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Topics of Discussion
Q I will cover four general topics of discussion on Herbal
Pharmacology. I will primarily focus on the
Q 1) Historical aspect of Chinese Herbology
Q 2) Biochemical properties and tastes of medicinal substances with
cautions and contraindications
Q 3) Herbal categories
Q 4) Chinese Formulas
Historical Aspect of Chinese Herbology
Q There are several important as well as ancient manuscripts which
have been used throughout the past several milleniums that need
to be mentioned. One of them which is considered one of the
oldest major Chinese medical texts is known as the Huang Di Nei
Jing or Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic or simply Inner Classic.
This text was compiled by unknown authors between 200 B.C and
100 A.D. and is divided into 2 sections: the Su Wen or Basic
Questions and the Ling Shu or Miraculous Pivot. This book serves
as the foundation for the theoretical and philosophical aspect of
traditional Chinese Medicine. In the Inner Classic the theories of
elemental, humoral (meaning one of the elemental body fluids that
were the basis of the physiologic and pathologic teachings of the
hippocratic school: blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm), and
energetic forces are the basis for understanding what is observed
clinically. However from an herbal medicine perspective, the Inner
Classic is not an important document simply because there are
only 12 prescriptions noted and a total of 28 substances. Around
2000 B.C., there is scattered evidence that Chinese medicine was
different from the classic book which is still used today. In fact the
primary health care providers were called shaman or Wu and many
of them were women. During that period of time, disease and
treating everyday ailments was viewed as the manifestation of
malevolent spirits, ghosts and demons which had to be repelled by
incantations, rituals, spells and herbal prescriptions. During the
Shang dynasty excavated records of divination in the form of
carvings on tortoise shells and animal bones (oracle bones) show
references to headaches, eye ailments, parasites and many other
illnesses. At that time medicinal alcohol’s and boiled medicinal
compounds were already in use for treating illness.

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Q One of the largest and most important manuscripts discovered and

written on silk appears to have been composed before the end of
the third century BC It is called the Wu Shi Er Bing Fang or the
“Prescriptions for fifty two ailments”. This manuscript is primarily a
pharmacological work and contains over 250 medicinal
substances, mainly herbaceous and woody substances. There are
also grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, minerals, animal parts as
well as certain substances derived from the human body, i.e., like
using a pregnant women’s placenta.
Q During the later part of the Han dynasty, another manuscript called
the “Shen nong ben cao jing” also known as the Divine
Husbandman’s Classic of the Materia Medica, as well as the
“Shang Han lun” or Discussion of Cold-induced Disorders became
the source of all prescription manuals. The Classic of the Materia
Medica was the first book to focus on individual herbs. The Shen
nong for short contains 252 botanical entries, 45 mineral entries
and 67 zoological entries.
Q There was another major materia medica during theTang dynasty
in 659 AD called the “Xin xiu ben cao” or the Newly Revised
Materia Medica which became the official pharmacopoeia. It was
the first illustrated materia medica and contained 844 entries. And
in the Song dynasty 960-1279 AD another major materia medica
called “Zheng lei ben cao” or Materia Medica Arranged According
To Pattern contained 1,558 substances. There was a coroner
during the Song dynasty who wrote “removing injustices” contained
4 articles recording human anatomy, coronary methods,
emergency treatments, detoxification and other information. One
of China’s most celebrated herbal books printed in 1596 AD is the
‘Ben cao gang mu” or Grand Materia Medica and includes 1,892
substances from plants, animals and minerals and has been
translated into numerous languages.
Biochemical Properties and Tastes of
Medicinal Substances
Q When we talk about biochemical properties of medicinal
substances, we are referring to the chemistry of living organisms
and the chemical, molecular and physical changes that occur when
ingesting medicinal substances. Medicinal substances in their
whole form contain active biochemical ingredients that give the

