Bupleurum

Botanical name Family Pin yin name Pin yin description Bupleurum chinense Umbelliferae Chai Hu or Bei Chai Hu The plant was burned as firewood (chai) by a bearded (hu) tribe; bei means north and refers to the fact that this species was the one used in the north of China as Chai Hu Hares Ear, Chinese Thorowax Root (collected in Spring and Autumn) Bitter, Pungent Slightly Cold Resolve the exterior, rectify qi, relieve depression Fever associated with common cold or flu; alternating chills and fever as occurs with malaria; distending sensation in the chest and upper abdomen; feverish feeling with dry throat and dizziness; pain in the abdomen; irregular menstruation; prolapse of organs due to sinking qi In large doses may cause dizziness or headache in some users; may contribute to nausea and vomiting in rare cases for persons who are sensitive to it None reported Liver yang agitation associated with deficiency of yin Schizonepeta +12 (Changing Seasons); Bupleurum +9 (Fast Living) Peach Seed +8 (Fast Living) Bamboo +12 (Fast Living) Linseed +5 (Inner Health) Cyperus +6 (Womans Health) Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. Institute for Traditional Medicine 19 Sept 2002

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Dang Gui
Botanical name Family Pin yin name Pin yin description Angelica sinensis Umbelliferae Dang Gui The meaning is to return; there is a story about this name: that a woman who is feeling irritable and not wanting to have anything to do with her husband, if she takes this herb, will feel better and return to him, hence the name

Other common names Part used Taste Nature Traditional Chinese uses Traditional Chinese applications

Dong Quai, Tang-kuei, and other transliterations of the original Chinese name; Chinese Angelica Root (collected in late autumn, the fibrous roots are removed) Sweet, Pungent Warm Supplement blood, activate blood circulation, regulate menstruation, alleviate pain, moisten the intestines Blood deficiency syndromes; irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea due to deficiency and stagnation of blood; abdominal pain due to deficiency and cold; pain due to stagnation of blood; traumatic injury; pain and numbness in muscles and joints; boils and carbuncles; constipation due to deficient blood and dry intestines Large doses may cause nausea or diarrhoea Concerns have been raised about the possibility of potentiation of Warfarin (coumadin) action on platelet aggregation Diarrhoea or abdominal distention due to damp obstruction; yin deficiency with heat signs Bupleurum +9 (Fast Living) Peach Seed +8 (Fast Living) Shou Wu +6 (Older) Eucommia +4 (Older) Corydalis +8 (Womans Health) Dang Gui +7 (Womans Health) Epimedium +5 (Womans Health) Peony +9 (Womans Health) Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin American Journal of Health System Pharmacy 2000 57(13): 1221-1227. Hoult JR and Paya M Pharmacological and biochemical actions of simple coumarines: natural products with therapeutic potential General Pharmacology 1996 27(4): 713722. Lo AC, et.al. Danggui (Angelica sinensis) affects the pharmacodynamics but not the pharmacokinetics of warfarin in rabbits European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics 1995 20(1): 55-60.

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Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. Institute for Traditional Medicine 19 Sept 2002

Mentha

Botanical name Family Pin yin name Pin yin description

Mentha arvensis Labiatae (Lamiaceae) Bo He Bo is the name for this common plant; he refers to the lotus flower, suggesting the importance of this herb, the land equivalent of the water lily Field Mint, Chinese Peppermint Aerial Part (collected in summer and autumn when foliage branch is growing luxuriantly or in the third round of flowering) Pungent Cool Dispel wind-heat; clear the head, eyes, and throat, alleviate itching Exterior syndromes caused by wind-heat; initial stage of febrile diseases with symptoms of fever, slight cold sensation, minimal sweating, headache and body aches; headache, red eyes, and sore throat caused by upward disturbance of wind-heat (from the liver); itching skin rashes; stuffiness in the chest and distending pain in the ribs caused by stagnation of liver qi None noted None reported Exterior deficiency or yin deficiency with heat; not recommended for nursing mothers as high doses or regular use of the herb may reduce milk production Forsythia +8 (Changing Seasons)Schizonepeta +12 (Changing Seasons)Scute +10 (Changing Seasons) Bupleurum +9 (Fast Living) Mentha +6 (Inner Health) Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. Institute for Traditional Medicine 19 Sept 2002

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Angelica
Botanical name Family Pin yin name Pin yin description Other common names Angelica dahurica Umbelliferae Bai Zhi Bai means white, the color of the roots; zhi refers to this and similar herbs, species of Angelica Dahurian Angelica

