Chapter 11 Tonics for Deficiency Syndromes

Brief Introduction

Section 1 Herbs for invigorating Qi

Section 2 Blood Tonics

Section 3 Yin Tonics

Section 4 Yang Tonics

Chapter 12 Hemostatics

Chapter 13 Herbs for Promoting Blood Circulation and Relieving Blood Stasis

Chapter 14 Herbs Resolving Phlegm and Relieving Cough and Asthma

Brief Introduction

Section 1 Herbs Relieving Cold-phlegm by Warming

Section 2 Herbs for clearing heat-phlegm

Section 3 Herbs for Relieving Cough and Asthma

Chapter 15 Tranquilizers

Chapter 16 Herbs for calming the liver and checking wind

Chapter 17 Astringents

Herbs Index

Chapter 11 Tonics for Deficiency Syndromes

Brief Introduction

Herbs which can supplement organic materials or strengthen functions are called tonics for deficiency syndromes

or for nourishment.

With their effects of tonifying qi, blood, yin and yang, tonics are indicated for all types of deficiency syndromes

caused by deficiency of qi, blood, yin and yang, such as deficiency of spleen-qi, lung-qi, heart-blood, lung-yin,

kidney-yin, spleen-yang and kidney-yang.

According to their different effects and indications, tonics are divided into four types of herbs for tonifying qi and

blood, yin and yang. Yin, yang, qi and blood are physiologically linked to and pathologically affected by one

another. Therefore, qi deficiency and yang deficiency are often seen at the same time, so are yin deficiency and

blood deficiency, qi deficiency and blood deficiency, and yin deficiency and yang deficiency. For this reason, herbs

for tonifying qi and yang are often used together for mutual reinforcement, so are herbs for tonifying yin and

blood, herbs for tonifying qi and blood, and herbs for tonifying yin and yang, etc.

In addition, for patients with 免疫性 hypoimmunity while pathogenic factors 占优势的 prevailing, tonics should be

used in combination with herbs for eliminating pathogenic factors according to their conditions of illness, in order

to strengthen the immunity and eliminate pathogenic factors.

Some nourishing tonics with greasy nature can increase dampness and affect the spleen, 阻止 impede digestion. It

will be better to use them in combination with herbs for strengthening the spleen.

Chapter 11 Tonics for Deficiency Syndromes

Section 1 Herbs for invigorating Qi

Herbs for invigorating qi are mostly sweet in flavor, warm in nature, act on the spleen and lung meridians, and

invigorate spleen-qi and lung-qi. They are indicated for 厌食 anorexia, 瘦弱 emaciation, 疲乏 lassitude, gastro-

abdominal distention, loose stool, qi deficiency, edema, lingering diarrhea, proctoptosis and other symptoms

caused by deficiency of the spleen-qi, etc.

In addition, because qi can generate, control circulation of blood, herbs for invigorating qi can be used in proper

compatibility with other herbs for paleness due to blood deficiency, bleeding due to cold of insufficiency type,

blood stasis due to qi deficiency and other syndromes.: Improperly invigorating qi can cause qi stagnation, giving

rise to oppressive chest, gastric distention, anorexia and other symptoms. Therefore, herbs for invigorating qi

should be used properly or in combination with small quantities of herbs for promoting qi circulation and inducing

appetite to get the result of tonifying with no qi stagnation.

Ginseng 人参(Ren Shen, Radix Ginseng)

This herb is the root of the perennial herbaceous plant Panax ginseng C. A. Mey of family Araliaceae. Wild ginseng

is called mountain ginseng, while cultivated ginseng is known as garden ginseng. In general, 6-7 years after its

cultivation, the herb is dug out in mid-September. Fresh ginseng should be cleaned and dried. Raw ginseng dried in

the sun is called sun-dried raw ginseng; ginseng steamed and dried in the sun of roasted is called red ginseng; and

ginseng boiled, soaked in syrup and dried is known as sugar-processed ginseng or white ginseng. Ginseng is cleared

of the rootlets and sliced for medicinal use. Its leaves, flowers, fibrous rootlets and seeds can all be used as herbs.

Properties: Ginseng is sweet and slightly bitter in flavor, slightly warm in nature, and acts on the heart, spleen and

lung meridians. It can strongly invigorate the primordial qi, quickly restore collapse and slowly tonify the

deficiency. It is the first important herb to treat collapse due to extreme deficiency of primordial qi and internal

injury.

It is also good at strongly invigorating spleen-qi and lung-qi, promoting the production of the body fluid and

quenching thirst to treat deficiency of the spleen-qi and lung-qi, lingering cough, thirst due to impairment of body

fluid and other syndromes. When the primordial qi is invigorated the nervous system is stable. Therefore it can

tranquilize and benefit intelligence and can treat palpitation and insomnia caused by irritability.

Effects: Invigorating qi, treating collapse, reinforcing the spleen, nourishing the lung, promoting the production of

the body fluid, quenching thirst, tranquilizing the mind and improving intelligence.

To treat collapse due to qi deficiency with symptoms or paleness, cold sweating throughout the body and

extremely faint pulse tending to cease, ginseng can be used in its large dosage of concentrated decoction or in

combination with prepared aconite root.

2. To treat deficiency of qi and yin, with 排汗 perspiration, lassitude, 恼怒 vexation, thirst and faint pulse tending

to 停止 cease, ginseng is often used in combination with ophiopogon root and schisarn dra.

3. Ginseng is often used in combination with white atractylodes rhizome, poria, liquorice and other herbs to treat

deficiency of spleen-qi and stomach-qi, manifested as anorexia, emaciation, lassitude and loose stool. Combined

with astragalus root, bupleurum root, cimicifuga rhizome and other herbs, it may treat sinking of qi in middle-jiao,

manifested as lingering diarrhea, proctoptosis and splan chnoptosis.

4. Ginseng is often used in combination with schisandra fruit, astragalus root, tatarian aster root and other herbs, it

may treat deficiency of the lung-qi, lingering cough and, asthma of deficiency type, perspiration on exertion,

lassitude and faint pulse. And with gecko, walnut kernel, psoralea fruit and other herbs, it may treat lingering

cough and asthma of deficiency type due to failure of the kidney in holding air.

5. Ginseng is often used in combination with Gypsum, Anemarrhena rhizome,etc, for clearing heat and fire,

invigorating qi and promoting the production of the body fluid, to treat epidemic febrile disease caused by

exogenous pathogenic factor, injury of qi and yin by heat, vexation, thirst, perspiration and lassitude.

6. Combined with dried rehmannia root, trichosanthes root, pueraria root and other herbs, it may treat interior

heat and diabetes.

7. To treat vexation, insomnia and 健忘症 amnesia caused by deficiency of qi and blood and irritability, ginseng is

often used in combination with longen aril, wild jujube seed, Chinese angelica root and other herbs for nourishing

the heart and tranquilizing the mind.

Dosage and Administration: 3-10g for being decocted alone and mixed with other herb tea for oral medication. 2-3

times a day, 1-l.5g each time for ginseng powder in form of infusion with hot boiled water, 15-30 in concentrated

decoction for emergency treatment of prostration syndrome. Precautions: Antagonizing veratrum root, restraining

trogopterus dung and inhibiting honey locust.

Modern Researches: Small dosage of ginseng can excite while its large dosage can inhibit the central nervous

system. Ginseng has the effects of enhancing the reactive ability of the human body, increasing blood and oxygen

supply to the brain, and obviously resisting fatigue. Ginseng can comprehensively enhance immunity, increase

white blood cells, prevent and treat 白血球减少症 leukopenia by variety of causes.

Ginseng has the effects of strengthening the heart, reducing the heart rate, resisting myocardial hypoxia, dilating

coronary arteries, blood vessels in the brain and pulmonary arteries, and improving the circulation of blood in

these organs. Ginseng can reduce the blood pressure in hypertension patients and increase the blood pressure of

shock patients. Such a dual regulating effect is related to the dosage and body condition.

Ginseng has the effect of promoting the hematopoietic function of bone marrow and obviously increasing the

number of red cells, white cells andv生血的 hemoglobin. Ginseng has a dual regulating effect on glycometabolism

and can promote biosynthesis of protein, DNA and RNA. Ginsenoside has the effects of reducing blood lipid,

improving fatty liver and preventing the formation of atherosclerosi. Ginseng can bring anti-senility into play in

many ways. In addition g ginseng can enhance the adaptive ability of the human body and strengthen the effects of

resisting fatigue, 氧不足 hypoxia, cold and high temperature. Ginseng has the effects of protecting the liver and

resisting inflammation and hacteria, and also has a certain anti-tumor effect.

Dangshen 党参 (Dang Shen, Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae)

This herb is the root of the perennial herbaceous plant codonopsis pilosula (Franch) Nannf and many other plants

of family Campanulaceae. The herb collected in autumn is better than in spring. It is dug out, cleared of soil and

stem, rubbed with hands while dried in the sun, cut into sections and used unprepared or honey-processed.

Properties: The herb is sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, and acts on the lung and spleen meridians. Being sweet,

neutral, noist, not dry, not greasy and mild in potency, it can not only invigorate spleen-qi and lung-qi but also

nourish blood and promote the production of the body fluid. with its effects similar to but weaker than those of

ginseng, dangshen can be used to replace ginseng but the dosage of dangshen should be doubled as much as that

of ginseng where-ever ginseng is used except for emergency treatment of collapse. Therefore, dangshen is often

used to treat deficiency of spleen-qi and lung-qi and deficiency of body fluid and blood.

Effects: Reinforcing the spleen, tonifying the lung, nourishing blood and promoting the production of the body

fluid.

Indications:

1. For deficiency of lung-qi, lingering cough and asthma of deficiency type, deficiency of the lung and kidney, failure

of the kidney in holding air, short breath and asthma, dangshen is often used in combination with astragalus root,

schisandra fruit, gecko, walnut kernel and other herbs.

2. For deficiency of the spleen and stomach, anorexia, loose stool, emeciation and lassitude, or sinking of qi in

middle-jiao, lingering diarrhea and proctoptosis, dangshen is often used in combination with white atractylodes

rhizome, astragalus root, bupleurutn root, cimicifuga rhizome and other herbs.

3. For injury of qi and yin by heat, perspiration, lassitude, vexation and thirst, dangshen can be used in combination

with ophiopogon root, schisandra fruit, reed rhizome and other herbs.

4. For paleness due to deficiency of blood, or deficiency of qi and blood, dangshen is often used in combination

with Chinese angelica root, prepare4 rehmannia root, longan aril and other herbs.

Dosage and Administration: 10-15g. Up to 30g for being used to replace ginseng.

Modern Researches: Dangshen can enhance immunity and adaptive ability including ability of resisting high and

low temperature. Dangshen has the effects of resisting ulcer and injury of gastric mucosa, regulating

gastrointestinal movement, strengthening myocardial contraction, dilating peripheral vessels and improving the

circulation of blood in the brain, the lower limbs and the internal organs. sangshen has an obvious effect of

elevating blood pressure on hemorrhagic shock of rabbits. Its water extract has obviously inhibiting and

depolymerizing effect on platelet aggregation, which is valuable for preventing and treating coronary heart disease

and preventing thrombosis.

American Ginseng Root 西洋参(Xi Yang Shen, Radix Panacis Quinquefolii)

This herb is the root of the perennial herbaceous plant Panax quinquefolium L. of family Araliaceae. In general, it is

dug out after 3-6 years cultivation in late September. The herb with root-bark cleaned and dried is called American

ginseng root with root-back, the herb moistened with rayed water, cleared of root-bark, smoked with sulphur and

dried in the sun to make the skin white and pulveriged is called smooth and powder-coated American ginseng root.

Properties: This herb is bitter and slightly sweet in flavor, cold in nature, and acts on the heart, lung and kidney

meridians. Sweet and cold for invigorating qi and nourishing yin, and bitter and cold for clearing heat and fire, as a

heat-clearing tonic with tonification as well as purgation, it is indicated for deficiency of qi and yin with pathogenic

fire.

Both American ginseng root and ginseng have the effects of invigorating qi and nourishing yin and are indicated for

deficiency syndrome of qi and yin. However, patients with cold of deficiency type in the spleen and stomach are

contraindicated to use American ginseng root bitter in flavor and cold in nature; while patients with fire of excess

type in the interior are contraindicated to use ginseng slightly warm in nature.

Effects: Invigorating qi, nourishing yin, clearing heat and promoting the generation of the body fluid.

Indications:

1. For exogenous pathogenic epidemic, febrile disease, injury of qi and yin, perspiration, lassitude, vexation and

thirst, the herb is often used in combination with ophiopogon root, trichosanthes root, schisandra fruit and other

herb for clearing heat and nourishing yin.

2. For yin deficiency and excessive fire of the lung and kidney, dry cough, hemoptysis, night sweat and

consumptive fever, it can be used in combination with dried rehmannia root, ophiopogon root, fritillary bulb,

rnulberry leaf and other herbs for nourishing yin, clearing fire, moistening the lung to arrest cough.

Dosage and Administration: 3-6g, decocted alone and mixed with other herbal tea for oral use.

Precautions: The herb should not be stir-baked in an iron pot on fire. It is antagonistic to veratrum root.

Modern Researches: Ginsenoside of American ginseng root has cerebral sedative effect, moderate exciting effect

on vital center, and certain anti-fatigue and anti-diuretis effects.

Astragalus Root 黄芪(Huang Qi, Radix Astragali)

This herb is the root of perennial herbaceousplants Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch. ) and A. mongholicus Bge of

family leguminosae. Generally only plant more than 4 years old root, can be dug out in spring and autumn. The

root is cleared of stem and leaves and of fibrous rootlets, cleaned, thoroughly moistened, cut into thick slices,

dried and used unprepared or honey-processed.

Properties: The herb is sweet in flavor, slightly warm in nature, and acts on the spleen and lung meridians. Sweet

and warm for invigorating qi and elevating yang, it is good for invigorating the spleen-qi and lung-qi and elevating

the middle-jiao yang. It is always an important herb used to treat deficiency of the lung, lingering cough, deficiency

of the spleen and stomach, and sinking of qi in the middle-jiao. Sufficient spleen-qi andlung-qi makes superficial qi

to protect the body from diseases.

The herb is often used for deficiency of qi and spontaneous perspiration. In addition, Sufficient qi can help blood

and water circulation, controlling and generating blood. Therefore, the herb can be used in proper compatibility

with other herbs to treat blood stasis due to deficiency of qi, hemorrhage due to cold of deficiency type, paleness

due to deficiency of blood, edema due to deficiency of the spleen and other syndromes.

Effects: Invigorating qi to elevate yang, consolidating superficies to stop sweating, inducing diuresis to remove

edema, and promoting healing of sore to regenerate tissue.

Indications:

1. For spleen-qi and stomach-qi deficiency manifested as anorexia, loose stool, or for sinking of qi in the middle-

jiao with lingering diarrhed, prostoptosis and visceroptosis, the herb is often used in combination with dangshen,

white atractylodes rhizome, liquorice, bupleurum root, cimicifuga rhizome and other herbs.

2. It is often used in combination with dangshen, schisandra fruit, tatarian tster root and other herbs to treat

deficiency of the lung-qi, perspiration and short breath on exertion.

3. Combined with ledebouriella root, white atractylodes rhizome, light wheat and other herbs for invigorating qi

and consolidating superficies to stop sweating, it may treat spontaneous perspiration due to exterior deficiency, or

vulnerability to wind-cold due to failure of superficial qi to protect the body from disease.

4. For edema and difficulty in urination due to deficiency of qi and yang, it is often used in combination with

prepared aconite root, white atractylodes rhisome, poria, umbellate pore fungus and other herbs to remove

edema.

5. It is often used in combination with Chinese angelica root, pangolin scales, chuanxiong rhizome, Chinese

honeylocust spine and other herbs to treat chronic skin and external diseases, cold and deficiency of qi and blood,

and pyogenesis without ulceration.

6. When combined with Chinese angelica root, cinnamon bark, dangshen, prepared rehmannia root and other

herbs for warming and nourishing qi and blood, regenerating tissue and astringing sore, to treat chronic ulceration

without healing.

In addition, the herb can be used in combination with herbs for promoting blood circulation to remove blood

stasis, to treat numbness of limbs and the body or hemiparalysis caused by blood stasis due to qi deficiency.

Dosage and Administration: 10-15g, 30g for large dosage. Used stir-baked with auxiliary fluid for invigorating qi and

elevating yang, and used unprepared for others.

Modern Researches: Astragalus root can strengthen nonspecific immunity, obviously enhance T-lymphocytic

function, and has an obvious effect of promoting humoral immunity. It can strengthen the heart, obviously dilate

peripheral, coronary, cerebral and intestinal vessels, and improve blood micro-circulation. The herb can rapidly but

briefly reduce blood pressure, promote the development and maturity of hemocytes, obviously induce diuresis

and improve renal function. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-aging effects.

White Atractylodes Rhizome 白术 (Bai Zhu, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae)

This herb is the rhizome of the perennial herbaceous plant Atracttylodes macrocephala Koidz of family

Compositae. It is collected in November, cleared of soil, stems and leaves, dried in the sun or roasted, macerated

in water or water in which rice has been washed, sliced, and used unprepared or stir-baked with bran or soil. The

herb stir-baked charred yellow is called charred white atractiylodes rhizome.

Properties: The herb is bitter and sweet in flavor, warm in nature, and acts on the spleen and stomach meridians.

Being sweet and warm for invigorating qi, bitter and warm for removing dampness, it mainly invigorates the

spleen-qi and stomach-qi, removes dampness and activates the spleen. It is often used for deficiency of the spleen

and stomach and water retention.

In addition, sufficiency of the spleen-qi and stomach-qi enables superficial qi to protect the body from diseases,

water to circulate and to prevent mid-carriage. Therefore, the herb has the effects of consolidating superficies to

stop sweating, inducing diuresis and preventing miscarriage.

Effects: Invigorating qi, consolidating superficies, removing dampness inducing diuresis and preventing miscarriage.

Indications:

l. It is often used in combination with ginseng, poria and liquorice for invigorating qi and strengthening the spleen

to treat deficiency of spleen-qi and stomach-qi, anorexia, gastro-abdominal distention and fullness, lassitude and

loose stool.

2. When combined with astragalus root, dangshen, bupleurum root and other herbs for invigoration qi and

elevating yang, it may treat lingering diarrhea and proctoptosis due to sinking of qi in the middlejiao.

3. Combined with unripen bitter orange for strengthening the spleen and removing food retention, it may treat

dyspeptic abdominal distention due to deficiency of spleen-qi and stomach-qi.

4. It is often used in combination with astragalus root, prepared aconite root, areca nut shell, poria and other herbs

to treat edema and difficulty in urination due to deficiency of spleen-yang and kidney-yang. And with poria,

cinnamom twig liquorice and other herbs, it may treat deficiency of spleen, excessive dampness, phlegm retention,

dizziness, palpitation, oppressive chest and short breath.

5. It can be used in combination with astragalus root, light wheat and other herbs to treat spontaneous

perspiration caused by deficiency of qi. When combined with white peony root, schisandra fruit, oyster shell and

other herbs, it may treat deficiency of yin and night sweat.

In addition, The herb can also be used to treat deficiency of spleen and threatened abortion.

Dosage and Administration: 5-15g. Used stir-baked for invigorating qi and strengthening the spleen, and used

unprepared for removing dampness and inducing diuresis.

Modern Researches: As a tonics, white atractylodes rhizome enables patients to gain weight and build up strength.