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herb or medicinal substance its therapeutic properties. When

referring to biochemical properties in Chinese medicine, not only
are chemical, molecular and physical changes important but other
properties are incorporated and not commonly thought of from a
western perspective. The term “four qi” is discussed and suggests
temperature characteristic. There are presently 5 major
designations used to describe this aspect: hot, cold, warm, cool
and neutral. The other primary property of medicinal substances in
Chinese Medicine is taste or wei. There are 5 tastes; acrid or
pungent or even spicy called “xin”, sweet or “gan”, bitter or “ku”,
sour or “suan” and salty or “xian”. Substances that have none of
these tastes are said to be bland or “dan”. This concept can be
related to the yin and yang theory, for example the temperature
characteristics are said to be yang, whereas the tastes are yin.
Another taste attributed to certain herbs is astringent or “se” and
refers not only to the taste of the substance, but also to its ability to
prevent or stop leakage of fluids in the body. Again referring to the
concept of the yin and yang, acrid and sweet tastes scatter and are
yang in nature, sour and bitter substances drain and are yin
whereas bland taste seeps and drains and is yang. According to
Chinese medicine, the taste of a medicinal substance partly
determines its therapeutic function, as an example, sweet
substances are said to tonify, harmonize and have a moistening
effect. Acrid substances disperse and move, bitter substances
drain and dry, sour substances are astringent and prevent or
reverse the abnormal leakage of fluids and energy and salty
substances purge and soften. Bland substances can leech out
dampness and promote urination.
Q In the “Su wen” or basic questions, there is discussion of the
relationship between the tastes and the yin organs of the body. For
example, sourness enters the liver, acridity enters the lungs,
bitterness enters the heart, saltiness the kidneys and sweetness
enters the spleen. Another way of grouping information about
medicinal substances is to identify which channel or meridian the
substance enters. Dr Zhang Yuan-Su during the Song dynasty
(960-1279 AD) makes reference to the relationship between a
certain herb or substance is said to have a certain action because
of the channel it enters. “The method of appropriately using
medicines in accordance with the clinical pattern of the patient
entails determining substances with the correct qi, taste, yin and

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yang, and thick and thin properties as well as the pathogenic factor
involved and the channel it has entered.” A few examples of some
herbs would be; huang lian (Rhizoma Coptidis) enters the heart,
rou gui (Cortex Cinnamomi Cassiae) AKA cinnamon enters the
kidneys. Another example cong bai (Bulbus Allii Fistulosi) or more
popularly known as scallion or spring onion, QUESTION can
anyone guess what channel it would enter? It enters the lungs!
Q Taste describes perception of the herb in the mouth, while

temperature describes sensation in the stomach or on the skin.

Now let me give you an example of a substance with its
biochemical properties, temperature and tastes. Take Ma Huang
for example; its pharmaceutical name is Herba Ephedrae and its
biochemical constituents are ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, 1-N-
methlyephedrine, ephedine, 1-norephedrine, d-N-
pseudomethylephedrine, benzyl-methlyamine, and 1-alpha-d-
terpineol. The temperature of ma huang is warm and its taste is
acrid, and slightly bitter. Many of the drugs used in mainstream
medicine are derived from herbs originally used in traditional or folk
medicine, such as digoxen or ephedrine or penicillin is all
derivatives of plants and fungi. For example: one of ma huang’s
biochemical constituents is pseudoephedrine and has anyone
heard of or taken an over-the-counter cold remedy called
SUDAFED? Well the pharmaceutical company that makes
SUDAFED used the ma huang plant and extracted one of its
chemical constituents called pseudoephedrine and made it into a
concentrated form to make SUDAFED.
There are 3 major types of contraindications or prohibitions in
using these substances. There are prohibited combinations,
prohibitions during pregnancy, and dietary incompatibilities.
Prohibited combinations are from certain combinations of herbs that
should be avoided because they either reduce each other’s
effectiveness or lead to toxicity or undesirable side effects. According
to the “Shu ben cao”, there are 60 cases of mutual antagonism and
eighteen cases of mutual incompatibilities. “Ding xiang” (Flos
Caryophylli) antagonizes “yu jin” (Tuber Curcumae). “Gan cao”
(Radix Glycrrhizae Uralensis is incompatible with “gan sui, da ji, yuan
hua, and hai zao”. There are some medicinal substances that can
cause problems during pregnancy to the fetus or even lead to
miscarriage. Substances that invigorate the blood and dispel stasis
or those medicinal substances that are intensely hot are prescribed

