Single Herbs Guide
Herbal Formulas & Their Uses
How to Prepare & Use Herbal Medicine
Click the blue text to follow us Powder Formulation The field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long history and rich cultural heritage. Among the various forms of Chinese herbal medicine, there exists an ancient and traditional solid dosage form widely used, known as powder formulations (散剂, san ji). What are Traditional Chinese Medicine … Read more
Herbal Powders Chinese herbal powders are finely ground and mixed dry powders made from various medicinal materials. They have a long history, and ancient texts praised them as “the remedy for emergencies”, emphasizing their delicacy and use in urgent situations. Classical medical texts such as the Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage) provide detailed … Read more
Author: Zeng Anna, Chief Pharmacist, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University Editor: Luo Wei, Pharmacist, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University Traditional Chinese Medicine Decoction Powder A cost-effective and labor-saving dosage form of traditional Chinese medicine You may have heard of dosage forms such as tinctures, pills, pastes, powders, and decoctions, but does … Read more
If dryness and heat injure the lungs, leading to both Qi and Yin deficiency, which affects the lung’s functions of dispersing and descending, resulting in dry cough without phlegm, shortness of breath, and chest tightness, what decoction can be used for treatment? Pneumonia, bronchial asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and lung cancer are all … Read more
1. Má Huáng Tāng (Ephedra Decoction), Guì Zhī Tāng (Cinnamon Twig Decoction), Xiǎo Qīng Lóng Tāng (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction) Differences: Má Huáng Tāng combines Má Huáng (Ephedra) and Guì Zhī (Cinnamon Twig), providing a strong sweating effect and is effective in dispersing lung qi to relieve asthma. It is a pungent-warm formula suitable for … Read more
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are various forms of medicine such as pills, powders, ointments, and elixirs. With advancements in science and technology, the forms of Chinese herbal medicine are also evolving. In addition to decoctions, modern Chinese patent medicines, instant granules, and powdered herbs are increasingly accepted by many. However, many patients may … Read more
Recently, many friends have messaged me, saying that they bought some formulas locally and are brewing them at home. They asked me for precautions and mentioned an important point: is it true that the longer you brew Chinese herbal medicine, the better? Is a thicker decoction better? In fact, this has been a question for … Read more
Water: It can be said that water is the primary medicine. Water governs storage and is “beneficial to all things without contention”; its energy is very gentle, and it can serve as a carrier. The general method of using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is to decoct herbs in water. Moreover, in ancient times, there were … Read more
Gui Zhi Tang Zheng (Gui Zhi Decoction Pattern) Gui Zhi Tang is the first formula in the “Shang Han Lun” (Treatise on Cold Damage). Before discussing Gui Zhi Tang, let us first understand what a decoction pattern is. The “Shang Han Lun” is fundamental to TCM clinical practice, establishing a diagnostic system that is crucial … Read more
In the daily operations of a pharmacy, patients often ask the question: which is more effective, “pills” or “decoctions”? First, let us understand these two forms of TCM preparations. Pills (wanji) and decoctions (tangji) are two important forms of traditional Chinese medicine. Pills refer to spherical or quasi-spherical preparations made from finely powdered herbs or … Read more