Magnolia bark (Houpo)-Cortex Magnoliae officinalis

Magnolia bark (Houpo)

Pharmaceutical Name: Cortex Magnoliae officinalis

Botanical Name: 1. Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et wils.; 2. Magnolia officinalis Rhed. et Wills. var. biloba Rhed. et Wills.

Common Name: Magnolia bark

Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: Between April and June, the bark is peeled off and dried in the shade. After a process of boiling, piling, steaming and drying, the herb is ready for use.

Properties & Taste: Bitter, pungent and warm.

Meridians: Spleen, stomach, lung and large intestine

Functions: 1. To promote qi circulation; 2. To dry dampness; 3.To descend rebellious qi and relieve asthma; 4. To resolve retention offood

Indications & Combinations:

1. Disharmony of spleen and stomach due to stagnation of dampness and retention of food manifested as epigastric distension and fullness. Magnolia bark (Houpo) is used with Atractylodes rhizome (Cangzhu) and Tangerine peel (Chenpi) in the formula Pingwei San. If dampness blocks the spleen and stomach causing retention of food, abdominal distension and pain and constipation, Magnolia bark (Houpo) is used with Rhubarb (Dahuang) and Immature bitter orange (Zhishi) in the formula Da Chengqi Tang.

2. Cough and asthma. Magnolia bark (Houpo) is used with Apricot seed (Xingren) in the formula Guizhi Jia Houpo Xingzi Tang.

Dosage: 3-10 g

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Macrostem onion (Xiebai)-Allium macrostemon

Macrostem onion (Xiebai)

Pharmaceutical Name: Bulbus Allii macrostemi

Botanical Name: Allium macrostemon Bge.

Common Name: Macrostem onion, Bakeri, Bulb of Chinese chive

Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The macrostem, or bulb, of the onion is dug in May, cleaned and dried in the sun.

Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter and warm

Meridians: Lung, stomach and large intestine

Functions: 1. To promote the flow of yang and dissipate cold phlegm; 2. To regulate qi and reduce stagnation.

Indications & Combinations:

1. Cold phlegm stagnated in the chest manifested as stifling sensation and pain in the chest and dyspnea. Macrostem onion (Xiebai) is used with Trichosanthes fruit (Gualou) in the formula Gualou Xiebai Baijiu Tang.

2. Dysentery manifested as tenesmus. Macrostem onion (Xiebai) is used with Immature bitter orange (Zhishi), Costus root (Muxiang) and White peony root (Baishao).

Dosage: 5-10 g

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Lysimachia (Jinqiancao)-Dessmodium styracifolium

Lysimachia (Jinqiancao)

Pharmaceutical Name: 1. Herba Lysimachiae; 2. Herba Desmodii

Botanical Name: 1. Lysimachia christinae Hance (primulaceae); 2. Dessmodium styracifolium (Osbeck) Merr. (Leguminosae)

Common Name: Lysimachia, Dessmodium

Source of Earliest Record: Bencao Gangmu Shiyi

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The whole plant is gathered in summer or autumn, cleaned and dried in the sun.

Properties & Taste: Sweet or no taste and neutral

Meridians: Liver, gall bladder, kidney and urinary bladder

Functions: 1. To promote water metabolism and relieve abnormal urination; 2. To transform dampness and relieve jaundice

Indications & Combinations:

1. Damp-heat in the urinary bladder manifested as hot urination, urinary tract stones, painful urination, frequent urination, urgency of micturition, abdominal pain and biliary stones. Lysimachia (Jinqiancao) is used with Lygodium spores (Haijinsha) and Chicken's gizzard skin (Jineijin) in the formula Sanjin Tang.

2. Damp-heat jaundice. Lysimachia (Jinqiancao) is used with Oriental wormwood (Yinchenhao) and Capejasmine (Zhizi).

Dosage: 30-60 g

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Lygodium spores (Haijinsha)-Spora Lygodii

Lygodium spores (Haijinsha)

Pharmaceutical Name: Spora Lygodii

Botanical Name: Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw.

