Chinese Herbs
A growing database of commonly used Chinese medicinal herbs.
105 articles · Page 1 of 11
Xue Jie (血竭): Dragon's Blood — TCM's Premium Resin for Blood Stasis, Wounds, and Pain
Learn about Xue Jie (血竭), dragon's blood resin in TCM — a topical and internal herb that invigorates blood, stops bleeding, heals wounds, and eases pain from blood stasis. Discover its ancient trade history, famous trauma formulas, and modern research.
Lai Fu Zi (莱菔子): Radish Seed — The Herb That Breaks Food Stagnation and Moves Qi Downward
Learn about Lai Fu Zi (radish seed), the TCM herb that resolves food stagnation, directs Qi downward, and dissolves phlegm. Discover why TCM pairs it with ginseng warnings, how raw vs. fried seeds differ, and its use for bloating and stubborn constipation.
He Huan Pi (合欢皮): The 'Tree of Happiness' That Unbinds the Heart and Calms the Spirit
Meet He Huan Pi (合欢皮, Albizia bark) — TCM's herb for grief, brooding, and a tight chest that won't lift. Learn how the 'tree of happiness' calms the spirit (解郁安神) and quickens blood to heal wounds and fractures, and why its name literally means 'joined joy.'
Gua Lou (瓜蒌): Trichosanthes — The Herb That Unbinds a Tight Chest and Clears Sticky Phlegm
Explore Gua Lou (Trichosanthes fruit), the TCM herb that clears heat, dissolves sticky phlegm, and relaxes a tight chest. Learn its parts (pericarp, seed, root), classical use in chest pain, and modern research on the cardiovascular system.
He Zi (诃子): Terminalia Chebula — The Astringent Herb That Tames Chronic Cough and Diarrhea
Discover He Zi (Terminalia chebula), the TCM astringent herb that stops chronic diarrhea, calms a persistent cough, and protects the voice. Learn its dual raw-vs-roasted preparation, modern research, and clinical uses.
Bai Jie Zi (白芥子): The Mustard Seed That Drives Out Hidden Phlegm
Bai Jie Zi (white mustard seed) is TCM's most powerful herb for old, sticky phlegm lodged deep in the channels and joints. Pungent and warming, it is the backbone of Yang He Tang for cold abscesses and of the winter-treatment acupoint plasters used for asthma and chronic bronchitis.
Yu Xing Cao (鱼腥草): The Fishy-Smelling Herb That Clears Lung Heat
Yu Xing Cao (Houttuynia) is one of the strongest heat-clearing herbs in Chinese medicine, famous for treating Lung abscess and purulent phlegm. Its fresh leaves smell of raw fish — hence the name — but its clinical record for stubborn respiratory infections is serious.
Bai He (百合): Lily Bulb in TCM — The Flower That Nourishes the Heart and Calms the Lungs
Explore Bai He (Lilium bulb), a sweet, cooling TCM herb that nourishes Lung Yin, clears Heart heat, and calms the spirit. Learn its use for chronic dry cough, insomnia, anxiety, and the famous 'Lily Disease' (百合病) described in the Shang Han Lun.
Mu Gua (木瓜): Chaenomeles Fruit in TCM — The Sour Herb That Relaxes Muscles and Harmonizes the Stomach
Learn about Mu Gua (Chaenomeles speciosa), the TCM herb that relaxes tendons, transforms dampness, and harmonizes the Stomach. Discover its use for muscle cramps, leg stiffness, indigestion with diarrhea, and summer dampness conditions.
Chen Xiang (沉香): Agarwood in TCM — The Sinking Fragrance That Warms and Calms
Explore Chen Xiang (agarwood), one of TCM's most precious aromatic herbs. Learn how it warms the Kidney, captures rising Qi, relieves pain, and calms the spirit — and why it commands prices higher than gold.