HERBS THAT RELEASE THE EXTERIOR

WARM ACRID HERBS THAT RELEASE THE EXTERIOR

***Ma Huang (Herba Ephedrae)* releases the exterior • for Tai Yang excess (no sweating) • stops cough
and wheezing • promotes urination to treat edema
***Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) releases the exterior • for Tai Yang deficiency (sweating) • warms the
chest, middle jiao, U
***Jing Jie (Herba Schizonepetae) releases the exterior • for both wind-heat and wind-cold • vents rashes
• use charred to stop bleeding (LV channel)
***Fang Feng (Radix Ledebouriellae) releases the exterior • for both wind-heat and wind-cold • can be
used for all types of wind - internal, external, hot, cold
**Zi Su Ye (Folium Perillae) releases the exterior • mild • moves middle-jiao qi stagnation, esp for
morning sickness
**Bai Zhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae) releases the exterior • yangming headache, opens nasal orifices •
reduces swelling and discharges pus • expels dampness (vaginal discharge
**Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis Recens) releases the exterior • mild; esp for stomach
problems • warms the middle jiao (n/v) • warms the Lung (profuse sputum)

COLD ACRID HERBS THAT RELEASE THE EXTERIOR

***Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri) releases the exterior • for shaoyang disorder (alternating fever and chills,
bitter taste, flank pain) • moves Liver qi • raises yang qi
**Bo He (Herba Menthae Haplocalycis) releases the exterior • brightens eyes, benefits throat • vents
rashes • gently moves Liver qi
**Sang Ye (Folium Mori) releases the exterior • moistens Lung, stops cough • brightens eyes • cools blood
to stop bleeding (LV channel)
**Chan Tui (Periostracum Cicadae) releases the exterior • voice loss, sore throat • itchy skin, rash, eye
problems • extinguishes wind and stops spasm
**Ju Hua (Flos Chrysanthemi Morifolii) releases the exterior • brightens eyes • subdues Liver yang rising
• clears heat toxicity to treat skin problems
**Niu Bang Zi (Fructus Arctii Lappae) releases the exterior • benefits throat • vents rashes • moistens
Large Intestine

HERBS THAT DRAIN DOWNWARD

Stimulate the intestine, purge accumulation, and guide out stagnation, eliminate toxins, drain fire/cold, drive out water.
Used for constipation, obstruction in the intestines, fire-toxin accumulation, water accumulation. They can be bitter/cold,
salty/cold, sweet, seeds/nuts-gentle laxitives. They enter the stomach, LI, SP, LU, KI meridians. Typically harsh herbs, may
easily injure the stomach qi and body fluids. They can drain Qi and blood downwards as well. Only for excessive syndromes
for people with strong constitution. CONTRAINDICATED: menstruation, people with exterior syndrome, chronic diseases,
weak constitution, deficiency syndromes. pregnancy
***Da Huang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) purges Large Intestine • drains heat through intestines •
invigorates blood • dries dampness (jaundice)
**Mang Xiao (Mirabilitum) purges Large Intestine • softens hardness • clears heat toxicity
**Huo Ma Ren (Semen Cannabis Sativae) moistens Large Intestine • nourishes yin
**Qian Niu Zi (Semen Pharbitidis) induces diarrhea and promotes urination to treat edema • drives out
phlegm • kills LI parasite
 HERBS THAT CLEAR HEAT
Many herbs in this category are pungent, aromatic, and light weight and mainly enter the lung and bladder meridians. Pungent
herbs activate the qi, open the pores, disperse lung qi, and harmonize nutritive and defensive qi to expel wind. Warm herbs
activate the yang and open the pores for sweating. Aromatic herbs open the orifices, penetrate turbity, spread the pure Qi, and
transform dampness. CONTRAINDICATIONS:
CLEARS HEAT AND DRAINS FIRE
***Shi Gao (Gypsum) clears heat and drains fire • Qi-level heat • Lung and Stomach heat
**Zhi Mu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae Asphodeloidis) clears heat and drains fire • Qi-level heat • clears
deficiency heat • tonifies KI yin
**Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis) clears heat and drains fire • all three jiao • for shen disturbance
• clears damp-heat (lin syndrome and jaundice)
**Xia Ku Cao (Spica Prunellae Vulgaris) clears heat and drains fire • clears Liver heat to brighten eyes •
dissipates nodules • lowers high blood pressure
**Lu Gen (Rhizoma Phragmitis Communis) clears heat and drains fire • clears heat from Lung and
Stomach • Moistens Lung; generates body fluids • promotes urination

