Chinese herbology 415070 225191228 2008-07-12T11:04:00Z Dreamingclouds 965550 added link ::''See [[herbalism]] for the non-Chinese tradition of herbology.'' [[Image:ChineseMedicine-HK.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Traditional Chinese medicine shop in [[Hong Kong]]]] '''Chinese Herbology''' ({{zh-stp|s=[[wikt:中|中]][[wikt:药|药]][[wikt:学|学]]|t=[[wikt:中|中]][[wikt:藥|藥]][[wikt:學|學]]|p=Zhōngyào xué}}), is the common name for the subject of Chinese ''[[materia medica]]''. It includes the basic theory of Chinese ''materia medica'', "[[crude medicine]]," "prepared drug in pieces" ({{zh-stp|s=[[wikt:饮|饮]][[wikt:片|片]]|t=[[wikt:飲|飲]][[wikt:片|片]]|p=yǐnpiàn}}) and [[traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations]]' source, collection and preparation, performance, efficacy, and clinical applications. Chinese ''materia medica'' ({{zh-stp|s=中药|t=中藥|p=Zhōngyào}}), is also the medicine based on [[traditional Chinese medicine]] theory. it includes [[Chinese crude medicine]], prepared drug in pieces of Chinese ''materia medica'', traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations, etc. '''Herbology''' is the [[China|Chinese]] art of combining [[medicinal]] [[herb]]s. Herbology is traditionally one of the more important modalities utilized in [[traditional Chinese medicine]] (TCM). Each herbal medicine prescription is a [[cocktail]] of many herbs tailored to the individual [[patient]]. One batch of herbs is typically decocted twice over the course of one hour. The practitioner usually designs a remedy using one or two main ingredients that target the illness. Then the practitioner adds many other ingredients to adjust the formula to the patient's [[Yin and yang|''yin''/''yang'']] conditions. Sometimes, ingredients are needed to cancel out [[toxicity]] or side-effects of the main ingredients. Some herbs require the use of other ingredients as [[catalyst]] or else the brew is ineffective. The latter steps require great experience and knowledge, and make the difference between a good Chinese herbal doctor and an amateur. Unlike [[Western world|western]] medications, the balance and interaction of all the ingredients are considered more important than the effect of individual ingredients. A key to success in TCM is the treatment of each patient as an individual. ''See also:'' [[Individualism]] [[Image:Gingembre.jpg| thumb | 250px | [[Ginger]] is consumed in [[China]] as food and as medicine ]] Chinese herbology often incorporates ingredients from all parts of plants, the leaf, stem, flower, root, and also ingredients from animals and minerals. The use of parts of [[endangered species]] (such as [[Seahorse (fish)|seahorses]], [[rhinoceros]] horns, and [[tiger]] bones) has created controversy and resulted in a [[black market]] of poachers who hunt restricted animals. Many herbal manufacturers have discontinued the use of any parts from endangered animals. ==History of Chinese herbology== [[Image:Zh pharmacopoeia 1.JPG|thumb|right|150px|Chinese pharmacopoeia]] Chinese herbs have been used for centuries. The first herbalist in Chinese tradition is [[Shennong]], a mythical personage, who is said to have tasted hundreds of herbs and imparted his knowledge of medicinal and poisonous plants to the agricultural people. The first Chinese manual on [[pharmacology]], the [[Shennong Bencao Jing]] (Shennong Emperor's Classic of Materia Medica), lists some 365 medicines of which 252 of them are herbs, and dates back somewhere in the 1st century C.E. [[Han dynasty]]. Earlier literature included lists of prescriptions for specific ailments, exemplified by a manuscript "Recipes for 52 Ailments", found in the Mawangdui tomb, sealed in 168 B.C.E. Succeeding generations augmented on this work, as in the ''[[Yaoxing Lun]]'' (藥性論; also spelled Yao Xing Lun; literally "Treatise on the Nature of Medicinal Herbs"), a 7th century [[Tang Dynasty]] Chinese [[treatise]] on herbal medicine. Arguably the most important of these was the [[Compendium of Materia Medica]] (Bencao Gangmu) compiled during the [[Ming dynasty]] by [[Li Shizhen]], which is still used today for consultation and reference. The history of this literature is presented in Paul U. Unschuld's "Medicine in China: a History of Pharmaceutics"; Univ. of Calif. Press, 1986. ==Categorizing Chinese herbs== [[Image:Tigerbalsam.2.jpg| thumb | right | 200px |Traditional Chinese herbal medicine marketed in the form of an [[ointment]].]] Chinese physicians used several different methods to classify traditional Chinese herbs: *The Four Natures (四氣 or 四性) *The Five Tastes (五味) *The Meridians (歸經) The earlier (Han through Tang eras) Ben Cao (''Materia Medicae'') began with a three-level categorization: Low level -- drastic acting, toxic substances; Middle level -- medicinal physiological effects; High level -- health and spirit enhancement During the neo-Confucian Song-Jin-Yuan era (10th to 12th Centuries), the theoretical framework from acupuncture theory (which was rooted in Confucian Han theory) was formally applied to herbal categorization (which was earlier more the domain of Daoist natural science). In particular, alignment with the Five Phases (Tastes) and the 12 channels (Meridians theory) came to be used after this period. ===The Four Natures=== This pertains to the degree of [[yin and yang]], ranging from cold (extreme yin), cool, neutral to warm and hot (extreme yang). The patient's internal balance of yin and yang is taken into account when the herbs are selected. For example, medicinal herbs of "hot", yang nature are used when the person is suffering from internal cold that requires to be purged, or when the patient has a general cold constituency. Sometimes an ingredient is added to offset the extreme effect of one herb. ===The Five Tastes=== The five tastes are pungent, sweet, sour, bitter and salty, each of which their functions and characteristics. For example, pungent herbs are used to generate sweat and to direct and vitalize ''[[qi]]'' and the blood. Sweet-tasting herbs often tonify or harmonize bodily systems. Some sweet-tasting herbs also exhibit a bland taste, which helps drain dampness through [[diuresis]]. Sour taste most often is [[astringent]] or consolidates, while bitter taste dispels heat, purges the [[bowel]]s and get rid of dampness by drying them out. Salty tastes soften hard masses as well as purge and open the bowels. ===The Meridians=== The Meridians refer to which organs the herb acts upon. For example, menthol is pungent, cool and is linked with the lungs and the liver. Since the lungs is the organ which protects the body from invasion from cold and [[influenza]], [[menthol]] can help purge coldness in the lungs and invading heat toxins caused by hot "wind." ==Chinese patent medicine== {{mainarticle|Chinese patent medicine}} [[Image:ChinesePatent-PlumFlower.png|thumb|right|250px|Characteristic little black pills of Chinese patent medicine]] '''Chinese patent medicine''' ([[traditional Chinese]]: 中成藥, [[Simplified Chinese]]: 中成药, [[pinyin]]: zhōng chéng yào) is a kind of [[traditional Chinese medicine]]. They are [[standardization|standardized]] [[Herbalism|herbal]] formulas. Several herbs and other ingredients are dried and ground. They are then mixed into a powder and formed into pills. The [[Binder (material)|binder]] is traditionally [[honey]]. They are characteristically little round black pills. Chinese patent medicines are easy and convenient. They are not easy to customize on a patient-by-patient basis, however. They are best used when a patient's condition is not severe and the medicine can be taken as a long-term treatment. These medicines are not "[[patent]]ed" in the traditional sense of the word. No one has [[exclusive right]]s to the formula. Instead, "patent" refers to the [[standardization]] of the formula. All Chinese patent medicines of the same name will have the same proportions of ingredients. ==50 fundamental herbs== In Chinese herbology, there are 50 "fundamental herbs."