It has an obvious and lasting effect of inducing diuresis. The herb can promote the excretion of electrolytes,

sodium in particular. It can slightly reduce blood sugar, protect the liver and prevent the increase in hepatic

glycogen caused by carbon tetrachloride. The herb has an inhibiting effect on Diplococcus meningitidis. It can

obviously prolong the thrombin time of rats and human beings, hence, posses anti-coagulant effect.

Chinese Yam 山药(Shan Yao, Rhizoma Dioscoreae)

This herb is the rhizome of the perennial herbaceous trailing plant Dioscorea opposifa Thunb. of family

Diosoreaceae. It is collected in November and December, skinned, dried in the sun of roasted, thoroughly

moistened, sliced and used unprepared or stir-baked.

Properties: The herb is sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, and acts on the lung, spleen and kidney meridians. Sweet,

neutral, moist, not dry and not greasy for invigorating qi and nourishing yin, it is good for invigorating qi and yin of

the lung, spleen and kidney meridians, inducing astringency in the middle-jiao to control spermatorrhea and

reducing urination. It can be used in compatibility with other herbs to treat deficiency of the lung, lingering cough,

asthma, deficiency of the spleen, anorexia, loose stool, deficiency of the kidney, spermatorrhea, frequent

micturition and other syndromes.

Effects: Invigorating qi, nourishing yin, controlling spermatorrhea and reducing urination.

Indications:

1. For lingering cough and asthma of deficiency type caused by deficiency of the lung or by deficiency of both lung

and kidney, it is often used in combination with dangshen, straight ladybell root, schisandra fruit, dogwood fruit,

psoralea fruit and other herbs to relieve asthma.

2. For deficiency of the spleen and stomach, anorexia and loose stool, it is often used in combination with white

atractylodes rhizome, poria, coix seed an4 other herbs for strengthening the spleen and arresting diarrhea.

3. The herb is often used in combination with schisandra fruit, dogwood fruit, flatstem, dodder seed and other

herbs for tonifying the kidney and controlling spermatorrhea, to treat deficiency of the kidney-qi, failure to

astringe the lower-jiao and seminal emission. When combined with dodder seed, psoralea fruit, ginkgo nut, white

atractylodes rhizome, argyi leaf and other herbs for warming yang and arresting leukorrhea, it may treat watery

leukorrhea and cold pain in the waist and abdomen due to deficiency of the kidney.

In addition, The herb is often used in combination with herbs for promoting the generation of the body fluid and

quenching thirst to treat diabetes.

Dosage and administration: 10-30g. Used stir-baked for strengthening the spleen and quenching thirst, and used

unprepared for others.

Liquorice 甘草 (Gan Cao, Radix Glycyrrhizae)

This herb is the root and rhizome of the perennial herbaceous plant Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., of family

Leguminosae. It is dug out in spring and autumn, cleaned, sliced, dried and used unprepared or stir-baked with

honey, The herb is also called sweet root.

Properties: The herb is sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, and acts on the heart, spleen and lung meridians. Being

sweet, neutral, moist, not dry for invigoration qi, and mild in effect, it is a typical herb with many effects of sweet

flavor, such as tonifying the heart and spleen, moistening the lung, relieving spasm, clearing toxic substances and

harmonizing other herbs. The herb is indicated for deficiency of the heart-qi and spleen-qi, dryness of the lung,

cough, food poisoning, herb intoxication, swelling of pharynx, toxic sore and other syndromes, and also for

relieving spasm, alleviating pain, alleviating toxic and drastic properties of other herbs.

Effects: Tonifying the heart and spleen, moistening the lung to arrest cough, purging fire to remove toxins,

relieving spasm to alleviate pain, and moderating other herbs.

Indications:

1. It is often used in combination with ginseng, white atractylodes rhizome and poria for deficiency of the spleen

and stomach. When combined with cinnamom twig, ginseng, donkey-hide gelatin, ophiopogon root and other

herbs for invigorating qi, nourishing yin and restoring pulse, it may treat palpitation, uneasiness and slow pulse

with irregular intervals due to deficiency of the heart-qi.

2. It is used in combination with ephedra and bitter apricot kernal to treat cough due to pathogenic windcold. With

mulberry leaf, platycodon root, chrysanthemum flower and other herbs, it may treat cough due to pathogenic

wind heat; with gypsum, ephedra and bitter apricot kernel to treat dyspnea due to lung-heat; and with tangerine

peel,pinellia tuber and poria to treat deficiency of the spleen, abundant expectoration, cough and asthma.

3. It is often used in combination with honeysuckle flower, dahurian angelica root, frankincense, pangolin scales

and other medicines for clearing toxins and eliminating swelling, to treat sore, carbuncle and pyogenic infections;

and with platycodon root to treat sore throat.

4. It is often used in combination with lophatherum, fiveleaf akebia, plantain seed and other herbs, to treat pain in

dribbling urination; and with white peony root for relieving spasm and alleviating pain, to treat cold of deficiency

type, gastric pain, deficiency of blood, spasm and pain of muscles.

In addition, The herb can also be used to buffer and detoxicate other medicines and food.

Dosage and Administration: 3-10g. Used unprepared for clearing heat and toxic substances, and used stir-baked

with auxiliary fluid mainly for others.

Precautions: The herb is antagonistic to kansui root, knoxia root, genkwa flower and seaweed. Large dosage can

cause edema.

Modern Researches: Licorice root has an effect similar to those of adrenocortical hormone, mineralocorticosteroid

and glucocoticosteroid. Glycyrrhetinic acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. Glycyrrhizin has an

antidotal effect. It has obvious inhibiting effect on experimental gastric ulcer, a central antitussive effect, and

inhibiting effects on staphylococcus, Bacillus dysenteriaei Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis

and other pathogenic bacteria, on experimental osteomyelitis, Erlich's ascitic cancer and sarcoma, and on isolated

animal intestinal tract. It can relieve intestinal spasm caused by acetylcholine, barium chloride and histamine. It

has been discovered from experiments on mice that glycyrrhiza extract and glycyrrhizin have obvious antidotal

effects on chloral hydrate, strychnine, urethane, cocaine, phenyl arsenic and mercuric bichloride. Glycyrrhizin has

an antidotal effect on tetrodentoxin and ophoitoxin, and can relieve the lethal effects of diphitheria toxin and

tetanus toxin.

Chinese Date 大枣 (Da Zao, Fructus Jujubae)

This herb is the mature fruit of the machaka or dungarunga Ziziphus jujuba Mill., of family Rhamnaceae. It is

collected in autumn when the fruit is mature, dried in the sun and used unprepared. The herb is also called red

date.

Properties: It is sweet in flavor, warm in nature, and acts on the heart, spleen and stomach meridians. Being sweet

and warm for invigorating qi, moistening for nourishing blood, with its main effects of strengthening the middle-

jiao, invigorating qi, and nourishing blood and tranquilizing mind, it is indicated for deficiency of the spleen and

stomach, paleness due to deficiency of blood, women's hysteria and other syndromes. It is also used to alleviate

toxic and drastic properties of other medicines.

Effects: Strengthening the middle-jiao, invigorating qi, nourishing blood, tranquizing mind and buffering other

medicines.

Indications:

1. For deficiency of the spleen and stomach, anorexia and loose stool, it is often used in combination with

dangshen, white atractylodes rhizome, astragalus root and other herbs for strengthening the middle-jiao and

invigorating qi.

2. It is often used in combination with Chinese angelica root, prepared rehmannia root and other herbs for

nourishing blood, to treat paleness due to deficiency of blood; and with wheat and liquorice, to treat deficiency of

blood and hysteria in women.

3. It is used to moderate toxic side effects and intensity of herbs in order to protect vital qi. For example, it can be

used in combination with lepidium seed to moderate its lowering and purging properties in order to protect the

stomach-qi; and with kansui root and knoxia root to moderate their toxic and drastic properties in order to protect

the stomach-qi.

Dosage and Administration: 3-12 pieces of 10-15g.

Modern Researches: Gastric perfusion with Chinese date decoction on mice for 3 weeks proves that the herb has

the effects of enabling mice to gain weight and build up strength and protecting the animal liver.

Honey 峰蜜(Feng Mi, Mel)

This herb is the honey made by the bee Apis cerana Fabr. of family Apidae. It is collected all the year round except

winter, decocted on slow fire, filtered and cleared of impurities and foam for use.

Properties: It is sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, and acts on the lung, spleen and large intestine meridians. Being

sweet, neutral and moist in quality for restoring qi and moistening dryness, it is always a good tonic with its effects

of strengthening the middle-jiao, relieving spasm, alleviating pain, moistening the lung to arrest cough, and

relaxing the bowel to relieve constipation. It is indicated for cold of insufficiency type in the middle-jiao, gastric

pain, consumptive diseases, lingering cough, dryness in the bowels and constipation, and for old people and those

patients with weakened body resistance due to chronic diseases.

Effects: Strengthening the middle-jiao, relieving spasm, moistening the lung to arrest cough and relaxing the bowel

to relieve constipation.

Indications:

1. For dryness of the lung and dry cough or consumptive diseases and

lingering cough, it is often used in combination with ginseng, dried rehmannia root, poria and other herbs for

invigorating qi and nourishing yin.

2. For cold of insufficiency type in the middle-jiao and cold pain in the stomach and abdomen, the herb is often

used in combination with peony root, liqucorice, cinnamom twig and other herbs for warming the middle-jiao and

alleviation pain.

3. For impairment of the body fluid, dryness in the bowels and constipation, the herb can be used solely following

its infusion with hot boiled water, or in combination with Chinese angelica root, hemp seed and other herbs for

relaxing the bowel to relieve constipation.

In addition, it can also be used to treat intoxication of Sichuan aconite root and prepared aconite root.

Dosage and Administration: 15-30g. Taken following infusion with hot boiled water, or used in pill, powder of soft

extract.

Modern Researches: The herb has killing effects on Bacillus dysenteriae and pyococcus, can increase respiratory

capacity and blood sugar in human being.

Chapter 11 Tonics for Deficiency Syndromes

Section 2 Blood Tonics

Most herbs of this category are those with sweet flavor, warmness and moisture natures, and have affinity to the

heart and liver meridians. They function in replenishing and nourishing blood, serving to treat blood-deficiency

syndrome manifested as shallow complexion, paleness of the lips, tongue and nails, dizziness, tinitus, insomnia,

dreaminess, irregular menstruation, etc, Some of them are sweet, cold, greasy and sticky in property and have

affinity to the liver and kidney meridian. They function in nourishing liver-yin and kidney-yin, serving to treat yin-

deficiency of both the liver and kidney characterized by lassitude in the loins and legs, dizziness, blurred vision,

night sweat consumptive fever, etc. Some herbs are moist and greasy and can hinder digestive function of the

stomach. So, they are used in combination with lower dose of appetizing and spleen-strengthening herbs.

Prepared Rehmannia Root 熟地 (Shu Di Huang, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata)

This herb is the prepared root of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. or Huaiqing R. glutinosa Libosh. f. hueichingensis

(Chao et Schih) Hsiao. of the family Scrophula-riaceae. The root is dug in October and September, dried by fire and

streamed with yellow rice wine for use.

Properties: Sweet in flavor, slightly warm in nature, it has affinity to the heart, liver and kidney meridians. Being

sweet in flavor, warm, moist and greasy in nature, it can replenish heart-and liver-blood and also can nourish both

liver-and kidney-yin, serving as a main herb for warming and enriching essence and blood. It is often used to treat

syndromes of blood-deficiency, deficiency of both liver-yin and kidney-yin as well as severe insufficiency of kidney

essence. But due to its greasy property which is easy to hinder the digestive function of the stomach, it is usually

used with herbs for resolving dampness and appetizing as fructus Amonmi, etc.

Effects: Replenishing blood and tonifying yin.

Indications:

1. For blood deficiency syndrome manifested as pale, dizziness, tinitus,

palpitation, insomnia, irregular menstruation, it is often used together with

Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizome Ligustici Chuanxiong and Radix Paeoniae

Alba to enrich blood and regulate menstruation.

2. For yin-deficiency of both the liver and kidney marked by lassitude of the loins and legs, dizziness, tinitus, night

sweat, spermatorrhea, fever due to yin-deficiency, it is often used with Rhizoma Dioscorear, Fructus Corni, Cortex

Moutan Radicis, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae.

Besides, it can also be used to treat diabetes with internal heat.

Dosage and Administration: Ordinary dosage 10-15g, 30g at large dose. This herb is sticky and greasy in property

and can hinder digestion, so it is usually used with appetizing herbs such as Fructus Amomi Pericarpium Citri Reticu

latae, etc.

Modern Researches: This herb has cardio tonic, diuretic, hypotensive and anti-diabetic effects.

Fleece Flower Root 何首乌(He Shou Wu, Radix Polygoni Multiflori )

This herb is the root tuber of Polygonim multiflorum Thunb., of the family Polygonaceae. The root tuber is dug in

spring and autumn, washed clean, sliced and dried in the sun, which is known as unprepared fleece-flower root.

That prepared by steaming with the juice of blaci soybean (till getting brown) and drying (till getting black) in the

sun is called prepared fleece-flower root.

Properties: Sweet, astringent and bitter in flavor, slightly warm in nature, it has affinity to the liver and kidney

meridians. The prepared herb is slightly warm but not dry and not greasy. It functions in replenishing the liver and

kidney, benefiting essence and blood, astringing primordial energy. This herb is mild in action and very effective in

tonification. It is said that anyone who takes this herb regularly for a long period can prolong his life. It serves to

treat insufficiency of both the liver and kidney, deficiency of essence and blood, and deability of the lower-jiao. The

unprepared herb can also function in clearing away toxins and lubricating the bowels, serving to treat scrofula,

carbuncle and constipation due to dryness of the bowels.

Effects: Replenishing the liver and kidney, enriching vital essence and blood, lubricating the bowel and clearing

away toxins.

Indications:

1. For blood-deficiency syndrome markedly pale, dizziness, palpitation, irregular menstruation, it is used with herbs

for replenishing blood and regulating menstruation, such as Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Rehmanniae Preparata,

Colla Corii Asini, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, etc.

2. For the deficiency syndromes manifested as weakness of the loins and legs, vertigo, blurred vision, insomnia,

ammesia, and premature grey hair, etc., it is often used with Semen Cuscutae, Fructus Lycii, Radix Angelicae

Sinensis, Radix angelicae Sinensis, Fructus Psoraleae, Radix Achyranthis, Bidentatae, etc.

3. For scrofula, pyogenic infection and ulcer of skin, it is used with herbs for softening the hard mass and removing

scrofula, such as Spica Prunellae, Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae, and Radix Scrophulariae, etc.

Moreover, it can also be used with herbs for nourishing blood and lubricating the bowels, such as Fructus

Cannabis, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Paeoniae Alba, etc.

Dosage and Administration: 10-30g, used prepared for replenishing the vital essence and blood, and unprepared

for lubricating the bowels and clearing away toxins.

Modern Researches: This herb functions are as follows: lowering high serum cholesterol in the rabbit; exciting the

isolated frog heart, especially the fatigue heart; slowing down heart rate; increasing coronary flow; promoting

intestinal peristalis to induce purgation; increasing blood sugar; inhibiting Mycobacterium tuberculosis hominis,

Flexner's bacillus shigella flexneri, influenza virus; accelerating the regeneration of the red blood cells and

strengthening cold-resistant ability in mouse.

Chinese Angelica Root 当归 (Dang Gui, Radix Angelicae Sinensis)

This herb is the root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv) Diels, perennial herb of the fatnily Umbelliferae. It is dug in the late

autumn. After getting rid of the rootlets and drying slightly by evaporation, the roots are tied up in bundles, placed

on frame, baked dry over slow fire, sliced and used unprepared or stir-baked with wine.

Properties: Pungent and sweet in flavor, warm in nature, it acts on the heart, liver and spleen meridians. Being

sweet, warm and moist in property, this herb serves function of replenishing blood; and being pungent, warm and

volatile in nature, it also can promote blood circulation, as a main herb for enriching blood and promoting the

circulation of blood to regulate menstruation and relieve pain.

It is often used to treat any syndromes of blood-deficiency, various kinds of pain due to blood stasis, menoxenia,

sores, ulcers, swellings and traumatic ecchymoma, etc. It also functions in nourishing blood and lubricating the

bowel, serving for constipation due to blood deficiency and dryness in the bowel.

Effects: Tonifying blood, promoting blood circulation, regulating menstruation, alleviating pain, and lubricating the

bowels to relieve constipation.

Indications:

1. For any syndromes of blood deficiency, it is often used with Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, Radix Paeoniae Alba

and Rhizome Ligustici Chuanxiong to nourish the blood.

2. For menoxenia, menorrhalyia and amenorrhea in the type of blood deficiency, it is used together with Radix

Rehmanniae Praeparata, Radix Polygoni Multlflori, Radix paeoniae Alba, Caulis Spatholobi, etc., to replenish blood

and regulate menstruation.

3. For those in the type of blood stasis, it is used with herbs for promoting blood circulation and for regulation

menstruation, such as Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Semen Persicae, Flos Carthami, etc. And for those in the type

of deficiency-cold, it is used with herbs for warming meridians and dispelling cold pathogen, such as Folium

Artemisiae Argyi, Ramulus Cinnamomi, Fructus Euodiae, etc.

4. For chest and abdominal pain due to blood stasis, it is often used with Resina Olibani, Myrrha, Radix Salviae

Miltiorrhizae.

5. For obstruction of the heart meridian manifested as oppressive pain in the chest, it can be used with herbs for

promoting blood circulation and qi flow to relieve pain, such as Flos Carthami, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Rhizoma

Ligustici Chuanxiong, Lignum Dalbergiae Odoriferae, etc.

6. For traumatic ecchymoma and pain, and for sores, carbuncles and swelling, it is often used with herbs for

promoting blood circulation and tissue regeneration and relieving pain, such as Resina Olibani, Myrrha, Squama

Manitis, etc.

Besides, it is also used with Radix Paeoniae Alba, Fructus Cannabis, etc. to treat constipation due to blood

deficiency and dryness in the bowel.

Dosage and Administration: 6-12g.

Modern Researches: This herb has a dual action on the uterus. i. e. its volatile substance can inhibit uterus to

decrease the rhythmic contraction and to relax the smooth muscle in a rapid and long-standing way, and its water

or alcohol soluble non-volatile substance can excite uterus to strengthen its contraction.

The decoction or liquid extract of this herb can function in inhibiting isolated heart to lower cardiac excitability

(quinidine-like action) and to prolong atrial refractory period; dialating the coronary artery and markedly

increasing the coronary flow; lowering myocardial oxygen consumption, blood pressure, platelet aggregation and

blood-fat; resisting thrombosis and preventing atherosclerosis; protecting the liver and preventing degradation of

liver glycogen; resisting absence of vitamine E, malignant anemia and inflammation; and inducing diuresis,

sedation and analegsia.

This herb also has an azathiopurine-like (immunosuppressant) action, i. e. significant inhibition of the production of

antibodies, cellular immunity and humoral immunity, serving for nephritis, neonatal hemolytic disease (an

autoimmune disease). In addition, it can also raise the phagocytosis of macrophagocyte and reticuloendothetiol

cells and strengthen nonspecific immunity.

White Peony Root白芍(Bai Shao, Radix Paeoniae Alba)

This herb is the root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall, perennial herb of the family Ranunculaceae. The root is dug in

summer and autumn and washed clean. After removal of the rootlets, head, tail and coase skin, it is boiled to be

soften and then dried in the sun, sliced and used unprepared, or stir-baked with vinegar of wine.

