Disease Inquiry, Health Guidance, Classic Health Preservation, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Herbs, No Need to Seek Help When Sick Preface: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) refers to the substances used for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of diseases, guided by the theories of traditional Chinese medicine, which also have rehabilitation and health care effects. TCM is primarily derived from natural medicines and their processed products, including herbal medicines, animal medicines, mineral medicines, and some chemical and biological products. Since most TCM is derived from plant medicines, there is a saying that “all medicines are based on herbs.”
Processing of Chinese Medicinal Herbs
The process of necessary processing and treatment of medicinal materials before application or making various dosage forms, according to medical, modulation, and preparation needs. Commonly used processing methods include cleaning, water processing, fire processing, and combined water-fire processing. The purpose of processing is to purify medicinal materials, ensure quality, sort medicines, distinguish grades; cut medicinal slices for easier dispensing; dry medicinal materials for storage; correct taste and odor for easier consumption; reduce toxic side effects to ensure safe medication; enhance medicinal functions to improve clinical efficacy; change medicinal properties to expand application range. It also helps guide the medicine into meridians for targeted medication.
The complete atlas of commonly used Chinese herbal medicines is here, and it is worth your permanent collection! Below is a compilation of commonly used Chinese herbal medicine illustrations along with their flavors, meridian affiliations, and therapeutic effects for your appreciation and reference. Additionally, each Chinese medicinal herb is accompanied by alternative names for flexible use.
Wind-Dispelling Category
1. Wind-Cold Dispelling Herbs Sheng Jiang (Ginger) Alternative Name: Da Rou Jiang (Large Ginger), Xian Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger)
Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica) Alternative Name: Fang Xiang (Fragrant), Ze Fen (Zefen)
Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia Divaricata) Alternative Name: Tong Yun (Copper Cloud), Hui Cao (Fennel), Bai Zhi (Hundred Branches), Ping Feng (Screen Wind)
Cang Er (Xanthium Sibiricum) Alternative Name: Chang Si Cai (Common Thinking Vegetable), Di Kui (Earth Kua), Dao Ren Tou (Daoist Head), Zhu Er (Pig Ear), Ci Er Ke (Thorny Plant)
Qiang Huo (Notopterygium incisum) Alternative Name: Qiang Qing (Qiang Green), Hu Qiang Shi Zhe (Qiang Messenger), Qiang Hua (Qiang Smooth), Tui Feng Shi Zhe (Wind-Repelling Messenger)
Xi Xin (Asarum Sieboldii) Alternative Name: Xiao Xin (Small Xin), Xi Cao (Fine Grass), Shao Xin (Few Xin), Du Ye Cao (Single Leaf Grass), Shan Ren Shen (Mountain Ginseng)
Jing Jie (Schizonepeta tenuifolia) Alternative Name: Xiang Jing Jie (Fragrant Schizonepeta), Jia Su (False Mint), Jiang Jie (Ginger Mint), Si Ling Gan Hao (Four-Ribbed Rod Wormwood), Wen Chi Cai (Stable Tooth Vegetable)
Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) Alternative Name: Liu Gui (Willow Cinnamon)
Ma Huang (Ephedra Sinica) Alternative Name: Long Sha (Dragon Sand), Gou Gu (Dog Bone), Bei Xiang (Low Fragrance), Bei Yan (Low Salt)
2. Wind-Heat Dispelling Herbs Niubangzi (Burdock Seed) Alternative Name: Shu Nianzi (Mouse Sticky Seed), Da Li Zi (Large Seed), E Shi (Evil Seed)
Sheng Ma (Cimicifuga foetida) Alternative Name: Zhou Ma (Zhou Hemp), Ji Gu Sheng Ma (Chicken Bone Sheng Ma), Gui Lian Sheng Ma (Ghost Face Sheng Ma)
Chai Hu (Bupleurum Chinense) Alternative Name: Di Xun (Earth Xun), Ru Cao (Chai Grass), Chai Cao (Chai Grass), Zi Hu (Purple Hu)