Part used Taste Nature Traditional Chinese uses

Root (collected summer and autumn when the leavs turn yellow; rootlets removed) Pungent Warm Resolve the exterior and dispel wind-cold, resolve dampness, eliminate pus from sores, reduce swelling, alleviate pain, clear nasal passages Common cold with headache and nasal obstruction due to wind-cold; headache and facial pain due to fire syndrome (yang ming fire); boils, carbuncles, swellings with pain; leukorrhea due to damp-cold; sinus discharge In large doses, may cause drying of body fluids None observed Blood and yin deficiency Ligusticum +8 (Changing Seasons) Perilla Leaf +11(Changing Seasons) Gardenia +9 (Changing Seasons) Angelica + 11(Fast Living) Mentha + 6 (Inner Health) Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. Institute for Traditional Medicine 19 Sept 2002

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Salvia
Botanical name Family Pin yin name Pin yin description Saliva miltiorrhiza Labiatae (Lamiaceae) Dan Shen Dan refers to the mineral elixir cinnabar, which has a color similar to that of the root; shen is the same term used to describe ginseng, indicating an especially useful herb Chinese Sage, Red Sage Root Root (dug up in spring and autumn) Bitter Slightly Cold Activate blood circulation and transform stasis, cool blood, treat skin eruptions, nourish blood, quiet spirit Uterine disorders, including irregular menstruation,

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amenorrhea, and abdominal pain after giving birth; cardiac pain; masses in the abdomen or extremities; pain caused by blood stasis; swelling and pain of sores and skin eruptions; high fever, restlessness, delirium due to heat in the blood; palpitation and insomnia Possible unwanted effects Herb drug interactions TCM and other contraindications Formulas References May increase uterine bleeding if taken during menstruation May potentiate the action of Warfarin (coumadin) to further decrease platelet aggregation Absence of blood stasis Salvia +2 (Inner Health) Yu CM, Chan JC, and Sanderson JE Chinese herbs and warfarin potentiation by danshen Journal of Internal Medicine 1997 241(4): 337339 Chan TY Interaction between warfarin and danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) Annals of Pharmacotherapeutics 2001 35(4): 501-504 Author Last updated Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. Institute for Traditional Medicine 19 Sept 2002

Cardamom
Botanical name Family Pin yin name Pin yin description Amomum cardamomum Zingiberaceae Bai Dou Kou (bai means white, and here refers to the colour of the outer shell of the fruit; dou means bean, and refers to the fruits of the plant appearing somewhat like beans; kou is used to indicate a group of plants in the ginger family with spicy seeds; the character is derived from one meaning invader, perhaps because the plants were brought in from other countries; this material is distinguished from Cao Dou Kou, Alpinia katsumadai, where cao is the general term for herb, and usually refers to a weed) Cluster Cardamom, Round Cardamom Fruit (collected October to December when fruit is yellow-green and not completely ripe) Pungent Warm Transform damp, regulate qi, warm the center, stop vomiting Damp blocking the center with qi stagnation in the stomach

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and spleen causing symptoms of abdominal distention, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, thick greasy tongue coating; distention in the chest; cold stomach syndrome, causing vomiting Possible unwanted effects Herb drug interactions TCM and other contraindications Formulas Author Last updated None noted None reported Yin and blood deficiency; cases without damp-cold Pueraria Flower +11 (Fast Living) Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. Institute for Traditional Medicine 7 Nov 2002

Fennel
Botanical name Family Pin yin name Pin yin description Foeniculum vulgaris Umbelliferae Xiao Hui Xiang (hui is the name given to the common fennel and anise seeds; xiao indicates that these are small seeds, and xiang indicates that they are fragrant; star anise is called Ba Jiao Hui Xiang, where ba jiao means 8 points, referring to the star appearance) Sweet Fennel, Common Fennel Fruit (whole plants are cut in autumn during the early fruiting period; after drying, the fruits are separated by thrashing) Pungent Warm Dispel cold, alleviate pain, regulate qi, and harmonize the stomach Abdominal pain due to cold; vomiting, poor appetite, and distending pain of the upper abdomen due to stomach cold High doses can have estrogenic effectAlbert-Puleo M, Fennel and anise as estrogenic agents, J Ethnopharmacol. 1980 Dec;2(4):337-44 None reported Yin deficiency with heat signs Morinda +13 (Older) Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. Institute for Traditional Medicine 6 Nov 2002

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so how does traditional Chinese medicine work then?

