Introduction

Chinese herbal medicine dates back almost 5,000 years and its origins are intwined with mythical characters such as Shen Nong (the Divine Farmer) and Huang Di (the Yellow Emperor). Chinese medicine understands the human body as an integral component of nature and in its treatment, looks to restore balance and harmony to this relationship. With the use of herbs specifically, our aim is to keep the body ‘on time’ by regulating the exchange of energy between the human and nature, by speeding or slowing down the recharging and discharging of yang or ‘heavenly principle’ from the body. This essay will seek to explore the herbs as characters in this story; to name them, group them by their characteristics and describe the nature and actions on the proper functioning of the body.

Properties in relation to use more widely and symptomatically in Chinese medicine (and Traditional Chinese Medicine) are mentioned as a point of interest, particularly where there is crossover or similarity, though to avoid confusion the primary focus is on their effect on unification and the proper speed of the circle of life. Without further ado, I introduce to you the cast…

‘THE CLOSERS’ – HERBS FOR YANG MING

 

As a collection of herbs this group generally aims to speed up Yang Ming (being yang has a tendency to slow) and aid the drawing inwards of nutrition, heat and the heavenly principle.

 

Gan Cao – fresh liquorice root

Neutral in quality, it aids movement inward on the circle, down the right-hand side. It is thought to affect the spleen, lungs and stomach and can be used to moisten the lungs and resolve phlegm. It is widely used and forms a common component of many well-known formula.

 

Bai Shao – paeonia root

Sour and bitter taste, cool energy. Often used for tonifying the blood and thus also works within Jue Yin (slowing down), it acts to speed up Yang Ming and thus can be used for headaches, dizziness and irritability. Not good for cold conditions.

 

Zhi Mu – rhizome anemarrhenae

Is said to clear stomach heat, drain fire from the lungs, moisten dryness, generate fluids. Combines well with unification herbs and formula to submerge fire.

 

 

‘THE MUSCLE’ – ‘HEAVY CLOSERS/COOLERS’ 

Used for acute cases/short times only

 

Huang Qin – known as one of the ‘three yellows’

Bitter taste, cold energy so will act to cool excessive heat trapped in Yang Ming – raging thirst, fever, signs of redness, surging pulse. Used in TCM for damp heat in the stomach and lungs

 

Huang Lian – the second of the ‘three yellows’ (third is Huang Bai)

Also has bitter taste and cold in nature. Acts more on the middle jiao as opposed to the upper jiao. Used for heat and damp, toxicity, itchy skin lesions when Yang Ming is critically slow.

 

‘THE SWEET ONES’ – HERBS FOR TAI YIN (WARM and NEUTRAL)

 

As a collection of herbs this group assist the capture and descent of warmth deeper into the body, nourishing and supporting life.

 

Dang Shen – commonly used (and cheaper!) alternative to Ginseng

Sweet taste and warm to neural in nature. Helps to tonify the qi, strengthens the spleen, limbs, blood, poor appetite, loose stool. Used a lot! ‘everybody loves Dang Shen’

 

Shan Yao – root of the Chinese yam

Also sweet and neutral, this herb is mildly wet and so can be used together with Jue Yin herbs for dryness. Strengthens the stomach and spleen and can treat wheezing, dry cough and frequent urination. This can be substituted with plain rice (in a tea bag to avoid congee!)

 

Xi Sha Ren – Cardamon seeds

A non-hot unification herb, it has warm energy, is pungent in taste and is drying in nature (thus used to counteract damp). It is said to affect the spleen, stomach and kidneys, or Tai Yin aspect of the circle, used for indigestion, distention and diarrhoea. Caution of use when Yang Ming is slow.

 

Ba Ji Tian – Morinda Root

Spicy, sweet and warm, this is another non-hot unification herb and is used in combination with other fiery herbs (e.g. cinnamons) to submerge the fire. It is associated with the kidney meridian and can be used for general body pains.

