Introduction to Herbs Flashcards

1
Q

First book to focus on descriptions of individual herbs

A

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing
Divine Husbandman’s Classic
364 kinds of herbs. The term “medicine property” first appears in this book

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2
Q

Materia Medica that divided herbs into 3 categories

A
Tao Hongjing: Collection of Commentaries on the Classic Materia Medica
Three Categories of herbs:
Upper - tonifying
Middle - most herbs (moving, sour, etc)
Lower - herbs w/ toxicity
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3
Q

China’s first illustrated materi medica

A

Tang Materia Medica, compiled bhy government

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4
Q

Omissions from the Classic of Meteria Medica

A

Cheng ZangQi

Seven forms of pprescriptions

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5
Q

Major Materia Medica od the Song Dynasty

A

The Materia Medica Arranged According to Pattern

Very prosperous dynasty

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6
Q

Li Shizhen’s materia medica

A

The Grand Materia Medica, 1st printed in 1596, is the best known example of TCM sustances.
Li Shizhen is China’s celebrated herbalist

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7
Q

Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Substances

A

printed 1977, newer and more entries than older materia medicas

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8
Q

Chinese Materia Medica

A

printed 2002, Newer and more entries than older materia medicas

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9
Q

1st book to outline the 8 therapeutic methods

A

Medical Revelations: Cheng Zhong Ling

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10
Q

The 8 Therapeutic Methods

A
Sweating, Vomiting, Purging (draining)
Harmonizing
Warming
Clearing
Dispersing
Tonifying
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11
Q

1st book outlining linkages between herbs and particular organs, channels

A

Origins of Medicine, by Zhang Yuan Su

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12
Q

Factors of herbal efficacy: growth and gathering conditions

A
  1. Best quality from native growing places
  2. Gathering time - when effective ingredients reach maximum
    Whole plant - fully grown-up or blossom
    Leaf - Blossom or fully flowering
    Flower - Fully opened up
    Seed & Fruit - reach the full maturity
    Root - Fedruary & August
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13
Q

Objectives of processing methods

A

Reduce or remove toxicity or side effects
Change the function of the herb
Easier to store
Get rid of impurities and easier to be taken in

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14
Q

Processing Methods

A

Mechanical Methods
Methods that utilize water
Methods that utilize heat
Methods utilizing both heat and water

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15
Q

Mechanical methods of processing herbs

A

Cleaning, peeling, scraping, grinding, etc

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16
Q

Herbal processing methods which utilize water

A

Soaking
Bleaching (rinsing)
Aqeous Trituration - minerals ground to a powder with water

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17
Q

Herbal processing methods which utilize heat

A

Dry Frying (browning, deep frying, charring)
Frying with liquid (Honey, vinegar, wine, juice )
Calcining (makes mineral substances brittle like tortoise or oyster shell)
Roasting in ashes (Wrap herb in mud or wet paper & roast on coals)

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18
Q

Herbal processing methods utilizing both heat & water

A

Steaming
Boiling
Quenching
Simmering

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19
Q

“Four” Qi

A
Cold
Hot
Cool
Warm
Neutral
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20
Q

“Five” Tastes

A
Sour 
Bitter
Sweet
Acrid
Salty
Bland
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21
Q

Yang tastes

A

Acrid, Sweet, Bland

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22
Q

Yin Tastes

A

Bitter, Sour, Salty

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23
Q

Acrid

A

Disperse & move

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24
Q

Sweet

A

Tonify, harmonize, moisten

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25
Q

Bitter

A

Drain & dry

26
Q

Sour

A

Astringent & prevent abnormal leakage of fluids and energy

27
Q

Salty

A

Purge & soften

28
Q

Bland

A

Leech out dampness & promote urination

29
Q

Astringent

A

Prevent the leakage of fluids

30
Q

Up and floating herbs

A

acrid, sweet, warm, hot

31
Q

Down and sinking herbs

A

sour, bitter, salty, astringent

32
Q

Toxicity

A

Use toxic herbs to treat toxicity

33
Q

Herbs entering lung channel

A

Jie geng and Xing ren

34
Q

Herbs entering Liver channel

A

quan xie (calms liver wind)

35
Q

Herbs entering Heart chnnel

A

zhu sha

36
Q

Mutual accentuation

A

2 substances with similar functions to accentuate their actions
Examples: Shi Gao & Zhi Mu
Da Huang & Mang Xiao

