Herbs II: Class Three

Question 1

Da Huang / Radix et Rhizoma Rhei

Temperature:

Properties:

Answer 1

Da Huang / Radix et Rhizoma Rhei

Temperature: Cold

Properties: Bitter

Question 2

Da Huang / Radix et Rhizoma Rhei

Functions:

Answer 2

1. Vigorously drains downward and purges accumulation
2. Purges fire, clears heat and toxins. Fire evil rising to attack the upper jiao.
3. Drains fire and stops bleeding. Bleeding due to excess fire blazing thereby reckless movement of the blood.
4. Drains damp-heat and promotes diuresis. Addresses jaundice and lin syndrome due to damp-heat.
5. Clears heat and reduces fire toxicity.
6. Invigorates the blood and dispels blood stasis.

Question 3

Da Huang / Radix et Rhizoma Rhei

Channels:

Answer 3

Stomach
Large Intestine
Liver
Heart

Question 4

Da Huang / Radix et Rhizoma Rhei

Special Characteristics:

Answer 4

Sheng (raw) Da Huang used for purging; Jiu (wine) Da Huang used for blood stasis syndrome; Da Huang Tan (charred) used for bleeding.

Question 5

Mang Xiao / Natrii Sulfas

Temperature:

Properties:

Answer 5

Mang Xiao / Natrii Sulfas

Temperature: Very Cold

Properties: Salty, Acrid, Bitter

Question 6

Mang Xiao / Natrii Sulfas

Functions:

Answer 6

1. Purges accumulation and guides out stagnation
2. Clears heat and drains fire
3. Softens hardness

Question 7

Mang Xiao / Natrii Sulfas

Channels:

Answer 7

Stomach

Large Intestine

Question 8

Lu Hui / Herba Aloes

Temperature:

Properties:

Answer 8

Lu Hui / Herba Aloes

Temperature: Cold

Properties: Bitter

Question 9

Lu Hui / Herba Aloes

Functions:

Answer 9

1. Drains fire and purges accumulation
2. Clears heat and cools liver fire
3. Kills parasites

Question 10

Lu Hui / Herba Aloes

Channels:

Answer 10

Large Intestine
Liver
Stomach

Question 11

Lu Hui / Herba Aloes

Special Characteristics:

Answer 11

Subdues liver fire- other herbs can subdue fire, but not all can produce stool. If used topically, can treat ringworm. Use as pill, powder, or exterior, but not in decoction.

Question 12

Fan Xie Ye / Folium Sennae

Temperature:

Properties:

Answer 12

Fan Xie Ye / Folium Sennae

Temperature: Cold

Properties: Sweet, Bitter

Question 13

Fan Xie Ye / Folium Sennae

Functions:

Answer 13

1. Drains downward and guides out stagnation. Addresses various kinds of constipation.

Question 14

Fan Xie Ye / Folium Sennae

Channels:

Answer 14

Large Intestine

Question 15

Fan Xie Ye / Folium Sennae

Special Characteristics:

Answer 15

Good for various types of constipation. Decoction produces similar chemical composition to Da Huang.

Question 16

Huo Ma Ren / Semen Canabis Sativae

Temperature:

Properties:

Answer 16

Huo Ma Ren / Semen Canabis Sativae

Temperature: Neutral

Properties: Sweet

Question 17

Huo Ma Ren / Semen Canabis Sativae

Functions:

Answer 17

1. Moistens, nourishes, lubricates the intestines and unblocks the bowels.
2. Promotes urination and unblocks Lin syndrome. Its properties are slippery and guiding downward.
3. Clears heat and promotes healing of sores.

Question 18

Huo Ma Ren / Semen Canabis Sativae

Channels:

Answer 18

Large Intestine
Spleen
Stomach

Question 19

Huo Ma Ren / Semen Canabis Sativae

Special Characteristics:

Answer 19

Moistens intestines and lubricates due to deficiency

Question 20

Yu Li Ren / Semen Pruni

Temperature:

Properties:

Answer 20

Yu Li Ren / Semen Pruni

Temperature: Neutral

Properties: Acrid, Bitter, Sweet

Question 21

Yu Li Ren / Semen Pruni

Functions:

Answer 21

1. Moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels

2. Regulates water and reduces swelling; promotes urination and reduces edema

Question 22

Yu Li Ren / Semen Pruni

Channels:

Answer 22

Large Intestine
Small Intestine
Spleen

Question 23

Yu Li Ren / Semen Pruni

Special Characteristics:

Answer 23

Addresses constipation due to intestine dryness with qi stagnation; addresses edema with scanty urine, constipation, and abdominal distention

Question 24

Gan Sui / Radix Euphorbiae Kansui

Temperature:

Properties:

Answer 24

Gan Sui / Radix Euphorbiae Kansui

Temperature: Cold

Properties: Bitter, Sweet, Toxic

Question 25

Gan Sui / Radix Euphorbiae Kansui Functions:

Answer 25

1. Purges downward and drives out congested fluid 2. Drives out phlegm 3. Reduces swelling and disperses clumps

Question 26

Gan Sui / Radix Euphorbiae Kansui Channels:

Answer 26

Kidney Large Intestine Lung

Question 27

Gan Sui / Radix Euphorbiae Kansui Special Characteristics:

Answer 27

This herb is incompatible with Gan Cao. Uses urination and diarrhea to drive out water.

