PROCESSING OF HERBS FOR USE

PROCESSING OF HERBS FOR USE

Chinese herbal medicines are used internally and externally. For both types herbs can be prepared by water or alcohol extraction, baking, boiling, frying, or grinding.

Internal formulas are prepared as powders, teas (AKA decoctions), extracts, and pills. Powders are most often taken as drafts (stirring the powder into water and drinking the mix) or large gummy pills (6-9g) made by mixing in honey. Teas are boiled from 10 minutes to an hour. Extracts are made with water or alcohol or oil. Pills are made with both traditional and modern processes.

Traditional herb boiling pot made of
Clay.  Note the vent spout on the left

External types are liniments, powders, extracts, pastes or salves, and plasters. Often herbs are ground and mixed with a binder, such as sesame oil, to make the salve or paste andthen used in this form. Plasters were made by applying the paste to leaves or other material suitable for use against the skin. Modern commercially prepared plasters usually have adhesive to hold them in place. External formulas are used for bruises, sprains, open wounds, burns and swellings and other dermatological conditions.

 

SINGLE HERBS - EXAMPLE LISTINGS
Listings begin below the table
 

REN SHEN - GINSENG TONIFY QI
TASTE: sweet, sl. bitter
TEMP sl. warm
CHANNELS LU SP HT
DOSAGE 1-9g
CX: Yin xu w/ Heat, LiV Yang Rising w/ hypertension
ENERGETIC/ACTION
-Strongly Ton Basal Qi; Collapse of Qi
-Ton LU Qi
-Ton SP/ST; includes organ prolapse
-Generates Fluids, Stops Thirst
-Ton HT Qi, Calms Shen

DANG GUI - ANGELICA ROOT TONIFY BLOOD
TASTE sweet, bitter, pungent
TEMP warm
CHANNELS HT LIV SP
DOSAGE 3-15g
CX: Yin xu with heat, abdominal distension due to damp
-Tonifies blood: regs. menses, gyn., HT LIV
-Move and harmonize blood & disperse cold, esp. for pain
due to blood stag.
-Moistens intestines and unblocks bowels
-Relieves swelling
-expels pus
-generates flesh
-alleviates pain

DAN SHEN - SALVIA MOVE BLOOD
STAGNATION
TASTE bitter
TEMP sl. cold
CHANNELS HT PC LIV
DOSAGE 6-15g
CX: CAUTION: no blood stag., inc./ Li Lu
ENERGETIC/ACTION
-Moves Blood & breaks blood stag., esp. chest and
abdomen
-Clears heat, soothes irritability. Including heat in Ying level
& HT or KD Yin xu

MU LI - OYSTER SHELL CALM SHEN - by ANCHORING
TASTE salty, astringent
TEMP cool
CHANNELS LIV KD
DOSAGE 15-30g
CX: High fever w/o sweat,
ENERGETIC/ACTION
-Anxiety, palpitations, insomnia, restlessness
-Anchors LiV Yang; temper, dizziness, H/A
-Contains Fluids; continuous sweating, steaming bone
fever, aftermath of febrile disease
-Softens hardness, Dissipates nodules

DU HUO - ANGELICA ROOT DISPEL WIND & DAMP
TASTE bitter, pungent
TEMP warm
CHANNELS KD BL
DOSAGE 3-9g
CX: Yin xu w/ heat
ENERGETIC/ACTION
-Dispel Wind-Damp & Alleviate pain. esp. lower body,
acute and chronic
-Disperse Wind-Cold and RES
-Shao Yin H/A and toothache

DU ZHONG - EUCOMMIA TONIFY YANG
TASTE sweet, sl. pungent
TEMP warm
CHANNELS KD LIV
DOSAGE 6-15g
CX: Yin xu w/ heat
ENERGETIC/ACTION
-Ton LiV and KD, Strengthensinew & bones
-Promote circulation - esp. weak sinew & bone
-Calms Fetus
-Dizzy or lightheaded D-> LiV Yang Rising

FANG FENG - LEDEBOURIELLA RELEASE THE
EXTERIOR - WARMING
TASTE pungent, sweet
TEMP sl. warm
CHANNELS BL LIV SP
DOSAGE 3-9g
CX: Blood xu w/ spasms, Yin xu w/ heat, INC W/Gan jiang,
Li Lu, Bie Xie
ENERGETIC/ACTION
-RES & Expel Wind
-Expel Wind-Damp and alleviate pain, esp. when Wind
is predominant
-Expel Internal Wind - esp. tetany and tremors of hands
and feet

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