CLEARS HEAT AND COOLS THE BLOOD

Most critical stage of acute febrile disease. Fever-higher at night, restlessness, obvious purpura, epitaxis, blood in stools,
delirium, convulsions, deep red/purple tongue without coating, thready/rapid pulse. Many of these herbs are cool in nature
and pungent for dispersing abilities.
**Sheng Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae) clears heat and cools blood • heat in ying and xue
levels • nourish yin and generates fluids
**Xuan Shen (Radix Scrophulariae Ningpoensis) clears heat and cools blood • heat in ying and xue levels
• nourish yin and generates fluids • softens hardness (scrofula)
**Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) clears heat and cools blood • heat in xue level • good for OB/GYN
conditions • cools blood and invigorates blood • clears heat (deficiency heat, Liver hea
**Chi Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra) invigorates blood • cools blood
**Zi Cao (Radix Arnebiae seu Lithospermi) clears heat and cools blood • skin problems

CLEARS HEAT AND DRIES DAMPNESS

**Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis) clears heat and dries dampness • primarily from Lung and
Stomach • calms fetus • stops bleeding
**Huang Lian (Rhizoma Coptidis) clears heat and dries dampness • primarily from Stomach and Heart •
diarrhea • stops bleeding
**Huang Bai (Cortex Phellodendri) clears heat and dries dampness • primarily from lower jiao • clears
deficiency heat
**Long Dan Cao (Radix Gentianae Longdancao) clears heat and dries dampness • LV/GB heat and damp-
heat
**Ku Shen (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis) clears heat and dries dampness • primarily from lower burner •
kills parasites (fungal infections)

CLEARS HEAT TOXICITY

**Jin Yin Hua (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) clears heat toxicity • treats skin infection • expels wind-heat •
clears lower-jiao damp heat.
**Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae) clears heat toxicity • esp for Heart heat • expels wind-heat •
discharges pus
**Da Qing Ye (Folium Daqingye) clears heat toxicity • for epidemic diseases • for Lung heat, throat
problems • cools blood, treats rashes and bleeding
**Ban Lan Gen (Radix Isatidis seu Baphicacanthi—Root of Da Qing Ye) clears heat toxicity • for
epidemic diseases • for Lung heat, throat problems • cools blood, treats rashes and bleeding
**Qing Dai (Indigo Pulverata Levis) clears heat toxicity • treats skin infection • cools blood, stops
bleeding • drains Liver fire (tremor, Liver-Lung cough)

HERBS THAT REGULATE QI

Typically pungent and warm in nature, enters the spleen, stomach, liver, LI, and LU meridian, able to treat Qi stagnation. Qi
stagnation is often caused by emotional disturbance, accumulation of internal cold/heat/phlegm/water/food/trauma/blood
stagnation. Most patients have a white tongue and wiry pulse. Pungency has a moving capability and warmth can activate QI
movement. CONTRAINDICATIONS: PREGNANCY, YIN DEFICIENCY
**Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) regulates middle-jiao qi • dries dampness • transforms
phlegm
**Mu Xiang (Radix Vladimirae) regulates middle-jiao qi • stops pain • transforms dampness
**Zhi Shi (Fructus Immaturus Citri Aurantii) regulates middle-jiao qi • for constipation •
transforms phlegm
**Zhi Ke (Fructus Citri Aurantii) regulates middle-jiao qi • expands chest
**Sha Ren (Fructus Amomi) promotes flow of qi, warms the middle, transforms dampness,
improves appetite, calms the fetus
**Hou Po (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis) regulates the qi and directs it downwards, disperses
fullness, dries dampness, reduces phlegm
**Da Fu Pi (Pericarpium Arecae Catechu) regulates middle-jiao qi • gas and bloating • promotes
urination to treat edema
***Xiang Fu (Rhizoma Cyperi Rotundi) regulates Liver qi • OB/GYN, menstruation • neutral or
cool temp