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with the utmost caution and only for carefully selected patients.
Dietary incompatibilities fall into 2 categories. Patients who are
taking certain herbs i.e. like “sheng di huang” (Radix Rhemanniae)
should avoid ingesting foods like onions, garlic, and radishes. A
general note should be added that when taking medicinal
substances, patients should avoid raw, cold greasy or other relatively
hard-to-digest foods as they can upset the digestive tract and disturb
the effects of the substances.
Herbal Categories
Q There are 18 herbal categories, I am only going to briefly comment
on them since theory needs to be further explained before you will
grasp the concrete understanding of each category.
Q Herbs that release the exterior: these herbs are used for the
superficial levels of the body as when there are pathogenic factors
involved. Wind-heat, wind-cold, wind-dampness and summerheat.
In western medicine these would be classified as viral infections,
i.e., the common cold or influenza virus, or a bacterial infection in
the lungs. Classic symptoms would be chills, fevers, stiff neck and
general muscle aches, with or without sweat. An example of
exterior releasing herb would be gui zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi
Cassiae) or cinnamon twig or cong bai (Bulbus Allii Fistulosi),
spring onion
Q Herbs that clear heat: this section is related to febrile disorders or
any condition that present with heat signs such as dry throat, red
face red eyes, dry stool, dark and scanty urine, yellow tongue
coating, rapid pulse and a sensation of warmth in the soles of feet,
palms of the hand, and sternum. There is exterior heat and interior
heat. Herbs described in this chapter are used for treating interior
heat and are cold in nature and have antipyretic effects (reducing
fevers), anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. An example of
a clear heat herb is shi gao (Gypsum) calcium sulfate
Q Downward draining herbs: this category either stimulates or
lubricates the gastrointestinal tract to facilitate the expulsion of
stool and are divided into 3 classes: purgatives, which are mostly
bitter and cold in nature and have strong clearing heat abilities for
heat related constipation. Moist laxatives are often nuts or seeds
and lubricate the intestines and are mild in nature. They are mostly
prescribed for the debilitated, elderly or people of weak constitution
or weakened from a febrile disease. Harsh expellants are very

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strong cathartics that induce diarrhea. Some are also diuretics and
can be used in treatment of pleurisy (a serous membrane that
envelopes the lungs, inflammation of the pleura) and ascites
(accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity). Only used in
extreme or severe cases
Q Herbs that drain dampness: refers to accumulation of fluids in the
body, (i.e., edema and congested fluids primarily of the respiratory
and digestive systems.) and dampness occurring from heat
together as in painful urinary dysfunction, damp warm-febrile
diseases, damp sores and jaundice. Many are essentially
diuretics.
Q Herbs that dispel wind-dampness: from the muscles, sinews,
joints and bones. They alleviate painful obstruction and invigorate
the connecting channels. The principal condition for which they are
indicated is painful obstruction caused by wind, dampness and cold
as well as heat and manifest as pain and numbness in the joints
and muscles. The herbs in this category have analgesic, anti-
inflammatory, antipyretic, and circulation-promoting properties.
Q Herbs that transform phlegm and stop coughing refers to
pathological accumulation of thick fluid in the respiratory and
digestive tracts as well as muscles, integument (enveloping
membrane of the body) and other body tissues. Phlegm is often
implicated in diverse disorders as epilepsy, convulsions, scrofula
(historic term for cervical tuberculosis, any glandular swelling),
goiter (chronic enlargement of thyroid) and some chronic skin
problems
Q Aromatic herbs that transform dampness refers to the damp
pathogenic influences which causes stagnation in the middle
burner which is spleen and stomach. Primary symptoms are a
feeling of distention and fullness in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting
or the spitting up of sour fluids, absence of thirst, loss of appetite,
diarrhea with difficulty defecating, headaches, or body aches.
Modern biomedicine referring to food poisoning or acute
gastroenteritis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of both
stomach and intestines)
Q Herbs that relieve food stagnation are substances that have the
ability to reduce, dissolve or digest food stagnation in the digestive
tract. There are hot and cold types. Modern biomedical
perspectives for the herbs in this group stimulate an increase in