Properties: Sweet, sour and bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature, it acts on the liver and spleen meridians. As a

sweet and sour medicine, this herb has yin-forcing effect, hence, it can replenish blood of the liver and nourish

liver-yin, being bitter and cold in property, it can also suppress hyperactivity of liver-yang and clear liver-fire,

supplement its deficiency and reduce its hyperactivity.

It is thus a main herb for treating liver and is often used to treat syndromes of hyperactivity of liver-yang due to

yin-deficiency, failure in nourishing liver due to blood-deficiency, night sweat due to yin-deficiency and blood

deficiency.

Effects: Replenishing blood, regulating menstruation, suppressing hyperactivity of liver-yang and astringing yin to

arrest sweating.

Indications:

1. For blood deficiency marked by shallow complexion and menoxenia, it is often used with Radix Rehmanniae

Praeparata, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Pollygoni Multiflori and Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong to enrich blood

and promote blood circulation, regulate menstruation and relieve pain.

2. For muscular spasm and pain due to blood deficiency, it is often used with Radix Glycrrhizae to nourish blood,

soothe the liver and relieve spasm and pain.

3. For night sweat due to yin-deficiency, it is used with herbs for nourishing yin and arresting sweating, such as

Fructus Schisandrae, Ochra Haematitum, Fructus Corni, Os Craconis Fossilia, etc..

4. For exogenous pathogen invasion owing to weakness of superficial resistance, disharmony between ying and

wei division, perspiration and aversion to wind, it is often used together with Ramulus Cinnamomi to harmonize

ying and wei division and stop sweating.

5. For hyperactivity of liver-yang due go liver-yin insufficiency, tinitus, blurred vision, vertigo, head-ache, irritability

and insomnia, it is often used with herbs for nourishing yin to suppress liver yang, such as Concha Haliotidis, Flos

Chrysanthemi, Ochra haematitum, Radix Achyranthis Bidentae, Radix Rehmanniae, etc.

Dosage and Administration: 5-15g or 30g at large dose.

Precautions: Antagonistic to Radix Veratri.

Modern Researches: Paeoniflorin, one component of this herb, is effective in relieving muscular spasm, inhibiting

the smooth muscle of the stomach, intestines and uterus in the rat, and also has certain effects of analgesia,

sedation, anti-convulsion, lowering blood pressure and dilating blood vessels. Decoction of this herb has bacterio-

static action on staphylococus, pseudomonas aeruginosa, herpes virus and some fungi, and especially on Shigella

Shigae.

Ejiao 阿胶 (E Jiao, Colla Corii Asini)

This herb is the dry glue pieces made from the hide of Equns asinus L., of the family Equidae. The donkey hide

gelatin is obtained after a series of processes of the hide: washing, soaking, pluching, rinsing and stewing. It is used

unprepared after smashing, or stir-baked (after cutting into small lumps and with oyster shell powder) into small

glue balls. This product is also named as donkey-hide gelatin.

Properties: Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, it acts on the lung, liver and kidney meridians. Owing to its sweet,

neutral and moist properties, this herb can replenish liver-blood, nourish kidney-yin, stop bleeding and moisten

the lung. It can be used to treat syndromes of blood deficiency, hyperactivity of fire due to yin-deficiency, various

types of hemorrhage and yin-impairment due to lung-dryness.

Effects: Replenishing blood, stopping bleeding, nourishing yin and moistening the lung.

Indications:

1. For syndrome of blood-deficiency, it is often used with blood tonics, such as Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata,

Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Codonopsis Pilosuae, etc.

2. For hemetemesis, hemoptysis, hemafecia, metrorrhagia, metrostaxis, etc., in the type of deficiency-cold, it is

used with herbs for replenishing qi, warming yang, invigorating meridians and stopping bleeding, such as Rhizoma

Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Rhizoma Zingiberis, Folium Artemisiae Argyi, baked Rhizoma Zingiberis, Recens,

Ootheca Mantidis, etc.

3. For bleeding due to blood heat, it is used with herbs for removing heat from blood and stopping Bleeding, such

as Radix Rehmamniae, Pollen Typhae, Radix Scutellariae, Cacumen Biotae, Herba seu Radix Cirsil Japonici, Herba

Cephalanoploris, Fructus Gardeniae Carbonisatus, etc.

4. For yin-impairment due to lung-dryness, dry cough with less sputum, or cough with bloody sputum, it is used

with herbs for moistening the lung to arrest cough, such as Radix Glehnlae, Radix Ophiopogonis, Folium Mori

Bulbus, Fritillariae Cirrhosae, Semen Armeniacae Amarum, etc.

5. For yin-impairment from febrile diseases, flaring up of the asthenia fire, irritability, and insomnia, it is often used

with herbs for nourishing yin and dispelling fire, such as Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix Paeoniae Alba, etc.

Dosage and Administration: 5-15g, melted by heating for oral administration with water.

Precautions: It is sticky and greasy in property and can hinder digestion, so it is improper to prescribe to patients

with dyspepsia due to hypo-function of the spleen.

Modern Researches: This herb has effects of promoting erythropoiesis and the production of hemoglobin,

improving the balance of calcium in animals, increasing absorption and detention of calcium in the organism,

preventing and improving progressive myodystrophia. Animal experiments show that injection of refined Colla

Corii Asini fluid can raise blood pressure and resist shock.

Longan Aril 龙眼肉 (Long Yan Rou, Arillus Longan)

This herb is the ripe pulp of Euphooria longan (I-our. ) steud., evergreen arbor of the family Sapindaceae. The fruit

is collected when getting mature in the beginning of autumn, dried on fire or in the sunlight. The pulp is taken out

following peeling off the fruit skin and removing the nucleus, and dried till not sticky.

Properties: Sweet in flavor, warm in nature, it acts on the heart and spleen meridians. Being sweet, warm and

moist in property, it functions in tonifying qi and nourishing blood, invigorating the heart and spleen, nourishing

the heart and calming the mind, serving for insomnia and amnesia due to deficiency of the heart and spleen and

insufficiency of qi and blood.

Effects: Tonifying the heart and spleen, nourishing blood and calming the mind.

Indications:

For deficiency of both the heart and spleen, insufficiency of both qi and blood, manifested as anorexia, lassitude,

loose stool, palpitation, insomnia and amnesia, it is often used together with Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae

Sinensis Pilosulae, Rhizoma Atractylodis Mactocephalae, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, etc.

Dosage and Administration: 10-15g.

Modern Researches: The fluid of Arillus Longan (1:2) has a bacterio-static action on microsporum audouini.

Chapter 11 Tonics for Deficiency Syndromes

Section 3 Yin Tonics

Mainly sweet, cool and moist, this type of herbs has the effects of nourishing yin, clearing heat,

promoting the production of the body fluid and moistening dryness. They are indicated for the

syndromes due to deficiency of the lung-yin, deficiency of the stomach yin, deficiency of the liver-yin

and for deficiency of the kidney-yin, etc.

Herbs for nourishing yin are often used in combination with herbs for clearing heat, herbs for calming

the liver and suppressing liver-yang hyperactivity, and herbs for clearing heat of deficiency type,

according to the condition of illness.

Patients with hypo-function of the spleen and excessive dampness should be careful to use cold or cool

remedies for nourishing yin.

Straight Ladybell Root (Sha Shen, Radix Adenophorae Striciae) 

This herb is divided into adenopora root (Radix Adenophoraei) and glehnia root (Radix Glehniae).

Adenophora root is the dry root of the perennial herbaceous plant Adenophora tetraphylla (Thunb. )

Fisch. or Adenoophora stricta Miq. of genus Ladybell of family Campanulaceae. The herb is dug out in

spring and autumn, cleared of cortex, dried in the sun and used unprepared. Glehnia root is the dry

root of the perennial herbaceous plant Glehnia litt oralis Fr. Schmidt ex Miq. of family Umbelliferae.

The herb is dug out in spring and autumn, scaled with boiling water, cleared of cortex, dried in the sun

and used unprepared.

Properties: The herb is sweet and slightly bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature and acts on the lung

and stomach meridians. Sweet in flavor, moist in nature, bitter and cold for nourishing yin and clearing

heat, the herb can not only clear lung-heat and nourish lung-yin but also clear stomach-heat and

nourish stomach-yin. It is indicated for dry cough due to impairment of yin caused by dryness in the

lung, for thirst due to consumption of the body fluid caused by febrile disease, and for other

syndromes.

Effects: Nourishing yin to clear heat from the lung, and tonifying the stomach to

promote the production of the body fluid.

Indications:

1. The herb is often used in combination with ophiopogon root, trichosanthes root,

anemarrhena rhizome and other herbs for nourishing yin and clearins heat from

the lung, to treat impairment of yin caused by dryness in the lung with symptoms

of dry cough with little sputum, dry mouth and thirst.

2. When combined with anemarrhena rhizome, fritillary bulb, ophiopogon root,

biota tops, dried rehmannia root and other herbs for nourishing yin and moistening

dryness, to treat hemoptysis due to consumptive disease.

3. To treat the syndrome of deficiency of the stomach-yin with symptoms of dry mouth, thirst, red

tongue, little saliva and anorexia, the herb is often used in combination with fragrant solomonseal

rhizome, ophiopogon root, dried rehmannia root and other herbs.

Dosage and Administration: 10-20g. Glehnia root is good at nourishing yin, while adenophora root

also invigorate qi and resolve phlegm. Precautions: It is antagonistic to veratrum root.

Modern Researches: Adenophora root has phlegm, expectorating heart tome and bacteria static,

while glehnia root has effects of clearing heat and alleviating pain.

Fragrant Solomonseal Rhizome (Yu Zhu, Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati) 

This herb is the dry rhizome of the perennial herbaceous plant Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce. of

family liliaceae. The herb is dug out in autumn, dried in the sun or steamed and dried in the sun, cut

into sections and used unprepared or stir-baked with honey.

Properties: The herb is sweet in flavor, neutral in nature and acts on the lung and stomach meridians.

Being sweet, neutral and moist in quality, the herb is good at nourishing yin of the lung and stomach

to promote the generation of the body fluid and moisten dryness. To treat impairment of yin of the

lung and stomach with symptoms of dry cough and thirst, the herb is often used in combination with

straight ladybell root for synergistic effects. Being sweet, neutral and not greasy, without the

shortcoming of astringing pathogens, fragrant solomonseal rhizome is often used to treat deficiency of

yin affected by exogenous pathogens.

Effects: Nourishing yin to moisten the lung and promoting the generation of

the body fluid to quench thirst.

Indications:

1. To treat impairment of the lung due to dry heat with symptoms of dry

cough with little sputum, the herb is often used in combination with straight

ladybell root, ophiopogon root, dried rehmannia root and other herbs for

nourishing yin to clear heat from the lung.

2. To treat consumption of the body fluid caused by febrile disease with

symptoms of vexation, thirst and dry mouth and tongue, the herb is often

used in combination with straight ladybell root, ophiopogon root and other

herbs for promoting the generation of the body fluid to quench thirst.

3. To treat yin deficiency, wind-heat due to exogenous pathogens, headache and excessive thirst, the

herb is often used in combination with peppermint, fermented soybean and other herbs for nourishing

yin to relieve exterior syndrome, and strengthening the body resistance to eliminate pathogenic

factors.

Dosage and Administration: 10-20g.

Modern Researches: The herb has the effects of strengthening the heart and raising blood pressure.

Used with dangshen, the herb can improve myocardial ischemia. The herb has an effect of reducing

blood sugar. Its injection can alleviate atherosclerosis.

Siberian Solomonseal Rhizome (Huang Jing, Rhizoma Polygonati) 

This herb is the dry rhizome of the perennial herbaceous plants of Polygonatum Kingianum Coll. et

Hemsl. and Polygonatum sibiricaum Red. or Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua of family Liliaceae. The herb

is dug out in spring and autumn with the better one collected in autumn. It is used unprepared or

steamed, dried and sliced for use.

Properties: The herb is sweet in flavor, neutral in nature and acts on the lung, spleen and kidney

meridians. Being sweet in taste and moist in nature for tonifying the spleen and mildly nourishing qi

and yin, it is a good herb for hypo-function of the spleen and stomach and deficiency of qi and yin.

Mainly acting on the lung and kidney for moistening dryness of the lung and nourishing the kidney-yin,

the herb is used to treat dry cough due to deficiency of the lung, damp heat due to deficiency of yin,

diabetes due to deficiency of the kidney, and other syndromes.

Effects: Nourishing yin, moistening the lung, tonifying the spleen and invigorating qi.

Indications:

1. To treat dry cough with little sputum due to deficiency of the lung-yin, the herb can be used in

combination with straight ladybell root, ophiopogon root, fritillary bulb and other herbs for nourishing

yin and moistening the lung.

2. The herb is often used in combination with dangshen, astragalus root, poria and other herbs to treat

anorexia, loose stool, emaciation and lassitude caused by qi deficiency of the spleen and stomach.

Combined with ophiopogon root, fragrant solomonseal rhizome, straight ladybell root, chicken's

gizzard-skin and other herbs for nourishing yin and inducing appetite, to treat dry mouth and anorexia

due to deficiency of the stomach-vin.

3. To treat dizziness, palpitation, aching and weakness of the waist and knees caused by hypo-function

of the liver and kidney and deficiency of essence and blood, the herb can be used in combination with

wolfberry fruit, desertliving cistanche, fleece-flower root and other herbs for nourishing essence and

blood.

Dosage and Administration: 10-30g.

Modern Researches: The herb has the effects of reducing blood pressure of animals under

anesthesia, inhibiting typhoid bacillus, Staphylococcus aureus and acid-fast bacillus, obviously

inhibiting excessive blood sugar caused by adrenalin, preventing atherosclerosis and fatty infiltration

of the liver, and reducing blood lipid.

Ophiopogon Root (Mai Dong, Radix Ophiopogonis) 

This herb is the dry root tuber of the perennial herbaceous plant Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker-

Gawl. of family Liliaceae. The herb is collected in summer, cleaned, cleared of hairy rootlets and dried

in the sun for use.

Properties: The herb is sweet and slightly bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature and acts on the heart,

stomach and lung meridians. Being sweet, cold and moist in nature for nourishing yin to clear heat and

promoting the generation of the body fluid to moisten dryness, the herb mainly clears heat from the

lung and stomach, moistens dryness of the lung, nourishes stomach-yin, dispels heat from the heart

and relieves vexation. It is indicated for dry cough due to impairment of yin caused by dryness of the

lung, for thirst due to consumption of the body fluid caused by febrile disease, for excessive heat due

to yin deficiency, for vexation and restlessness, and for other syndromes.

Effects: Nourishing yin, moistening the lung, tonifying the stomach, promoting the production of the

body fluid, dispelling heat from the heart and relieving vexation.

Indications:

1. To treat dry cough with little sputum due to impairment of the lung caused by dry heat, the herb is

often used in combination with straight ladybell root, mulberry leaf, gypsum and other herbs for

clearing heat from the lung to moisten dryness.

2. The herb is often used in combination with ginseng and achisandra fruit for invigorating qi and

nourishing yin, such as Shengmai Powder, to treat vexation, thirst, perspiration and lassitude due to

impairment of qi and yin caused by febrile disease. Combined with dried rehmannia root, straight

ladybell root, fragrant solomonseal rhizome and other herbs for nourishing yin and promoting the

generation of the body fluid, to treat dry mouth and thirst due to deficiency of the stomach-yin, or

diabetes due to internal heat.

3. To treat vexation, dry mouth g insomnia, dreaminess and red tongue with little fur due to yin

deficiency of the lung and kidney, the herb is often used in combination with dried rehmannia root,

scrophularia root, Chinese angelica root, wild or spiny jujube seed and other herbs.

Dosage and Administration: 10-20g.

Modern Researches: Ophiopogon root can enhance phagocytosis of the reticuloendothelial system,

increase peripheral leukocytes, enhance the immunity and adaptability of the body, improve the

function of pituitary-adrenocortical axis, reduce blood sugar, strengthen the heart and dilate peripheral

blood vessels. The herb has an inhibiting effect on Staphylococcus albus, hay bacillus, Bacillus coli and

typhoid bacillus in vitro. Ophiopogon root injection can obviously enhance in mice the resistance to

hypoxia.

Wolfberry Fruit (Gou Qi Zi, Fructus Lycii) 

This herb is the dried mature fruit of the machaka Lycium barbarum L. of family Solanaceae. The fruit

is picked around the Summer Solstice when the fruit is mature, dried in the shade until the cortex is

wrinkled, and dried in the sun until the fruit is crusted with the pulp still soft. It is used unprepared.

Properties: The herb is sweet in flavor, neutral in nature and acts on the liver and kidney meridians.

With the effects of reinforcing the liver and kidney, nourishing essence and blood, and mildly tonifying

yin and yang and improving vision, the herb is often used to treat syndromes caused by hypo-function

of the liver and kidney and deficiency of yin and yang, etc.

Effects: Reinforcing the kidney to benefit essence, tonifying the liver to improve

vision.

Indications:

1. To treat aching and weakness of the waist and legs, dizziness, tinnitus,

spermatorrhea and night sweat due to hypofunction of the liver and kidney, the

herb is often used in combination with rehmannia root, dodder seed, dogwood fruit

and other herbs for tonifying the liver and kidney.

2. To treat weak or blurred vision due to yin deficiency of the liver and kidney, the

herb is often used in combination with chrysanthemum flower, rehmannia root, Chinese yam and other

herbs for nourishing yin and improving vision. In addition, the herb can also be used to treat diabetes

due to internal heat.

Dosage and Administration: 5-10g.

Modern Researches: The herb has the effects of enhancing phagocytosis of the reticuloendothelial

system, increasing peripheral leukocytes, enhancing humoral and cellular immunity and promoting

hematopoietic function. Betaine, a biological stimulant, has the effects of stimulating growth, reducing

blood sugar and blood lipid, inhibiting the fat deposition in liver cells and promoting the regeneration

of liver cells. The herb has the cholinomimetic effects of reducing blood pressure, inhibiting the heart,

exciting intestines.

Glossy Privet Fruit (Nu Zhen Zi, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi)

This herb is the dried mature fruit of the plant Ligustrum lucidum Ait. of family Oleaceae. It is collected

in winter when the fruit is mature and dried in the sun, or slightly steamed or slightly scaled with

boiling water and dried. The herb is used unprepared.

Properties: The herb is sweet and bitter in flavor, cool in nature and acts on the liver and kidney

meridians. Being sweet, cool and moist in nature for nourishing yin and clearing heat, the herb mainly

nourishes yin of the liver and kidney to clear heat of deficiency type, and is good for nourishing the

liver and improving vision. It is indicated for yin deficiency of the liver and kidney, hectic fever due to

consumption, dizziness, weak vision and other syndromes.

Effeets: Tonifying yin, nourishing the kidney and liver and improving vision.

Indications:

1. To treat yin deficiency of the liver and kidney with symptoms of aching and weakness of the waist

and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, and premature grey hair and weak or blurred vision, the herb is often

used in combination with chrysanthemum flower, wolfberry fruit, eclipta, dodder seed and other herbs.

2. To treat fever due to yin deficiency, night sweat and spertnatorrhea, the herb can be used in

combination with dried rehmannia root, dogwood fruit, anemarrhena rhizome, scrophularia root,

wolfberry bark and other herbs for tonifying yin and clearing heat of deficiency type.

