Latin: Portulaca oleracea
TCM: Ma Chi Xian
It is “sour, cold … relieves fire toxicity and cools the blood … clears heat-damp and treats sores …” Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”
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herbal medicine
Latin: Fumaria officinalis
It is a “choleretic” for conjunctivitis. “ (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
A “diuretic, laxative, alterative … [it has a] long history of use in the treatment of skin problems such as eczema and acne. Its action is probably due to a general cleansing mediated via the kidneys and liver.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Image
By Isidre blanc - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37547043
Latin: Rosa Canina
TCM: Jin Ying Zi (Cherokee rosehip – Fructus Rosae Laevigatae)
“Nutrient, mild laxative, mild diuretic, mild astringent …[it] provides one of the best natural and freely available sources of Vitamin C … an excellent spring tonic and aid in general debility and exhaustion … help[s] in constipation and mild gall-bladder problems as well as the conditions of the kidney and bladder.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Jin Ying Zi (Cherokee rosehip) is “sour, astringent, neutral … stabilizes the kidneys, for … urinary incontinence … binds up the intestines and stops diarrhea …” Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica"
Latin: Santalum album
TCM: Tan Xiang
“… used internally in bronchitis, gonorrhoea, and cystitis ... also employed as an expectorant, a perfume, and for coloring and dyeing.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))
It is an “anti-microbial” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
It is “acrid, warm, aromatic … promotes the movement of qi and alleviates pain…” Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”
Image
By Nistha.aslp [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Latin: Mitchelle repens
It is a “utero-tonic, prostrate tonic.“ (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
A “parturient, emmenagogue, diuretic, astringent, tonic … It is among the best remedies for preparing the uterus and whole body for child birth … [also] painful periods … As an astringent it has been used in the treatment of colitis …” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Image
By Photo by David J. Stang [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Sumach
Latin: Rhus aromatica/glabra
TCM: Wu Bei Zi is Rhus Chinensis
“Sumac (Rhus glabra) … is important as a healing agent due to its ability to cause local inflammation by contact with it, thus drawing blood to the area.”
(Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))
It is a “stimulating and tonic diuretic” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
“Sweet Sumach is a useful astringent that is especially indicated in the treatment of urinary incontinence … [it] has a reputation for being able to reduce blood sugar …[but this is] open to debate.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
“Wu Bei Zi (Rhus Chinensis) … gallnut of Chinese sumac … sour, salty, cold … contains … binds up … preserves … restrains … absorbs.” Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”
Latin: Cypripedium pubescens
It is a “meningeal vaso-relaxant” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
“Lady’s Slipper is one of the most widely applicable nervines that we possess in the materia medica. It may be used in all stress reactions, emotional tension and anxiety states. It will help elevate the mood, especially where depression is present … It is perhaps at its best when treating anxiety that is associated with insomnia.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Latin: Commiphora molmol/myrrha
TCM: Mo Yao
“… has an agreeable aromatic odor and a bitter acrid taste … it is a stimulant to the circulation and to the uterine and bronchial mucous membranes …” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))
An “autonomic tropho-restorative to the gastro-intestinal tract.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
“Myrrh is an effective anti-microbial … [it] stimulates the production of white blood corpuscles … and has a direct anti-microbial effect …” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
“Bitter, neutral … invigorates the blood …promotes healing” (Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”)
Latin: Baptisia tinctoria
A “stimulating antiseptic vaso-tonic alterative” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
“… is to be considered wherever there is focused infection. It is especially useful in the treatment of infections and catarrh in the ear, nose and throat. It may be used for laryngitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis … it will heal mouth ulcers, gingivitis and help the control of pyorrhoea. Systematically it may be helpful in the treatment of enlarged and inflamed lymph glands … and also to reduce fevers.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Media
By Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA (Dwarf Wild Indigo) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Latin: Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis
TCM: Wu Wei Zi
An “adaptogen and nervine” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
“Deep immune activation … specific immune-modulators include: …Schisandra chinensis: tonic, for the central nervous system, uterine and respiratory stimulant, anti-hepatoxic…” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica” say, “sour, warm … stops coughing … tonifies the kidneys … inhibits sweating … quiets the spirit and calms the heart…”
Latin: Radix Ligustic Chuanxiong
TCM: Chuan Xiong
“Deep immune activation … specific immune-modulators include: …Ligusticum wallichi: tonic, anti-microbial, hypotensive, mild nervine…” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica” say, “…acrid, warm … invigorates the blood … expels wind and alleviates pain …”
cf: Ligusticum porter (Osha)… a “stimulating diaphoretic”(Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
Latin: Astragalus propinquus, astralagus membranaceus
TCM: Huang Qi
Also known as milkvetch.
