Herb Theory

HERB THEORY NOTES PLANT PARTS Rhizoma

Root

PLANT PARTS Flos

Flower

Cornu

Horn

(grassy type)

Radix

Root (woody type)

Semen

Seed

Os

Bone

Pericarpiu m

Citrus rind

Concha

Shell

Fructus

Fruit

Cortex

Bark

Medulla

Pith, center

Ramulus

twig

Folium

Leaf

Ramus

Branch

Herba

Whole plant (above ground)

PROPERTIES HERBS HOT WARM NEUTRAL COOL COLD

Temperature is based on the person, you may use hot herb on heat patient if the special function is need, follow the hierarchy of herbal prescribing: 1-Category 2-Special function 3-Tempurature/flavor/properties 4-Channel

FLAVORS HERBS BITTER

ELEME NT Fire

Yin

SWEET

Earth/SP

Yang

BLAND PUNGENT/ACR ID

Earth Metal/L U

Yin Yang

AROMATIC

Metal

SALTY

Water

Yin

SOUR/ASTRIN GENT

Wood

Yin

FUNCTION

Effects

Clears heat, descends fire and drains damp (caution with deficiency) Tonify, nourish, moisten, harmonize and moderate toxicity (sweet talker) Leeches dampness Disperses, scatters, moves, invigorates (caution with deficiency)

▪ Asthma, constipation ▪ damp retention

Pierces and dries turbidity dispersing it, good for revising senses and organs Drains, purges and breaks up accumulation/hard masses, brings in fluids to purge accumulations Astringent (tightens up, seals borders) and generates fluids to improve digestion

▪ Alleviates pain/spasms ▪ nourish/tonify the middle ▪ edema, dysuria ▪ diaphoretic, treats cold ▪ moves blood stagnation ▪ Clears orifices ▪ Dissolves masses, reduces phlegm ▪ Constipation ▪ Diarrhea, hyperhydrosis ▪ Softens arteries

Pungent, acrid, aromatic, sweet, warm, hot : YANG -Lifting, ascending, raising, floating, move up and out, release exterior -Raises the yang in cases blocked or weak yang, causes vomiting and sweating and opens the orifices Bitter, sour, salty, cool and cold: YIN -Lowering, sinking, move’s down and inward, promote urination and defecation, subdue ascending yang (Yang Rising), calm the mind by anchoring and settling.

Cooking/Processing with Herbs: • Honey: makes herb/s harmonious and less likely to have toxic side effects -Processed (heated) = more damp producing -Raw= more drying • Vinegar: astringent, brings herb into organs/blood • Salt: brings herb into the organs, KID/blood

• Wine= invigorating, more easily assimilated into digestion (dark wines have more heat than white) •Charring= astringent, used to stop bleeding (snort up nose for epistasis, apply directly to wound, etc.)

Light/Acrid herbs=cook short time Heavy/stone=cook long time

TREATING YOUR PATIENTS (average adult) -Recommended doses 6-15g for most herbs, other herbs 3-6g ELDERLY/ FRIAGLE/INFANTS/CHILDRENS (based on weight and constitution) -Decreases recommended doses, ~1-3g depending on weight, caution with hot, dry, dispersing herbs -Extractions/tinctures are easier to take, always try tui na first SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS ***bones, stones or minerals cook longer, ~40-60min so put them in first ***acrid and aromatic herbs cook 5-10min ▪ small or furry herbs should be wrapped in coffee filter or tight cheese cloth ▪ gelatin/glue blocks (deer antler, turtle shell) and salts dissolve in strained liquid after decoction ▪ Cases to cook herbs separately: Ginseng –must use ginseng cooker CI Pregnancy: no purgatives, however only used herbs indicated for that situation

DIET RESTRICTIONS: ▪ No pork w/ Zang Er Zi (xanthum fructi)

ELEMENT: Fire ORGAN: Heart FLAVOR: Bitter PROTERTIES: cools, clears heat, drains dampness

ELEMENT: Wood ORGAN: Liver FLAVOR: Sour/Asringent PROPERTIES: seals, generates fluids

ELEMENT: Earth ORGAN: Spleen FLAVOR: Sweet, Bland PROPERTIES:

ELEMENT: Water ORGAN: Kidneys FLAVOR: Salty PROPERTIES: Breaks up accumulation and hard masses, brings in fluids to purge accumulations

a)

Sweet- tonify, nourish, moisten, harmonize, moderate toxicity

b)

Bland- leeches dampness

ELEMENT: Metal ORGAN: Lungs FLAVOR: Pungent/Acrid, Aromatic PROPERTIES:

a) b)

Pungent/Acrid –disperses Aromatic- pierces and dries tubidity, dispersing it to revive senses/organs