Dosage and Administration: 6-15g.

Modern Researches: The herb has the effect of increasing white blood cells on leukopenia caused by

chemical and radioactive therapies. It can promote genesis of lympha blasts in the healthy human

body, increase peripheral leukocytes, enhance the phagocytosis of the reticuloendothelial system and

enhance humoral and cellular immunity. Its 100% decoction precipitated with alcohol can increase the

blood flow in isolated coronary arteries and hascardiotoinc, anticancer and diuretic effects. 

Chapter 11 Tonics for Deficiency Syndromes

Section 4 Yang Tonics

Most herbs of this category are sweet, salty and mildly or highly warm in property, mainly act on the

kidney meridian and used to tonify kidney-yang. Part of them can function in replenishing vital essence

and blood, enhancing muscles and bones, serving to treat the syndromes due to insufficiency of

kidney-yang, deficiency-cold in the lower-jiao of women, and insufficiency of kidney-yin, as well as

deficiency of vital essence and blood, etc.. When used in combination with other drugs properly, it can

also function in arresting chronic diarrhea in the type of deficiency of both the lung and kidney.

However, being mildly or highly warm in nature, they often have side effects of consuming yin and

increasing pathogenic fire, and thus should not be used for patients with hyperactivity of fire due to

yin-deficiency.

Pilose Antler (Lu Rong, Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum) 

This herb is the hairy, non-ossificy young horn of male deer or stag of Cervus nippon Temminck or C.

elaphus Linnaeus, vertebrae of the family Cervidae. The stag is raised chiefly artificially, and its pilose

antler is sawed or cut off in spring or at the beginning of summer, boiled for a short while and dried in

the air. It is stored in tight containers and kept in a dark, cool and dry place.

Properties: Sweet and salty in flavor, warm in nature, it acts on the liver and kidney meridians. Being

sweet, salty, warm and moist in property, this herb is capable of reinforcing kidney-yang and

replenishing vital essence and blood. When nourished by essence and blood, the muscles and bones

will become strong. Thus, this herb is an important remedy in this respect. It serves to treat syndromes

of insufficiency of kidney-yang and consumption of vital essence and blood manifested as weak

extremities and five retardation in children (delayed standing, walking, hair-growing, tooth eruption

and faculty of speech).

Effects: Reinforcing kidney-yang, supplementing essence and blood and strengthening muscles and

bones.

Indications:

1. For insufficiency of kidney-yang and decline of the fire from the gate of life manifested as cold pain

in the loins and knees, spermatorrhea, frequent micturation, impotence and premature ejaculation, it

is often used together with Radix Ginseng, Fructus Lycii, Cortex Cinnamomi, Radix Polygoni Multiflori,

Placenta, etc.

2. For syndromes of deficiency-cold in women's lower-jiao, debility of Chong and Ren meridians,

metrorrhagia, metrostaxis, leucorrhea, infertility due to uterine coldness, etc., it can be used with

herbs for warming meridians, dispelling cold, warming uterus and regulating menstruation, such as

Colla Corii Asini, Redix Angelicae Sinensis, Pollen Typhae, Os Sepiella seu Sep-Sppiae, Folium

Artemisiae Argyi, Fructus Psoraleae, Fructtus Schisandrae, etc.

3. For deficiency of both liver and kidney, consumption of essence and blood marked by dizziness,

tinnitus insomnia, amnesia, weak extremities and five retardation in children, it is often used with

Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, Fructus Corni, Cortex Acanthopanacis Radicis,

Cortex Eucommiae, Ramulus Loranthi, etc.

In addition, it also can function in warming and tonifying yang and draining pus to treat chronic ulcer

without healing and deficiency cold of qi and blood.

Dosage and Administration: 1-3g, ground into fine powder to be swallowed, three times a day, or

prepared in bolus and compound powder. Precautions: This herb should be used in small dosage in

order to avoid helping pathogenic fire or bleeding. It is contraindicated for the syndrome of

hyperactivity of yang due to deficiency of yin.

Modern Researches: Pilose antler is an excellent roborant. It functions in reducing fatigue, increasing

body weight and promoting production of red blood cells and hemoglobin.

For protracted or new carbuncles and ulcerations without healing, it can promote the regenerative

course of tissues and the healing of bone fracture. It has marked cardio-tonic action, especially on the

asthenic heart. When used in large dosage, it lowers blood pressure and myocardial contractility, and

heart rate, dilates the peripheral blood vessels. If used in medium dosage, it can enhance the activity

of the isolated heart and the myocardial contraction; accelerate heart rate; increase the cardiac

output; and cause arrhythmia of the isolated heart to turn normal. Under chronic disturbance of

circulation with hypotension, pantocrine can increase vascular filling and blood pressure, cause the

heart sound louder. It can also excite the isolated intestines and uterus and increase urine excretion of

the kidney.

Epimedium (Yin Yang Huo, Herba Epimedii) 

This herb is the dried herb of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim., or E. sagittatum (Sieb. et Zucc.)

Maxim., or E. grandiflorum Morr. of the family Berberidaceae. It is collected in summer and autumn

when the stem and leaves are exuberant, and dried in the sun following removal of impurities. This

herb is also called "epimedium leaves" or "Xianlingpi''.

Properties: Pungent and sweet in flavor, warm in nature, it is attributive to the liver and kidney

meridians. Being sweet and warm, it can tonify the kidney and invigorate yang; being pungent and

warm, it can also dispel pathogenic wind and dampness.

Being stronger in tonifying the kidney and strengthening muscles and bones, it serves to treat

syndromes of impotence due to kidney-deficiency, infertility due to uterine coldness, wind-dampness

with arthralgia, and weak extremities. In spite of weaker dryness than Rhizoma Curculiginis, it still can

impair yin and help yang. So it should be used cautiously.

Effects: Tonifying the kidney, invigorating yang, strengthening bones

and muscles, and dispelling wind and dampness.

Indications:

1. For lumbago due to kidney-deficiency, impotence and infertility

due to sperm coldness, it is often used with Fructus Lycii, Radix

Morindae Officinalis, Radix Rehmanniae Pareparata, Radix Acontit, etc. to tonify the kidney, strengthen

yang and supplement esssence and blood.

2. For climacteric irregular menstruation, fluctuation of blood pressuref and functional uterine bleeding

in the type of deficiency of kidney-yang, it is often used with Rhizoma Curculiginis, Radix Angelicae

Sinensis, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae and Cortex Phellodendri to regulate and tonify yin and yang, and to

nourish blood and modulate menstruation.

3. For chronic arthralgia, low immunity, cold pain and lassitude in the loin and knees, it is often used

with Radix Morindae Officinalis, Ramulus Loranthi, Radix Achyranthis, Cortex Eucommiae, Radix

Dipsaci, etc. to dispel wind-dampness and strengthen muscles and bones.

Dosage and Administration: 3- 10g.

Modern Researches: This herb has androgenic effect. Its liquid extract (especially that made from its

leaves and roots) can promote seminal secretion in dog. It can inhibit cardiac contractility. The

preparation of this herb can obviously increase the coronary flow in both vivo and vitro. It also can

dilate peripheral blood vessels, increase the blood flow of extremities and improve the micro-

circulation.

Its decoction, alcohol extract and methyl alcohol extract all have significant and lasting hypotensive

action when intravenously injected into the rabbit. It also has bacterio-static effect, obviously on

poliovirus, mildly on staphylococcus albus and staphylococcus aureus, and also on entero-virus and

Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It also has effects of raising mice's tolerrance on hypoxia, lowering blood

sugar and blood lipid, inducing diuresis, arresting cough and expectorating.

Curculigo Rhizome (Xian Mao, Rhizoma Curculiginis) 

This herb is the dried root of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn of the family A- marvilideceae. It is dug in

autumn and winter, washed clean after removal of stem and rootlets and dried in the air. It is used

unprepared or stir-baked with wine.

Properties: Pungent in flavor, highly warm and mildly toxic in nature, it acts on the liver, kidney and

spleen meridians. Being highly pungent, warm dry and mildly toxic, it has a strongest power in

invigorating kidney-yang, and has effects of dispelling wind-dampness and strengthening muscles and

bones, serves to treat syndromes resulted from insufficiency of kidney-yang and decline of the fire

from the gate of life, arthralgia syndrome of wind-dampness and weak extremities.

Effects: Tonifying kidney-yang, strengthening muscles and bones, dispelling pathogenic wind and

eliminating dampness.

Indications:

1. For insufficiency of kidney-yang and decline of fire from the gate of life manifested as impotence,

premature ejeculation, infertility due to sperm coldness, it is often used with herbs for warming the

kidney and strengthening yang, such as Herba Epimedii, Radix Morindae Officinalis, Cortex

Eucommiae, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum, etc.

2. For arthralgia syndrome due to wind-dampness, cold pain in the loins and knees, lumbago due to

kidney-deficiency and weak extremities, it is often used together with Ramulus Loranthi, Radix Dipsaci

Radix Angelicae Pubescens, Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae, Radix Achyranthis, Cortex Eucommiae, etc.

Dosage and Administration: 3-10g.

Precautions: Owing to its pungent, warm and toxic properties, this herb should not be used in

overdose and for a long time.

Chinese Catcrpillar Fungus (Dong Chong Xia Cao, Cordyceps) 

This herb is the dried stroma and sporphore of Cordyceps sinensis (Berk) Sacc. parasitized on the larva

of Hepiaius varrans Staudinger. Both stroma and the dead larva are used medicinally. It is collected

before or after the Summer Solstice when the accumulated snow still does not melt, and dried in the

sunlight after removal of the external soil and membran out skin.

Properties: Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, it is tropistic to the lung and kidney meridians. Being

sweet, neutral, moist and not very dry in property, and mild in action, it can reinforce qi and yin mildly,

invigorate yang and supplement vital essence, and is used as an excellent tonic for tonifying the lung

and kidney. It serves to treat chronic cough in the type of both lung-and kidney-deficiency, impotence

due to consumption of kidney essence and weakness because of aging or chronic diseases,

Effects: Supplementing the lung and kidney, stopping cough and relieving asthma.

Indications:

1. For kidney-deficiency with impotence, lumbago and spermatorrhea, it can be taken alone in form of

wine infusion or used together with other herbs for reinforcing the kidney and strengthening yang.

2. For deficiency of both the lung and kidney manifested as chronic cough and asthma in deficiency

type, it is often used with herbs for tonifying the lung and kidney, such as Radix Genseng, Semen

Juglandis, Fructus Psoraleae, Radix Astragali seu Hedysari, etc.

3. For phthisical cough in the type of yin-deficiency, night sweating and hemoptysis, it is used with

herbs for nourishing yin, moistening the lung, arresting cough and stopping bleeding, such as Rhizoma

Anemarrhenae, Colla Corii Asinin, Radix Ophiopogonis, Rhizoma Bletillae, etc.

Dosage and Administration: 5-10g, used in bolus or compound powder.

Modern Researches: The extract of cordyceps can significantly relax the isolated bronchial smooth

muscle of the guinea-pig and strengthen the action of a drenaline in antiasthma which corresponds to

arresting asthma by curing kidney-deficiency in traditional Chinese medicine.

Its liquid extract has an inhibitory action on the heart, slowing down the heart rate, and can inhibit the

growth of Staphylo-coccus aureus, streptococcus, Malleomyces mallei and anthrax bacillus. Its

decoction has bacteriostatic effect on Trichophton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum and

Microsporum gypseum. Most of the reports show that the alcohol extract has certain inhibitory effect

on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This herb also has an anti-cancer action and can be used with other

herbs to treat hemoptysis, neurasthenia with sexual hypo-function and tumors.

Psoralea Fruit (Bu Gu Zhi, Fructus Psoraleae) 

This herb is the dried ripe seed of Psoralea corylia L., anual herb of the family Leguminosae. It is

collected in autumn when the seed is ripe, dried in the sun and used unprepared or stir-baked with salt

water.

Properties: Sweet in flavor, warm in nature, it acts on the kidney and spleen meridians. Being highly

warm in property, it can reinforce fire and strengthen yang. It predominantly acts on the middle and

lower-jiao, warming and tonifying spleen-and kidney-yang as well as astringing. It is thus an important

herb for deficiency of both spleen and kidney-yang and debility of the lower-jiao.

It often serves to treat syndromes of insufficiency of kidney-yang, impotence, spermatorrhea,

deficiency of spleen-and kidney-yang, chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain and asthma of cold-syndrome

due to kidney-deficiency.

Effects: Tonifying the kidney, strengthening yang, warming the spleen, and arresting diarrhea, helping

inspiration of air and relieving asthma.

Indications:

1. For insufficiency of kidney-yang, debility of the lower-jiao, lumbago, impotence, spermatorrhea and

frequent micturation, it is often used with Cortex Eucommiae, Epimedii to tonify the kidney, invigorate

yang, keep vital essence and reduce urination.

2. For morning diarrhea due to deficiencycold of the spleen and kidney, it is often used with Semen

Amomi Cardamomi, Fructus Euodiae, Fructus Schisandrae to warm and tonify the spleen and kidney,

astringe the intestine to stop diarrhea.

3. For insufficiency of kidney-qi, weak inhalation of breath, chronic cough, asthma of deficiency-type,

spontaneous perspiration and shortness of breath, it is often used with Radix Genseng, Gecko, Fructus

Corni, Fructus Schisandrae, etc., to tonify the kidney, help in halation and arrest asthma.

Dosage and Administration: 6-10g.

Modern Researches: This herb can dilate the coronary artery of myocardium in both vivo and vitro,

but has no influence on myocardial oxygen consumption. It can excite the heart, increase cardiac

efficiency, improve lactic acid-induced heart failure in the frog; shorten the bleeding time and decrease

bleeding.

The coarse preparation of this herb has a light-sensitizing effect, that is, when taken internally or used

topically, it causes the skin to become sensitive to ultraviolet radiation and easily to produce

pigmentation and even to appear red swelling and blisters. Psoralen and Bakuchiol have anti-nidation

and very weak estrogen-like effects.

The extract of this herb has bactero-static effect Myoobacterium tuberculosis, staphylococus and

fungus in vitro; can excite the intestinal smooth muscles both in vivo and vitro, relax the isolated

uterus of guinea-pigs, and make the bronchial smooth muscles contract. Corylifolinin can suppress the

development of Heia cells and sarcoma 180 in vitro. Besides, the extract and volatile oil of psoralea

fruit has anti-tumor effect.

Bitter Cardamon (Yi Zhi Ren, Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae) 

This herb is the dried mature fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla, perennial herb of the family Zingiberaceae. The

fruit is collected in autumn when it gets red, dried in the sun after getting rid of the fruit stem, stir-

baked till its shell becomes burned. Following removal of the shell, it is smashed for use or used stir-

baked with saline.

Properties: Pungent in flavor, warm in nature, it acts on the kidney and spleen meridians. Being

pungent and warm in property, it can strengthen yang to dispel cold, especially can warm the middle-

jiao, the stomach and spleen to reduce the secretion of saliva, serving to treat excessive salivation due

to deficiency-cold of the middle-jiao and epigastric pain in the type of excess-cold. It can also act on

the kidney meridian to warm the kidney, strengthen yang and astringe the lower-jiao, serving to treat

debility due to kidney-deficiency and diarrhea in the deficiency type of both spleen and kidney.

Effects: Tonifying the kidney, keeping vital essence, warming the spleen and arresting diarrhea.

Indications:

1. For insufficiency of kidney-yang, debility due to kidney deficiency spermatorrhea and spontaneous

seminal secretion, frequent micturation, it is often used with tonics with warm nature and astringents,

such as Rhizoma Dioscorea, Radix Linderae, Fructus Psoraleae, Semen Cuscutae, etc.

2. For deficiency-coldness of the middle-jiao, abdominal pain and diarrhea, it is often used with

Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Rhizoma Zingiberis, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Fructus amomi to warm

the spleen and stop diarrhea.

3. For treatment of hypo-function of the spleen, failure in keeping body fluid due to deficiency of qi,

excessive salivation with spontaneous discharge, it is often used with herbs, such as Radix Astragali

seu hedysari, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Pericarpium Citri Retic ulatae, etc.

Dosage and Administration: 3- 10g.

Modern Researches: This herb has effects of strengthening functions of the stomach, inhibiting

diuresis and reducing secretion of saliva.

Desertliving Cistanche (Rou Cong Rong, Herba Cistanchis) 

This herb is the dried pulpy stem with scales of Cistanche salsa (C. A. Mey) G. Beck., annual parasitic

plant of the family Orobanchaceae. It is dug in spring when its seedling still does not or just comes up

out of the earth. Following removal of the inflorescence, it is cut into segments and dried in the sun,

which is termed as sweet desertliving cistanche.

Those collected in autumn are soaked in salt water, and termed as salty desertliving cistanche; after

getting rid of salt, they are sliced, dried in the sun or steamed with water and wine and dried in air.

Properties: Sweet and salty in flavor, warm in nature,, it acts on the kidney and large intestine

meridians. Being sweet, warm and moist in nature, it functions in invigorating yang and supplementing

vital essence. Due to its salty nature, it can act on the kidney meridian, tonifying kidney-yang and

supplementing kidney-essence which are mild in action and have no disadvantages of impairing yin

and helping fire.

It serves to treat syndromes of insufficiency of kidney-yang, consumption of essence and blood,

impotence and infertility. Besides, it also acts the large intestine meridian to lubricate bowels, serving

to treat constipation due to exhaustion of essence and dryness in bowel.

Effects: Tonifying yang, supplementing essence, moistening and relaxing bowels.

Indications:

1. For insufficiency of kidney yang, consumption of essence and blood, premature

ejaculation and impotence, it is often used with Radix Morindae Officinalis, Herba

Epimedii, Cortex Eucommiae, Placenta Hominis etc.

2. For infertility due to uterine cold, it is used with Colla Cornu Cervi, Folium Artemisiae Argyi, Cortex

Cinnamomi, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, etc.. And for weakness of muscles and bones due to

kidney-deficiency, it is used with Radix Morindae Officinalis and Cortex Eucommiae, etc

3. For consumption of essence and blood, and constipation due to dryness of the intestines, it is often

used with laxatives such as Herba Cynomorii, Fructus Cannabis and Radix Angelicae Sinensis.

Dosage and Administration: 10-15g.

Modern Researches: This herb can lower blood pressure in anesthitized animals, promote the

secretion of saliva and paralyze respiration.

Gecko (Ge Jie, Gecko) 

This herb is the dried body of Gekko gecko L.,of the family Gekkonid. It is prepared by holding its

mouth open with bamboo pieces and keeping its body flat straightened (with two pieces forming a

couple) and dried under low temperature. When using, its head (having little poison), feet and scales

should be re- moved. Sometimes its tail is used alone and called "Gecko Tail".

Properties: Salty in flavor, neutral in nature, it acts on the lung and kidney meridians. Being salty,

neutral and moist in property and mainly acting on the kidney meridian, it can strengthen kidney-yang,

supplement essence and blood, help inhalation of breath to alleviate asthma and cough, serving to

treat impotence due to deficiency of kidney essence.

Effects: Tonifying the kidney, supplementing vital essence, helping inhalation of breath and relieving

asthma.

Indications:

1. For deficiency of both the lung and kidney, failure of the kidney in holding breath, chronic cough and

asthma of insufficiency type, it is often used with Radix Genseng, Semen Juglandis, Fructus Psoraleae,

Semen Armeniacae Amarum, etc., to strengthen inhalation of breath and relieve asthma.