Ge Gen (Pueraria lobata) Alternative Name: Gan Ge (Sweet Ge), Gan Ge (Dry Ge), Fen Ge (Powder Ge), Ge Tiao Gen (Ge Strip Root)
Sang Ye (Mulberry Leaf) Alternative Name: Tie Shan Zi (Iron Fan), Can Ye (Silkworm Leaf)
Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum) Alternative Name: Gan Ju (Sweet Chrysanthemum), Jin Rui (Golden Bud), Zhen Ju (True Chrysanthemum), Yao Ju (Medicinal Chrysanthemum)
Bo He (Mint) Alternative Name: Fan He Cai (Fan Mint), Tu Bo He (Earth Mint), Nan Bo He (South Mint), Ren Dan Cao (Human Dan Grass), Ye Bo He (Wild Mint)
Fire-Clearing Herbs
1. Heat-Clearing and Fire-Draining Herbs Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes Kirilowii) Alternative Name: Gua Lou Gen (Gourd Root), Hua Fen (Flower Powder), Bai Yao (White Medicine), Rui Xue (Lucky Snow)
Jue Ming Zi (Cassia Seed) Alternative Name: Cao Jue Ming (Grass Jue Ming), Ma Ti Jue Ming (Horse Hoof Jue Ming), Qian Li Guang (Thousand Miles Light), Jia Lu Dou (False Green Bean)
Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Asphodeloides) Alternative Name: Lian Mu (Lotus Mother), Shui Xu (Water Beard), Chuan Di Long (Earth Dragon), Yang Hu Zi (Sheep Beard)
Zhi Zi (Gardenia Jasminoides) Alternative Name: Mu Dan (Wood Dan), Yue Tao (Yue Peach), Shan Zhi Zi (Mountain Zhi Zi), Huang Ji Zi (Yellow Ji Zi), Huang Zhi Zi (Yellow Zhi Zi)
Lian Zi Xin (Lotus Seed Heart) Alternative Name: Ku Yi (Bitter Yi), Lian Yi (Lotus Yi), Lian Xin (Lotus Heart)
Xia Ku Cao (Selfheal Herb) Alternative Name: Tie Se Cao (Iron Color Grass), Bang Zhu Tou Hua (Hammer Flower), Lang Tou Cao (Hammer Grass), Bang Chui Cao (Hammer Grass), Niu Ku Cao (Cow Ku Cao)
2. Heat-Clearing and Damp-Drying Herbs Long Dan (Gentiana Scabra) Alternative Name: Ling You (Ling You), Cao Long Dan (Grass Long Dan), Ku Di Dan (Bitter Earth Dan), Shan Long Dan (Mountain Long Dan), Shui Long Dan (Water Long Dan)
Bai Xian Pi (Dictamnus dasycarpus) Alternative Name: Ye Hua Jiao Pi (Wild Flower Pepper Skin), Bai Yang Xian (White Yang Xian), Bei Xian Pi (North Xian Pi), Chou Gen Pi (Stinky Root Skin), Ba Gu Niu (Eight-Section Cow), Ba Gua Niu (Eight-Section Cow), Hao Han Ba (Heroic Pull)
Ku Shen (Sophora Flavescens) Alternative Name: Di Huai (Earth Huai), Ku Gu (Bitter Bone), Chuan Shen (Chuan Shen), Niu Shen (Cow Shen), Di Shen (Earth Shen), Ye Huai (Wild Huai), Shan Huai (Mountain Huai)
Ya Dan Zi (Melia Toosendan) Alternative Name: Lao Ya Dan (Old Ya Dan), Ya Dan Zi (Ya Egg), Xiao Ku Lian (Small Bitter Lian), Ku Shen Zi (Bitter Shen Seed)
Huang Qin (Scutellaria Baicalensis) Alternative Name: Shan Cha Gen (Mountain Tea Root), Huang Qin Cha (Yellow Tea), Tu Jin Cha Gen (Earth Gold Tea Root)
Huang Bai (Phellodendron Amurense) Alternative Name: Huang Bo (Yellow Bark), Yuan Bai (Round Bark), Bo Mu (Bark Wood), Chuan Huang Bai (Chuan Huang Bai)
Huang Lian (Coptis Chinensis) Alternative Name: Chuan Lian (Chuan Lian), Chuan Huang Lian (Chuan Huang Lian), Jiang Huang Lian (Ginger Huang Lian), Wu Yu Huang Lian (Wu Yu Huang Lian)
3. Heat-Clearing and Fire-Draining Herbs Da Qing Ye (Isatis Tinctoria) Alternative Name: Da Qing (Big Blue), Bei Ban Gen (North Board Root), Da Dian (Big Indigo)
Shan Dou Gen (Sophora Flavescens) Alternative Name: Dou Gen (Bean Root), Bei Dou Gen (North Bean Root), Guang Dou Gen (Wide Bean Root), Ku Dou Gen (Bitter Bean Root)
Bei Dou Gen (North Bean Root) Alternative Name: Bian Fu Ge Gen (Bat Ge Gen), Bei Shan Dou Gen (North Mountain Bean Root), Shan Di Gua Yang (Mountain Gourd Vine), Bian Fu Teng (Bat Vine)
Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatilla Chinensis) Alternative Name: Ye Zhang Ren (Wild Elder), Tou Gong (Head Elder), Mao Gu Duo Hua (Hairy Elder Flower), Lao Gong Hua (Old Man Flower)
Bai Lian (Nymphaea Tetragona) Alternative Name: Bai Gen (White Root), Shan Di Gua (Mountain Gourd), E Bao Dan (Goose Egg), Di Lao Shu (Earth Mouse), Mao Er Lun (Cat Egg)
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