FUNCTIONS AND USES
Tonifies the Kidneys and benefits the Jing-essence: unlike most Kidney yang herbs, which are heating and therefore drying, Tu Su Zi is also moistening, so helps preserve the yin fluid.
Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and improves vision: use for patterns of Deficient Liver and Kidney yin and yang.
Benefits the Spleen and Kidneys and stops persistent diarrhea.
Calms the fetus.
CAUTION
Although this is a neutral herb, it leans more toward tonifying the yang and should therefore not be use for Fire from Yin Deficiency.
CYPERUS ROTUNDUS
Xiang Fu NUT-GRASS RHIZOME
This herb regulates and invigorates the qi when it becomes stuck or “stagnant,” optimizing the function of the gastrointestinal tract and helping stop pain in various parts of the body, particularly menstrual and digestive pain.
HOW TO USE
Xiang Fu is a very widely used herb, as it has the ability to disperse stuck qi and to harmonize the energy, both in digestive and in gynecological disorders. It is particularly suitable for pain in the sides, fullness in the epigastrium (above the navel), pain and stuffiness in the chest, lack of appetite, wind and indigestion, as well as vomiting and diarrhea due to Liver Qi invading the Spleen. It is also for swollen, tender breasts (due to PMS), and is an important herb for breast lumps. It is essential in prescriptions for dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps) or irregular menstruation, and can be used in pregnancy for treating Liver Qi stagnation patterns.
PROPERTIES Acrid, slightly Bitter, slightly Sweet, Neutral
CHANNELS Liver, Triple Burner
FUNCTIONS AND USES
Moves qi and regulates Liver Qi: in pathology, the Liver energy has a tendency to become “constrained,” resulting in pain above the navel and around the ribs.
Regulates menstruation and alleviates pain: according to TCM, the Liver is one of the main organs involved in gynecology, and the cause of menstrual pain is frequently due to “constrained Liver Qi.”
GASTRODIA ELATA
Tian Ma GASTRODIA RHIZOME
This herb has a sinking action—that is to say it takes qi down strongly.
HOW TO USE
Tian Ma is a very important herb for treating internal Liver Wind, with symptoms such as childhood convulsions or tantrums, epilepsy, spasms, or seizures. It is used for headaches, dizziness, and migraines caused by Wind Phlegm patterns, as well as Wind Stroke (stroke) with hemiplegia and numbness in the extremities. It is also good for rheumatic ailments in the lower back and limbs.
PROPERTIES Sweet, Neutral
CHANNELS Liver
FUNCTIONS AND USES
Calms the Liver, extinguishes Wind, and controls tremors. There are two kinds of Wind in TCM, external—which brings in cold or flu, or arthritic symptoms, and internal—which is generated by dysfunction of the Liver. This herb treats the second.
Extinguishes Wind and alleviates pain: especially Wind Mucus head pain.
Disperses painful obstruction caused by Wind Damp.
CAUTION
May be toxic in large doses.
EUCOMMIA ULMOIDES
Du Zhong EUCOMMIA BARK
This herb belongs to a group that tonify the yang, and as the Kidneys are the basis of all the body’s yang, it mainly affects the Kidneys. In TCM, the Kidneys house the body’s reserves, and the Kidney yang is also responsible for sexual and endocrine disorders.
HOW TO USE
Du Zhong is an expensive herb—it is necessary to kill the tree in order to get the bark. The Liver rules the sinews, the Kidneys rule the bones, so it is used for weak, sore, or painful lower back and knees, chronic fatigue, spermatorrhea (leaking of sperm), and frequent urination. Yang Deficient symptoms are always accompanied by Cold. It is the main herb for lower back pain caused by Qi and Blood Stagnation. It helps prevent miscarriage with bleeding during pregnancy, or when the fetus is restless, and it has recently been used for dizziness and lightheadedness due to hypertension from rising Liver yang.
PROPERTIES Sweet, slightly Acrid, Warm
CHANNELS Kidney, Liver
FUNCTIONS AND USES
Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, strengthens the tendons and bones.
Aids the smooth flow of qi and Blood: use to promote circulation.
Calms the fetus: use for Cold (lack of yang) Deficient Kidney patterns during pregnancy.
CAUTION
Contraindicated for Heat from Yin Deficiency.
FRITILLARIAA THUNBERGII
Zhe Bei Mu FRITILLARIA BULB
Like Ban Xia, this herb transforms Phlegm, which in TCM is the accumulation of thick fluid mainly in the respiratory and digestive tracts, but which may occur in the muscles and other body tissues.
HOW TO USE
Zhe Bei Mu is a Cold herb which treats Phlegm Heat (as opposed to Ban Xia, which is warming), characterized by yellow sputum or sputum which is difficult to bring up. It is also indicated for Phlegm Fire coagulating and causing lumps in the breast or neck, and for Lung abscesses. Chuan Bei Mu is another form of this herb which is milder and not so cooling, and may be used for many types of cough, including dry Yin-Deficient ones.
PROPERTIES Bitter, Cold
CHANNELS Lung, Heart
FUNCTIONS AND USES
Clears and transforms Phlegm Heat: use for acute Lung Heat patterns with productive yellow sputum.
Clears Heat and dissipates nodules: use for Phlegm Fire which congeals and causes neck swellings.
CAUTION
Ineffective in coughs due to Phlegm Cold.
GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS
Gan Cao LICORICE ROOT
This herb is one of a group that treats Qi Deficiency and tonifies the Spleen. As we replenish our day-to-day energy levels by breathing in air and eating food, the two main organs involved are Lungs and Spleen (the main digestive organ in TCM).
HOW TO USE
Gan Cao is a very useful herb, primarily because it is sweet and mild, so that it moderates the violent properties of other herbs in a prescription and makes them more digestible. Furthermore, it enters all 12