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Starred Herbs Flashcards

(54 cards)

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1
Q

Ma Huang

***

A

-induces sweating
-calms wheezing
-promotes urination, reduces edema
-helps deep-rooted toxic sores w/o head
-for wind-cold excess/taiyang + wind-damp painful obstruction

(ephedra)

warm ~ acrid, sl bitter ~ LU, BL

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2
Q

Gui Zhi

***

A

-assists heart yang and unblocks yang qi of chest
-releases muscle layer
-warms the middle
-for wind-cold (excess or deficiency); wind-cold-damp bi
-transforms thin mucus/fluids
-warms channels, collaterals, vessels
-regulates menses

(cinnamon twig)

warm ~ acrid, sweet ~ HT, LU, BL

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3
Q

Zi Su Ye

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A

-revives SP, harmonizes middle jiao
-use in pregnancy, helps w morning sickness, espec when combined w other anti nausuea herbs
-helps w seafood poisoning (or anything raw)
-promotes qi movement, expands chest

(perilla leaf)

warm ~ acrid, aromatic ~ LU, SP

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4
Q

Fang Feng

***

A

-moderate, less drying than most wind-expelling
-all wind disorders + wind damp
-diarrhea + pain in bowels
-relieves spasms
-helps migraines

(siler)

sl warm ~ acrid, sweet ~ BL, LV, SP

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5
Q

Bai Zhi

***

A

-opens orifices (especially nose; good for congestion)
-wind-cold yangming frontal headaches/supraoribtal
-toothache
-dries damp
-reduces swelling + expels pus

(angelica)

warm ~ acrid, aromatic ~ LU, ST, SP

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6
Q

Xi Xin

***

A

-disperses cold from taiyang + shaoyin
-opens orifices
-coughing w copious, watery sputum
-head + body aches
-reaches head, lungs, bones, and joints to disperse wind-cold-damp + phlegm

(asarum, Chinese wild ginger)

warm ~ acrid, aromatic, TOXIC ~ LU, HT, KD

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7
Q

Sheng Jiang

***

A

-benefits stomach: nausea, vomiting
-warms lungs: stops coughing, transforms phlegm
-resolves toxicity ie seafood poisoning

(fresh ginger)

sl warm ~ acrid ~ LU, SP, ST

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8
Q

Bo He

***

A

-moves constrained liver qi to help w stress
-disperse upper-burner wind heat: cools head, headache, soothes throat
-helps eyes (ie cools/clears red eyes)
-expels turbid filth = parasites etc, also related to summerheat gastric issue

(field mint)

cool ~ acrid, aromatic ~ LU, LV

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9
Q

Sang Ye

***

A

-disperses wind-heat
-cools and drains lungs + liver
-calms liver, clears eyes (from excess, wind-heat, yin xu)
-clears lungs, moistens dryness

(white mulberry leaf)

cold ~ sweet, bitter ~ LU, LV

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10
Q

Ju Hua

***

A

-one of most commonly used herb in china for wind-heat
-good for topical use inflammation in eyes, allergies (brightens eyes)
-liver heat affecting eyes
-cools liver in general, not harsh
-can combine to treat any wind condition; can ascend or descend, drain or tonify

(chrysanthemum flower)

sl cold ~ sweet, bitter, aromatic ~ LU, LV

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11
Q

Ge Gen

***

A

-raises clear yang qi of yangming (ST qi)
-releases muscle layer heat + vents rashes (measles)
-good for stiff/tight upper back/neck
-alleviates thirst by raising ST fluids
-treats diarrhea
-used for hangovers
-treats sx of hypertension

(kudzu root)

cool ~ sweet, acrid ~ SP, ST

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12
Q

Chai Hu

***

A

-harmonizes shaoyang stage disorders (alternating chills/fever)
-releases heat in muscle layer
-raises clear yang qi of ST + GB
-spreads liver qi and relieves constraint

(buplerum)

cool ~ acrid, bitter ~ GB. LV, PC, TB

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13
Q

Shi Gao

***

A

-cools lung + stomach fire
-vents exterior, releases muscle layer
-yangming qi/jing syndrome (4 bigs)
-applied topically for eczema, burns, ulcerated sores