<ref>Wong, Ming (1976). ''La Médecine chinoise par les plantes''. Le Corps a Vivre series. Éditions Tchou.</ref> These include: #''[[Agastache rugosa]]''<ref name="pfafagast">{{cite web|url=http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Agastache+rugosa |title=Agastache rugosa - Plants For A Future database report |accessdate=2008-02-14 }}</ref> - huò xiāng ([[wiktionary:藿|藿]][[wiktionary:香|香]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200019465 |title=Agastache rugosa in Flora of China @ efloras.org |accessdate=2008-02-19 }}</ref> #''[[Alangium chinense]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Alangium+chinense |title=Alangium chinense - Plants For A Future database report |accessdate=2008-02-05 |date=June 2004 |publisher=Plants for a Future }}</ref> - bā jiǎo fēng ([[wiktionary:八|八]][[wiktionary:角|角]][[wiktionary:枫|枫]])<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200014707 |title=Alangium chinense in Flora of China @ efloras.org |accessdate=2008-02-14 }}</ref> #''[[Anemone chinensis]]'' (syn. ''Pulsatilla chinensis'')<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?404160 |title=Anemone chinensis information from NPGS/GRIN |accessdate=2008-02-05 |publisher=[[USDA]], ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. }}</ref> - bái tóu weng <!--need tone for third syllable-->([[wiktionary:白|白]][[wiktionary:头|头]][[wiktionary:翁|翁]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?404160 |title=Anemone chinensis information from NPGS/GRIN |accessdate=2008-02-05 |publisher=[[USDA]], ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. }}</ref><ref name="alangium-efloras">{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200014707 |title=Alangium chinense in Flora of China @ efloras.org |accessdate=2008-02-14 }}</ref><!--THIS APPEARS TO BE THE WRONG PLANT--> #''[[Anisodus tanguticus]]'' - shān làng dàng ([[wiktionary:山|山]][[wiktionary:莨|莨]][[wiktionary:菪|菪]])<ref name="efloras">{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200020508|title=Anisodus tanguticus in Flora of China @efloras.org|accessdate=2008-02-05 }}</ref><!--check this; is there a fourth character 属?--> #''[[Ardisia japonica]]'' - zǐ jīn niú ([[wiktionary:紫|紫]][[wiktionary:金|金]][[wiktionary:牛|牛]])<ref name=foc>Flora of China: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200016777 ''Ardisia japonica'']</ref> #''[[Aster tataricus]]'' - zǐ wǎn ([[wiktionary:紫|紫]][[wiktionary:菀|菀]]) #''[[Astragalus propinquus]]'' (syn. ''Astragalus membranaceus'')<ref name="ildis">{{cite web|url=http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb?version~10.01&LegumeWeb&tno~16104 |title=Astragalus propinquus |accessdate=2008-01-03 |date=2005-11-01 |work=ILDIS LegumeWeb |publisher=International Legume Database & Information Service }}</ref> - huáng qí ([[wiktionary:黄|黄]][[wiktionary:芪|芪]])<ref name="althealing-huang-qi">{{cite web|url=http://alternativehealing.org/huang_qi.htm |title=Huang qi, Complementary and Alternative Healing University |accessdate=2008-02-19 }}</ref> or běi qí ([[wiktionary:北|北]][[wiktionary:芪|芪]])<ref name="althealing-huang-qi"/> #''[[Camellia sinensis]]'' - chá shù ([[wiktionary:茶|茶]][[wiktionary:树|树]]) or chá yè ([[wiktionary:茶|茶]][[wiktionary:叶|叶]])<!--former genus name:''Thea''--> #''[[Cannabis sativa]]'' - dà má ([[wiktionary:大|大]][[wiktionary:麻|麻]]) #''[[Safflower|Carthamus tinctorius]]'' - hóng huā ([[wiktionary:红|红]][[wiktionary:花|花]])<!--check tone for "hong"--> #''[[Cassia|Cinnamomum cassia]]'' - ròu gùi ([[wiktionary:肉|肉]][[wiktionary:桂|桂]]) #''[[Cissampelos pareira]]'' - xí shēng téng ([[wiktionary:锡|锡]][[wiktionary:生|生]][[wiktionary:藤|藤]]) or ([[wiktionary:亞|亞]][[wiktionary:乎|乎]][[wiktionary:奴|奴]])<!