Well, yin-yang is perhaps the most general of several key concepts. The holistic approach of Chinese medicine means that both mind and body are seen as interconnected. The 7 passions chronic fear, sudden fright, anxiety, over-excitement, over-thinking, sadness and irritability - are seen as both the cause but also the symptoms of internal disharmony and illness. You may be feeling a lingering sadness due to a lung condition, but equally the emotion may be physically weakening your lungs. So, when you meet a Chinese medicine practitioner they are just as likely to ask you what mood youre in as they are to listen to your chest.

is diagnosis different to western medicine?

Traditional Chinese medicine often refers to the four pillars. These are: looking (at the facial colour, the skin, the tongue), smelling (the breath, the body odour), palpation (for example feeling the wrist pulse), and listening (to the patients symptoms but also to the tone of the voice or the sound of a cough). These methods enable a practitioner to assess the physical, psychological and energetic state of the patient and are often used together with Western diagnoses to form a powerful combination of disease detection. The idea of organ networks is another central concept and was developed by ancient Chinese to explain the relationship between a healthy body and a healthy mind.

how are the organ networks used?

According to the theory five main and six subsidiary organs regulate the correct functioning of body and mind. For example, the liver stores blood, ensures a smooth flow of energy around the body, and regulates a womans period but also opens into the eyes, manifests in the nails and plays a vital role in social interactions, creativity and a good nights sleep. Over the years Chinese doctors charted the common ways in which these networks could break down and result in illness. At the same time they developed methods of restoring the networks back to a state of health and harmony or 100%. They also determined that the different networks are inter-related, just like yin-yang and the Five Phases.

the five phases?

The Five Phases are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. They provide a model like a more intricate version of yin-yang for describing natural processes. Wood feeds fire. When burnt it nourishes the earth. The earth creates metal. When metal is molten it resembles water. Water nourishes the trees which give us wood. The principle of the five phases can be applied equally to seasonal changes as to the relations between internal organs and emotional states. For example, the element Water controls the element Fire. Water relates to the kidneys which, when exhausted by overwork, cause the element Fire to blaze out of control. Fire relates to the heart and without the cooling and restraining influence of Water symptoms such as anxiety, panic attacks, palpitations and insomnia may arise. The five phases are often used to explain the relationship between the internal organs and the properties of herbs and are fundamental to diagnosis and treatment.

isnt there one way to sum up traditional Chinese medicine?

Yes there is its called Qi, and its probably the most important of all the traditional philosophical principles. Qi (pronounced chee) is a concept which underpins all of Chinese medicine. It is commonly translated as vital energy but it is actually much more than this: Qi can exist in numerous states and forms. When Qi condenses it appears as matter but when it is in its most refined state it has no material form. At its most substantial it manifests as the mountains, trees, our bones and muscles, but in a rarefied state it is the air, our breath, our thoughts, and the subtle energy flows within the body. Traditional Chinese medicine uses different expressions of Qi, such as the defensive Qi (relating to the immune system) the nutritive Qi (arising from digested food), and the Qi relating to the functional activity of each of the internal organs. At Sen, just as we use Chinese medicine to balance your yin and yang, we are simultaneously aiming to ensure a smooth circulation and balance of Qi throughout your body. Qi is universal, meaning that just as human beings have Qi the herbs that we use in traditional Chinese medicine also have their own Qi. It is the matching of this herbal Qi with the specific needs of the body that makes for successful treatment.

how are herbs used?

There are three main ways to describe the Qi of herbs. The first is temperature. Each herb is said to be either hot, warm, neutral cool or cold. Typically, hot herbs are used to alleviate cold conditions such as certain types of arthritis, coughs or uterine pains. Conversely cold herbs are used for hot conditions like high fevers, excessive thirst and constipation. The second is taste. There are five tastes, each of which indicates the active nature of the herb. A pungent taste tends to be dispersing; bitter is cooling and draining; sweet is tonifying; salty softens; sour substances are astringent; and bland herbs tend to drain dampness. Finally, each herb is also linked with specific organ networks. For example menthe (or peppermint) is pungent, cool and is linked with the lungs and the liver. In terms of the lungs therefore, menthe would be used as part of a prescription to disperse externally invading toxins causing flu and the hot type of cold.

what herbs do you use?

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The herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine are not necessarily herbs as we know them. Along with more common Western herbs the huge variety of medicinal herbs in use includes types of tree bark, flower petals and clay. The herbs are classified by what they do rather than what they are and will normally be grouped into about 20 distinctive functional categories. For example, there are those which nourish the Qi, those which calm the mind, or those which warm the interior. However, it is extremely rare to use only one herb in a formula. Usually several herbs are combined together with each herb performing a specific role. Some might assist the action of the primary herb, whilst others may target secondary symptoms or focus the action of the formula on a specific organ or part of the body. Combining herbs together in this way greatly adds to the therapeutic effect of herbal medicine.