(gypsum)

very cold ~ sweet, acrid ~ LU, ST

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14
Q

Zhi Mu

***

A

-clears fire and nourishes yin of the lungs, stomach, kidneys
-moistens dryness
-use for heat sx
-generates fluids
-use w drying/warming herbs to ameliorate dryness

cold ~ bitter, sweet ~ LU, ST, KD

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15
Q

Zhi Zi

***

A

-resolves constrained heat (heat that is not going away, it’s established)
-enters all 3 burners which makes it especially helpful
-directs damp-heat downward and out thru urine
-irritability
-cools the blood and breaks up toxicity / toxic accumulations
-can apply topically

(gardenia fruit)

cold ~ bitter ~ HT, LU, ST, LV, TB

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16
Q

Xia Ku Cao

***

A

-cools liver fire that manifests in facial/head area, especially eyes
-helps dissipate nodules due to liver fire/heat
-hypertension bc of liver excess

(selfheal spike / prunella)

cold ~ bitter, acrid ~ LV

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17
Q

Tian Hua Fen

***

A

-mostly used to clear heat w/o damaging body b/c it generates fluids
-transforms phlegm, moistens lung dryness, for phlegm heat type of cough
-reduces swelling
-invigorates blood
-resolves toxicity
-can be applied topically, for hot toxic sores ie breast abscess
-used for abortion

cold ~ bitter, slightly sweet ~ LU, ST

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18
Q

Jue Ming Zi

***

A

-clears liver excess and cools eyes
-anchors errant liver yang
-nourishes liver + kidney yin
-can reduce hypertension, help w cardiovascular disease
-can be laxative, moistens intestines

(cassia seeds)

sl cold ~ bitter, sweet, salty ~ LV, LI, KD

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19
Q

Jin Yin Hua

***

A

-common cold, especially external wind-heat in early stages, + bad sore throat
-disperses heat + resolves toxicity
-useful for sores + swellings and intestinal abscess
-cools blood
-clears damp-heat from lower burner
-stop bleeding in charred form

(honeysuckle)

cold ~ sweet ~ LI, LU, ST

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20
Q

Lian Qiao

***

A

-cools/vents heat, resolves toxicity, disperses clumps
-venting action, not that harsh, good for upper burner + more exterior (wind heat, sore throat)
-abscesses
-also goes to heart (*common test q to differentiate from jin yin hua)

(forsythia)

sl cold ~ bitter, sl acrid ~ HT, LU, GB

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21
Q

Pu Gong Ying

***

A

-resolves heat/toxin, but goes deep + directs downward
-can treat breast issues like mastitis
-facilitates urination, good for urinary issues: dribbling, uti’s, urgency, pain
-liver excess, especially eyes
-abscesses (intestinal/breast), nodules

(dandelion)

cold ~ bitter, sweet ~ LV, ST

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22
Q

Tu Fu Ling

***

Study These Flashcards
A

-cancer, syphilis
-eases joint pain (incl syphilis joint pain)
-clears damp-heat

(smilax)

neatral ~ sweet, bland ~ LV, ST

23
Q

Sheng Di Huang

***

Study These Flashcards
A

-clears heat
-mostly use when there’s heat at the nutritive and blood level (deep level) + we want to nourish yin
-generates fluids

cold ~ sweet, bitter ~ HT, KD, LV

24
Q

Xuan Shen

***

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A

-for heat at the blood level, incl bleeding
-enriches yin, moistens dryness
-drains fire, resolves toxicity
-softens hardness + dissipates nodules
-transforms phlegm-heat
-unique that it clears heat at blood level, enriches/protects yin, AND treats nodules

(scrophularia)