2. For lumbago due to kidney-deficiency, impotence and premature ejaculation, it can be used alone in

preparation of alcohol infusion, or used together with other medicines for tonifying the kidney and

yang.

Dosage and Administration: 3-6g, ground into powder for oral administration (1-1.5g each time).

Modern Researches: The extract of Gecko with alcohol can prolong the du- ration of estrus in normal

mice, promote the appearance of estrus in ovary-removed mice and increase the weight of the uterus

and ovary. The extract fluid of Gecko has androgen-like effect, but weaker in potency than that of

Fructus Canidii, Herba Epimedii and Hippocampus.

Eucommia Bark (Du Zhong, Cortex Eucommiae) 

This herb is the trunk bark of Eucommia ulcommia ulmoides Oliv., deciduous tree of the family

Eucommiaceae. The bark is stripped off between April and June. After scraping off the cork, the bark

pieces are piled up to be sealed till purple brown, and dried in the sun. When using, it is cut into

segments or stir-baked with salt.

Properties: Sweet in flavor, warm in nature, it acts on the liver and kidney meridians. Being sweet, it

functions in tonification; as a warm agent, it can strengthen yang; and being mild in action and not

very dry in nature, it can reinforce the kidney, prevent abortion and strengthen skeletal system,

serving to treat syndromes of deficiency of both the liver and kidney, lumbago, weak extremities,

deficiency-cold of the Chong and Ren Meridians, threatened abortion, etc.

Effects: Tonifying the liver and kidney, strengthening skeletal system, and preventing abortion.

Indications:

1. For insufficiency of the liver and kidney, cold pain in the loins and knees, weakness of muscles and

bones, spermatorrhea and frequent micturation, it is often used with herbs for tonifying the liver and

kidney, such as Semen Juglandis, Fructus Psoraleae, Ramulus Loranthi, Radix Dipsaci, Radix

Achyranthis Bidentatae, etc.

2. For deficiency and impairment of Chong and Ren Meridians, threatened abortion, hyperactivity of

the fetus with vaginal bleeding, it is often used with herbs for tonifying the kidney, preventing

rniscarriage and hemostasis, such as Colla Corii Asini, Folium Artemisiae Argyi, Radix Dipsaci, Ramulus

Loranthi, etc.

Dosage and Administration: 6-10g.

Modern Researches: The extract and decoction of this herb have a lasting action in hypo-tension,

and the effect of the decoction preparation is stronger than that of tincture, and that of the parched

stronger than that of the unprepared.

It can induce diuresis in the dog, rat and mouse; and can make the animal calm, drowsy and not

sensative to external stimulation. It also can relax the uterus of the rat and rabbit. When the alcohol

extract of this herb infused into the isolated heart of the rat, it can make the heart beat more rapidly,

diastole more completely and the amplitude of beat increase. Its decoction can also excite the isolated

heart of the rabbit, and has a sedative action.

It is capable of strengthening the adrenocortical function and thus has anti-inflammatory action, It can

also enhance the immunity. In vitro, its decoction has bactero-static effect on various bacteria, such as

staphylococcus aureus, Flexner's bacillus,etc.

Dipsacus Root (Xu Duan, Radix Dipsaci) 

This herb is the dried root of Dipsacus japonicus Miq., perennial herba of the family Dipsacaceae. It is

dug in autumn, and dried slightly in slow fire after removal of the remained stem and rootlets. Then

the roots are piled up for sweating till the inner parts of them become green, dried by gentle fire,

sliced, stir-baked without or with salt or wine for use.

Properties: Bitter, sweet and pungent in flavor, mildly warm in nature, it acts on the liver and kidney

meridians. Being sweet and warm, it can strengthen yang and tonify the liver and kidney; owing to the

pungent and warm nature, it can also promote blood circulation.

As a tonic, it functions mildly and without sticky property in tonifying the kidney, preventing abortion,

promoting blood circulation and curing trauma. Thus, it serves to treat syndromes of deficiency of

Chong and Ren Meridians, threatened abortion, traumatic ecchymoma and injury of muscles and

bones.

Effects: Tonifying the liver and kidney, promoting reunion of fractured bones and preventing abortion.

Indication:

1. For the syndrome due to insufficiency of the liver and kidney, and manifested as pain in the loins

and knees, and weakness of muscles and bones, it is often used with Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae,

Cortex Eucommiae, Ramulus Loranthi, Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae and Radix Angelicae

Pubescentis, etc.

2. For threatened abortion, due to kidney deficiency hyperactivity of the fetus with vaginal bleeding,

metrorrhagia and metrostasis, it can be used with herbs for preventing abortion and hemostasis, such

as Ramulus Loranthi, Colla Corii Asini, Semen Cuscutae, Herba Agrimoniae, etc.

3. For traumatic ecchymoma and pain, injury of muscles and bone fracture, it is often used with herbs

for relieving blood stasis and pain, promoting reunion of fractured bones, such as Flos Carthami, Radix

Angelicae Sinensis, Lignum Sap pan, Resina Olibani, etc.

Dosage and Administration: 10-15g.

Dodder Seed Semen (Tu Shi Zi, Cuscutae) 

This herb is the ripe seed of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. or C. japonica Choisy., annual parasitic herb of the

family Convolvulaceae. It is collected in autumn when the seed is ripen, dried in the sun and used

unprepared or boiled after removal of impurities.

Properties: Sweet in flavor, warm in nature, it acts on the liver, kidney and spleen meridians. Being

sweet, warm and moist in property, it functions in tonifying both kidney-yang and -yin, nourishing the

liver and improving vision.

As a tonic, it is not sticky and often serves to treat syndromes of deficiency of the kidney and hypopsia

due to deficiency of both liver-and kidney-yin. In addition, it also functions in warming the spleen and

arresting diarrhea, serving to treat chronic diarrhea due to spleen-deficiency.

Effects: Tonifying the kidney, preserving essence, nourishing the liver to improve vision and relieving

diarrhea.

Indications:

1. For insufficiency of kidney-qi, debility of the lower-jiao manifested as soreness in the loins and

knees, vertigo, tinnitus, spermatorrhea, frequent micturation, impotence and premature ejaculation, it

is often used with herbs for tonifying the kidney and preserving essence, such as Cornu Cervi

Pantotrichum, Cortex Eucommiae, Ootheca, Fructus Schisandrae, etc.

2. For failure in nourishing eyes and blurred vision due to yin-deficiency of the liver and kidney, it can

be used with herbs for nourishing the liver and bettering vision, such as Fructus Lycii, Semeh

Plantaginis, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, Semen Astragali Complanati, etc.

Besides, this herb is also used to treat kidney-deficiency, induced threatened abortion and chronic

diarrhea due to deficiency-cold of both the spleen and kidney.

Dosage and Administration: 1 0-20g.

Modern Researches: The extract of this herb has cardial tonic and hypotensive effects.

Chapter 12 Hemostatics

Brief Introduction

Herbs with stopping all kinds of internal and external bleeding as their main effects are called

hemostatics. With the effects of stopping bleeding by clearing heat from blood, by astringency, by

resolving blood stasis or by warming the meridians respectively, hemostatics are indicated for

epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematemesis, hematechezia, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, traumatic bleeding

and other kinds of bleeding. Corresponding hemostatics should be selectively used according to the

cause of bleeding and in reasonable compatibility with other herbs.

Hemostatics should be used in combination with the herbs for clearing heat from blood to treat

bleeding due to blood heat, or the herbs for supplementing qi and warming yang to treat bleeding due

to cold of insufficiency type and the herbs for promoting circulation of qi and removing blood stasis to

treat bleeding with blood stasis. Exhaustion of qi due to bleeding caused by hematorrhea should be

treated not solely with hemostatics but mainly with herbs for supplementing qi and preventing

exhaustion of qi.

Inappropriate use of hemostatics tends to cause blood stasis. Therefore, when hemostatics are used,

blood stasis should be prevented. To treat bleeding with blood stasis, it is inadvisable to use solely or

excessively the herbs for stopping bleeding by clearing heat from blood or by astringency.

Japanese Thistle (Da Ji, Herba seu Radix Cirsii Japonici) 

This herb is the root and the whole plant of perennial herbaceous plant Cirsium

japonicum DC., of family Compositae. The whole plant is collected in summer when

it is in blossom, dried in the sun, cut into sections and used unprepared or stir-

baked.

Properties: The herb is sweet and bitter in flavor, cool in nature, and acts on the

heart and liver meridians. Being sweet and cool for clearing heat, and acting on

blood for clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding, the herb is indicated for many

kinds of bleeding due to blood heat. Being bitter for purging toxic substances and

eliminating swelling, the herb can be used to treat skin and external diseases due to toxic heat.

Effects: Clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding, and toxins to

eliminate swelling.

Indications:

1. To treat epistaxis, hematemesis, hematuria, metrorrhagia and

metrostaxis, and many other kinds of bleeding due to blood heat, the

herb is often used in combination with capejasmine, rhubarb, field thistle,

cogongrass rhizome, rubia root and other herbs for clearing heat from

blood to stop bleeding.

2. To treat skin and external diseases due to toxic heat, the fresh herb can be pounded to take its juice

for oral medication, or mashed for external application, or used in combination with dandelion herb,

Chinese violet, honeysuckle flower and other herbs for clearing heat and toxins. In recent years, the

herb is often used to treat hepatitis, nephritis, hypertension and other diseases.

Dosage and Administration: 10-l5g, 30-60g for raw herb.

Modern Researches: Japanese thistle inhibits the activity of fibrinolysin, shortens the bleeding time,

induces diuresis, eliminates inflammation, reduces b1ood pressure and inhibits Mycobacterium

tuberculosis hominis.

Field Thistle (Xiao Ji, Herba Cephalanoploris) 

This herb is the whole plant with root of the perennial herbaceous plant

Cephalanoplos segetum (Bge. ) Kitam. of family Compositae. The whole plant is

collected in summer when it is in blossom, cleaned, dried in the sun, cut into

sections and used unprepared, with the best effect in its fresh form.

Properties: The herb is sweet and bitter in flavor, cool in nature, acts on the

heart and liver meridians. Acting on blood in the heart and liver is for clearing

heat from blood to stop bleeding. Field thistle is similar to and weaker than

Japanese thistle in effects. With the effect of inducing diuresis, field thistle is

good at treating hematuria. Being bitter and

cool for clearing toxins and alleviating swelling, the herb can be used

to treat skin and external diseases.

Effects: Clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding, and toxins to

alleviating swelling.

Indications:

1. The herb is often used in combination with scutellaria root, Japanese thistle, cogongrass rhizome,

capejasmine and other herbs for clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding due to blood heat.

Combined with fiveleaf akebia, talc, lophatherum capejasmine and other herbs for inducing diuresis to

treat stranguria and clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding.

2. To treat skin and external diseases due to toxic heat, the fresh herb can be orally taken, or

externally applied or used in combination with other herbs for clearing heat and toxins.

Dosage and Administration: 10-15g, 30-60g for fresh herb.

Modern Researches: Field thistle can contract local blood vessels, inhibit fibrinolysin and shorten the

bleeding time. Its decoction can inhibit many kinds of bacteria, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol,

normalize function of the gallbladder, tranquilize the mind, and inhibit cancer cells of ascites

carcinoma in mice and Mycobacterium tuberculosis hominis.

In recent years, the herb is often used in combination with Japanese thistle to treat jaundice due to

hepatitis, edema due to nephritis, and hypertension. Field thistle is superior to Japanese thistle in

reducing blood pressure and blood lipids.

Biota Tops (Ce Bai Ye, Cacumen Biotae) 

This herb is the tender branch and leaf of the evergreen tree Biota orientalis (L. )

Endl. of family Cupressaceae. It is collected all the year round, scissored of small

branches, cleared of thick stalks, dried in the shade and cut into sections.

Properties: The herb is bitter and puckery in flavor, slightly cold in nature, and

acts on the lung, liver and large intestine meridians. Being bitter and cold for

clearing heat, and heat from blood to stop bleeding, the herb is used to treat

bleeding due to blood-heat.

Acting on the lung meridian for purifying and lowering the lung-qi, resolving

phlegm and relieving cough, the herb is used to treat cough due to phlegm and heat in the lung. It is

particularly appropriate for patients with hemoptysis to use the herb.

Effects: Clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding, resolving phlegm

and relieving cough.

Indications:

1. The herb is often used in combination with lotus leaf, dried

rehmannia root and argyi leaf for strengthening the effect of clearing

heat from blood to stop bleeding to treat haematemesis, apostaxis, hematochezia, metrorrhagia and

metrostaxis and many other kinds of bleeding caused by blood-heat. Combined with prepared ginger,

argyi leaf, astragalus root, white atractylodes rhizome and other herbs for supplementing qi and

warming the channels to stop bleeding, to treat bleeding due to cold of insufficiency type.

2. To treat cough due to lung-heat or expectoration with bloody sputum, the herb can be ground into

powder and made into a concentrated decoction with Chinese date for drinking, or it is used in

combination with scutellaria root, cogongrass rhizome, fritillary bulb and other herbs for clearing heat

from the lung, resolving phlegm and relieving cough.

Dosage and Administration: 10-15g. Used raw or stir-baked charred.

Modern Researches: The herb has a certain styptic effect, which can be strengthened by stir-baking

it charred. On animal experimentation, the herb has effects of relieving cough, resolving phlegm,

alleviation asthma, and inflammation, central sedation, lowering blood pressure and anti-bacteria.

Cogongrass Rhizome (Bai Mao Gen, Rhizoma lmperatae)

This herb is the rhizome of the perennial herbaceous plant lmperata

cylindrica (L.) Beauv. var. major (Ness. ) C. E. Hubb. of family Gramineae.

It is collected in spring or autumn, cleaned, dried in the sun, cut into short

sections and used unprepared or fresh.

Properties: The herb is sweet in flavor, cold in nature, and acts on the

heart, lung, stomach and urinary bladder meridians. Being sweet and cold

for clearing heat and moistening dryness, and acting on blood in the heart meridian, the herb can clear

heat from blood to stop bleeding.

Acting on qi in the lung and stomach, the herb can clear heat from the lung and stomach to promote

the generation of the body fluid and moisten dryness.

As a sweet and tasteless herb, it can induce diuresis to treat stranguria. Therefore, the herb is

indicated for bleeding due to blood-heat, dryness-heat in the lung

and stomach, strangury due to heat, and defficulty and pain in

urination.

Effects: Clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding, inducing

diuresis and promoting the generation of the body fluid.

Indications:

1. To treat many kinds of bleeding caused by blood-heat, the herb can be decocted alone or used in

combination with Japanese thistle, field thistle, scutellaria root, dried rehmannia root and other herbs

for clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding.

2. The herb is often used in combination with field thistle, plantain seed, climbing fern spore,

capejasmine and other herbs for inducing diuresis, treating stranguria and stopping bleeding, to treat

stranguria due to heat or hemataria, and with oriental wormwood, curcuma root and other herbs for

normalizing function of the gallbladder, to treat jaundice due to damp-heat.

3. To treat excessive thirst due to febrile disease or vomiting due to stomach-heat, it can be used in

combination with reed rhizome, bamboo shavings, ophiopogon root and other herbs for clearing heat,

relieving vexation, promoting generation of the body fluid and alleviating thirst.

Dosage and Administration: 10-30g, 30-60g for fresh herb.

Modern Researches: Cogongrass rhizome decoction has the effects of inducing diuresis and

obviously inhibiting Bacillus dysenteriae. Cogongrass rhizome powder has the effect of accelerating

blood coagulation.

Ramie Root (Zhu Ma Gen, Radix Boehmeriae Ramie) 

This herb is the root of the perennial herbaceous plant Boehmeria nivea (L.)

Gaud. of family Boehmeria. Its stems and leaves can also be used as herbs. The

plant grows on wasteland or hillside in various areas of China, and it can be

cultivated as well. The herb is collected in summer and autumn, dried in the sun

and sliced for use.

Properties: The herb is sweet in flavor, cold in nature, acting on the heart, liver,

kidney and urinary bladder meridians. Being cold for clearing heat, sweet for

clearing toxins, acting on the blood for removing heat from blood to stop

bleeding, clearing toxic heat to treat boils, and

eliminating stagnated heat in the lower-jiao to prevent miscarriage, the herb is

indicated for bleeding due to blood-heat, skin and external diseases caused by

toxic heat, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, and other syndromes.

Effects: Clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding, clearing heat to prevent

miscarriage, and toxic substances to treat boils.

Indications:

1. To treat haematemesis, epistaxis, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, and

hematuria due to blood heat, the herb can be decocted alone or used in combination with other herbs

for clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding.

2. The herb can be used in combination with donkeyhide gelatin, scutellaria root, rehmannia root and

other herb s for nourishing blood to stopbleeding and clearing heat to prevent miscarriage, to treat

threatened abortion and vaginal bleeding during pregnancy. Combined with dodder seed, loranthus

mulberry mistletoe, dipsacus root and other herbs for tonifying the kidney and preventing miscarriage,

to treat threatened abortion due to deficiency of the kidney.

3. To treat skin and external diseases caused by toxic heat, the fresh herb can be pounded to get its

juice for oral medication, or mashed for external application, or used in combination with honeysuckle

flower, forsythia fruit, dandelion herb and other herb s for clearing heat and toxins. In addition, the

herb can also be used to treat stranguria with pain due to 4amp-heat.

Dosage and Administration: 10-30g. An appropriate amount for external application.

Modern Researches: Ramie root, stem and leaf can shorten blood coagulation time and reduce

bleeding. They are clinically used to treat bleeding in the upper 4igestive tract, bleeding of peptic

ulcer, and hemoptysis, with good curative effects.

Sophora Flower (Huai Hua, Flos Sophorae) 

This herb is the flower bud of the tree Sophora japonica L. of family

Leguminosae. The flower bud is collected in summer and autumn, dried

in the sun and used raw or stir-baked.

Properties: The herb is bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature, and acts

on the liver, stomach and large intestine meridians. Being bitter and cold

for clearing heat, sinking and moving downward, the herb is good at

clearing heat from the liver and large intestine, and from blood to stop bleeding, and cooling the liver

to improve eyesight.

It is indicated for bleeding due to blood-heat, conjunctival congestion due to liver-heat,

hemafecia due to excessive heat in the large intestine, and particularly for

hemorrhoidal bleeding.

Effects: Clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding, and from the liver to improve

eyesight.

Indications:

1. The herb is often used in combination with sanguisorba root, biota tops, scutellaria

root, trichosanthes fruit and other herbs for cooling blood to stop bleeding, and loosing the bowels to

relieve constipation, to treat hemafecia and hemorrhoidal bleeding due to excessive heat in the large

intestine.

2. To treat the liver-yang dizziness and the liver-fire headache, the herb is often used in combination

with abalone shell, hooked uncaria, scutellaria root and chrysanthemum flower for calming the liver-

yang and clearing the liver-fire.

Dosage and Administration: 10-15g. Used stir-baked for stopping bleeding, and used raw for

calming the liver.

Modern Researches: Sophora flower can reduce vascular permeability and restore normal vascular

elasticity. Rutin, ingredient of the herb can inhibit the heart, strengthen its contracting force, increase

its output, reduce heart rate and lower blood pressure.

Quercetin, ingredient of the herb can dilate coronary artery, decrease myocardial

oxygen consumption and reduce blood-lipid. Sophora flower can shorten bleeding

time, more obviously when the herb is used stir-baked charred.