“Immune enhancer, tonic.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica” say, “Sweet, slightly warm … Tonifies the spleen … [and] lung … [and] blood …”
David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal” notes its role in deep immune activation along with, amongst others, Ligusticum wallichii and Schizandra chinensis.
Latin: Calendula officinalis
Arabic: Aladhiriun naba'at
TCM: Jin Zhan Ju
For “bruises, sprains, muscle sprains, ulcers …” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))
“Stimulating antiseptic to the skin and mucous membranes.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
“Anti-inflammatory, astringent, vulnerary, anti-fungal, cholagogue, emmenagogue. Marigold is one of the best herbs for treating local skin problems … ulcers …gall-bladder problems … indigestion … delayed menstruation and painful periods.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Latin: Arnica montana
TCM: Shan Jin Che
“A cardiac stimulant; in large doses, a depressant …[for] sprains, bruises, abrasions …” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))
A “circulatory stimulant.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
“Anti-inflammatory, vulnerary. Do not use internally. For the treatment of bruises and sprains.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Latin: Tussilago farfara
TCM: Kuan Dong Hua
“Demulcent and tonic expectorant.”
(Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
“Expectorant, anti-tussive, demulcent, anti-catarrhal, diuretic. Coltsfoot may be used in chronic or acute bronchitis, irritating coughs, whooping coughs, asthma…” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica” say, “acrid, warm… stops coughing.”
Latin: Taraxacum officinale
TCM: Pu Gong Ying
A “relaxing cholagogue and choleretic.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
“Diuretic, cholagogue [stimulating the flow of bile from the liver], anti-rheumatic, laxative, tonic. Dandelion is a very powerful diuretic … one of the best natural sources of potassium … a most valuable general tonic and perhaps the best widely applicable diuretic and liver tonic.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica” say, “bitter, sweet, cold … clears heat and toxicity … resolves dampness.”
Latin: Sambucus nigra
TCM: Jie Gu Mu
“Relaxing vaso-tonic alterative and diaphoretic.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
“The Elder tree is a veritable medicine chest by itself. The leaves are used primarly for bruises, sprains, wounds … flowers for colds and influenza … berries have similar properties to the flowers with the addition of their usefulness in rheumatism.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Latin: Rumex crispus
“The root of the plant is often made into an ointment to ease itching.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))
“Relaxing and stimulating vaso-tonic alterative.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
An “alterative, purgative, cholagogue. Yellow Dock is used extensively in the treatment of chronic skin complaints such as psoriasis …[and] a valuable remedy for constipation.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Media
By National Library of Medicine - History of Medicine (https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlmhmd/37183788081/) [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons
Latin: Filipendula Ulmaria
TCM: Xuan Gao Wen Zi Cao
An “antacid and stomach tonic.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
“Anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, stomachic, antacid, anti-emetic, astringent. Meadowsweet is of the best digestive remedies available… It acts to protect and soothe the mucous membranes … reducing excess acidity.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).
Latin: Anthemus nobile, Matricaria chamomilla, Matricaria recutita
TCM: Huang Chu Ju
“An infusion of the small flower heads acts as a tonic, digestive aid, and calmative, while in large doses, it acts as an emetic and diaphoretic.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))
A “carminative and anti-spasmodic.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")
“Anti-spasmodic, carminative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, vulnerary…. The apparently endless list of conditions it can help all fall into areas that the relaxing, carminative and anti-inflammatory actions can aid.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).