cold ~ salty, sweet, bitter ~ KD, LU, ST

25
Mu Dan Pi | ***
-clears heat from **either excess or deficiency** (so not that harsh) -clears **lurking fire from blood** + **fire d/t yin deficiency** -harmonious, balanced substance so less concern w using -**gently invigorates blood w/o injuring blood or yin** -affinity to liver, clears **liver fire** (liver is commonly involved w menstrual issues) -drains pus/reduces swelling: can use **topically** or **internally for intestinal abscess** | (moutan root bark) ## Footnote sl cold ~ acrid, bitter ~ HT, LV, KD
26
Huang Qin | ***
-clear damp heat from **upper burner** (LU) + **middle burner** (ST, intestines, LV, GB) -**toxicity** in upper burner ie thick, yellow sputum, high fever, etc -**stomach/intestines** so **dysentery** conditions -also LV/GB, inflammation, diseases -**stops bleeding** -**calms fetus that is restless due to heat** (potential test q!) -**antibiotic** | (scutellaria) ## Footnote cold ~ bitter ~ LU, ST, GB, LI
27
Huang Lian | ***
-cools heat, drains fire, dries damp (espec **heart + stomach**) -**damp heat** in stomach/intestines ie **dysentery** -**fire toxicity** + stop **bleeding** -use **topically** for red/painful eyes, ulcerations of mouth -**strong antibiotic** | (coptis rhizome) ## Footnote cold ~ bitter ~ HT, LI, LV, ST
28
Huang Bai | ***
-clears damp-heat in **lower burner** -**directs fire downward** -**hot leg qi** (red, swollen, painful legs/feet) -drains ascending **kidney fire w/ yin deficiency** -famous for **antifungal**, athlete’s foot, etc (used topically for soaking fungal infection) -damp-heat **foul smelling dysenteric** issues + discharge | (phellodendron bark) ## Footnote cold ~ bitter ~ KD, BL
29
Long Dan Cao | ***
-drains fire from excess in **liver + gallbladder channels** -eliminates **lower burner damp-heat** -**liver fire** -red, swollen **eyes**, sore throat -pain/swelling/damp in **genital** area | (Chinese gentian root) ## Footnote cold ~ bitter ~ GB, LV, ST
30
Ku Shen | ***
-expels **wind**, stops **itching** -promotes **urination** -kills **parasites** -damp-heat in **lower burner** -damp toxin **skin** lesions, **genital** itching | (sophora root) ## Footnote cold ~ bitter ~ BL, HT, LV, LI, ST, SI
31
Qing Hao | ***
-clears **all types of yin level heat w/o injuring qi, blood, or yin** -**summerheat** -**fever** from deficiency -cools **blood** and stops bleeding -**malarial disorders** | (artemisia, sweet wormwood) ## Footnote cold ~ bitter ~ KD, LV, BL
32
Di Gu Pi | ***
-**eliminates heat from both excess + deficiency in blood** -clears heat that feels like it’s steaming you at the bone level **“steaming bone disorder”** -can use w severe deficiency heat, extreme autoimmune + cancer -clears/drains **lung heat** | (goji berry tree bark) ## Footnote cold ~ sweet, bland ~ LU, LV, KD
33
Da Huang | ***
-purges **clumped heat and accumulations** in intestines -**cools the blood; drains excess fire** -**invigorates blood** and removes **blood stasis** -can **stop bleeding in charred form** -transforms **dampness** -internal + topical use to help w **toxicity** ie burns, skin lesions | (rhubarb root) ## Footnote cold ~ bitter ~ HT, LI, LV, ST
34
Mang Xiao | ***
-**softens hardened clumps of pathogenic heat in intestines** -moistens **dryness** -reduces **swelling** (external use) | (mirabilite) ## Footnote very cold ~ acrid, bitter, salty ~ ST, LI
35
Huo Ma Ren | *** ## Footnote (also called Ma Zi Ren)
-**enriches yin fluids** -nourishes and **moistens intestines** -unblocks **dry constipation** -good for constipation in **elderly** and in cases of **blood deficiency** | (cannabis seed) ## Footnote neutral ~ sweet ~ LI, SP, ST
36
Fu Ling | ***
-**tonifies spleen** -**calms heart spirit** -eliminates **damp**; promotes **urination** -can potentially damage fluids ## Footnote neutral ~ sweet, bland ~ HT, SP, KD, LU
37
Ze Xie | ***
-facilitates the **fluid pathways** -clears blazing **ministerial fire** -can clear **lower burner damp-heat** -can clear deficiency fire | (water plantain) ## Footnote cold ~ sweet, bland ~ KD, BL