Common Name: Lygodium spores, Japanese fern spores

Source of Earliest Record: Jiayou Bencao

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The spores are gathered in autumn and dried in the sun.

Properties & Taste: Sweet and cold

Meridians: Urinary bladder and small intestine

Functions: To promote water metabolism and regulate abnormal urination

Indications & Combinations: Damp-heat in the urinary bladder manifested as various abnormal urinary symptoms including hot urine, urinary tract stones, bloody urine, turbid urine, dysuria, painful urination, urgency of micturition and frequent urination. Lygodium spores (Haijinsha) is used with Talc (Huashi), Lysimachia (Jinqiancao), Plantain seed (Cheqianzi) and Amber (Hupo).

Dosage: 6-12 g

Cautions & Contraindications: The herb should be wrapped with a cloth for decoction, or decoction should be put through a strainer.

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Lotus seed (Lianzi)-Nelumbo nucifera

Lotus seed (Lianzi)

Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Nelumbinis

Botanical Name: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.

Common Name: Lotus seed

Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The lotus seeds are collected from August to September. After the skins of the seeds have been removed, the seeds are dried in the sun.

Properties & Taste: Sweet, astringent and neutral

Meridians: Spleen, kidney and heart

Functions: 1. To tonify the spleen and stop diarrhea; 2. To reinforce the kidneys and control the essence; 3. To nourish the blood and tranquilize the mind

Indications & Combinations:

1. Palpitations, insomnia and irritability. Lotus seed (Lianzi) is used with Wild jujube seed (Suanzaoren), Arborvitae seed (Baiziren) and Poria with hostwood (Fushen).

2. Kidney deficiency manifested as seminal emissions or leukorrhagia. Lotus seed (Lianzi) is used with Dadder seed (Tusizi), Dioscorea (Shanyao) and Euryale seed (Qianshi).

3. Chronic diarrhea due to deficiency of the spleen. Lotus seed (Lianzi) is used with White atractylodes (Baizhu), Dioscorea (Shanyao) and Poria (Fuling).

Dosage: 6-15 g

Cautions & Contraindications: This herb is contraindicated in cases with constipation.

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Lotus node (Oujie)-Nelumbo nucifera

Lotus node (Oujie)

Pharmaceutical Name: Nodus Nelumbinis Rhizomatis

Botanical Name: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.

Common Name: Lotus node

Source of Earliest Record: Yaoxing Lun

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The lotus rhizomes are dug in autumn or winter. The nodes of the rhizomes are removed, cleaned and dried in the sun.

Properties & Taste: Sweet, astringent and neutral

Meridians: Liver, lung and stomach

Functions: To promote healing and stop bleeding

Indications & Combinations: Hemorrhages, especially cough with blood and vomiting with blood. Lotus node (Oujie) is used with Bletilla tuber (Baiji), Biota tops (Cebaiye) and Imperata rhizome (Baimaogen).

Dosage: 10-15 g

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Loquat leaf (Pipaye)-Eriobotrya japonica

Loquat leaf (Pipaye)

Pharmaceutical Name: Folium Eriobotryae

Botanical Name: Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.

Common Name: Eriobotrya leaf, Loquat leaf

Source of Earliest Record: Mingyi Bielu

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The leaves are gathered in late spring or early summer and dried in the sun. Then the down of the leaves is brushed off and the leaves are cut into pieces.

Properties & Taste: Bitter and neutral

Meridians: Lung and stomach

Functions: 1. To resolve phlegm and stop cough; 2. To conduct rebellious qi downward and stop vomiting

Indications & Combinations:

1. Heat in the lungs manifested as cough and asthma. Loquat leaf (Pipaye) is used with Mulberry bark (Sangbaipi), Swallowwort rhizome (Baiqian) and Platycodon root (Jiegeng).

2. Heat in the stomach manifested as nausea and vomiting. Loquat leaf (Pipaye) is used with Bamboo shavings (Zhuru) and Reed root (Lugen).

Dosage: 10-15 g

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