Sanguisorba Root (Di Yu, Radix Sanguisorbae) 

This herb is the root of the perennial herbaceous plant Sanguisorba officinalis L. of

family Rosaceae. It is dug out in spring or autumn, cleaned, dried in the sun, sliced

and used raw or stir-baked.

Properties: The herb is bitter and sour in flavor, slightly cold in nature, and acts on the liver, stomach

and large intestine meridians. Being slightly cold for clearing heat and sour for astringency, it is mainly

used for cooling blood to stop bleeding by astringency.

Being bitter and cold for sinking and lowering, and mainly acting on the lower-jiao, the herb is

indicated for many kinds of bleeding due to blood heat, and particularly more often used to treat

hemorrhoidal bleeding and hemafecia.

Effects: Clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding, poison antidotal

and as tringing for skin sore.

Indications:

1. The herb is often used in combination with sophora fruit, scutellaria

root and other herbs for clearing the bowels and cooling blood to stop bleeding to treat hemafecia and

hemorrhoidal bleeding due to excessive heat in the large intestine. Combined with dried rehmannia

root, scutellaria root, cattail pollen, moutan bark and other herbs for cooling blood to stop bleeding, to

treat metrorrhagia and metrostaxis due to blood heat.

2. To treat carbuncle, septicemic sore, damp sore and eczema, the herb powder can be mixed with

water for external application gor decocted for external lotion. To treat scald and burn, the herb with

rhubarb, borneol, Chinese angelica root, sesame oil and other medicines can be made into ointment

for external application. In addition, the herb can also be used to treat dysentery due to damp-heat.

Dosage and Administration: 1015g, an appropriate amount for external application.

Precautions: The herb should not be applied externally to large areas burns in order to prevent from

toxic hepatitis caused by the absorption of hydrolytic tannin contained in the herb.

Modern Researches: Both Diyu Tan and Sheng Diyu can constrict blood vessels, inhibit fibrinolysin,

stop bleeding. They have good effects in treating burns by reducing exudation and infection, and by

forming a protective coating. Both their decoctions and alcohol extracts are anti-inflammatory,

swelling relieving and can reduce permeability of skin capillary, and inhibit Staphylococcus aureus,

pneumococcus, meningococcus, Bacillus dysenteriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and virus. In addition,

the herb can also lower blood pressure and promote the digestion of protein.

Hyacinth Bletilla (Bai Ji, Rhizoma Bletillae) 

This herb is the tuber of the perennial herbaceous plant Bletilla striaia

(Thunb. ) Reichb. f. of family Orchidaceae. It is collected in summer and

autumn, cleared of hairy rootlets, cleaned, boiled until there is no white core

in it, peeled, dried in the sun and used raw.

Properties: The herb is bitter, sweet and puckery in flavor, slightly cold in

nature, and acts on the lung, liver and stomach meridians. Being sticky,

puckery and acting on blood, having strong effect of stopping bleeding by

astringency, the herb is indicated for hemoptysis, haematemesis, traumatic bleeding and other kinds

of bleeding caused by hurt in the lung and stomach. With its astringing nature,

it can also be used to heal wounds and promote tissue regeneration.

Effects: Stopping bleeding by astringency, relieving swelling and promoting

tissue regeneration.

Indications:

1. The herb is often used in combination with cuttle bone powder to treat

haematemesis and stomachache; and with donkey-hide gelatin, dried

rehruannia root, biota tops, pyrrosia leaf and other herbs for cooling blood to stop bleeding, resolving

phlegm and relieving cough, to treat cough with phlegm and blood due to pulmonary tuberculosis. To

treat traumatic bleeding, the herb can be ground into powder for external application.

2. To treat diabrotic skin sore without healing for a long time, the herb can be ground into powder,

used in combination with frankincense, myrrh, dragon's blood and other herb s for external application

to astringe sore and promote healing. To treat scald, burn and chapped skin, the herb can be ground

into powder and mixed with oil for external application.

Dosage and Administration: 5-10g, 25g each time for powder, an appropriate amount for external

application.

Precautions: Incompatible with aconite root.

Modern Researches: Hyacinth bletilla has good effects of local hemostasis and inhibiting

Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It may antaganize endotoxin of Bordetella pertussis. Hyacinth bletilla

gelatin can accelerate wound healing by granulation.

Hairy Vein Agrimony (Xian He Cao, Herba Agrimoniae) 

This herb is the whole plant of the perennial herbaceous plant Agrimonis pilosa

Ledeb. of family Rosaceae. It is collected in summer and autumn, cleaned, dried in

the sun, cut into sections and used raw.

Properties: The herb is bitter and puckery in flavor, neutral in nature, and acts on

the lung, liver and spleen meridians. Being puckery and acting on blood in the liver

meridian for stopping bleeding by astringency, and neutral for mildness, the herb

can be used to treat various kinds of bleeding due to cold or heat of deficiency or

excess type. In addition, with the effects of clearing poisons and curing dysentery,

the herb can be used to treat septicemic sore, diarrhea and dysentery.

Effects: Stopping bleeding by astringency, clearing toxins and curing

dysentery.

Indications:

1. For haematemesis, epistaxis, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis,

hemafecia and other kinds of bleeding, the herb can be used in

combination with dried rehmannia root, scutellaria root, cogongrass

rhizome and other herbs for cooling blood to stop bleeding, to treat bleeding due to blood heat.

Combined with prepared ginger, charred argyi-leaf, charred palm and other herbs for stopping

bleeding by warming the meridians and by astringency, to treat bleeding due to cold of deficiency

type.

2. To treat carbuncle and septicemic sore, the herb can be used alone, and also in combination with

other herbs for clearing heat and toxins. To treat chronic dysentery with bloody stool, the herb can be

used in combination with charred honeysuckle flower, charred scutellaria root and other herbs for

clearing heat from blood and toxins and arresting dysentery.

Dosage and Administration: 10-15g, 30-60g for a large dose.

Modern Researches: Agrimonine can strengthen the heart, relieve pain, reduce blood sugar and

excite tired skeletal muscles. Agrimophol has an anti malarial effect.

Charred Palm (Zhong Ru Tang, Petiolus Trachycarpi) 

This herb is the charred fibers of the petiole and sheath of the evergreen tree

Trachycarpus wagnerianus Becc. of family Palmae. It is collected around Winter

Solstice, cut into pieces and calcined for use.

Properties: The herb is bitter and puckery in flavor, neutral in

nature, and acts on the liver and spleen meridians. Being puckery

for strongly stopping bleed ing by astringency, the herb is

indicated for haematemesis, hemafecia and many other kinds of

bleeding.

Being special for astringency but without resolving blood stasis and clearing heat, it

should not be used alone to treat bleeding with blood stagnation due to heat of excess

type in order to prevent retaining blood stasis and astringing pathogen.

Effects: Stopping bleeding by astringency.

Indications:

1. The herb is often used in combination with scutellaria root, capejasmine, field thistle, moutan bark

and other herbs for strengthening the effect of cooling blood to stop bleeding, to treat haematemesis,

epistaxis, hemafecia, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, and many other kinds of bleeding due to blood

heat.

2. Combined with astragalus root, calcined dragon's bone, cuttle bone, rubia root and other herbs for

supplementing qi to control blood and to stop bleeding by astringency to treat bleeding due to qi

deficiency, debility of Chong and Ren Meridians, and women's metrorrhagia and metrostaxis.

Dosage and Administration: 5-10g, 1-2g each time for its powder.

Notoginseng (San qi, Radix Notoginseng) 

This herb is the root of the perennial herbaceous plant Panax notoginseng

(Burk. ) F. H. Chen of family Araliaceae. The herb is cleaned of mud and

scissored of branch roots, fibrous rootlets and caudex. Bigger roots are

separated from smaller ones. While dried in the sun until the herb is

halfdry, it is rubbed with hands until it is round and solid with smooth

surface. Then it is dried again, sliced or ground into powder and used

unprepared.

Properties: The herb is sweet and slightly bitter in flavor, slightly warm in

nature, and acts on the heart, liver and spleen meridians. Being sweet for mildness, warm for clearing,

it acts heart and liver meridians and blood division for resolving blood stasis and improving blood

circulation.

When the stasis is resolved and the blood returned back to the vessels, the bleeding and pain stop

them selves. With the effect of stopping bleeding without retaining blood stasis, it

is an important herb to stop bleeding and alleviate pain. The herb is often used to

treat various kinds of bleeding and pains due to blood stasis.

Effects: Resolving blood stasis, stopping bleeding, promoting blood circulation

and alleviating pain.

Indications:

1. The herb powder can be orally taken, 2-3 times a day, 3g each time, to treat

haematemesis, hemafecia, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis and other kinds of

bleeding, with a better effect for bleeding with blood stasis.

2. To treat haematemesis, hemafecia caused by ulcer of the digestive tract, the herb can be used in

combination with hyacinth bletilla and cuttle bone.

3. To treat traumatic ecchymosis and swelling pain, the herb can be orally taken or externally applied

or used in combination with other herbs for removing blood stasis and alleviating pain.

4. To treat obstruction of the heart meridian by blood stasis and colic due to obstruction of qi in the

chest, the herb is often used in combination with ginseng for supplementing qi, clearing the meridians,

removing blood stasis and alleviating pain.

Dosage and Administration: 1-3g. The herb powder is orally taken in form of infusion with hot

boiled water.

Modern Researches: With sanqisu as its main styptic ingredient, notoginseng can constrict local

vessels, shorten blood coagulation time, increase blood platelets, inhibit fibrinolysin.

On the other side it can resist coagulation, reduce blood viscosity, promote the absorption of blood

stasis, dilate coronary arteries f lower blood pressure, resist arrhythmia, shock and inflammation,

alleviate pain, tranquilize the mind, protect the liver, drain the bile, resist high or low temperature,

hypoxia and fatigue, promote growth and development, and increase red blood cells, hemoglobin and

white blood cells.

Cat-Tail Pollen (Pu Huang, Pollen Typhae) 

This herb is the dried pollen of the aquiherbosa Typha angustifolia L. and other

plants of family Typhaceae. The stamenate flower on its inflorescence is collected in

May and June when it is just in blossom, dried in the sun, crushed and sieved to get

the fine powder, which is used unprepared or stir-baked.

Properties: The herb is sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, and acts on the liver and

pericardium meridians. Being sweet for mildness, neutral for not drastic effect, and

acting on the blood in the heart and liver, the unprepared herb can remove blood

stasis, and stop bleeding without retaining blood stasis, and the stir-baked herb is

good at stopping bleeding by astringency.

The herb can be used to treat various kinds of internal and external bleeding due to

cold or heat of deficiency or excess type. With its effect of inducing diuresis, the

herb is particularly good at treating stranguria with blood and hematuria. With its effect of relieving

blood stasis and alleviating pain, the herb is also used to alleviate pains

due to blood stasis.

Effects: Relieving blood stasis, stopping bleeding, treating stranguria and

alleviating pain.

Indications:

1. For haematemesis, hematuria, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis and many

other kinds of bleeding, the herb can be used in combination with herbs

for clearing heat from blood to stop bleeding, to treat bleeding due to blood heat.

2. Combined with herbs for warming the meridians to stop bleeding, it may treat bleeding due to cold

of deficiency type; and with notoginseng, rubia root and other herbs for relieving blood stasis to stop

bleeding, to treat bleeding due to blood stasis.

3. The herb is particularly good at treating stranguria with blood and hematuria when used in

combination with dried rehmannia root, field thistle, capejasmine, fiveleaf akebia and other diuretic

herbs to treat stranguria and clear heat from blood to stop bleeding.

4. The herb is often used in combination with trogopterus dung for strengthening the effect of relieving

blood stasis and alleviating pain, due to blood stasis, and abdominal pain due to the obstruction and

blood stasis after childbirth.

5. Combined with chuanxiong rhizome, corydaiis tuber, Chinese angelica root, notoginseng and other

herbs for relieving blood stasis and alleviating pain, it may treat pain syndromes due to blood stasis in

the chest and abdomen.

Dosage and Administration: 5-10g. Wrapped in gauze and decocted.

Modern Researches: Cattail pollen can accelerate blood coagulation, shorten blood coagulation time,

increase blood platelets, increase the blood flow in coronary arteries, dilate blood vessels, improve

micro-circulation, lower blood pressure and blood lipid, resist arteriosclerosis, resist inflammation,

eliminate swelling induce diuresis, relieve asthma, excite the uterus, strengthen intestinal peristalsis

and alleviate pain.

Rubia Root (Qian Cao, Radix Rubiae) 

This herb is the root of the perennial trailing herbaceous plant Rubis

cordifolia L. of family Rubiaceae. It is dug out in spring or autumn,

cleared of the stem, cleaned, dried in the sun and used unprepared or

stir-baked.

Properties: The herb is bitter in flavor, cold in nature, and acts on the

heart and liver meridians. Being bitter for dispersion, purgation and

removal of blood stasis, and cold for clearing heat from blood, the unprepared herb can stop bleeding

by relieving blood stasis and clearing heat from blood; and the stir-baked herb can specially relieve

blood stasis to stop bleeding.

The herb is often used to treat various kinds of bleeding caused by blood stasis and blood heat as well

as various kinds of pain due to blood stasis.

Effects: Removing heat from blood to stop bleeding, promoting blood circulation and

eliminating blood stasis.

Indications:

1. The herb is often used in combination with biota tops, capejasmine, field thistle g

rhubarb and other herbs for clearing heat from blood to treat haematemesis,

epistaxis, hemafecia, rnetrorrhagia and metrostaxis caused by blood-heat.

2. Combined with astragalus root, white atractylodes rhizome, cuttle bone, and other

medicines for supplementing qi and strengthening the spleen, it may treat

metrorrhagia and metrostaxis due to deficiency and impairment of Chong and Ren

Meridians.

3. The herb is often used in combination with motherwort, chuanxiong rhizome,

peach kernel and other herbs for promoting blood circulation and relieving blood stasis, to treat

women's dysmenorrhea caused by blood stasis or abdominal pain due to the obstruction and blood

stasis after childbirth.

4. When combined with atractylodes rhizome phellodendron bark, honeysuckle vine and other herbs

for clearing heat and dampness, and alleviating pain, it may treat arthritis of heat type due to

pathogenic wind-dampness as well as redness, swelling, heat and pain in Joints.

Dosage and Administration: 10-15g. Stir-baked charred for stopping bleeding, and used unprepared

for promoting blood circulation.

Modern Researches: Rubia root can accelerate blood coagulation and shorten the time of blood

coagulation. The conjugation of alizarin with calciumions in blood has a slight effect of anti-

coagulation. Rubia root decoction can alleviate spasm of the intestinal tract, resolve phlegm and

relieve cough. Its extract with water can excite the uterus and has a certain inhibiting effect on many

kinds of pathogenic bacteria.

Argyi Leaf (Ai Ye, Foilum Artemisiae Argyi) 

This herb is the leaf of the perennial bush-like herbaceous plant

Artemisia argyi Levi. et Vant. of family Compositae. It is collected

in summer and autumn when the plant is not in blossom, dried in

the sun or in the shade, and used unprepared or stir-baked.

Branches with leaves are cut off, dried in the sun, pounded into

argyi wool, which can be made into moxa-cigars for moxibustion.

Properties: The herb is bitter and pungent in flavor, warm in

nature, and acts on the liver, spleen and kidney meridians. Being pungent for dispersion, bitter for

dryness, warm for dispersing cold, and acting on blood for warming the meridians and dispersing cold

to stop bleeding, the herb is indicated for bleeding due to cold of insufficiency type caused by

deficiency of qi and blood.

Acting on the abdominal meridians and collateral for expelling wind,

dispersing cold, warming the meridians and alleviating pain, the herb is

used to treat abdominal pain due to cold of insufficiency type, women's

dysmenorrhea and arthralgia due to wind-coldness and other syndromes.

Effects: Warming the meridians to stop bleeding, and dispersing cold to

alleviate pain.

Indications:

1. The herb is often used in combination with donkey-hide gelatin, Chinese angelica root, dried

rehmannia root, white peony root and other herbs for warming the meridians to stop bleeding and

nourishing blood to prevent miscarriage, to treat metrorrhagia and metrostaxis or vaginal bleeding

during pregnancy caused by cold of insufficiency type in the lower-jiao and debility of Chong and Ren

Meridians.

2. Combined with lotus leaf, dried rehmannia root and biota tops for clearing heat from blood to stop

bleeding, it may treat haematemesis and epistaxis caused by bleeding due to blood heat.

3. The herb is often used in combination with cinnamon bark, cyperus tuber, Chinese angelica root and

other herbs for warming the meridians, dispersing cold, nourishing blood and regulating menstruation

to treat cold of insufficiency type in the lower-jiao of women, cold pain in the lower abdomen, irregular

menstruation and sterility.

4. When combined with dried ginger, amomum fruit, corydalis tuber and other herbs for warming the

middle-jiao, dispersing cold and alleviating pain, to treat cold of insufficiency type in the middle-jiao,

and cold pain in the stomach and abdomen. In addition, the herb made into moxa-cigars for

rnoxibustion on acupoints can treat cold pain due to cold-dampness. Its decoction for external washing

can treat itching of eczema.

Dosage and Administration: 3-10g, Decocted for oral medication, and stir-baked charred for

stopping bleeding.

Modern Researches: Argyi leaf decoction can stop bleeding, excite the uterus, inhibit the intestinal

tract, and inhibit many kinds of pathogenic bacteria and virus. Its volatile oil can relieve cough,

alleviate asthma, resolve phlegm and inflammation.

In addition, the herb can tranquilize the central nervous system and alleviate allergy. A large dose of

the herb with certain toxicity can inhibit the heart and cause acute inflammation in the stomach and

intestine.

Chapter 13Chapter 13 Herbs for Promoting Blood Circulation and Relieving Blood StasisBrief Introduction

Herbs whose principal effects are promoting blood circulation and relieving blood stasis are called

herbs for promoting blood circulation and relieving blood stasis and also called blood stasis breaking

medicine or herbs for removing blood stasis.

This kind of herbs possess the actions of promoting blood flow to regulate menstruation, stasis

breaking and lumps resolving, removing blood stasis and relieving pain, subduing swelling and

promoting tissue regeneration, and so on.

They are applicable in relieving headache, thoracalgia, and abdominal pain. dysmenorrhea due to

blood stasis, and traumatic ecchymoma, arthralgia syndrome by wind-dampness, septicema from

carbuncle, skin and external diseases, mass in the abdomen, and other symptoms. In the application

of the herbs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, the another herbs for

promoting the circulation of qi should be added herbs for expelling the cold from meridian be added

for patients with blood stasis due to accumulation of the cold.

Besides, herbs having the functions of softening and resolving hard mass, clearing away heat and toxic

materials and anti-rheumatics are usually used in combination respectively for the treatment of mass

in the abdomen, skin and external diseases, arthralgia-syndrome, and other diseases.

Herbs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis should be used with great care or be

forbidden for women with hypermenorrhea or with amenorrhea due to deficiency of the blood and

pregnant women.

Chuanxiong Rhizome (Chuan Xiong, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong) 

It is the dry rhizoma of the perennial herb Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. of the

umbelliferae family. It is collected in summer when the knob at the lower

stem are very prominent and with purplish color. After the removal of the silt,

stem, leaves and fibrous rootlets, it is baked dry and cut to slices. It can be

used unprepared, or stir-baked with alcohol or with bran.