HERBS THAT REGULATE THE BLOOD

Usually help blood stagnation caused by heat/cold/qi stagnation/wind/dampness/qi or blood deficiency. Blood stagnation
worsens at night. These herbs can relieve pain and also be used topically and for Bi syndrome when blood is stagnated. These
herbs can be pungent/aromatic/slightly warm, pungent/bitter/slightly cold, pungent/bitter/salty, entering the heart,
pericardium, liver, and gallbladder. Herbs are divided into Herbs that invigorate the blood and promote blood circulation
(Chuan Xiong, Dan Shen, Hong Hua)…Herbs that dissolve and dissipate congealed blood (Dan Shen, Wu Ling Zhi)
***Chuan Xiong (Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong) invigorates qi and blood • treats headache
***Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) invigorates blood • chest bi • calms shen • clears heat
toxicity • temp: cool
**Tao Ren (Semen Persicae) invigorates blood • moistens Large Intestine
**Hong Hua (Flos Carthami Tinctorii) invigorates blood
**Yu Jin (Tuber Curcumae) invigorates qi and blood • stops pain • softens hardness • cools blood
• treats phlegm misting the Heart • relieves jaundice
**Wu Ling Zhi (Excrementum Trogopteri seu Pteromi) invigorates blood and stop pain • painful
menses
**Yan Hu Suo (Rhizoma Corydalis) invigorates qi and blood • pain killer
**Ru Xiang (Gummi Olibanum) strongly invigorates blood • for injury and trauma • regenerates
flesh
 HERBS THAT TREAT DAMPNESS
Dampness usually due to water metabolism which is a dysfunction of the kidney, spleen, lung, bladder, or SJ. Yin pathogenic
factor. Accompanied with heat it is very difficult to get out. Many have a bland taste as bland leaches out dampness through
urination. They can also be sweet/bland/cold or sweet/bitter/cold. Bitterness can dry dampness and direct fire downward.
Sweetness can tonify the body. Cold can clear Heat. Sweet/cold can generate yin and body fluids which might have been
injuredMost of these herbs enter the bladder, kidney, and SI. Dampness can be expelled by promoting urination to leach out
dampness with bland/cold/sweet herbs, drying dampness with pungent bitter herbs, expelling dampness with pungent herbs,
aromatically transforming dampness with aromatic herbs that penetrate turbidity and revive the spleen to transform
dampness, herbs that tonify the spleen to improve transportation/transformation, warming the kidney yang to steam
dampness with pungent hot herbs that enter the kidney, warming the spleen-yang to transform dampness with pungent hot
herbs that enter the spleen, dispersing lung qi and regulating the water passages with herbs that disperse lung qi or direct it to
descend, or promoting the qi movement to eliminate dampness.
***Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos) drains damp • tonifies SP qi, bland.
**Zhu Ling (Sclerotium Polypori Umbellati) drains damp, bland
**Yi Yi Ren (Semen Coicis Lachryma-jobi) drains damp • tonifies SP qi • treats bi syndrome, sweet, bland,
cold
**Che Qian Zi (Semen Plantaginis) promotes urination to treat lin syndrome • lin syndrome, edema,
diarrhea • clears LV heat to brighten eyes • clears LU heat, bland.
**Ze Xie (Rhizoma Alismatis Orientalis) drains damp • for damp and damp-heat in lower jiao
**Tong Cao (Medulla Tetrapanacis) not used much because it doesn’t improve the treatment well.
Facilitates the fluid metabolism of the lungs, promotes lactation by raising stomach qi. Bland.
**Dan Zhu Ye (Herba Lophatheri Gracilis) clears heat, leaches out dampness and facilitates urination.
**Di Fu Zi (Radix Lateralis Aconiti Carmichaeli Praeparata) promotes urination to treat lin syndrome •
damp-heat skin problems
**Shi Wei (Folium Pyrrosiae) promotes urination to treat lin syndrome • stone lin • clears heat to stop
bleeding • clears LU heat
**Qu Mai (Herba Dianthi) promotes urination to treat lin syndrome • bloody lin • invigorates blood
**Jin Qian Cao (Radix Rubiae Cordifoliae) promotes urination, expels stones, clears damp-heat jaundice.
**Yin Chen Hao (Herba Artemisiae Yinchenhao) relieves jaundice • yin and yang type jaundice
**Qing Hao (Herba Artemisiae Annuae) herb that clears heat from deficiency, clears all type of yin level
heat without injuring the qi, blood, or yin.

HERBS THAT AROMATICALLY TRANSFORM DAMPNESS

**Huo Xiang (Herba Agastaches seu Pogostemi) transforms dampness • n/v, stomach flu • summerheat •
releases exterior
**Sha Ren (Fructus Amomi) transforms dampness & warms m-j • diarrhea • calms restless fetus
**Cang Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis) transforms dampness • treats wind-dampness • brightens eyes •
guides other herbs to SP/ST
**Hou Po (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis) transforms dampness • downward action to treat rebellious qi •
transforms phlegm and stops cough
**Shi Chang Pu (Rhizoma Acori) aromatic herb that opens up the orifices, transforms dampness,
strengthens the spleen and stomach, dislodges phlegm
**Bai Dou Kou (Fructus Amomi Kravanh) transforms dampness & warms m-j • vomiting and nausea
**Cao Dou Kou (Semen Alpiniae Katsumadai) transforms dampness & warms m-j • stronger than bai dou
kou
**Cao Guo (Fructus Amomi Tsao-ko) strongly dries dampness & warms m-j • malaria
 HERBS THAT PROMOTE DIGESTION
**MaiYa (Fructus Hordei Germinatus) relieves food stagnation • starchy food • strengthen
middle-jiao • stops lactation
**Shen Qu (Massa Fermentata Medicinalis) relieves food stagnation • starchy food and alcohol
**Shan Zha (Fructus Crataegi) relieves food stagnation • meat and fatty food • lowers high blood
pressure and cholesterol • invigorates blood
**Lai Fu Zi (Semen Raphani) relieves food stagnation • fullness in abdomen • descends LU qi
(cough with phlegm)