Bai Zhi

Dahurian Angelica Root Acrid, Warm Enters Lung, Stomach, Spleen Aromatic, Warm, releases Exterior, opens orifices (esp. nose), dries dampness; frequently used for wind-cold frontal headaches.

Bai Zhu

Bitter, sweet, warm. Enters Spleen, Stomach. Tonifies Spleen, augments qi, dries dampness, promotes water metabolism, quiets fetus.

Cang Zhu

Atractylodes Rhizome Acrid, bitter, warm. Enters Spleen, Stomach. Dries dampness, induces sweating, strengthens Spleen and Stomach, treats atrophy disorders from damp-heat in lower burner, helps vision

Che Qian Zi

Plantago Seeds Sweet, Cold Enters Bladder, Kidney, Liver, Lung Facilitates urination, separates clear and turbid fluids, guides damp-heat downward and out through urine. Solidifies stool, clears eyes, expels phlegm and stops cough.

Chuan Bei Mu

Sichuan fritillaria bulb Bitter, Sweet, Slightly Cold Enters Heart and Lung Cools, moistens, directs Lung qi and Heart fire downward to transform phlegm, alleviate cough, relieve constraint, and disperse clumped phlegm-heat. For many types of c

Du Huo

Pubescent Angelica Root Bitter, Acrid, Warm Enters Kidney, Bladder Treats painful obstruction of the lower body, dispels lurking wind in Kidney channel, dispels wind-damp, releases exterior.

Fang Feng

Saposhnikovia root / Siler Acrid, Sweet, Slightly Warm Enters Bladder, Liver, Spleen Moderate, slightly warm, and less drying than most wind-expelling herbs; used for all wind disorders; treats dampness, and also diarrhea and pain in the bowels. Releases exterior and alleviates pain.

Hou Po

Magnolia Bark Bitter, acrid, warm Enters Large Intestine, Lung, Spleen, Stomach Regulates the qi and directs it downward, disperses fullness, dries dampness, reduces phlegm. Promotes movement of qi in middle burner and resolves stagnation.

Huang Bai

Phellodendron Bark Bitter, Cold Enters Kidney & Bladder Directs Fire downward, clears Damp-Heat in Lower Burner.

Huang Lian

Coptis Rhizome Bitter, Cold Enters Heart, Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach Cools Heat, drains Fire, dries Dampness, resolves toxicity. Esp for damp-heat in Stomach and Intestines.

Huang Qin

Scutellaria Bitter, Cold Enters Lung, Spleen, Gallbladder, Large Intestine Cools Heat, dries Dampness, stops bleeding, quiets fetus. Major herb for damp-heat in Stomach or Intestines.

Huo Xiang

Patchouli Acrid, slightly warm Enters Lung, Spleen, Stomach Releases exterior, transforms dampness, harmonizes middle, alleviates nausea.

Jie Geng

Platycodon Root Bitter, Acrid, Neutral Enters Lung Causes Qi and actions of other herbs to rise, soothes throat, releases exterior, transforms phlegm, expels pus. Can be used for cough with profuse sputum from any cause.

Jing Jie

Schizonepeta stem or bud Acrid, Slightly Warm Enters Lung, Liver Harmonious in nature; aromatic and acrid, but not excessively so; slightly warm, but not drying; its light, ascending qualities allow it to be used for both wind-heat and wind-cold, while also for venting wind-heat from the blood. Releases exterior and dispels wind, vents rashes and alleviates itching, and stops bleeding.

Ju Hua

Chrysanthemum Flower Sweet, bitter, slightly cold Enters Lung, Liver Cooling, aromatic, and light; can ascend or descend, drain or tonify; particularly effective for dispersing wind-heat, cooling and tonifying the Liver, and brightening the eyes, also resolves toxicity.

Mu Tong

Akebia Caulis Bitter, slightly Cold Enters Bladder, Heart, Small Intestine Promotes urination, directs fire and damp-heat downward and out through the urine, facilitates lactation, unblocks blood stasis.

Niu Xi

Achyranthes Root Bitter, Sour, Neutral Enters Liver, Kidney Breaks up blood stasis, unblocks menstruation, guides blood to descend, directs fire downward; tonifies Liver and Kidneys, strengthens sinews and bones.

Qiang Huo

Notopterygium Root Acrid, Bitter, Aromatic, Warm Enters Bladder, Kidney Travels through Qi level (aromatic), reaches to vertex and upper body (lightweight), travels through limbs, expels superficial dampness. Releases exterior and disperses cold, unblocks painful obstruction and alleviates pain.

Sha Ren

Amomum Fruit Acrid, Warm, Aromatic Spleen, Stomach Promotes flow of Qi, warms middle, transforms dampness, improves appetite, calms fetus

Yi Yi Ren

Job's Tears / Coix Seeds Sweet, bland, slightly cold Enters Lungs, Spleen, Stomach, Kidney Tonifies the Spleen and augments the Lungs; leaches out dampness from bones, sinews, and muscles to treat painful obstruction; cools heat and expels pus to treat sores and abscesses.

Zhe Bei Mu

Zhejiang fritillaria bulb Bitter, Cold Enters Heart and Lung Cold, drains Heat, transforms Phlegm-Heat, releases constraint, dissipates nodules, especially in neck and breast. For acute Lung patterns with productive cough. Also dissipates nodules.

Zhi Zi

Gardenia Fruit Bitter, Cold Enters Heart, Lung, Stomach, Liver, Sanjiao Resolves constrained heat, directs damp-heat downward through urine, cools blood, breaks up toxic accumulation. Drains heat and elimiates irritability, resolves dampness.

Zi Wan

Aster Root Acrid, Bitter, Slightly Warm Enters Lung Acrid-dispersing, Bitter-draining, yet warm and moistening without drying. Stops coughs, facilitates urination, enters both Qi and Blood aspects. Relieves coughs and expels Phlegm.