37
Q

Mutual enhancement

A

one substance enhances the effect of the other
Ex) Fu ling & Huang Qi
Ex) Da Huang & Huang Qin

38
Q

Mutual Counteraction

A

The toxicity or side effects of 1 substance are reduced or eliminated by another substance
Ex) Ban xia & Sheng Jiang
Nan Xing & Sheng Jiang

39
Q

Mutual Suppression

A

Converse of mutual counteraction. Aka from the perspective of the toxic herb being suppressed
Ex) Sheng Jiang kills toxicity of ban xia

40
Q

Mutual antagonism

A

The ability of 2 substances to minimize or neutralize each other’s positive effects
Ex) Ren Shen & Lai Fu Zi
19 antagonisms

41
Q

Mutual incompatibility

A

The combination of 2 substances give rise to side effects or toxicity which would not be caused by either if used alone
18 incompatibilities

42
Q

Single effect herbs

A

Like shen ren & huang qin

43
Q

Principles of combining substances

A

Chief
Deputies
Assistants
Envoys

44
Q

Chief herb in a formula

A

Principal ingredient, provides the main effect

45
Q

Deputies in a formula

A

Enhance or assist the actions of the chief

46
Q

Assistants in a formula

A

Treat accompanhying symptoms; moderate the harshness or toxicity of the primary substances; assist chief & deputies, or provide assistance from another therapeutic direction

47
Q

Envoys in a formula

A

Guhide the other medicines to a specific channel or organ, or exert a harmonizing influence

48
Q

Most common form of herbal delivery

A

Decoctions

49
Q

Why are some herbs decocted 1st?

A
Toxic - cooked for 30-45 minutes
Minerals and shells - 10-20 minutes
lightweight substances used in large dosage - 20 min
Ex) Zhi Chuan Wu
Zhi Fu Zi
Zhi Cao Wu
Shi Jue Ming
Long Gu
Mu Li
Ci Shi 
Zhen Zhu
Dai Zhe Shi
Gui Ban
Bie Jia
Shi Gao
Shui Niu Jiao
Si Gua Luo
50
Q

Why are some herbs added at the end?

A
Aromatic herbs maintain potency if cooked for only 4-5 minutes
Ex) Bo He
Mu Xiang
Sha Ren
Bai Dou Kou
Qing Hao
Da Huang
51
Q

Why are some herbs decocted in gauze?

A

Prevents raw herb from stimulating the throat or digestive tract.
Ex) Xuan fu hua
Che qian zi
Chi shi zhi

52
Q

Why are some herbs decocted or simmered separately?

A

Rare or expensive substances
Ex) Ren Shen
Xi yang shen
Lu rong

53
Q

Delivery methods

A

Decoctions, Pills, Powders, Special pills, Syrups, Plasters, Medicinal wines

54
Q

How long to cook Release the Exterior Herbs?

A

generally cook for short amount of time

55
Q

How long to cook tonifying herbs?

A

genreally cook for longer amount of time

56
Q

When to take herbs (arouhnd meals)?

A

Tonifying - Usually before meal
Purging - On empty Stomach
BUT in general taken after a meal is safest, relies less on digetive strength of the patient.

57
Q

Why are some herbs dissolved in the strained decoction?

A

because they are highly viscous or sticky (they will stick to the pot and burn)
Ex) E Jiao
Yi tang

58
Q

Why are some herbs taken first and “chased” by the decoction?

A
because they are expensive or aromatic, like precious hornsThese herbs are taken as a powder.
Ex)Chuan bei mu
San qi
Niu huang
Zhu li
59
Q

What are the 19 antagonisms? (we need only 5 pairs)

A
Ba Dou - qian niu zi
Ding Xiang - yu jin
Zhi Wu Tou - xi jiao
Ren Shen - wu ling zhi
Rou Gui - chi shi zhi
60
Q

18 incompatibilities: Which herbs are incompatible with Gan Cao?

A

Gan Sui
Da Ji
Yuan Hua
Hai Zao

61
Q

18 incompatibilities: which herbs are incompatible with Zhi Wu Tou?

A
Bei Mu
Gua Lou
Zhi Ban Xia
Bai Lian
Bai Ji
62
Q

18 incompatibilities: which herbs are incompatible with Li Lu?

A
Ren Shen
Sha Shen
Dan Shen
Ku Shen
Xi Xin
Bai Shao