 

Du Zhong – Eucommia Bark and Xu Dian – Japanese Teasel Root

These herbs both work to hold energy in the unification area and thus most commonly used in elderly patients. Is said to strengthen the liver/kidney and thus the sinews and bones. Often used to treat weak back and knees,  in TCM it is sometimes used to prevent miscarriage.

 

Bai Zhu – White Atractylodes Rhizome

Commonly used for many problems affecting digestion, Bai Zhu is moderate and safe with a bitter/sweet taste and mildly warming energy. It is an outlier in that it actually slows down Tai Yin and so good for use with diarrhoea and loose stool. It affects the stomach and spleen and is commonly used to clear damp, phlegm and water retention due to Tai Yin speeding up (i.e. weak spleen).

 

Da Zao (Chinese date) and Xing Ren (Apricot seed)

Works on Tai Yin towards unification. Da Zao have a sweet taste and work on digestion, Xing Ren moisten the lungs and stop coughing and wheezing. They are combined for balance in use in separation formulas.

 

‘THE UNIFIERS’ – HERBS FOR UNIFICATION (SHAO YIN)

 

Lan Gui – Ceylon Cinnamon

Sweet and spicy, mild in action. This is a ‘hot’ herb that promotes downward action on the right-hand side of the circle towards unification  

 

An Gui – Vietnamese Cinnamon

Sweet, spicy and hot! This is the stronger sibling of Lan Gui and therefore has a more powerful warming effect on the descent towards unification. Used with caution where signs of heat/thirst are already present.

Sheng Jiang – fresh Ginger

Spicy, hot unification herb. Peel and slice to use with cinnamons and liquorice for unification. Said to affect the stomach, spleen and lungs, it can be used for nausea and to induce sweat in the presence of colds and nasal discharge.

 

(a note on ginger in general…)

Gan Jiang is dry ginger and acts to slow down Yang Ming and Tai Yin (‘warms the middle’), so can be used to balance the action of more fiery herbs.

Pao Jiang is roasted ginger and is also said to warm the middle and disperse cold but its effect on the circle is to slow down separation so applicable in acute cases of sweating.

 

Zhi Gan Cao – roasted Liquorice root (with molasses)

This is the queen of the unification process. It is sweet in taste and warming in nature but is key to submerging and unifying fire within the body. Its actions include revitalising the heart, treating palpitations, feelings of cold, poor sleep, tiredness and fatigue. It is said to strengthens the spleen, lungs and stomach and soothes digestion. An essential ingredient in all unification formulas.

‘THE PUSHERS AND THE PULLERS’ – HERBS FOR JUE YIN

 

Jue Yin corresponds to the deeper parts of the body, to the blood and the joints. It is the first movement out of unification towards separation and thus corresponds to waking at a proper hour feeling rested and ready. It has both a tendency to slow down and to speed up.

 

‘THE PUSHERS’ – speeding up Jue Yin when it is too slow

 

Dang Gui – angelica or ‘female ginseng’

It is sweet and pungent in taste and has warming energy. It can be used when there is painful, dark and clotted menses, PMS with breast tenderness and headaches, fatigue in the morning and difficulty waking up. It can also be appropriate with water retention/oedema and with deep pains of the chest, abdomen and joints. It is said to ‘nourish and invigorate the blood’.

 

Xiao Hui Xiang – fennel seed

Mild in action and similar to Dang Gui in properties and action. It is said to ‘warm the liver, expel cold and treat pain’.

 

Xiang Fu (Cyperus rotundus) and Chuan Xiong (lovage root)

Only used when absolutely necessary and for short periods as they can take away from unification and weaken the body. They are pungent and bitter in taste and often used only during the first few days of a very painful period. They are said to ‘move and invigorate qi and blood’

 

‘THE PULLERS’ – slowing down Jue Yin when it is too fast

 

As Jue Yin fast often presents with symptoms of dryness; skin, eyes, vagina, these herbs all have mild to strong moistening properties. They are listed from the least to the most ‘wet’. Other symptoms of Jue Yin fast may include poor sleep/waking too early, hot flushes, very heavy or scanty menstruation and emotional volatility.