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gastrointestinal secretions, possess enzymatic functions and

optimize peristalsis for better digestion.
Q Herbs that regulate the Qi have 2 primary disorders: deficiency
and stagnation. Stagnation is discussed in this category and there
are 3 major types of stagnant qi differentiated according to the
organs involved: stagnant spleen and stomach qi, constrained liver
qi and stagnant lung qi.
Q There are 3 general categories of blood pathology in Chinese
medicine: bleeding, blood stasis and blood deficiency. Herbs
that regulate the blood are divided into 2 categories of stop
bleeding and invigorate the blood. There is a 3rd one but it goes
into the tonify category. Most commonly used in this category
are the vomiting blood, nosebleed, coughing with blood, blood in
the stool or urine, excessive menstruation, uterine bleeding, or
bleeding from trauma
Q Herbs that warm the interior and expel cold are used in
treating interior cold, which can either be internally-generated or
the result of an invasion of the cold pathogenic influence into the
organs. The symptoms associated with this pattern are from
patterns of deficiency such as cold extremities, fear of cold, pallid
complexion, lack of thirst, or sometimes the desire to drink hot
liquids, loose stools, and a thin white tongue coating and slow
pulse. The patient can present with nausea, vomiting, belching,
diarrhea, and cold and painful sensations in the chest and
abdomen. Biomedicine patterns would be acute gastritis or
gastroenteritis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of both
stomach and intestine)
Q Tonifying herbs are those herbs that strengthen or supplement
an area or process of the body that is insufficient or weakened.
They also strengthen the body’s defenses against disease.
Clinically they are used in combination with herbs that expel
external pathogenic influences and when the patient presents
with a weak constitution. Tonics are used in treating patterns of
deficiency of the qi, blood, yang, and yin. A classic tonify qi herb
is Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng). An herb for tonifying the yang of
the body is a substance called Lu Rong or better known as the
velvet of young male deer antler.
Q Herbs that stabilize and bind are used primarily for treating
disorders in which bodily substances are discharged abnormally
or for structures that slip from their proper position. Disorders

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would include diarrhea, excessive urination, excessive sweating

and prolapsed organs of the rectum or uterus or even bladder.
From a biomedical perspective, these disorders usually arise
from either a derangement in the autonomic nervous system or a
weakening in the elasticity of smooth muscle fibers. Stabilizing
and binding herbs only treat the manifestation and in order to be
useful must be used concurrently with other medicinal
substances that treat the root or cause of the condition or
problem. Wu Wei Zi or (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis) or
schisandra fruit is used to stop chronic diarrhea, or chronic cough
with wheezing, and also inhibits sweating such as from
spontaneous sweating or night sweats.
Q Substances that calm the spirit are used primarily in treating
disturbances of the spirit (shen), which lead to such problems as
irritability, insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, and even some
forms of insanity or mental disorders. In Chinese medicine, the
spirit is said to reside in the heart and many of the substances in
this category enter the heart channel. In addition, these
substances also affect the liver, called hun, which is where the
soul resides and many disorders of this organ often manifest in
similar sympoms. There are 2 major categories of substances
that calm spirit: those that anchor, settle, and calm the spirit and
those substances that nourish the heart to calm the spirit. One
substance that anchors, settles and calms the spirit is Long Gu
or (Os Draconis), better known as dragon bone, usually fossilized
vertebrae and bones of the extremities of mammals. An herb to
nourish the heart presenting with palpitations, anxiety, or
insomnia due to heart blood or liver yin deficiency is, Suan Zao
Ren or (Semen Zizyphi Spinosae) also known as sour jujube
seed.
Q Aromatic substances that open the orifices, are used to open
up the sensory orifices and awaken the spirit. This is the type of
patient who presents with delirium or comatose, because
Chinese medicine states that the spirit is locked up from
pathogenic influences covering or enveloping the sensory
orifices. Patients may also present with a type of wind stroke,
which can manifest as coma, lock jaw, clenched fists, rigid limbs.
In Chinese medicine these substances are also used for treating
turbid phlegm misting the mind or heart and may include
seizures. From a biomedical perspective, these herbs stimulate