Question 28

Da Ji / Radix Euphorbiae seu Knoxiae Temperature: Properties:

Answer 28

Da Ji / Radix Euphorbiae seu Knoxiae Temperature: Cold Properties: Bitter, Acrid, Toxic

Question 29

Da Ji / Radix Euphorbiae seu Knoxiae Functions:

Answer 29

1. Purges water downward and drives out congested fluid | 2. Reduces swelling and disperses clumps/nodules

Question 30

Da Ji / Radix Euphorbiae seu Knoxiae Channels:

Answer 30

Kidney Large Intestine Spleen Lung

Question 31

Da Ji / Radix Euphorbiae seu Knoxiae Special Characteristics:

Answer 31

This herb is incompatible with Gan Cao. Fry with vinegar to reduce toxicity. Often used for mental confusion

Question 32

Qian Niu Zi / Semen Pharbitdis Temperature: Properties:

Answer 32

Qian Niu Zi / Semen Pharbitdis Temperature: Cold Properties: Bitter, Acrid, Slightly Toxic

Question 33

Qian Niu Zi / Semen Pharbitdis Functions:

Answer 33

1. Purges downward and unblocks bowels; drives out water and promotes urination 2. Redirects lung qi and drives out phlegm and congested fluid 3. Removes accumulation and purges constipation 4. Kills parasites: roundworm and tapeworm infestation

Question 34

Qian Niu Zi / Semen Pharbitdis Channels:

Answer 34

Kidney Large Intestine Small Intestine Lung

Question 35

Ba Dou Semen Croton Tiglii Temperature: Properties:

Answer 35

Ba Dou Semen Croton Tiglii Temperature: Hot Properties: Acrid, Severely Toxic

Question 36

Ba Dou Semen Croton Tiglii Functions:

Answer 36

1. Vigorously purges cold accumulation 2. Drives out water and reduces edema 3. Eliminates phlegm and benefits the throat 4. Erodes rotten flesh to promote healing of abscesses and ulcers

Question 37

Ba Dou Semen Croton Tiglii Channels:

Answer 37

Stomach Large Intestine Lung

Question 38

Ba Dou Semen Croton Tiglii Special Characteristics:

Answer 38

Never use in decoction; burning pain caused from the plant's oils

Question 39

Da Huang Pharmaceutical Name: English Name: Literal Translation:

Answer 39

Da Huang Pharmaceutical Name: Radix et Rhizoma Rhei English Name: Rhubarb Root Literal Translation: Big Yellow

Question 40

Mang Xiao Pharmaceutical Name: English Name: Literal Translation:

Answer 40

Mang Xiao Pharmaceutical Name: Natrii Sulfas English Name: Mirabilite Literal Translation: Arista Saltpetre

Question 41

Lu Hui Pharmaceutical Name: English Name: Literal Translation:

Answer 41

Lu Hui Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Aloes English Name: Aloe Literal Translation: Aloe

Question 42

Fan Xie Ye Pharmaceutical Name: English Name: Literal Translation:

Answer 42

Fan Xie Ye Pharmaceutical Name: Folium Sennae English Name: Senna Leaves Literal Translation: Purgative Leaf of the Foreigners

Question 43

Huo Ma Ren Pharmaceutical Name: English Name: Literal Translation:

Answer 43

Huo Ma Ren Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Canabis Sativae English Name: Hemp Seeds Literal Translation: Fire Hemp Seeds

Question 44

Yu Li Ren Pharmaceutical Name: English Name: Literal Translation:

Answer 44

Yu Li Ren Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Pruni English Name: Bush Cherry Pit Literal Translation: Constrained Plum Pit

Question 45

Gan Sui Pharmaceutical Name: English Name: Literal Translation:

Answer 45

Gan Sui Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Euphorbiae Kansui English Name: Kansui Root Literal Translation: Pleasant Satisfaction

Question 46

Da Ji Pharmaceutical Name: English Name: Literal Translation:

Answer 46

Da Ji Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Euphorbiae seu Knoxiae English Name: Peking Spurge Root Literal Translation: Big Halberd from the Capital

Question 47

Qian Niu Zi Pharmaceutical Name: English Name: Literal Translation:

Answer 47

Qian Niu Zi Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Pharbitdis English Name: Morning Glory Seeds Literal Translation: Cowherd Seeds

Question 48

Ba Dou Pharmaceutical Name: English Name: Literal Translation:

Answer 48

Ba Dou Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Croton Tiglii English Name: Croton Seeds Literal Translation: Clinging Bean

Question 49

Downward Draining Herbs Category Description:

Answer 49

Downward draining describes the action of substances that eliminate pathogenic factors and conditions via purgative, laxative, and cathartic means.

Question 50

Purgatives Sub-category Description:

Answer 50

These herbs function to strong induce defecation and eliminate constipation and accumulation of excesses in the body.

Question 51

Moist Laxatives Sub-category Description:

Answer 51

Most herbs in this subcategory are sweet and nourishing seeds that contain significant amounts of lipids to moisten the bowels and relieve constipation.

Question 52

Harsh Expellants (Cathartics) Sub-category Description:

Answer 52

Mostly bitter, cold, and toxic, these herbs eliminate pathogenic factors from the body by strongly promoting bowel movement and urination.