Chinese Herb Category Indications

Front 1

Used for bleeding or hemorrhage: vomiting blood, nosebleed, coughing up blood, blood in the stool, blood in the urine, excessive menstruation, uterine bleeding, or bleeding associated with trauma.
If bleeding is d/t reckless movement of hot blood, herbs that cool blood are used. If bleeding is d/t yin deficiency w/ ascendant yang, herbs that tonify yin and anchor yang herbs are used. Blood stasis can be a factor in bleeding, in which case herbs that invigorate blood are used.

Back 1

Stop Bleeding Herbs

Front 2

These herbs tx blood stasis, associated w/ the flow of blood that is blocked, or retarded: pain d/t blood stasis, abscesses and ulcers, and abdominal masses.
There are 2 types of abdominal masses: hard, palpable, immobile masses and visible mobile masses.

Back 2

Invigorate Blood Herbs

Front 3

Western - Qi is regarded as an expression of the physiological activity of the tissues.
Ex: dysfunction of the gastrointestinal system cx pain.
Caution - Aromatic and dry in nature, so long-term use may injure the yin. These herbs may also disperse Qi, caution for Qi def patients. Most of these herbs contain volatile oils, decoct no longer than 15 minutes.

Back 3

Regulate Qi Herbs

Front 4

Major s/s are: epigastric & abdominal distention, pain, belching, gas, acid regurgitation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation.

Back 4

Regulate Qi Herbs (Spleen & Stomach Qi Stagnation)

Front 5

Stifling sensation in the chest, flank pain, loss of appetite, depression, irritability, hernia pain, irregular menses, swollen tender breasts.

Back 5

Regulate Qi Herbs (Liver Qi Stagnation)

Front 6

Coughing, wheezing w/ labored breathing, stifling sensation in the chest.

Back 6

Regulate Qi Herbs (Lung Qi Stagnation)

Front 7

Organs most affected are Sp and Lu, b/c these 2 organs primarily responsible for the extraction of Qi from food and air, as well as transporting it throughout the body. These herbs are also good for treating patterns of blood deficiency.
Caution - These herbs are cloying, sweet and rich, so combine them w/ small amounts of herbs that move and regulate Qi.

Back 7

Tonify Qi Herbs

Front 8

These herbs nourish the blood. The organs most affected are the Heart and Liver, which direct and store blood, respectively.
Western - Anemia, psychosomatic disorders, heart failure, or chronic hepatitis. Some herbs in the category stimulate the production of blood cells. Most of them strengthen the body & improve nutrition, by indirectly increasing the number of circulating blood cells. They are not very effective when used alone, so use them with yin tonics.
Caution - They are cloying in nature, so overuse can cx indigestion. To avoid, add herbs that strengthen the Stomach.

Back 8

Tonify Blood Herbs

Front 9

Primarily used for Kidney, Spleen, Heart.
Western - Disorders of the endocrine system and thyroid. Measurements can increase to normal ranges as symptomology improves. These herbs regulate the adrenal cortex, promote sexual function & growth, strengthen resistance, and regulate metabolism.

Back 9

Tonify the Yang Herbs

Front 10

Caution - These herbs are warm and dry. These herbs can damage yin and assist fire, not for patients with yin deficiency and fire.

Back 10

Tonify the Yang Herbs

Front 11

Western - Splenomegaly, abdominal or pelvic tumors of various etiologies, or cysts.

Back 11

Invigorate Blood Herbs

Front 12

Caution - Yin tonics are generally sweet, cold, enriching and cloying. Be careful of Sp/St def, internal obstruction of dampness or phlegm, abdominal distention or diarrhea.

Back 12

Tonify Yin Herbs

Front 13

Sweet, cold, enriching, cloying, and they nourish, nurture, moisten, and w/ other herbs, transform phlegm, moisten intestines, generate fluids, alleviate thirst, calm spirit, tonify blood, stop bleeding, or increase a patient's strength. These herbs treat Lungs, Stomach, Liver, and Kidneys

Back 13

Tonify Yin Herbs

Front 14

Used for diarrhea, excessive urination, excessive sweating, and prolapse of the uterus or rectum. Such problems are usually related to weakness d/t old age or iatrogenic causes, such as improper diet.

Back 14

Stabilize & Bind Herbs

Front 15

Most of these herbs are sour and astringent, so some are used to stop sweating or chronic diarrhea; another group treats polyuria or abnormal discharge from the LJ; another group has a strong action or stopping cough. Some of these herbs control bleeding, particularly from the vagina.

Back 15

Stabilize & Bind Herbs

Front 16

Western - Derangement in the ANS, or weakening of the elasticity of smooth muscle slings.
Caution - Not suitable for unresolved exterior conditions, damp internal stagnation, or heat constraint.

Back 16

Stabilize & Bind Herbs

Front 17

Bitter and cold with strong heat-clearing properties. They are used for constipation d/t the accumulation of heat.