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the central nervous system and have a tranquilizing effect and

can treat irritability and stop spazms.
Q Substances that extinguish wind and stop tremors, is in
reference to wind. Wind has both exterior and interior
manifestations. An example of internal wind manifestations
would include headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, and
in severe cases irritability, vomiting, palpitations with anxiety and
muscle twitches. The biomedical perspective would be patients
suffering from hypertension or atherosclerosis,
hemiplegia,(paralysis of one side of the body) aphasia (impaired
or absent comprehension or speech).
Q Herbs that expel parasites are used primarily for treating
intestinal parasites such as roundworms, tapeworms and
hookworms. Common symptoms are para-umbilical pain,
vomiting, change in appetite, pruritis ani (anal itching), or itching
of the nose or ears. Laboratory tests would reveal which
parasitic organism is positive and then appropriate herbs would
be administered.
Q Substances for external application, focus on localized
problems such as bleeding, inflammation, swelling, pain and
pustulous wounds. Some are used to promote healing of skin
lesions, others to stop itching. A substance used for example in
someone who has a nonulcerated sore or abscess of the mouth,
gum or throat could use Chan Su (Secretio Bufonis) or toad
venom and works as a local anesthetic similar to that of cocaine
and also has anti-inflammatory effects and decreased capillary
permeability locally. Liu Huang or (sulphur) is used often to kill
parasites and stop itching.
Q FORMULAS
Q Release the exterior: Yin Qiao San this formula is for a wind
heat condition for early stage warm febrile disease, with fever,
with or out chills, cough sore throat
Q Clear heat: Long Dan Xie Gan Tang drains fire from the liver
and gallbladder and clears damp heat. Symptoms are pain in the
hypochondria region, headache, dizziness, red and sore eyes,
hearing loss, swelling in ears, a bitter taste in mouth, irritability,
short temper. Also for painful urination, with heat sensation in
the urethra, swollen and itching genitalia or foul smelling
discharge. HSV I & II, acute glaucoma, cystitis, PID, gallstones,
etc.

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Q Da Cheng Qi Tang: drain downward for severe constipation

Q Si Ni San: Harmonizing for cold fingers and toes with irritability
and fullness in the chest and epigastrium, may have abdominal
pain with diarrhea. Heat stagnated on the interior and not
reaching the extremities
Q Treat dryness
Q Expel dampness: Wu Ling San with headache, fever, irritability,
thirst with immediate vomiting after, urinary difficulty, general
edema and other symptoms. This can be used for acute
nephritis, chronic renal failure, congestive heart failure, ascites
(accumulation of fluid in the abdomen) from liver cirrhosis, etc.
Q Warm the interior cold: Si Ni Tang different from the other
formula symptoms of extremely cold extremities, aversion to
cold, sleeping with knees drawn up, lethargy, desire to sleep,
vomiting, diarrhea with undigested food particles, abdominal pain
Q Tonify: Si Jun Zi Tang classic formula to tonify the whole qi
and strenthen the spleen usually from improper eating habits,
excessive deliberation or overworking.
Q Regulate the Qi: Yue Ju Wan can be used for peptic ulcers,
chronic gastritis, infectious hepatitis, cholecystitis
Q Invigorate the blood: Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang can be used for
treating coronary artery dz, hypertension, intercostal neuralgia
(pain in the chest wall along the nerve pathway), etc.
Q Stop bleeding: Jiao Ai Tang for uterine bleeding, threatened
miscarriage, post partum bleeding, peptic ulcer bleeding,
bleeding hemorrhoids
Q Stabilize and bind: Yu Ping Feng San can be used for
recurring colds, chronic bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, lowered
immune resisitance
Q Calm spirit: Tian Wang Bu Xin Dang heart disease,
menopausal, neurasthenia (wired but tired feeling), with
symptoms as inability to think or concentrate for even short
periods of time, forgetfulness, night sweats,etc.
Q Expel wind: Xiao Feng San for urticaria, eczema, psoriasis,
contact dermatitis
Q Formulas that open orifices
Q Treat phlegm: Wen Dan Tang gallbladder and stomach
disharmony for gastritis, peptic ulcer, neurosis, early stage of
schizophrenia, Meniere’s dz

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Q Reduce food stagnation: Bao He Wan from excessive food

consumption as in too much turkey dinner during thanksgiving, or
excessive alcohol, meat, and fatty foods
Q Expel parasites formulas

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