes Wind and calms the Liver. It is non-toxic with a very high gastrodin LD50, but its market value makes…
- Tian Men Dong tiān mén dōng Tian Men Dong (天冬, Asparagus tuber) is a cold, sweet and bitter tuber that nourishes Yin and moistens dryness, with a particular reach to the Lungs and Kidneys. It is…
- Tian Nan Xing tiān nán xīng Tian Nan Xing (天南星, Arisaema tuber) is a warm, bitter and acrid tuber that dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm. Raw Tian Nan Xing is toxic; the processed forms,…
- Ting Li Zi tǐng lì zǐ Ting Li Zi (葶苈子, Descurainia/Lepidium seed) is slightly toxic because it contains cardiac glycosides - helveticoside and evomonoside - which are the basis of both its…
- Tu Bie Chong tǔ biē chóng Tu Bie Chong (土鳖虫, ground beetle) is a slightly toxic Blood-breaking insect. Its foreign proteins commonly cause an allergic rash, and it is often substituted by the…
- Tu Fu Ling tǔ fú líng Tu Fu Ling (土茯苓, smilax rhizome) is a neutral, sweet and bland rhizome that resolves damp-heat toxin. It is non-toxic and was eaten as a famine food, and is confused…
- Tu Si Zi tù sī zǐ Tu Si Zi (菟丝子, dodder) is a neutral, sweet and acrid parasitic seed that tonifies Kidney Essence and secures leakage. It is non-toxic with a very wide animal safety…
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- Wei Ling Xian wēi líng xiān Wei Ling Xian (威灵仙, Clematis) is slightly toxic because of its irritant saponins and protoanemonin-related compounds. It is contraindicated in pregnancy, requires great…
- Wu Ling Zhi wǔ líng zhī Wu Ling Zhi (五灵脂, flying squirrel faeces) is an excreta-derived Blood-mover. Zoonotic pathogens including Leptospira and Blastocystis have been found in wild material,…
- Wu Wei Zi wǔ wèi zǐ Wu Wei Zi (五味子, schisandra) is a warm, sour and astringent fruit that holds the Lungs, Intestines, Essence and sweat. It is non-toxic, with organic-acid gastric effects…
- Wu Yao wū yào Wu Yao (乌药, Lindera) is a warm, acrid root that moves Qi and alleviates pain. It is non-toxic, not among the most prohibited herbs in pregnancy but used with care as a…
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- Xi Xin xì xīn Xi Xin (细辛, asarum) is the root of an Aristolochiaceae plant - so it carries trace aristolochic acid I, about 40× less in the root than the aerial parts - plus safrole…
- Xi Yang Shen xī yáng shēn Xi Yang Shen (西洋参, American ginseng) is a cool, sweet and bitter root that tonifies Qi and nourishes Yin. It is non-toxic, but pregnancy warrants caution because…
- Xia Ku Cao xià kū cǎo Xia Ku Cao (夏枯草, prunella) is a cold, bitter and acrid spike that clears Liver fire and disperses nodules. It is non-toxic, with a high potassium content as the…
- Xian He Cao xiān hè cǎo Xian He Cao (仙鹤草, agrimony) is a neutral, bitter and astringent herb that stops bleeding and tonifies deficiency. High-dose case reports include optic neuritis and very…
- Xian Mao xiān máo Xian Mao (仙茅, curculigo) is a hot, acrid and toxic rhizome that warms Kidney Yang and strengthens the sinews. Acute toxicity is low, but prolonged use may damage liver,…
- Xiang Fu xiāng fù Xiang Fu (香附, Cyperus) is a neutral, acrid, bitter and sweet rhizome that spreads and regulates Liver Qi. It is non-toxic but should be avoided during pregnancy because…
- Xiang Ru xiāng rú Xiang Ru (香薷, Mosla) is a slightly warm, acrid and aromatic herb that releases the exterior and induces sweating. It is non-toxic, with no specific classical pregnancy…
- Xie Bai xiè bái Xie Bai (薤白, macrostem onion) is a warm, acrid and bitter bulb that unblocks chest Yang and disperses bound knots. It is non-toxic and on the dual-use food and medicine…
- Xin Yi Hua xīn yí huā Xin Yi Hua (辛夷花, magnolia flower bud) is a warm, acrid flower bud that disperses Wind-Cold and opens the nose. It is contraindicated in pregnancy because pharmacological…
- Xing Ren xìng rén Xing Ren (杏仁, apricot kernel) is a slightly toxic seed that descends Lung Qi and moistens the bowel. Amygdalin at about 3 % hydrolyses to hydrogen cyanide, which blocks…
- Xuan Shen xuán shēn Xuan Shen (玄参, scrophularia) is a cold, sweet and bitter root that cools the Blood and nourishes Yin. It is non-toxic, with cold-moistening effects on the digestion as…
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- Yan Hu Suo yán hú suǒ Yan Hu Suo (延胡索, Corydalis) is a warm, acrid and bitter tuber that invigorates Blood and moves stasis. It is non-toxic but contraindicated in pregnancy, not recommended…
- Ye Ju Hua yě jú huā Ye Ju Hua (野菊花, wild chrysanthemum) is a cold, bitter flower that clears heat toxin and reduces swelling. It is classed slightly toxic by the pharmacopoeia, with the…