Properties: It is pungent in flavor, warm in nature, acting on liver meridian,

gallbladder meridian and pericardium meridian. Its pungent flavor is good for

dispersing blood stasis and the warm property for freeing the passage of

blood.

Its wandering function exerts its effect both on the blood division and the qi

division, hence, it is a herb for vital energy in blood with the actions of promoting blood circulation and

flow of qi and relieving pain. It is the herb usually used to treat thoracalgia and abdominal pain caused

by qi and blood stasis, traumatic ecchymoma, swelling and pain due to suppurative infection or

carbuncle, and other diseases.

It is also good at dispelling wind and relieving pain, so it is used to treat

various kinds of headache and numbness and pain due to wind-dampness.

Effects: Promoting blood circulation and flow of qi, dispelling wind and

relieving pain.

Indications:

1. For the treatment of irregular menstruation due to stagnation of qi and blood, dysmenorrhea,

amenorrhea, postpartum tormina, it is usually used in combination with Radix Angelicae Sinensis,

Radix Paeoniae, Radix Bupleuri, Rhizoma Cyperi, and other herbs.

2. For the treatment of stagnation of qi and blood in the liver meridian, chest and abdominal pain, or

blockage of the Heart meridian, it is usually used in combination with Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Flos

Carthami, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Rhizoma Cyperi, Rhizoma Corydalis, and so on.

3. For the treatment of headache due to the wind-cold, it can be used together with Radix Angelicae

Dahuricae, Radix Ledebouriellae, Herba Asari, and other herbs having the action of dispersing cold and

relieving pain.

4. For the treatment of headache due to the wind-heat, it is usually used in combination with Flos

Chrysanthemi, Bombyx Batryticatus, Gypsum Fibrosum, Radix Ledebouriellae, and other herbs that

have functions of dispelling wind and clearing away heat.

5. For treatment of headache due to deficiency of blood, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Paeoniae,

Caulis Spatholobi, and other herbs with the action of nourishing the blood and relieving pain can be

used together with it.

Besides, it can also be used to treat pyogenic infections of skin diseases including carbuncle,

rheumatic pain due to wind-dampness, trauma, and other disorders.

Dosage and Administration: 3-10g

Modern Researches: Alkaloids of Rhizoma Ligusiici Chuanxiong has actions of dilatating coronary

arteries, increasing the blood flow of coronary artery, decreasing myocardial oxygen consumption,

increasing cerebral blood flow, reducing resistance of peripheral blood vessels, and so on.

It possesses the calming effect on central nervous system. It is uterotonic, but it inhibits the

contraction of the uterus when in large dose, resulting in cessation of contraction. It has been shown to

have anticancer action.

Red Sage Root (Dan Shen, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) 

It is the root of the perennial herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. of the

family Labiatae. It is collected in autumn. After the removal of its

stem and leaves, it is washed clean, dried in the sun and cut into

slices. It is used unprepared or stir-baked with wine.

Properties: Bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature, acting on the heart meridian and liver meridian, its

bitterness for sending down and purging, and mild coldness for clearing away heat, it effects on heart,

liver and blood division. And it can clear heat from the blood and promote blood circulation, remove

blood stasis and heat.

It is applicable in treatment of chest and abdominal pain caused by accumulation of heat in the blood

division, irregular menstruation, carbuncle and sore. Because of its tropism to the Heart meridian it

also has effect of clearing away the heart-fire to relieve restlessness, tranquilizing the mind and

emotion, therefore, it can be used to treat vexation and insomnia due to warm and heat pathogen.

Effects: Promoting blood circulation and relieving blood stasis,

clearing heat from the blood and resolving swelling, tranquilizing the

mind.

Indications:

1. For treatment of irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum tormina, it is

usually used in combination with Herba Leonuri, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Radix Angelicae

Sinensis, Rhizoma Cyperi, and other herbs with the action of promoting blood flow to regulate

menstruation.

2. For treatment of gastric and abdominal pain due to blood stasis, it is usually used in combination

with Rhizoma Corydalis, Rhizoma Cyperi, Faeces Trogopterorum, and other herbs with the effect of

relieving pain by promoting blood circulation.

3. For treatment of pain in chest and hypochondrium due to stagnation of the liver-qi and blood stasis

or colicky pain in the chest caused by blood stasis, it is usually used in combination with Rhizoma

Corydalis, Lignum Dalbergiae Odoriferae Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Flos

Carthami, etc.

4. For treatment of arthralgia syndrome due to wind-dampness, redness, swelling, and pain of joints, it

can be used together with Ramulus Mori. Caulis Lonicerae, Radix Achyranthis Bidetatae, Cortex

phellodendri, and other herbs to clear away heat and dry dampness, and obstruction in the meridians

and to relieve pain.

5. For treatment of skin sore and carbuncles due to noxious heat and acute mastitis, it can be used

together with Flos Lonicerae, Fructus forsythiae, Herba Taraxaci, and other herbs with the effects of

clearing heat and toxins.

6. For treatment of heat invasion of nutrient ying and blood divisions in epidemic febrile disease,

vexation and delirium caused by pyrexia, it is used in combination with Radix Ophiopogonis, Rhizoma

Coptidis, and other herbs with effects of clearing heat from blood and heart to relieve restlessness.

7. For deficiency of blood, dis-nourishment of mind stored in the heart, insomnia and dreaminess, it

can be used together with Radix Rehmanniae, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, etc.

Dosage and Administration: 5-10g.

Precautions: It is antagonistic to Veratrum nigrum L.

Modern Researches: Tanshinin, the basic ingredient of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, has action of

dilatating coronary artery. It has been demonstrated that Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae can reduce

aggregation of platelets, improve micro-circulation, and also has bacterio-static

and anti-inflammatory effects.

Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao, Herba Leonuri) 

It is the whole plant of the annual biennial herb Leonurus hetreophyllus sweet of

the family labiatae, and is produced in most regions of China. It is collected usually

in summer during its flowering period. The part above the earth is cut and dried in

the sun. It is used unprepared or in the form of a liquid extract.

Properties: Pungent and bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature, acting on the

heart meridian, liver meridian and urinary bladder meridian. Pungent for

dispersing and bitter for purging, the herb has mild actions of promoting blood circulation to regulate

menstruation, removing blood stasis to promote the growth of new tissue. Its slight coldness can clear

heat.

It is applicable in treatment of irregular menstruation due to accumulation of heat in the blood division,

postpartum tormina due to blood stasis, and traumatic ecchymosis and pain. Because of its tropism to

Urinary Bladder meridian, it may treat edema by inducing diuresis and be used to treat edema and

difficulty in urination.

Effects: Promoting blood circulation to regulate menstruation,

subsiding edema by inducing diuresis.

Indications:

1. For treatment of irregular menstruation caused by stasis in the

blood division of women, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, it is usually

used in combination with Radix Angelicae Sinesis, Rhizoma Ligustici

Chuanxiong, Rhizoma Cyperi, Flos Carthami, and other herbs having the effect of relieving blood stasis

to regulate menstruation.

2. For treatment of postpartum tormina due to blood stasis, it can be used together with Pollen

Typhae, Faeces Trogopterorum, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Ligustici chuanxiong, and other

herbs with the action of relieving blood stasis and pain.

3. For treatment of edema, difficulty in urination with stagnant heat, it is usually used in combination

with Rhizoma lmperatae, Semen Plantaginis, Cortex Mori Radicis, Poria, and Radix Scutellariae to

subside edema by inducing diuresis and clearing away stagnant heat.

Besides, it can also be used to treat skin sore and carbuncle caused by noxious heat, by its effect of

clearing away heat and toxins.

Dosage and Administration: 10~30g, 60g when used alone.

Modern Researches: Herba Leonuri directly stimulates uterus, so it can in- crease the tonicity of

uterus with the effect slightly weaker than that of pituitrin. It has remarkable inhibiting effect on

experimental thrombosis. Moreover, it can lower blood pressure and induce diuresis.

Peach Kernel (Tao Ren, Semen Persicae) 

It is the kernel of the deciduous tree of Prunus persica (L.) Batsch., or Prunus

davidiana (Carr) Franch, of the family Rosaceae. It is collected when the fruit is

ripe in autumn. The flesh of the fruit is removed and the core is broken to get

the kernel, which is then dried in the sun. Its skin is removed, the kernel is

used raw or crushed before using.

Properties: Bitter and sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, acting on the heart

meridian, liver meridian, the lung meridian and the large intestine meridian. Owing to its bitterness, it

has the functions of dispersion and purgation, promoting blood circulation and relieving blood stasis,

and strong action of promoting blood flow to regulate menstruation.

It is usually used to treat dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea caused by blood stasis, mass in the abdomen

and traumatic ecchymosis. It is rich of oils which act on the large intestine meridian to lubricate and

relax the bowels, hence it is used to treat constipation, dry colon and body fluid

depletion.

Effects: Promoting blood circulation by relieving blood stasis, lubricating the

bowels to relieve constipation.

Indications:

1. For treatment of irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, persistent lochia after

delivery, it is usually used in combination with Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong,

Pollen typhae, Flos Carthami, Faeces Trogopterorumn, and other herbs with effects of promoting blood

circulation and relieving blood stasis, regulating menstruation to relieve pain.

2. For treatment of trauma, swelling and pain caused by blood stasis, it can be used together with

Squama Manitis, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, and other herbs having the effects

of promoting blood circulation and relieving blood stasis.

3. For treatment of blood stasis, mass in the abdomen, it is usually used in combination with Ramulus

Cinnamoni, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Cortex Moutan Radicis, and other herbs with the effect of promoting

blood circulation and relieving blood stasis.

4. For treatment of deficiency of yin and body fluid, constipation due to dry ness, it is usually used in

combination with Semen Armeniacae Amarum, Semen Pruni, Semen Biotae and other herbs with the

action of lubricating bowel.

Dosage and Administration: 5-10g, crushed to pieces before using. Precautions: Contraindicated in

pregnant women.

Modern Researches: It can increase cerebral blood flow, decrease the resistance of cerebral blood

vessels. Besides, it also possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antitussive effects.

The oils contained have the effect of lubricating, intestines. Hydrocyanic acid is produced by

decomposition of amygdalin contained in it, thus paralysis of respiratory muscles can be induced by

administration of a large dose of it, which may result in death.

Safflower (Hong Hua, Flos Carthami) 

It is the dry tubular flower of the annual herb Carthamus tinctorius L. of the

family Compositae. It is picked and collected in summer when the color of the

flowers turns from yellow to bright red, and then dried in the shade. It is used

raw or after slightly stir-fried.

Properties: Pungent in flavor, warm in nature, acting on the heart meridian,

liver meridian. Being pungent for dispersing and warm for purging, it acts on the

blood division. It is particularly effective in dispersing, promoting qi, and blood

circulation, relieving blood stasis, swelling and pain. It is used in treatment of

headache, thoracalgia, abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea caused by blood stasis of the blood division,

carbuncle, traumatic ecchymosis and pain. It is the main herb used for promoting blood flow to

regulate menstruation.

Effects: Promoting blood circulation and relieving blood stasis, regulating

menstruation and relieving pain.

Indications:

1. For treatment of blood stasis in women, irregular menstruation, dysmen orrhea,

amenorrhea, postpartum tormina, it is usually used in combination with Radix

Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Semen Persicae, Herba Leonuri,

and other herbs with the effect of promoting blood flow to regulate menstruation.

2. For treatment of abdominal mass, it should be used together with Eupolyphaga seu steleophaga,

Carapax Trionycis, Rhizoma Zedoariae, Concha Ostreae, and other herbs to soften and resolve hard

lumps, resolve blood stasis and abdominal mass.

3. For treatment of angina pectoris due to blood stasis and obstruction, it is usually used in

combination with Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong,

and other herb with the effect of relieving pain and the blood stasis.

4. For treatment of trauma, swelling and pain due to blood stasis, it can be used together with Resina

Olibani, Myrrha, Semen Persicae, Squama Manitis and etc.

5. For treatment of swelling and pain due to carbuncle, it can be used in combination with Flos

Lonicerae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Resina Olibani, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, and other herbs with the

functions of removing toxins, resolving swelling and promoting tissue regeneration.

Besides, it can also be used to treat eruptions caused by noxious heat, brustrated eruption of measles,

and other syndromes.

Dosage and Administration: 5-10g.

Precautions: Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Modern Researches: Its decoction induces the contraction of uterus, increases coronary blood flow,

and decreases resistance of coronary blood vessels, but, increases the oxygen consumption of

myocardium, and it has long-lasting hypotensive effect. Besides, it can inhibit platelet aggregation, in

vitro prevent thrombosis, and so on.

Achyranthes Root (Niu Xi, Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae) 

It is the root of the perennial herb Achyranthes bidentata Bl. and Cyathula

officinalis Kuan of the family Amaranthaceae.

Properties: Bitter and sour in flavor, neutral in nature, it acts on the liver and

kidney meridians. When used raw, it has the effects of dispersing, promoting

the circulation of qi and lowering the upward flow of qi by its bitterness, and

promoting blood circulation to restore menstruation, conducting downward

flow of heat and inducing diuresis to treat strangury.

It is used to treat amenorrhea, hematemesis and epistaxis, strangury, and

other syndromes. When used prepared, it is good at tonifying the liver and

kidney, strengthening the bones and muscles, and is used

to treat various syndromes caused by deficiency of liver and kidney.

Effects: promoting blood circulation and restoring menstruation, conducting

downward flow of heat, inducing diuresis to treat strangury, and tonifying the liver

and kidney.

Indications:

1. For treatment of irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea caused by

blood stasis and postpartum tormina due to accumulation of blood stasis, it is usually

used in combination with Radix Angelicae sinensis, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong,

Flos Carthami, Herba Leonuri, and other herbs with the effect of promoting blood circulation to

regulate menstruation.

2. For treatment of advise upward flow of blood heat, hematemesis, epistaxis, it can be used together

with Fructus Gardeniae, Radix Scutellariae, Rhizoma Imperatae, and other herbs with the effects of

cooling blood to stop bleeding.

3. For treatment of the liver-yang dizziness, headache due to the liver-fire, it can be used in

combination with Concha Haliotidis, Os Draconis, Radix Gentianae. Ramulus Uncariae Cum ryncis, and

other herbs with the effects of soothing the liver to lower fire.

4. For treatment of flaring up of the stomach fire, toothache and aphthae, it is used together with

Gypsum Fibrosum and Rhizoma Anemarrhenae to clear away the stomach-fire.

5. For treatment of dysuria due to dampness-heat and stranguria with blood, stranguria caused by the

passage of urinary stone, it is usually used together with Herba Lysimachiae, Folium Pyrrosiae, Talcum

and other herbs having the effect of relieving stranguria and removing urinary stones.

6. For treatment of deficiency of liver yin and kidney yin, aching and weak- ness in waist and knees,

weakness of muscles, it is used in combination with Cortex Eucommiae, Radix Dipsaci, Ramulus

Loranthi and other herbs with the effects of tonifying the liver and kidney, and strengthening bones

and muscles.

7. For treatment of blockage syndrome or rheamatism due to wind-dampness mainly cold-dampness, it

is used together with Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii, Radix Clematidis, and other herbs with the

effects of dispersing cold and relieving pain. For treatment of blockage syndrome due to damp-heat, it

is used in combination with Cortex Phellodendri, Semen Coicis and other heat-clearing and dampness-

drying herbs.

Dosage and Administration: 6-15g.

Precautions: Contraindicated in pregnancy and menorrhagic women.

Modern Researches: It has the effect of lowering blood pressure, as well as the diuretic, and sedative

effects. It stimulates the uterus to enhance uterus con- traction.

Curcuma Root (Yu Jin, Radix Curcumae) 

It is the root tuber of the perennial herb Curcuma aromatica Salisb. or Curcuma

zedoaria Berg. Rose. or Curcuma longa L. of the family Zingiberaceae, which is

collected in autumn and winter when the plant has been withered. Its root

tuber is obtained and fibrous rootlets are removed. After being washed clean, it

is immersed in boiling water to be sufficiently boiled, then it is dried in the sun

and cut into slices. It is used raw or after processed with vinegar.

Properties: It is pungent and bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature, acts on

the heart, lung, liver and gallbladder meridians. Being pungent for dispersing,

bitter for purging and slightly cold for clearing heat, the herb acts on the liver

meridian, promoting blood and qi circulation and relieving pain, to treat various

chest and abdominal pain caused by stagnancy of qi and blood.

Acting on the heart meridian, it can clear away the heart-fire and cooling the blood, alleviating mental

depression, thus it is used to treat bleeding due to blood-heat, and delirium in fibril diseases. Acting on

the gallbladder meridian, it has the effects of facilitating bile excretion and curing

jaundice, so it is used to cure jaundice due to dampness-heat.

Effects: Promoting circulation of both blood and qi, clearing the heart fire and

relieving depression, facilitating bile excretion and curing jaundice.

Indications:

1. For treatment of distending of stabbing pain in the chest and hypochondrium, it is

usually used in combination with Radix Bupleuri, Rhizoma Cyperi, Radix Angelicae

sinensis, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, and other herbs to soothe the liver

and qi, and promote blood circulation to stop pain.

2. For treatment of jaundice due to damp-heat, it is usually used together with Herba Artemisiae

Scopariae, Fructus Gardeniae, Radix lsatidis, and other herbs having the effects of clearing away heat,

promoting diuresis and curing jaundice.

3. For treatment of cholelithiasis, it can be used in combination with Spora Lygodii, Herba Lysimachiae,

Herba Artemisiae Scopariae, etc.

4. For treatment of exogenous pathogenic heat syndrome, characterized by high fever with vexation

even delirium and coma, it is usually used in combination with Calculus Bovis, Cinnabaris, Rhizoma

Coptidis, and other herbs with the function of clearing away heat and toxin, removing heat from the

heart to resuscitate.

5. For treatment of restlessness, manic-depressive psychosis caused by invasion of heat-phlegm to

seven orifices, it is usually used together with Alumen. Besides, it is used to treat various bleeding

syndrome caused by blood heat.

Dosage and Administration: 5 -10g.

Precautions: It is incompatible to Flos Caryophylli.

Modern Researches: The volatile oil of it has the effect of facilitating bile excretion and clearly

reducing urobilin in urine. It has good effect of dissolving sand bile calculi, and is used to cure

gallstone. In animal experiments, it has been shown the effect of anti-arteriosclerosis.

Giant Knotweed Rhizome (Hu Zhang, Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati)

It is the root and rhizoma of the perennial herb Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb et Zucc. of the family

Polygonaceae. It is collected in late autumn and early winter. After removal of the fibrous rootlets, it is

washed clean and cut freshly into slices and dried in the sun.

Properties: Bitter in flavor and cold in nature, it acts on the lung, liver, gallbladder and large intestine

meridians. Being bitter for dispersion and purgation, and cold for reducing fever and sending down

abnormally ascending qi, it effects on the liver meridian and the blood system promoting blood

circulation, relieves blood stasis and pain.

Acting on the qi division of lung and intestines, it clears away heat from lung and large intestine,

resolves phlegm and cough, expels the pathogenic heat to loose the bowels. Acting on the liver and

gallbladder meridians, it can clear away damp-heat to cure jaundice. Therefore, it is used to treat

pathogenic heat accumulated in the blood system, cough due to the lung-heat, constipation caused by

accumulation of heat jaundice due to damp-heat and other syndromes.

