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Materia Medica

The grammar of Chinese herbal medicine, and eight authentic regional herbs.

Four Natures, Five Tastes

Herbs are classified by the four natures — cold, hot, warm, cool — and the five tastes — sour, bitter, sweet, acrid, salty. Together they form the coordinate system of Chinese pharmacology.

Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy

A well-built formula is an ordered company: the sovereign attacks the core problem, the minister supports, the assistant moderates, the envoy guides the herbs to their destination.

Authentic Regional Herbs

Terroir matters. Changbai ginseng, Minxian danggui, Zhongning goji — the word 'daodi' (authentic source) encodes a millennium of agreement between herb and homeland.

Proper Processing

However complex the processing, no step may be spared; however costly the ingredient, none may be reduced. Paozhi — the craft of preparing herbs — makes them safer and stronger.

“However complex the processing, no step may be spared; however costly the ingredient, none may be reduced.” — Traditional pharmacy maxim

Ginseng

Renshen

Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly warm. Enters the spleen, lung, heart and kidney channels.

Restores the original qi, generates fluids, calms the spirit. Authentic source: Changbai Mountains, Jilin.

Astragalus

Huangqi

Sweet, slightly warm. Enters the spleen and lung channels.

Raises the qi, secures the exterior, reduces swelling. Authentic sources: Wuchuan (Inner Mongolia), Hunyuan (Shanxi).

Angelica

Danggui

Sweet, acrid, warm. Enters the liver, heart and spleen channels.

Nourishes and moves the blood, regulates the menses, relieves pain. Authentic source: Minxian, Gansu.

Goji Berry

Gouqizi

Sweet, neutral. Enters the liver and kidney channels.

Nourishes liver and kidney, brightens the eyes. Authentic source: Zhongning, Ningxia.

Poria

Fuling

Sweet, bland, neutral. Enters the heart, lung, spleen and kidney channels.

Drains dampness, strengthens the spleen, calms the mind. Famous sources: Yunnan and Anhui.

Licorice

Gancao

Sweet, neutral. Enters the heart, lung, spleen and stomach channels.

Tonifies the qi, harmonises other herbs — traditionally honoured as the 'elder statesman'.

Notoginseng

Sanqi

Sweet, slightly bitter, warm. Enters the liver and stomach channels.

Stops bleeding, disperses stasis, relieves pain. Authentic source: Wenshan, Yunnan — prized as 'worth more than gold'.

Szechuan Lovage

Chuanxiong

Acrid, warm. Enters the liver, gallbladder and pericardium channels.

Moves the blood and qi, dispels wind, relieves pain. Authentic source: Dujiangyan, Sichuan.

For cultural education; properties follow standard pharmacopoeia descriptions. Consult a licensed practitioner.