Shi Di

Botanical name: Diospyros kaki
Common name: Persimmon calyx, Kaki

Family: Ebenaceae
Part used in Chinese medicine:  calyx

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Directs Stomach qi downward, stops hiccough

Photo Credits: (top to bottom)
Photo 1: Diospyros kaki; 01/2006; author

Sheng Ma

Botanical name: Cimicifuga heracleifolia
Common name: Cimicifuga, Bugbane, Black Cohosh
Literal name translation: ascending hemp

Family: Ranunculaceae, ranuncula family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  rhizome

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Disperses the exterior, raises yang qi, lifts sinking middle … Read More

Su Zi

Botanical name: Perilla frutesens
Common name: Perilla fruit

Family: Labiatae, mint family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  seed

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Directs qi downward to disperse phlegm, stops cough
calms wheezing, moistens intestines

Photo Credits: (top to

Song Jie

Botanical name: Pinus tabulaeformis
Common name: Chinese red pine
Literal name translation: pine knots

Family: Pinaceae, pine family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  branch nodes

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Disperses wind damp obstruction, alleviates pain

Photo Credits: (top

Si Gua Lou

Botanical name: Luffa cylindrica
Common name: Luffa, Loofah, Smooth luffa
Literal name translation: net of string melon

Family: Cucurbitaceae, gourd family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  fruit

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Resolves toxicity, reduces swelling, unblocks channels … Read More

Shu Di Huang

Botanical name: Rehmannia glutinosa
Common name: Prepared rehmannia root
Literal name translation: cooked earth yellow

Family: Scrophulariaceae, figwort family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  prepared root

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Tonifies blood, nourishes Liver and Kidney yin, … Read More

Shi Hu

Botanical name: Dendrobium nobile
Common name: Dendrobium
Literal name translation: bushel of stone

Family: Orchidaceae, orchid family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  whole plant

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Nourishes Stomach and Kidney yin, clears heat from deficiency,
generates … Read More

Sheng Ma

Botanical name: Cimicifuga heracleifolia
Common name: Cimicifuga, Bugbane, Black Cohosh
Literal name translation: ascending hemp

Family: Ranunculaceae, ranuncula family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  rhizome

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Disperses the exterior, raises yang qi, lifts sinking middle … Read More

Sheng Jiang

Botanical name: Zingiberis officinale
Common name: Ginger

Family: Zingiberaceae
Part used in Chinese medicine:  rhizome

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Releases exterior, disperses cold, warms middle burner,
alleviates vomiting, warms Lungs, stops cough, reduces toxicity

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Sheng Di Huang

Botanical name: Rehmannia glutinosa
Common name: Rehmannia root, Chinese foxglove
Literal name translation: unprepared earth yellow

Family: Scrophulariaceae, figwort family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  root

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Nourishes yin, generates fluids, clears heat, cools … Read More

She Gan

Botanical name: Belamcanda chinensis
Common name: Belamcanda rhizome
Literal name translation: arrow shaft

Family: Iridaceae, iris family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  rhizoma

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Clears heat, resolves toxicity, transforms phlegm
reduces swelling of the throat… Read More

Shan Zha

Botanical name: Crataegus pinnatifida
Common name: Crataegus fruit, Hawthorne fruit, Chinese haw

Family: Rosaceae, rose family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  fruit

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Reduces food stagnation, transforms accumulations,
invigorates blood, alleviates diarrhea

Photo Credits: (top

Shan Yao

Botanical name: Dioscorea batata
Common name: Dioscorea, Chinese yam
Literal name translation: mountain herb

Family: Dioscoreaceae, yam family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  rhizome

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Tonifies Spleen and Lung qi and yin, tonifies Kidneys
and … Read More

Sha Ji

Botanical name: Hippophae rhamnoides
Common name: Sea buckthorn fruit, Swallow thorn
Literal name translation: sand thorns

Family: Eleagnaceae
Part used in Chinese medicine:  fruit

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Augments qi, generates fluids, warms and tonifes Lungs and Spleen,… Read More

Sang Zhi

Botanical name: Morus alba
Common name: Mulberry twig, Morus twig

Family: Moraceae, mulberry family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  twig

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Dispels wind-dampness, unblocks channels and collaterals,
benefits joints

Photo Credits: (top to bottom)
Photo

Sang Ye

Botanical name: Morus alba
Common name: White mulberry leaf

Family: Moraceae, mulberry family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  leaf

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Disperses wind-heat, calms Liver, clears eyes, clears Lungs,
moistens dryness, cools blood, stops bleeding

Photo

Sang Shen

Botanical name: Morus alba
Common name: Mulberry, Morus fruit

Family: Moraceae, mulberry family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  fruit

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Nourishes yin and blood, moistens Intestines

Photo Credits: (top to bottom)
Photo 1: Morus alba;

Sang Bai Pi

Botanical name: Morus alba
Common name: Mulberry root bark, Morus bark
Literal name translation: mulberry white bark

Family: Moraceae, mulberry family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  root bark

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Drains Lung heat, alleviates cough, … Read More

Ren Shen

Botanical name: Panax ginseng
Common name: Ginseng root
Literal name translation: man root

Family: Araliaceae
Part used in Chinese medicine:  root

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Strongly tonifies qi of 5 organs, strengthens Spleen, tonifies Lungs,
generates fluids, alleviates … Read More

Ren Dong Teng

Botanical name: Lonicera japonica
Common name: Honeysuckle vine, Lonicera vine
Literal name translation: winter-resisting vine

Family: Caprifoliaceae, honeysuckle family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  caulis (stalk and stems)

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Clear heat, resolve toxicity, dispels … Read More

Qu Mai

Botanical name: Dianthus superbus
Common name: Dianthus, Fringed pink

Family: Caryophyllaceae, pink family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  aerial parts

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Clears damp-heat, promotes urination, unblocks urine,
invigorates blood

Photo Credits: (top to bottom)
Photo

Lian Qiao

Botanical name: Forsythia suspensa
Common name: Forsythia fruit

Family: Oleaceae, olive family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  fruit

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Clears heat, resolves toxicity, dissipates clumps

Photo Credits: (top to bottom)
Photo 1: Forsythia suspense; 04/2008;

Li Zhi He

Botanical name: Litchi chinensis
Common name: Lychee nut

Family: Sapindaceae
Part used in Chinese medicine:  seed

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Regulates qi, disperses cold obstruction in Liver channel
alleviates pain

Photo Credits: (top to bottom)
Photo 1:

Jue Ming Zi

Botanical name: Cassia obtusifolia
Common name: Cassia seeds, Sicklepod
Literal name translation: unhampered clarity seeds

Family: Fabaceae, pea family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  seed

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Clears Liver and eyes, calms Liver, anchors yang,… Read More

Ju Hua

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum multiflorum
Common name: Chrysanthemum flower

Family: Asteraceae, aster family
Part used in Chinese medicine:  flower

Major Chinese medicine actions:
Releases the exterior, dispels wind, clears heat

Photo Credits: (top to bottom)
Photo 1: Chrysanthemum multiflorum;