 

Hei Zhi Ma – black sesame seeds

Can be used with unification formulas and is said to ‘nourish and fortify liver and kidney yin’

Nu Zhen Zi – ‘glossy privet berry’

Similar in action to Hei Zhi Ma, this can also be used with unification formula and in TCM terms is used to ‘clear empty heat’, working on the kidney and liver.

Gou Qi Zi – wolfberry or goji berry

Sweet taste, neutral in energy but stronger in effect than Nu Zhen Zi or Hei Zhi Ma. It is thought to be of particular use when nourishing the blood for poor vision and dizziness.

 

Bai Shao - Peony root

Sour, bitter, cool. As mentioned in ‘The Closers’, as well as slowing down Jue Yin, Bai Shao also acts to speed up Yang Ming, particularly when combined with Gan Cao. It is also frequently combined with Dang Gui (‘The Pushers’) to complement its sour cooling properties.

 

Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia root) and Shu Di Huang (prepared Chinese foxglove root)

Rarely used but helpful in severe cases of Jue Yin fast – raging night sweats, hot flushes, extreme dryness together with amenorrhea, palpitations and dizziness. Can cause diarrhoea and loose stool thus to be used with caution.

‘THE SEPARATORS’ – SEPARATION HERBS FOR SHAO YANG AND TAI YANG

 

These herbs are used when separation is blocked or inhibited, e.g., absence of sweat through wind/cold invasion, and/or inhibited urination. They act to ‘push out’ to the exterior of the body and beyond and restore timeliness of the circle.

 

Gui Zhi – cinnamon twig

Pungent, sweet and warming in nature, this herb has a mild speeding up effect on the separation, starting in Jue Yin and completing itselft in Tai Yang, but does not take from unification. It can therefore be safe to use in weaker or older patients.

 

Chai Hu – Chinese bupleurum root

Chai Hui has a bitter taste and cooling action it can be used to treat acute Shao Yang disorders (e.g., alternating fever and chills and acute physical aches and pains). It is also used for ‘regulating the qi’ in some cases of depression, mood swings and tightness of the chest. It is generally used for a short time only.

 

Fu Ling – poria cocos, a fungus found around tree roots

Sweet, bland, neutral, this herb is used to regulate difficult urination, particularly due to dampness, fluid retention and abdominal distension.

 

Ma Huang – ephedra sinica

Strong action on separation and thus used for a short time only in acute conditions. It induces sweat and is used for cold and flu type symptoms of Tai Yang; aversion to cold, fever, stiff neck and head, body aches etc.

 

Fu Shen – ‘spirit poria’ 

This herb helps to return the fire and is used to calm the spirit and quieten the heart. It also promotes urination and can be used when there is blood in the urine.

 

Da Zao (Chinese date) and Xing Ren (Apricot seed)

As mention in ‘The Sweet Ones’ these herbs are often added to balance separation formula by working on Tai Yin to fortify unification.

Conclusion

And thus, you have the main cast! There are hundreds of herbs that play a supporting role but these main players can be used effectively to treat most conditions. I look forward to working with them individually and collectively in combination as a director would get to know and use his or her cast of players. Sometimes you need to stir the action with a protagonist, sometimes you need to calm the audience with a reassuring mother figure. The herbs and their actions play out within the theatre of our lives.

 

Bibliography:

Marina Danilova, Chinese Herbal Medicine Certification 2020/21 Notes, Academy of Holistic Healing Arts

Chmelik, S (1999) Chinese Herbal Secrets: the key to total health, Newleaf

Web references: Phoenix Medical (2021) https://www.phoenixmd.co.uk

Academy of Holistic Healing Arts

Professional Education in Chinese Herbal Medicine