Herbs_CalmShen/OpenOrificese

Question 1

suan zao ren
ziziphi spinosae semen

Answer 1

Temp: neutral 
Taste: sweet, sour 
 Channels: GB, HT, LV, SP

 Dosage: 9-15g
1. tonifies yin and blood to calm shen • for insomnia
2. induces astringency
• esp. for Heart qi related sweating
Crush before decocting.
To enhance its ability to tonify yin and blood to calm shen, Suan Zao Ren should be dry-fried (Chao Suan Zao Ren). For insomnia, Suan Zao Ren can be taken as a single herb or swallowed as powder.

Question 2

bai zi ren
platycladi semen

Answer 2

Temp: neutral 
Taste: sweet 
Channels: HT, KI, LI 
Dosage: 3-9g

1. tonifies yin and blood to calm shen • esp. for Heart palpitation
2. moistens Large Intestine to relieve constipation
   • for constipation due to blood deficiency; for elderly or postpartum women
3. stops nightsweats due to yin deficiency

Question 3

yuan zhi
polygalae radix
Temp: slightly warm 
 Taste: bitter, acrid 
 Channels: HT, LU 
 Dosage: 6-15g
1. transforms phlegm to calm shen
• for forgetfulness, cloudy thinking, light-headedness
2. transforms Lung phlegm
• for both phlegm-heat and phlegm-cold
3. used internally or externally to treat skin problems • for swelling, pain, heat toxicity
Yuan Zhi may cause nausea and vomiting or heartburn. It should be taken on a full stomach. Use caution in cases of stomach ulcer.

Answer 3

yuan zhi
polygalae radix
Temp: slightly warm 
 Taste: bitter, acrid 
 Channels: HT, LU 
 Dosage: 6-15g
1. transforms phlegm to calm shen
• for forgetfulness, cloudy thinking, light-headedness
2. transforms Lung phlegm
• for both phlegm-heat and phlegm-cold
3. used internally or externally to treat skin problems • for swelling, pain, heat toxicity
Yuan Zhi may cause nausea and vomiting or heartburn. It should be taken on a full stomach. Use caution in cases of stomach ulcer.

Question 4

he huan pi
albiziae cortex
Temp: neutral 
 Taste: sweet 
 Channels: HT, LV 
 Dosage: 6-15g
1. tonifies yin and blood to calm shen • esp. for depression
2. invigorates blood
• for injury, trauma, bruises, pain, swelling
• mild
The flower of He Huan Pi is called He Huan Hua. It is better at calming shen, but it does not invigorate blood.

Answer 4

he huan pi
albiziae cortex
Temp: neutral 
 Taste: sweet 
 Channels: HT, LV 
 Dosage: 6-15g
1. tonifies yin and blood to calm shen • esp. for depression
2. invigorates blood
• for injury, trauma, bruises, pain, swelling
• mild
The flower of He Huan Pi is called He Huan Hua. It is better at calming shen, but it does not invigorate blood.

Question 5

Herbs that Calm Shen
Symptoms

Answer 5

• sleeping problems (insomnia, copious dreaming)
• poor concentration
• heart palpitation

These herbs do not treat more serious shen disturbance, such as delirium and unconsciousness.

Question 6

Four ways to calm shen:

Answer 6

• Clear Liver heat and subdue Liver Yang
• Tonify Yin and Blood
• Transform (insubstantial) phlegm
• Clear Heart heat

Question 7

Herbs that Clear Liver Heat
to calm Shen

Answer 7

?

Question 8

Herbs that tonify Yin and Blood to calm Shen

Answer 8

• suan zao ren
• bai zi ren
• he huan pi
• ye jiao teng

Question 9

Herbs that transform Phlegm
to calm Shen

Answer 9

• yuan zhi

Question 10

Herbs that clear Heat
To calm Shen

Answer 10

• ?

Question 11

ye jiao teng
polygoni multiflori caulis

Answer 11

Temp: neutral 
Taste: sweet 
Channels: HT, LV 
Dosage: 15-30g

1. tonifies yin and blood to calm shen • esp. for insomnia
2. unblocks, stretches, relaxes and smooths the channels
   • for bi syndrome; secondary herb
3. used externally for itching and rash