Seeking the Truth of TCM

Roots of Herbs

Meridian Explorations

Food as Medicine

Medicinal Roots

136 herbs total

Ginseng Radix Et Rhizoma
Nature & Flavor
- Sweet in flavor
- Sweet and slightly bitter
- Warm in nature
- Enters the spleen meridian
- Enters the lung meridian
- Enters the heart meridian
- Enters the kidney meridian
Tags
- greatly tonify original qi
- restore the pulse and rescue collapse
- fortify the Spleen and benefit the Lung
- generate fluids and nourish Blood
- calm the spirit and benefit intellect
IntroductionThis translation follows WHO International Standard Terminologies (2022) and Chinese Pharmacopoeia conventions.
Vernonia amygdalina Del.
Nature & Flavor
- Enters the liver meridian
- Enters the gallbladder meridian
- Enters the lung meridian
- Enters the large intestine meridian
- Bitter in flavor
- Cold in nature
Tags
- clear Heat and resolve Toxin
- lower blood pressure / antihypertensive
- antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
IntroductionSouth African leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), a Chinese medicinal, is a folk herb originating from Africa. Due to its significant heat-clearing and detoxifying effe…
Apis cerana Fabr/Apis mellifera L.
Nature & Flavor
- Sweet in flavor
- Sour in flavor
- Neutral in nature
- Enters the spleen meridian
Tags
- tonify
- strengthen
- benefit the liver
- fortify the spleen
IntroductionFengwangjiang (Royal Jelly), a Chinese medicinal, is the milky white gelatinous substance secreted by the pharyngeal glands and post‑pharyngeal glands of worker…
Yellow Rice Wine / Chinese Rice Wine
Nature & Flavor
- Bitter in flavor
- Sweet in flavor
- Pungent in flavor
- Warm in nature
- Enters the heart meridian
- Enters the liver meridian
- Enters the lung meridian
- Enters the stomach meridian
Tags
- warm the meridians and dispel cold
- dispel wind and eliminate dampness
- Activate blood and resolve stasis
- It has the action of unblocking meridians and relieving pain.
- fortify the Spleen and nourish the Stomach
- and can also enhance the action of other medicinals (as a drug vehicle)
- guide herbs to their target meridians
- resolve toxin and eliminate parasites
- beautify the skin and delay aging
IntroductionHuangjiu (Chinese rice wine) is a Chinese medicinal. It is also one of the oldest types of alcoholic beverages in the world, of pure Chinese origin. It serves b…
Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix
Nature & Flavor
- Pungent in flavor
- Bitter in flavor
- Neutral in nature
- Enters the stomach meridian
- Enters the liver meridian
- Enters the gallbladder meridian
Tags
- dispelling wind-damp
- It has the action of unblocking meridians and relieving pain.
- reduce deficiency heat
- clear damp-heat
IntroductionQinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), a Chinese medicinal, is the dried root of Gentiana macrophylla Pall., Gentiana straminea Maxim., Gentiana crassicaulis D…
Chinese Artichoke
Nature & Flavor
- Pungent in flavor
- Salty in flavor
- Neutral in nature
Tags
- relieve strangury
- stop malaria
- soften hardness and eliminate abdominal masses
- draw out toxin and remove necrotic tissue
IntroductionDiguniu (Antlion Larva), a Chinese medicinal, is the larva of Hagenomyia micans (Maclachlan), an insect of the Myrmeleontidae family (antlion family).
Cinnamomi Cortex
Nature & Flavor
- Pungent in flavor
- Sweet in flavor
- hot in nature
- Enters the kidney meridian
- Enters the spleen meridian
- Enters the heart meridian
- Enters the liver meridian
Tags
- supplement fire and assist Yang
- dispel cold and relieve pain
- warm the meridians and unblock the channels
- guide fire back to its source 或 return fire to the kidney
IntroductionRougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) is an interior‑warming Chinese medicinal. It is the dried bark of Cinnamomum cassia Presl, a plant of the Lauraceae family (genus Cinn…
Cyperi Rhizoma
Nature & Flavor
- Pungent in flavor
- Sweet and slightly bitter
- slightly sweet
- Neutral in nature
- Enters the liver meridian
- Enters the spleen meridian
- Enters the triple energizer meridian / san jiao meridian
Tags
- soothe the liver and relieve depression
- regulate qi and relieve stuffiness in the middle (chest and diaphragm)
- Regulate menstruation and relieve pain
IntroductionXiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), a Chinese medicinal, is the dried rhizome of Cyperus rotundus L., a plant of the Cyperaceae family (genus Cyperus).
Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. mayuen (Roman.) Stapf
Nature & Flavor
- Sweet in flavor
- bland
- slightly neutral in nature
- Enters the spleen meridian
- Enters the stomach meridian
- Enters the lung meridian
Tags
- promote diuresis and drain dampness
- fortify the spleen
- stop diarrhea
- relieve painful obstruction (bi)
- resolve toxin and dissipate nodules
- clear Heat and expel pus
IntroductionStir‑fried Coix seed is a processed product of the Chinese medicinal Coix seed obtained through stir‑frying.
Impatiens balsamina L.
Nature & Flavor
- Sweet in flavor
- Sweet and slightly bitter
- Warm in nature
- Enters the liver meridian
- Enters the lung meridian
Tags
- dispel wind and eliminate dampness
- Activate blood
- relieve pain
- resolve toxin
- eliminate parasites
IntroductionFengxianhua (Garden Balsam Flower), a Chinese medicinal, is the dried flower of Impatiens balsamina L., a plant of the Balsaminaceae family (genus Impatiens).
Daucus carota L. var. sativa DC.
Nature & Flavor
- Sweet in flavor
- Pungent in flavor
- Neutral in nature
- Enters the spleen meridian
- Enters the liver meridian
- Enters the lung meridian
Tags
- fortify the Spleen and harmonize the Middle
- transform phlegm and relieve cough
- clear heat
- resolve toxin
IntroductionHuluobo (Carrot Root), a Chinese medicinal, is the root of Daucus carota L. var. sativa Hoffm., a plant of the Apiaceae family.
Dendrobii Caulis
Nature & Flavor
- Sweet in flavor
- slightly cold in nature
- Enters the stomach meridian
- Enters the kidney meridian
Tags
- Benefit the Stomach and generate fluids
- nourish Yin
- clear heat
IntroductionShihu (Dendrobium Stem), a Chinese medicinal, is the fresh or dried stem of cultivated plants of Dendrobium nobile Lindl., Dendrobium huoshanense C.Z. Tang et S…