Aromatic Herbs for Damp
What aromatic herb can tonify the spleen?
Cang Zhu (Atractlodes Rubrae)
What are the general properties of this catagory?
aromatic, warm, acrid, drying
Which herb in this category antagonize Ren Shen (ginseng root)?
Lai Fu Zi (sm raphani sativi)
Out of the following herbs which is BEST for COLD food stagnation?
1. Yuan Ha
2. Gan Sui
3. Qian Niu Zi
4. Ba Dou
Ba Dou
Which anti parasitic herb is best for children? What is its taste, temp, channels entered and main actions?
Shi Jun Zi
it is sweet and warm and enters the stomach.
It is specificaly used for roundworms in children, strengthens the spleen and stomach, and can dissolve accumulations for childhood nutritional impairment w/abdominal distention. It can help with xu while gently expelling parasites (look for white dots around eyes).
Dry Fry!
Which aromatic herbs can release exterior dampness as well as interior dampness - especially in summertime? Please compare functions of these similar herbs.
Huo Xiang, Pei Lian - (huo xiang is stronger in releasing the exterior, warm in nature and stops vomiting - pei lian is weaker in releasing the exterior, is neutral and can therefore help w/damp heat in SP and unlike Huo Xiang does not open to the LU.
What are the main differences between Sha Ren and Bai Dou as both have similar flavors and properties?
Bai Dou Kou unblocks LU QI, has a fragrant aroma and is less drying then Sha Ren - it primarily treats PHL dampness obstructing the LU with a stifling feeling in the chest and mild cases of cold damp in MJ.
Sha Ren is warmer and more drying then Bai Dou Kou and focuses on the spleen and stomach (as opposed to the LU) in cases of cold dampness obstructing the middle jiao. Sha Ren also calms the fetus.
A patient is ready to stop breastfeeding and you are helping her to inhibit lactation. What herb would be your best choice?
Mai Ya (hordei vulgare)
Please list the main actions of Da Ji as well as it's taste, temp, and channels entered. What category is it in?
Da Ji is bitter, cold and toxic.
It targets the abdomen as opposed to the chest (like yuan ha). It drains water downwards for CONGESTED FLUID and reduces swellings and dissipates nodules (for red toxic painful hot sores).
It is in the Cathartics category and enters the LU, KD, and LI.
What is the main anti parasitic herb that supports the smooth flow of LV qi? What else does this herb do?
What is it's taste, temp, and channels entered?
Chuan Lian Zi
moves qi, stops pain and clears heat - cold, bitter, sl.toxic herb that enters LV, ST, SI, UB.
what herb is BEST for a patient who has both abdominal pain distention AS WELL as asthma? How does it accomplish both these actions?
Huo Pou - It does this by effecting both the LU and Large Intestine channel - it dries damp and moves qi to transform PHL (damp) while simultaneously going to the LU and moving rebellious qi (cough and wheeze) downwards.
What is Cao Guo's main action and what is it's taste and temperature?
dissolving stagnation from meat - indigestion due to meat stagnation.
Taste is acrid and aromatic, temperature is very warm - warmest of category.
Purgatives as a category have what general property?
cold and bitter
If a patient has liver fire causing red eyes with constipation and irritability, what two herbs might you prescribe?
Da Huang and Lu Hui
What is the #1 herb for problems that impair consciousness? What else can it do? Taste and Temp?
She Xiang (deer musk)
Can also dissipate clumps to reduce swelling and clear obstruction due to traumatic injury by invigorating blood.
It is acrid, warm and aromatic and enters the HT, SP, and LV.
what herb would you choose for a patient with malaria or shaoyang disorders - and possibly a thick white tongue coat?
Cao Gua (Fr. Amomi Tsaoko)
What are the main actions of Huo Po and what is it's taste and temperature? What is the main contraindication and does it tonify the spleen?
Main actions: dries damp, moves qi downward, goes to LU and LI so can transform phlegm and support upper jiao.
Taste is bitter (dispersing), temperature is warm.
contraindicated in pregnancy and CANNOT tonify the spleen.Please list what type of food stagnation each herb addresses:
1. Lai Fu Zi
2. Shen Qu
3. Shan Zha
4. Mai Ya
5. Gu Ya
1. Any stagnation, especially PHLEGM
2. Minerals and alcohol
3. Meat + Greasy foods
4. carbs and starches
5. rice
Please list the catagory, temperature, taste of Yu Li Ren. Please also list it's main actions.
Yu Li Ren is in the Moist Laxatives catagory alongside Huo Ma Ren. it is acrid and bitter unlike Huo ma ren which is sweet and neutral.
It enters the small intestine and therefore helps with edema. It also moistens the intestines, unblocks bowels for constipation due to qi stagnation in the bowels. It also promotes edema and reduces leg qi (bing lan also has this action) therefore draining dampness and water in the lower jiao.
What two herbs in the aromatic herbs to open the orifices category help to quiet the spirit. How are they different?
Bing Pian (borneol) and Shi Cang Pu.
Bing Pian is cold and aromatically opens orifices, clears heat, dissipates nodules and alleviates pain and itching - topical for skin diseases to regenerate flesh.
Shi Cang Pu is aromatic and warm and quiets the spirit by vaporizing PHL, damp and turbid. It also harmonizes the middle jiao - main category herb for mental health challenges.
Which of the following herbs does NOT move qi while helping to transform dampness? HOU POU, CAO DOU KOU, SHA REN...Which herbs DO move qi while transforming dampness - and which is the strongest mover of them all?
Herbs that do move qi: Sha Ren, Bao Dou Kou, Cao Dou Kou - cao dou kou is the strongest mover of them all !!
Which herb has a specific indication for supporting bi syndrome?
Cang Zhu
Ji Nei Jin
night time bedwetting, childhood nutritional impairment, secures jing essence, transforms hardness and resolves stones.
Taste is astringent/sweet, and temp is neutral. It enters the SI and UB channels.
what is the relationship between Da Huang and Mang Xiao and how do they differ from one another?
Da Huang and Mang Xiao are used together for constipation and bowel obstruction because da huang purges and mang xiao (salty) softens.
Da huang is a strong purgative while mang xiao has the ability to soften hardness and moisten the intestines - for this reason it is better for DRY constipation.
Please compare and contrast Guan Zhong and Bing Lang.
Guan Zhong is bitter and cold and drains heat to cool blood (especially in uterine bleeding - charred for this) and relieves fire toxicity (fever rashes).
Bing Land is acrid, bitter, and very warm. It kills tapeworms by moving and descending the qi - promotes movement of qu and drains herbs downwards to promote urination and clear excess edema (leq qi), damp phlegm, and malarial disorders.