--get pinyin for second set of characters--> #''[[Coptis chinensis]]'' - duǎn è huáng lián ([[wiktionary:短|短]][[wiktionary:萼|萼]][[wiktionary:黄|黄]][[wiktionary:连|连]])<!--other species: ''teeta''?--> #''[[Corydalis ambigua]]'' - yán hú suǒ ([[wiktionary:延|延]][[wiktionary:胡|胡]][[wiktionary:索|索]])<!--also add variety name?--> #''[[Croton tiglium]]'' - bā dòu ([[wiktionary:巴|巴]][[wiktionary:豆|豆]])<!--need to check--> #''[[Daphne genkwa]]'' - yuán huā ([[wiktionary:芫|芫]][[wiktionary:花|花]]) #''[[Datura metel]]'' - yáng jīn huā<!--check pinyin--> ([[wiktionary:洋|洋]][[wiktionary:金|金]][[wiktionary:花|花]])<!--also add other Chinese names--> #''[[Datura stramonium]]'' (syn. ''Datura tatula'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?13323 |title=Datura stramonium information from NPGS/GRIN |accessdate=2008-02-05 }}</ref> - zǐ huā màn tuó luó ([[wiktionary:紫|紫]][[wiktionary:花|花]][[wiktionary:曼|曼]][[wiktionary:陀|陀]][[wiktionary:萝|萝]]) #''[[Dendrobium nobile]]'' - shí hú ([[wiktionary:石|石]][[wiktionary:斛|斛]]) or shí hú lán ([[wiktionary:石|石]][[wiktionary:斛|斛]][[wiktionary:兰|兰]]) #''[[Dichroa febrifuga]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Dichroa+febrifuga |title=Dichroa febrifuga - Plants For A Future database report |accessdate=2008-02-05 }}</ref> - cháng shān ([[wiktionary:常|常]][[wiktionary:山|山]]) #''[[Ephedra sinica]]'' - cǎo má huáng ([[wiktionary:草|草]][[wiktionary:麻|麻]][[wiktionary:黄|黄]])<!--can someone check the pinyin and tones?--> #''[[Eucommia|Eucommia ulmoides]]'' - dù zhòng ([[wiktionary:杜|杜]][[wiktionary:仲|仲]]) #''[[Euphorbia pekinensis]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Euphorbia+pekinensis |title=Euphorbia pekinensis - Plants For A Future database report |accessdate=2008-02-05 }}</ref> - dà jǐ ([[wiktionary:大|大]][[wiktionary:戟|戟]]) #''[[Flueggea suffruticosa]]'' (formerly ''[[Securinega]] suffruticosa'') - yī yè qiū ([[wiktionary:一|一]][[wiktionary:叶|叶]][[wiktionary:秋|秋]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Securinega+suffruticosa |title=Securinega suffruticosa - Plants For A Future database report |accessdate=2008-02-06 }}</ref> #''[[Forsythia suspensa]]'' - liánqiào ([[wiktionary:连|连]][[wiktionary:翘|翘]])<!--maybe qiáo? check tone of second syllable--> #''[[Gentian]]a loureiroi'' - dì dīng ([[wiktionary:地|地]][[wiktionary:丁|丁]])<!--Or loureirii?--> #''[[Gleditsia sinensis]]'' - zào jiá ([[wiktionary:皂|皂]][[wiktionary:荚|荚]])<!--Chinese name needs to be checked--> #''[[Glycyrrhiza uralensis]]'' - gān cǎo ([[wiktionary:甘|甘]][[wiktionary:草|草]])<ref name="pfaf">{{cite web|url=http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Glycyrrhiza+uralensis |title=Glycyrrhiza uralensis - Plants For A Future database report |accessdate=2008-02-08 }}</ref> #''[[Hydnocarpus anthelminticus]]'' (syn. ''H. anthelminthica'') - dà fēng zǐ ([[wiktionary:大|大]][[wiktionary:风|风]][[wiktionary:子|子]]) #''[[Ilex purpurea]]'' - dōngqīng ([[wiktionary:冬|冬]][[wiktionary:青|青]])<!--or Ilex chinensis?--> #''[[Leonurus japonicus]]'' - yì mǔ cǎo ([[wiktionary:益|益]][[wiktionary:母|母]][[wiktionary:草|草]])<!--also species ''sibiricus''?--> #''[[Ligusticum wallichii]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ligusticum+wallichii |title=Ligusticum wallichii - Plants For A Future database report |accessdate=2008-02-21 }}</ref> - chuān xiōng ([[wiktionary:川|川]][[wiktionary:芎|芎]]) #''[[Lobelia chinensis]]'' - bàn biān lián ([[wiktionary:半|半]][[wiktionary:边|边]][[wiktionary:莲|莲]]) #''[[Phellodendron amurense]]'' - huáng bǎi ([[wiktionary:黄|黄]][[wiktionary:柏|柏]]) #''[[Platycladus orientalis]]'' (formerly ''Thuja orientalis'') - cèbǎi ([[wiktionary:侧|侧]][[wiktionary:柏|柏]]) #''[[Pseudolarix amabilis]]'' - jīn qián sōng ([[wiktionary:金|金]][[wiktionary:钱|钱]][[wiktionary:松|松]]) #''[[Psilopeganum sinense]]'' - shān má huáng ([[wiktionary:山|山]][[wiktionary:麻|麻]][[wiktionary:黄|黄]]) #''[[Kudzu|Pueraria lobata]]'' - gé gēn ([[wiktionary:葛|葛]][[wiktionary:根|根]]) #''[[Rauwolfia serpentina]]'' - shégēnmù ([[wiktionary:蛇|蛇]][[wiktionary:根|根]][[wiktionary:木|木]]), cóng shégēnmù ([[wiktionary:從|從]][[wiktionary:蛇|蛇]][[wiktionary:根|根]][[wiktionary:木|木]]), or yìndù shé mù ([[wiktionary:印|印]][[wiktionary:度|度]][[wiktionary:蛇|蛇]][[wiktionary:木|木]]) #''[[Rehmannia glutinosa]]'' - dìhuáng ([[wiktionary:地|地]][[wiktionary:黄|黄]]) or gān dìhuáng ([[wiktionary:干|干]][[wiktionary:地|地]][[wiktionary:黄|黄]])<!