Effects: Promoting blood circulation by relieving blood stasis, clearing away heat and promoting

diuresis, detoxicating, resolving phlegm and relaxing the bowels.

Indications:

1. For treatment of amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea caused by blood stasis, it can be used in combination

with Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Herba Leonuri, Flos Carthami, and other herbs with the effect of

promoting blood flow to regulate menstruation.

2. For treatment of arthralgia syndrome due to damp-heat, it can be used together with Ramulus Mori,

Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae, Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae, Caulis Lonicerae, and other herbs with

the effects of expelling wind and dampness, clearing heat and obstruction in the meridians.

3. For treatment of stranguria due to damp-heat or leukorrhea due to damp-heat, it can be used

together with Rhizoma Atractylodis, Cortex Phellodendri, Semen Coicis, Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae,

Rhizoma Dioscoreae Septemlobae, and other herbs having the effects of inducing diuresis for treating

stranguria, clearing heat and drying dampness.

4. For treatment of jaundice due to damp-heat or cholelithiasis, it can be used in combination with

Radix Curcumae, Herba Artemisiae Scopariae, Herba Lysimachiae, Fructus Gardeniae, and other herbs

having the effects of clearing away the damp-heat, facilitation excretion of bile and gallstones.

5. For treatment of cough due to the lung-heat, it can be used in combination with Radix Scutellariae,

Bulbus Fritillariae, Cortex Mori Radicis, and other herbs with the effects of removing heat from the lung

and dissolving phlegm to relieve cough.

6. For treatment of constipation due to accumulation of heat, it can be used together with Cortex

Magnoliae Officinalis, Fructus Auran-tii Immaturus. Natrii Sulfas, and other herbs to expel the heat,

loose the bowels, and relieve the stagnation of qi. Besides, it is used to treat carbuncle, scalds and

burns.

Dosage and Administration: 10 -30g.

Precautions: Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Modern Researches: Its decoction has the inhibiting effect on Staphyloccocus aureus, Streptococcus

heinolyticus, Pseudonomas aeruginosa, Shigella Tlexneri, etc., and has the effect of anti-influenza and

virus. Moreover, it possesses effects of relieving cough, relieving asthma, lowering blood pressure,

blood lipids, and blood sugar, anti-inflammatory, hemo-static, sedative, diuretic, etc.

Trogopterus Dung (Wu Ling Zhi, Faeces Trogopterorum) 

It is the dry faces of the animal Trogopterus xanthipes Milne-Edwards of the

family Petauristidae. This herb can be collected throughout the year. After

removal of impurities, it is dried in the Sun.

Properties: It is sweet and bitter in flavor, warm in nature, acts on the

liver meridian. Being sweet for acting mildly, and warm for clearing and

activating the meridians, it acts on the blood division for promoting blood

circulation, relieving blood stasis and pain. It is the herb commonly used to treat various abdominal

and chest pain due to stasis in the blood division, dysmenorrhea. When it is stir-fried, it can also

remove blood stasis and hemostasis, cure bleeding syndrome caused

by blood stasis, and blood flooding out from vessels.

Effects: Promoting blood circulation to relieve pain, stopping bleeding

by removing the blood stasis.

Indications:

1. For treatment of irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea due to blood stasis,

postpartum tormina caused by stasis, it is usually used in combination with Pollen typhae.

2. For treatment of various pain in chest and abdomen due to blood stasis, it is frequently used

together with Rizoma corydalis, Rhizoma cyperi, radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Ligustici

Chuanxiong, and other herbs having the effect of promoting both blood and qi circulation to stop pain.

3. For treatment of metrorrhagia and metrostaxis due to stasis in the blood division and menorrhagia

due to blood flooding out from vessels, it is usually used in combination with Radix Notoginseng, Herba

Leonari, Radix Rubiae, Pollen Typhae, and other herbs to stop bleeding, regulate menstruation and

relieve pain.

Dosage and Administration: 5-10g, wrapped in a cloth bag and decocted. When used for

hemostasis, it is used after stir-fried; when used for promoting blood circulation, it is used unprepared.

Precautions: Contraindicated in pregnancy and incompatible to Radix Ginseng.

Modern Researches: It can dilate blood vessels and has actions of inhibiting platelet aggregation,

preventing thrombosis, relieving spasm of smooth muscles, and increasing leucocytes.

Corydalis Tuber (Yan Hu Suo, Rhizoma Corvdalis) 

It is the stem tuber of the perennial herb Corydalis turtschaninovii

Bess. f. vanhusuo Y. H. Chou et C. C. Hsu of the family Papaveraceae.

It is collected after the solar term, the beginning of summer. After the

removal of the shoot leaf and fibrous rootlets, it is washed clean and

dried in the sun. It is crushed and used unprepared or stir- fried with

vinegar or wine.

Properties: It is pungent and bitter in flavor, warm in nature, acts on the heart, liver and spleen

meridians. Being pungent for dispersing blood stasis, warm for freeing the passage of blood, it effects

both on the blood division of heart and liver and the qi in spleen and lung.

Its function is promoting qi and blood circulation, and it is especially good at relieving

pain. It is usually used to treat various pains due to stasis in the blood division.

Effects: Promoting blood circulation by removing blood stasis, and promoting

circulation of qi to stop pain.

Indications:

1. For treatment of blood stasis in heart meridian, colicky pain due to obstruction of qi

in the chest, it is usually used in combination with Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Radix Salviae

Miltiorrhizae, Flos Carthami, and other herbs with the effect of removing blood stasis to relieve pain.

2. For treatment of blood stasis, epigastric, stabbing pain it can be used together with Radix salviac

Miltiorrhizae, Lignum Dalbergiae Odoriferae, Fructus Amomi, Faeces Tro gopterorum, and other herbs

having the function of promoting flow of qi to relieve pain.

3. For treatment of distending pain on the chest and hypochondrium causes by qi and blood stasis in

the liver meridian, irregular menstruation, it can he used in combination with Radix Bupleuri, Rhizoma

Cyperi, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, and other herbs.

4. For treatment of accumulation of cold in the liver meridian, cold pain in the lower abdomen, it is

used together with Fructus Foeniculi, Radix Linderae, Fructus Euodiae, and other herbs having the

effect of warming the liver meridian to expel the cold, promoting circulation of qi to relieve pain.

Besides, it is used to treat headache due to blood stasis, pain caused by traumatic ecchymoses,

arthralgia caused by wind-dampness.

Dosage and Administration: 3-10g, 1.5-3g of powder each time taken with warm water.

Modern Researches: The corydalis B it contains possess sedative and hypnotic and the analgesic

effects. Total corydaline has about 40% inalgesic effect of morphine. It can also increase coronary

blood flow, protect myocardium from ischemia, thus it has therapeutic effect on coronary heart

disease.

Frankincense (Ru Xiang, Resina Olibani) 

It is the resin seeped from the bark of the small arbor Boswellia carterii

Birdw., of the family Burseraceae or other plants of the same genus. It is

collected in spring and autumn, mainly in spring. The bark of tree trunk is

cut from a lower part upwards with a knife to let the resin seep out,

several days later the resin condenses into a hard mass, which can be collected. It is usually stir-baked

before using.

Properties: It is pungent and bitter in flavor, warm in nature, acts on the heart, liver and spleen

meridians. Being pungent for dispersing, bitter for purging, warm for promoting circulation of qi and

aromatic for moving, it chiefly effects on the blood division of heart and liver, promoting blood

circulation, and relieving pain by removing blood stasis.

It can be used to treat pain in chest and abdomen due to stasis in the blood division, dysmenorrhea,

and arthralgia due to wind-dampness, pain due to tramatic ecchymoses and other syndromes. It also

has the action of relieving swelling and promoting tissue regeneration, hence it is the essential herb

for superficial suppurative infections and carbuncls.

Effects: Promoting blood circulation and relieving pain, subsiding swelling and promoting tissue

regeneration.

Indications:

1. For treatment of pain in the chest and abdomen due to stasis in the blood division and

dysmenothea, it is usually used in combination with Rhizoma Cory dalis, Faeces Trogopterorum, Radix

Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Rhizoma Cyperi, etc.

2. For treatment of arthralgia due to wind-dampness, spasm of muscles, it is commonly used together

with Myrrha, Lumbricus, Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii, and other herbs with the functions of expelling wind

and clearing away cold, clearing obstruction in the meridians to relieve pain

3. For treatment of skin pore and carbuncle in the early stage without suppuration, it is usually used

together with Flos Lonicerae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Spina Gleditsiae, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, and other

herbs having the functions of clearing away heat and toxins, subsiding swelling by promoting blood

circulation. If the boil has ruptured and does not heal for a long time due to deficiency of both qi and

blood, this remedy can be used together with Myrrha, which are ground into fine powder for external

application to promote tissue regeneration and heal wound. At the same time, herbs having the effects

of invigorating qi and nourishing blood should be administered orally for the purpose of promoting pus

discharge and tissue regeneration.

4. For treatment of trauma, swelling and pain due to blood stasis, it is usually used in combination with

Myrrha, Flos Carthami, Moschus, and other herbs with the effects of promoting blood circulation by

relieving blood stasis, subsiding swelling and relieving pain.

Dosage: and Administration: 3-10g. For external application, suitable amount is used.

Precautions: Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Modern Researches: It possesses effects of dilating blood vessels, increasing permeability of blood

vessels, sedation, anti-inflammation, and so on.

Myrrh (Mo Yao, Myrrha) 

It is the oles-gum-resin seeped from the bark of the trunk stem of the

plant Commiphora myrrha Engl. of the family Burseraceae or other

plants of the same genus. It is mainly produced in Ethiopia of Africa,

Arabian countries, India, and other places. The condensed and dried

resin is collected. After smashed into pieces, it is stir-fried to black for

use.

Properties: It is bitter in flavor and neutral in nature, acts on the heart, liver and spleen meridians.

Being bitter for dispersion and purgation relieving blood and qi stasis, promoting blood circulation to

relieve pain, subsiding swelling and promoting tissue regeneration, the herb has the function similar to

that of Resina Olibani but stronger.

It is used to treat pain in the chest and abdomen caused by stasis in the blood division, traumatic

ecchymoses, swelling and pain caused by furuncles and carbuncles, arthralgia due to wind-dampness,

and other syndromes. Myrrha and Resina olibani are frequently used together for their mutual

reinforcement, or synergism.

Effects: Promoting blood circulation to relieve pain, subduing swelling and promoting tissue

regeneration.

Indications:

1. For treatment of stabbing pain in stomach and epigastriurn due to stasis in the blood division and

various pain in heart and abdomen, it is usually used in combination with Resina Olibani, Radix

Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Salviae Milti orrhizae, and so on.

2. For treatment of mass in the abdomen of women, it is frequently used together with Semen

Persicae, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Cortex Moutain Radicis, Rhizoma Sparganii, Rhizoma Zedoariae, and

other herbs with the effects of relieving blood stasis and resolving mass in the abdomen.

3. For treatment of furuncles and carbuncle in the early stage, it is always used in combination with

Resina Oiibani, Flos Lonicerae, Squama Manitis, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, and other herbs having the

effects of relieving blood stasis and subsiding swelling.

4. For treatment of pain due to traumatic ecchymoses, it is usually used together with Resina Olibani,

Muschus, Flos Carthami, and other herbs with the effect of relieving blood stasis and pain.

Besides, it is applicable for treatment of numbness and pain due to wind dampness, scrofula,

subcutaneous nodule, and so on.

Dosage and Administration: 3-10g, When applied externally, it is used with suitable amount.

Precautions: Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Modern Researches: It has effects of dilating blood vessels, sedation, anti-inflammation, inhibiting

hyper-secretion of bronchus and uterus. Its resin possesses the effect of lowering blood lipids.

Astringing and anti-inflammatory effects are shown by external application of

it.

Burred Tuber (San Ling, Rhizoma Sparganii) 

It is the stem tuber of the plant sparganium stoloniferum Buch-Ham. of the

family Sparganiaceae. It is collected in winter and spring. After the removal of

buds and fibrous rootlets, the stem tuber is washed clean, its external skin

peeled, and is dried in the sun. It is used unprepared or stir- baked with

vinegar and bran.

Properties: It is bitter in flavor and neutral in nature, acting on the liver and

spleen meridians. Owing to the property of bitterness and neutrality, it has relatively strong effects of

dispersion and purgation. It acts on both blood and qi systems. It has effects of relieving blood and qi

stasis, and mass in the abdomen, promoting circulation of qi, removing food stagnancy, and relieving

pain.

It is used to treat amenorrhea, abdominal pain caused by stasis of blood and qi, mass in the abdomen,

abdominal distention due to dyspepsia, and other syndromes.

Effects: Relieving blood stasis and promoting circulation of qi, and removing

stagnation of qi to stop pain.

Indications:

1. For treatment of amenorrhea, abdominal mass in women, it is usually used

in combination with Rhizoma Zedoariaae, Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae,

Lumbricus, and other herbs to remove blood stasis and resolve abdominal mass.

2. For treatment of blood and qi stasis in the liver meridian, and distention and stabbing pain in coastal

regions, it can be used together with Radix Bupleuri, Rhizome Cyperi, Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae,

Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Curcumae, etc.

3. For treatment of indigestion, stagnation of qi, distention and pain in stomach and abdomen, it can

be used together with Semen Paphani, Radix Aucklandiae, Semen Arecae, and other herbs with the

function of promoting digestion and removing stagnation of qi.

Dosage and Administration: 3-10g.

Precautions: Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Modern Researches: It possesses the effects of dilating blood vessels, inhibiting platelet aggregation

and thrombosis, etc. In addition it promotes absorption. The Sanleng Eshu injection, together with

internal administration of Chinese herbs has certain short-term effect on primary hepatic carcinoma.

Zedoary (E Zhu, Rhizoma Zedoariae) 

It is the rhizoma of the perennial herb Curcuma zedoaria (Berg) Rose, C.

aromatica Salisb, or C. kwangsiensis S. Lee et C. F. Liang of the family

Zingiberaceae. It is collected in autumn and summer. After being washed clean,

it is steamed, and dried in the sun. The fibrous rootlets are re- moved. After

moistened thoroughly, it is cut into slices. It is used unprepared or after

processed with vinegar.

Properties: It is bitter and pungent in flavor, warm in nature, acting on the liver

and spleen meridians. Being pungent and bitter for dispersion and purgation, it

acts strongly on the blood division to promote blood circulation and can remove

stasis in the blood to subside mass in the abdomen. When it acts on the qi

system, it can remove food stagnation. It is used to treat amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea

due to stasis in the blood division, abdominal mass, distending pain due to

indigestion, and other syndromes.

Effects: Relieving blood and qi stasis, promoting digestion and relieving pain.

Indications:

1. For treatment of amenorrhea due to stagnation of qi and blood or abdominal

mass, it is usually used in combination with Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Radix

Achyranthis Bidentatae, Rhizoma Sparganii, Squama Manitis, Radix Salivae

Miltiorrhizae, and other herbs having the effect of removing blood stasis and

restoring menstruation and subsiding abdominal mass.

2. For treatment of indigestion, stagnation of qi and abdominal distention, it is frequently used

together with Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride, Semen Arecae, Fructus Hordei Germinatus, Semen

Raphani, and other herbs having the effects of promoting digestion and removing stagnation of qi.

Dosage and Administration: 3-10g.

Precautions: Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Modern Researches: Its oil preparation, the Oleum Curcumae Aromaticae remarkably inhibits and

destroys Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma cells in mice, L615 leukemia cells in 65l inbred mice, and hepatic

carcinoma cell line. Its decoction effectively promotes absorption of autologous blood and blood clot in

the abdomen of rabbits. Its volatile oil possesses antimicrobial and stomach tonic effects. The alcohol

extraction of its rhizoma and its isolated terpines and sesquiterpenoids have the evident action of stop

pregnancy in early period.

Leech (Shui Zhi, Hirudo) 

It is the whole body of the annelid worms whitmania pigra (whitman), Hirudo nipponica

Whitman, and whitmania acranulata (whitman) of the family Hirudinidae. It is caught in

summer and autumn. After washed clean, it is dried in the sun. It is ground into powder

or stir-baked to yellow for use.

Properties: It is bitter and salty in flavor and neutral in nature, acting on the liver

meridian. Being bitter for dispersion and purgation, and salty for softening hard mass, it

particularly acts on the liver meridian, the blood division, and is a potent herb for

relieving blood stasis and subsiding abdominal mass.

It is used to treat abdominal mass due to blood stasis, large hard mass and amenorrhea

due to stagnation of blood, and pain caused by traumatic ecchymoses.

Effects: Relieving blood stasis.

Indications:

1. For treatment of amenorrhea and abdominal mass, it is usually used in combination with Tabanus,

Semen Persicae, Rhizoma Sparganii, Flos Carthami, and other herbs with the effects of relieving blood

stasis and restoring menstruation, resolving lumps.

2. For treatment of long-term blood stasis, emaciation due to blood disorders, shown by squamous and

dry skin, emaciation and fullness of abdomen, it is frequently used together with Radix et Rhizoma

Rhei, Eupolyphaga seu Steleophaga, Radix Rehmanniae and other herbs to remove blood stasis,

promote tissue regeneration.

Dosage and Administration: 3-6g.

Precautions: Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Modern Researches: The hirudin it contains can inhibit the action of thrombin on fibrinogen, hence

with anticoagulant effect. Its histamine-like substances can promote hemorrhage by dilating

capillaries. Its alcohol extract inhibits blood coagulation, the effect of which is stronger than that of

Tabanus, Eupolyhaga seu Steleophage, Semen Persicae, and so on. The effect of its alcohol prepara-

tion is stronger than its water preparation. Hirudin of 20mg can inhibit coagulation of 100g human

blood.

Ground Beetle (Di Bie Chong, Eupolyphaga seu Steleophaga) 

It is the body of female insect Eupolyphage sinensis Walk. or

Steleophage plancyi (Bol) of the family Corydiidae. The insect is

caught in summer. After it has been killed in boiling water or boiled in

salt solution for a short time, it is dried in the sun or baked over a fire.

Properties: It is salty in flavor and cold in nature, acting on the liver

meridian. Being salty for softening and resolving hard mass, it acts on the liver meridian, the blood

division, with the function of relieving blood stasis and lumps. However, the potency of this herb is

relatively slow and uniform.

In addition it has the effect of promoting reunion of fractured bones and healing wound, thus f it is

usually used to treat abdominal mass, amenorrhea due to blood stasis, postpartum tormina caused by

ecchymoma and trauma of bones and muscles. But since it is potent

medicine for removing blood stasis, it should not be used for patients with

only mild blood stasis.

Effects: Removing blood stasis, and promoting reunion of fractured

bones, muscles and ligament.

Indications:

1. For treatment of amenorrhea, postpartum tormina due to blood stasis, it is usually used in

combination with Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Semen Persicae, Hirudo and other herbs with the effect of

removing blood stasis and restoring menstruation.

2. For treatment of abdominal mass, it can be used together with Rhizoma Sparganii, Rhizoma

Zedoariae, Carapa Trionycis, Semen Persicae, and other herbs to soften and resolve hard mass,

remove blood stasis and resolve abdominal mass.

3. For treatment of trauma, swelling and pain caused by traumatic injury, it is usually used together

with Resina Olibani, Myrrha, Semen Persicae, Rhizoma Drynariae, and other herbs with the functions of

removing blood stasis, relieving pain and promoting reunion of fractured bones and muscles.

Dosage and Administration: 3 -10g.

Precautions: Contraindicated in pregnancy.