8/12/2019 material medica 1

1/19

MATERIA MEDICA I

8/12/2019 material medica 1

2/19

Actions and Classification of Herbs

Actions correspond with an herbs thermal

property, tastes and channels

Effect on specific organs has become the

predominant method for understandingactions of herbs

Today, herbs are classified into categories

according to their actions Some herbs have actions belonging to more

than one category

8/12/2019 material medica 1

3/19

Classification by Category

The Bensky Materia Medica classifies

herbs into 19 categories based on each

herbs primary function

Knowing the properties, functions, andherbal constituents of each category is

an invaluable aid to learning herbal

medicine

8/12/2019 material medica 1

4/19

List of Categories

1. Release the Exterior

2. Clear Heat

3. Downward-Draining

4. Drain Dampness5. Dispel Wind-Dampness

6. Transform Phlegm and

Stop Coughing

7. Aromatic to TransformDampness

8. Relieve Food Stagnation

9. Regulate Qi

10. Regulate Blood

11. Warm the Interiorand Expel Cold

12. Tonifying

13. Stabilize and Bind14. Calm the Spirit

15. Aromatic to Open theOrifices

16. Extinguish Wind andStop Tremors

17. Expel Parasites

18. Topical Application

8/12/2019 material medica 1

5/19

HERBS THAT RELEASE THE

EXTERIORDefinition: substances that dispel pathogenic factors

from the external and superficial parts of the body

General properties:

Temperature: Warm or cool

Taste: Acrid

Channel: Lung

Direction: Floating (outwards)

Common disorders: common cold, influenza,

respiratory allergies, arthritis

8/12/2019 material medica 1

6/19

HERBS THAT RELEASE THE

EXTERIORSUBCATEGORIES

Warm Acrid Herbs that Release the Exteriorwarm

and acrid, dispel Wind-Cold and induce sweating

(diaphoresis)

Cool Acrid Herbs that Release the Exteriorcool and

acrid, dispel Wind-Heat and reduce swelling and

inflammation

8/12/2019 material medica 1

7/19

Warm Acrid Herbs that

Release the Exterior

m hung Acrid, sl. bitter

Warm

Lung, Bladder

Induces sweating

Calms wheezing Promotes urination

Ephedrae Herba

8/12/2019 material medica 1

8/19

Cool Acrid Herbs that

Release the Exterior

b h Acrid

Cool, aromatic

Lung, Liver

Disperses wind-heat

Cools and clears eyes and

head

Soothes the throat

Facilitates flow of Liver qi

Menthae haplocalycis Herba

8/12/2019 material medica 1

9/19

Case for Exterior Releasing

Herbs

Susan caught a cold 3 days ago. She feels

warm and has a fever of 100.1F but she

also has chills and aversion to wind. Her

throat is sore and dry, she has a headache,and she is perspiring a little bit. Her tongue

has a thin yellow coating and her pulse is

superficial and rapid.

Which herbal sub-category is appropriate?

What is the exemplar herb?

8/12/2019 material medica 1

10/19

HERBS THAT CLEAR HEAT

Definition: substances that treat internal heat

disorders

General properties:

Temperature: Cold

Taste: Bitter (sweet if nourishing yin)

Channel: Various

Direction: Descending

Common disorders: febrile diseases, skin conditions

with redness and warmth, purulent infections and

abscesses, epidemic viral infections, dysentery,

urinary difficulty or pain, jaundice

8/12/2019 material medica 1

11/19

HERBS THAT CLEAR HEATSUBCATEGORIES PROPERTIES ACTIONS

Drain Fire Sweet and bitter

LU and ST chs

Strongly clear heat and purge

fire from the qi level, for high

fevers and inflammation

Cool the Blood Bitter and sweet,

or salty

HT and LIV chs

Heat in the nutritive and blood

levels with changes in

consciousness, bleeding,rashes

Clear Heat and Dry

Dampness

Bitter

LIV, GB, LI chs,

Damp-heat disorders including

jaundice, dysentery, painful

urination, skin conditions

Clear Heat andResolve Toxicity

Bitter to clear heatand eliminate

toxins

Purulent sores and abscessesand viral infections

Clear Heat from

Deficiency [of Yin]

Sweet

KD and LIV chs

Heat symptoms due to

deficiency of yin or late stage

febrile diseases

8/12/2019 material medica 1

12/19

HERBS THAT CLEAR

HEAT

http://eczematreatmentblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/20090513-eczema-04.jpg

8/12/2019 material medica 1

13/19

Herbs that Drain Fire

sh go Sweet, acrid

Very cold

Lung, Stomach

Clears heat anddrains fire (high

fever) Eczema, burns,

ulcerated sores(topical)

Gypsum Fibrosum

8/12/2019 material medica 1

14/19

Herbs that Cool the Blood

shng d hung Sweet, bitter

Cold

Heart, Liver, Kidney

Cools the blood

Clears heat Nourishes the yin

Rehmanniae Radix

8/12/2019 material medica 1

15/19

Herbs that Clear Heat and Dry

Dampness

hung qn Bitter

Cold

Lung, Stomach,Gallbladder, Large

Intestine

Clears heat

Dries dampness

Quiets the fetus

Scutellariae Radix

8/12/2019 material medica 1

16/19

Herbs that Clear Heat and

Resolve Toxicity

jnyn hu Sweet

Cold

Large Intestine,Lung, Stomach

Disperses heat

Resolves toxicity Clears damp-heat

from the lowerburner

Lonicerae Flos

8/12/2019 material medica 1

17/19

Herbs that Clear Heat from

Deficiency

qng ho Bitter

Cold

Liver, Kidney,Gallbladder

Clears heat from

deficiency Clears summer

heat

Treats malaria

Artemisiae annuae Herba

8/12/2019 material medica 1

18/19

Case #1 for Heat Clearing

Herbs

John is a new patient. You immediately

notice that his complexion and sclera are

yellow. He complains of malaise, poor

appetite, abdominal distention, and darkyellow urine. His tongue coating is yellow

and greasy. His pulse is rolling and rapid.

Which herbal sub-category is appropriate? What is the exemplar herb?

8/12/2019 material medica 1

19/19

Case #2 for Heat Clearing Herbs

Sam has been ill for several days and his

symptoms are getting worse. He is running a

very high fever and sweating. His face is

flushed and he feels restless and irritable. Heasks for cold water. His tongue body is red

and his pulse is rapid and forceful.

Which herbal sub-category is appropriate?

What is the exemplar herb?

According to the interaction of mutual

acceptance (xiang xu), which herb should you

combine with the exemplar herb?