--looks like [[干]] simply means "dry"--><ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Rehmannia+glutinosa Rehmannia glutinosa<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> #''[[Rheum officinale]]'' - yào yòng dà huáng ([[wiktionary:药|药]][[wiktionary:用|用]][[wiktionary:大|大]][[wiktionary:黄|黄]]) #''[[Rhododendron]] tsinghaiense'' - Qīng hǎi dù juān<!--check pinyin--> ([[wiktionary:青|青]][[wiktionary:海|海]][[wiktionary:杜|杜]][[wiktionary:鹃|鹃]])<!--need to check--> #''[[Saussurea costus]]'' - yún mù xiāng ([[wiktionary:云|云]][[wiktionary:木|木]][[wiktionary:香|香]]) #''[[Schisandra chinensis]]'' - wǔ wèi zi ([[wiktionary:五|五]][[wiktionary:味|味]][[wiktionary:子|子]]) #''[[Scutellaria baicalensis]]'' - huáng qín ([[wiktionary:黄|黄]][[wiktionary:芩|芩]]) #''[[Stemona tuberosa]]'' - bǎi bù ([[wiktionary:百|百]][[wiktionary:部|部]]) #''[[Stephania tetrandra]]'' - fáng jǐ ([[wiktionary:防|防]][[wiktionary:己|己]])<!--find alternate names--> #''[[Styphnolobium japonicum]]'' (formerly ''Sophora japonica'') - huái ([[wiktionary:槐|槐]]), huái shù ([[wiktionary:槐|槐]][[wiktionary:树|树]]), or huái huā ([[wiktionary:槐|槐]][[wiktionary:花|花]])<!--need to check--> #''[[Trichosanthes kirilowii]]'' - guā lóu ([[wiktionary:栝|栝]][[wiktionary:楼|楼]]) #''[[Wikstroemia indica]]'' - liǎo gē wáng ([[wiktionary:了|了]][[wiktionary:哥|哥]][[wiktionary:王|王]]) ==References== ===Footnotes=== {{reflist}} ===General references=== *Wong, Ming (1976). ''La Médecine chinoise par les plantes''. Le Corps a Vivre series. <!--no place of publication (maybe Paris, France?)-->Éditions Tchou. ==See also== *[[Chinese herbs]] * ''[[Compendium of Materia Medica]]'' * [[Herbalism]], for the use of medicinal herbs in other traditions. * [[Li Shizhen]] * [[Medical plant certification]] * [[Pharmacognosy]] * [[Star anise]] * [[Japanese star anise]] * [[Traditional Chinese medicine]] * [[Traditional Japanese medicine]] * [[Traditional Korean medicine]] * ''[[Yaoxing Lun]]'' ==External links== {{Wikiquote|Traditional Chinese medicine}} * [http://www.acupuncture-and-chinese-medicine.com/list-of-chinese-herbs.html List of Chinese Herbs] * [http://www.acupuncture.com.au/education/herbs/herbs.html Herbs] - A comprehensive listing of Chinese herbs grouped by their action *[http://alternativehealing.org/chinese_herbs_dictionary.htm Chinese herb dictionary] *[http://www.calmspirit.com/ieaphrb.htm Internal and External Application of Chinese Herbal Medicinals] *[http://www.plumdragonherbs.com/catalog A Range of Chinese Herbs Used in Martial Arts] *[http://alternativehealing.org/herb_toxic_to_kidneys.htm Herbs That Can Be Toxic to the Kidneys] *[http://shen-nong.com/eng/herbal/index.html Classic Formulae of Traditional Chinese Medicine] ===Educational resources=== *[http://www.aimc.edu Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley | Acupuncture School] - [http://aimc.edu/acupuncture-school/herbology.html Chinese Herbal Medicine] ([[Berkeley, CA]]) *[http://www.tai.edu Tai Sophia Institute] - [http://tai.edu/programs/continuing_education/chinese_herb_certification_program.html Chinese Herb Certificate Program] ([[Laurel, MD]]) *[http://www.ich-herbschool.com Institute of Chinese Herbology] ([[Concord, CA]]) [[Category:Medicinal plants]] [[Category:Traditional Chinese medicine]] [[Category:Pharmacy]] [[Category:Plants used in Traditional Chinese medicine|*]] [[es:Fitoterapia china]] [[fr:Herbologie chinoise]] [[ja:漢方薬]] [[pt:Fitoterapia chinesa]] [[zh-yue:中藥]] [[zh:中药]]