Back 17

Purgatives

Front 18

(nuts or seeds) - lubricates the intestines. They are mild, so they can be used for weak and elderly patients, febrile disease, or childbirth.

Back 18

Moist laxatives

Front 19

Strong to induce pronounced diarrhea. Some of these herbs are diuretics, which are useful for treating pleurisy and ascites. B/c of their violent effect, they are only used in very severe cases.

Back 19

Harsh expellants (cathartics)

Front 20

These herbs are used for constipation d/t stagnation of fluids in the thoracic or abdominal cavities, or d/t poor water metabolism. They drive out excess water.

Back 20

Cathartic Herbs

Front 21

Western - Patients that have pleurisy or ascites.
Caution - These can injure the yin and qi; take care in prescribing these herbs.

Back 21

Cathartic Herbs

Front 22

Western - These are for patients w/ generally diminished intestinal function or weak peristalsis.

Back 22

Purgative Herbs

Front 23

Constipation d/t accumulation of heat - Febrile disease enters yang-ming or Qi stage of the body. In these cases, you would clear heat and drain fire. Think of these herbs as having antibiotic functions by helping the body expel toxins.

Back 23

Purgative Herbs

Front 24

Constipation d/t accumulation of cold - These are usually systemic cold symptom, so add herbs that warm interior cold.

Back 24

Purgative Herbs

Front 25

Western - These herbs are referred to as diuretics.
Caution - In patients w/ yin deficiency or depleted fluids.

Back 25

Drain Dampness Herbs

Front 26

Accumulation of fluids in the body (edema, congested fluids), esp edema below the waist and lower extremities. To tx acute edema, combine w/ exterior releasing herbs. For chronic edema, combine w/ herbs that tonify Qi and Yang of the Sp & Kd.

Back 26

Drain Dampness Herbs

Front 27

Herbs used for painful obstruction in the muscles, sinews, joints, and bones, alleviate painful obstruction, and invigorate the connecting channels. The selection of the herbs is based on the nature of the disorder, the site of pain, the age and constitution of the patient, and the stage of the illness.

Back 27

Dispel Wind-Damp Herbs

Front 28

Since this is a chronic complaint, these herbs are usually given in tincture form (the alcohol used in the tinctures has a moving effect). Most are aromatic, warm, and drying in nature, and could injure the yin and blood. Combine these herbs w/ other modalities, like topical application of medicinal plasters, liniments, massage, and acupuncture, to treat the painful obstruction.

Back 28

Dispel Wind-Damp Herbs

Front 29

Western - Dampness is often caused by food poisoning, or other acute digestive disorders, such as gastroenteritis.
Caution - Acrid, warm, aromatic, dry: could potentially exhaust Qi and injure yin.

Back 29

Aromatic Herbs that Transform Dampness

Front 30

Distention and fullness in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting or spitting up sour fluids, absence of thirst, loss of appetite, diarrhea with some difficulty in defecation, headache or body aches, greasy tongue coating that is either white or yellow, soggy (soft) pulse. The value is that they revive the Spleen w/ their fragrance.

Back 30

Aromatic Herbs that Transform Dampness

Front 31

These herbs treat cough, scrofula, goiter, and convulsions.
Western - These herbs have expectorant, antitussive, anti-inflammatory, and sedative properties.

Back 31

Herbs that Cool and Transform Phlegm-Heat.

Front 32

These herbs are mostly warm, strong and can be toxic. Care is required to ensure they are properly prepared.

Back 32

Herbs that Transform Cold-Phlegm

Front 33

In Chinese Medicine, these herbs treat the "manifestation," or symptoms. For this reason, they should be combined w/ other herbs that treat the "root" cause of the problem.
Western - They have antitussive, expectorant, antibiotic, diuretic, and laxative effects.

Back 33

Herbs That Relieve Coughing and Wheezing

Front 34

Treatment principle - Open the Lungs and transform phlegm.

Back 34

Phlegm in the Lungs - Coughing, wheezing, stifling sensation in chest, or pain in ribs.

Front 35

Treatment principle - Harmonize the Stomach & transform phlegm.

Back 35

Phlegm in the Stomach - Nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, epigastric distention; sometimes w/ cough.

Front 36

Treatment principle - Soften the hardness and reduce the phlegm.

Back 36

Phlegm stagnant in the channels - Goiter, scrofula.

Front 37

Treatment principle - Disperse wind and expel phlegm.

Back 37

Turbid phlegm obstructs the orifice of the Heart - Wind-stroke, coma, lockjaw, contracted limbs, cerebral vascular accident, and certain seizure disorders.

Front 38

Western - Chronic lymphadenitis and simple goiter.
Caution - For patients w/ hemoptysis, b/c these herbs intensely stimulate the lungs. During the early stage of measles, you need herbs that spread Lung Qi, so warm and binding herbs should not be used.

Back 38

Herbs that Tranform Phlegm & Stop Cough.