- Yi Mu Cao yì mǔ cǎo Yi Mu Cao (益母草, leonurus) is a slightly cold, bitter and acrid herb that invigorates the Blood and moves water. Its leonurine and stachydrine bring high-dose…
- Yi Yi Ren yì yǐ rén Yi Yi Ren (薏苡仁, job's tears) is a slightly cold, sweet and bland grain that drains dampness and strengthens the Spleen. The real risk is aflatoxin; the pharmacopoeia…
- Yi Zhi Ren yì zhì rén Yi Zhi Ren (益智仁, Alpinia) is a warm, acrid fruit that warms the Kidneys and astringes essence to reduce urination. It is non-toxic, used with caution in pregnancy as a…
- Yin Chen yīn chén Yin Chen (茵陈, capillary wormwood) is a slightly cold, bitter and acrid shoot that clears damp-heat and treats jaundice. It is non-toxic, edible as a spring vegetable,…
- Yin Yang Huo yín yáng huò Yin Yang Huo (淫羊藿, Epimedium) is a warm, acrid and sweet herb that tonifies Kidney Yang. It is non-toxic but contraindicated in pregnancy, and breastfeeding requires…
- Yu Jin yù jīn Yu Jin (郁金, Curcuma) is a cold, acrid and bitter tuber that invigorates Blood and alleviates pain. It is non-toxic but contraindicated in pregnancy, and it completes the…
- Yu Zhu yù zhú Yu Zhu (玉竹, Solomon's seal) is a neutral, sweet rhizome that nourishes Yin and moistens dryness. It is non-toxic and food-grade, with the caution that a moistening herb…
- Yuan Zhi yuǎn zhì Yuan Zhi (远志, polygala root) is a warm, bitter and acrid root that calms the spirit and opens the orifices. It is non-toxic, but its saponins irritate the stomach, which…
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- Zao Jiao Ci zào jiǎo cì Zao Jiao Ci (皂角刺, honey-locust thorn) is a warm, acrid thorn that draws out toxicity and opens the orifices. The THORN is non-toxic; the POD of the same tree is slightly…
- Ze Xie zé xiè Ze Xie (泽泻, alisma) is a cold, sweet and bland rhizome that drains dampness and clears heat. It is non-toxic, but prolonged drainage causes electrolyte loss and,…
- Zhe Bei Mu zhè bèi mǔ Zhe Bei Mu (浙贝母, fritillary) is a cold, bitter bulb that clears heat and transforms phlegm. It is non-toxic itself, but it is classically INCOMPATIBLE with aconite - the…
- Zhi Chuan Wu zhì chuān wū Zhi Chuan Wu (制川乌, prepared Aconite) is toxic through diester diterpenoid alkaloids including aconitine. It is pregnancy-prohibited (孕妇禁用) by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia,…
- Zhi Fu Zi zhì fù zǐ Zhi Fu Zi (制附子, prepared aconite) is a hot, acrid and sweet root that restores devastated Yang. It is toxic - the primary toxic compounds are diester aconitine alkaloids…
- Zhi Ke zhǐ ké Zhi Ke (枳壳, bitter orange) is a slightly cold, bitter and acrid nearly mature fruit that regulates Qi and broadens the middle. It is non-toxic, and gentler in its…
- Zhi Mu zhī mǔ Zhi Mu (知母, anemarrhena) is a cold, bitter and sweet rhizome that clears fire and nourishes Yin. It is non-toxic, but its bitter-cold nature means prolonged use injures…
- Zhi Shi zhǐ shí Zhi Shi (枳实, Citrus aurantium) is a slightly cool, bitter, acrid and sour fruit that breaks Qi and eliminates focal distention. It is non-toxic but contraindicated in…
- Zhi Zi zhī zi Zhi Zi (栀子, gardenia) is a cold, bitter fruit that clears heat and cools the Blood. Its geniposide has a quantified dose-dependent liver signal, far above the…
- Zhu Ru zhú rú Zhu Ru (竹茹, bamboo shavings) is a slightly cool, sweet stem shaving that clears Heat and transforms Phlegm. It is non-toxic and traditionally considered safe in…
- Zhu Ye zhú yè Zhu Ye (竹叶, bamboo leaf) is a cold, sweet and bland leaf that clears Heat and relieves irritability. It is non-toxic, but classical sources advise caution in pregnancy,…
- Zi Cao zǐ cǎo Zi Cao (紫草, arnebia) is a cold, sweet and salty dye root that cools the Blood and resolves toxicity. It is non-toxic at standard doses, but concentrated high-dose…
- Zi Hua Di Ding zǐ huā dì dīng Zi Hua Di Ding (紫花地丁, violet) is a cold, bitter and acrid whole herb that clears heat toxin and cools the Blood. It is non-toxic and has been eaten as a wild vegetable.
- Zi Su Ye zǐ sū yè Zi Su Ye (紫苏叶, perilla leaf) is a warm, acrid and aromatic leaf that releases the exterior and disperses Cold. It is non-toxic, safe in pregnancy where it is a classical…
- Zi Su Zi zǐ sū zǐ Zi Su Zi (紫苏子, perilla seed) is a warm, acrid seed that descends Qi and resolves Phlegm. It is non-toxic and food-grade, generally safe in pregnancy for short-term use,…
- Zi Wan zǐ wǎn Zi Wan (紫菀, Aster) is a warm, acrid and bitter root that moistens the Lungs and directs Qi downward. It is non-toxic and mild, with no specific pregnancy…