38
Yi Yi Ren | ***
-tonifies **spleen**, augments **lungs** -leaches **damp from bones/sinews/muscles** to treat **painful obstruction disorder** -cools **heat** + expels **pus** (for **sores, abscesses**) -also wind, like **wind-damp bi** | (coix seeds, job's tears) ## Footnote sl cold ~ sweet, bland ~ LU, SP, ST, KD
39
Che Qian Zi | ***
-guides **damp-heat** down thru **urination** -separates the **clear from turbid** fluids -clears **eyes** | (plantain seeds) ## Footnote cold ~ sweet ~ BL, KD, LV, LU
40
Hua Shi | ***
-cools **heat + summerheat** -clears **hot painful urinary dribbling** -applied **topically** for damp-heat **rashes/sores** | (talcum) ## Footnote cold ~ sweet, bland ~ ST, BL
41
Mu Tong | ***
-promotes **urination**, helps **dribbling** -**drains heat from heart via small intestine** -promotes **lactation** -unblocks blood stasis | (clematis) ## Footnote sl cold ~ bitter ~ BL, HT, SI
42
Tong Cao | ***
-facilitates **fluid metabolism of lungs** -promotes **lactation** by raising stomach qi -clears **heat** | (rice paper plant pith) ## Footnote sl cold ~ sweet, bland ~ LU, ST
43
Bi Xie | ***
-expels **damp** in **lower burner**; separates **pure from turbid** -**cloudy urine, vaginal discharge** -expels **wind-damp** -clears damp-heat from **skin** | (tokoro rhizome) ## Footnote neutral ~ bitter ~ BL, LV, ST
44
Jin Qian Cao | ***
-promotes **urination** -clears **damp-heat jaundice** -**expels stones** (gallstones, urinary tract stones) ## Footnote sl cold ~ sweet, salty ~ BL, GB, KD, LV
45
Yin Chen Hao | ***
-treats **jaundice** by removing damp + heat -helps w **skin** diseases due to damp | (virgate wormwood) ## Footnote sl cold ~ bitter ~ LV, SP, GB, ST
46
Du Huo | ***
-dispels **lurking wind in kidney channel** -**wind-cold-damp bi in lower back + legs** -**shaoyin headache** (jaw, tooth pain) -releases exterior | (angelica root) ## Footnote warm ~ bitter, acrid ~ KD, BL
47
Mu Gua | ***
-transforms damp -harmonizes **spleen + stomach**, reduces **food stagnation** -alleviates **cramping** -relaxes **sinews** -**damp bi w pain** and weakness, espec **calves + legs** | (Chinese quince fruit) ## Footnote warm ~ sour ~ LV, SP
48
Sang Ji Sheng | ***
-tonifies **liver + kidneys** -nourishes **yin + blood** -expels **wind-damp** -helps **pain in lower back, legs, joints** -calms womb for **restless fetus** -helps **lactation** | (mistletoe) ## Footnote neutral ~ bitter, sweet ~ KD, LV
49
Wu Jia Pi | ***
-clears **wind-damp** -warms **kidneys and liver** -stops pain, strengthens **sinews**, for **wind-cold-damp bi w chronic deficiency** | (eleutherococcus root bark) ## Footnote warm ~ acrid, bitter ~ LV, KD
50
Qin Jiao | ***
-for **wind-damp**, especially good for **hot bi** -eliminates **tidal fever** and **steaming bone disorder** -clears **heat from deficency** | (gentian root) ## Footnote sl cold ~ bitter, acrid ~ GB, LV, ST
51
Ban Xia | ***
-bitter which makes it **drying**; used **for thin phlegm or damp** -slippery for directing **rebellious stomach qi downward**, helps with **vomiting** -dissipates **nodules** | (pinellia rhizome) ## Footnote warm ~ acrid, TOXIC ~ LU, SP, ST
52
Bai Jie Zi | ***
-**penetrates to the yin to restore movement to the yang** -warms the **lungs**, transforms **cold-phlegm** -dissipates **clumps** -unblocks **phlegm-damp blocking channels** | (white mustard seed) ## Footnote warm ~ acrid ~ LU
53
Jie Geng | ***
-**causes qi and actions of other herbs to rise** -opens and **disseminates lung qi**, soothes **throat**, helps **loss of voice** -releases exterior, transforms phlegm -expels **pus**, helps lung or throat **abscess** | (balloon flower root) ## Footnote neutral ~ bitter, acrid ~ LU
54
Xuan Fu Hua | ***
-**directs qi downward to stop cough, vomiting** -**softens hardened phlegm** to break up clumps -promotes **dissipation of pathogenic water that's clogging up lungs** | (inula flower) ## Footnote sl warm ~ bitter, acrid, salty ~ LV, LU, ST, SP

Single Herbs (12 decks)

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