How Chinese herbal medicine divides common complaints into patterns, and which formulas fit them.
This overview shows how the tradition thinks; it is not a treatment plan. Always have complaints assessed by a doctor and use formulas only under guidance.
Treatment by condition
Digestion
In Chinese medicine, digestion is central. The stomach is the superficial yang side where food is broken down; the 'spleen' is the deeper yin side where food and fluids are transformed. The 'acquired qi' comes from the spleen. Cold in the stomach and spleen roughly corresponds to a slow metabolism, with little energy, low resistance and poor absorption. Dampness (both a damp climate and fatty, oily food and mucilaginous herbs such as rehmannia) burdens the spleen and causes oedema, heaviness, bloating and loose stools. For the spleen, warm, pungent herbs such as tangerine peel and mu xiang are used, diuretics such as fu ling, and qi tonics such as ginseng and bai zhu. According to tradition, the stomach should be cool and the spleen warm. The mouth is an extension of the stomach: stomach heat can also show as mouth ulcers, gum inflammation and toothache. Stress and emotions also affect digestion; calming remedies are then combined with herbs such as chai hu, which balance liver and spleen.
Indigestion
The book distinguishes indigestion from excess and from deficiency.
Food stagnation
Bloated abdomen, heartburn, poor appetite and constipation or diarrhoea.Bao he wan
Qi stagnation
Distended, bloated abdomen and heartburn.Yue ju wan
Weakness, fatigue, poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, anaemia and oedema. Liu jun zi tang is the model formula when spleen deficiency leads to dampness; si jun zi tang is milder and mainly strengthens the qi.Shen ling bai zhu sanLiu jun zi tangSi jun zi tang
Spleen yang deficiency
Like spleen deficiency, but with cold; often a further step when spleen deficiency has not been treated properly.Li zhong wan
Yang deficiency of spleen and kidney
Like spleen yang deficiency, with diarrhoea early in the morning (around five o'clock). Use li zhong wan with aconite (fu zi li zhong wan).Li zhong wan
Also in the bookA well-known Chinese patent remedy, Curing Pills, is used for indigestion, food stagnation, a hangover and complaints from a sudden change of food, for example when travelling.
Stomach pain
Stomach pain is often related to the relationship between stomach and liver.
Severe or persistent stomach pain, vomiting blood or black stools: see a doctor at once.
Flatulence
Flatulence has many causes, such as too rapid a change of diet, too few liver enzymes, eating too much or eating hurriedly and tensely. According to the book, a poor combination of foods is the main cause: light food such as juice, fruit and raw vegetables together with heavy carbohydrates such as whole grains and beans. People who have just become vegetarian often suffer more. Indian and Asian cuisines therefore add warming spices such as ginger, garlic, asafoetida and curry.
When the stomach qi rises with fluid, xuan fu hua works very well.Xuan fu dai zhe tang
Persistent vomiting, vomiting in a baby or dehydration: see a doctor. Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that needs professional help.
Stomach ulcer and gastritis
A stomach ulcer is a round, eroded spot in the lining of the stomach or duodenum; in gastritis the lining is more diffusely inflamed. Both are chronic and can recur, depending on food and stress; the bacterium Helicobacter pylori often plays a role. Typical is a burning feeling in the upper middle of the abdomen, just below the ribs, a full feeling after eating and weight loss; the pain is often worse on an empty stomach, at night or between meals and can radiate to the back. Stop smoking, reduce stress and avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatories, alcohol and caffeine.
With dryness because the essence of liver and kidney declines.Yi guan jian
Spleen qi deficiency
With weakness, fatigue and indigestion.Li zhong wan
Complications are bleeding (black stools or vomiting blood), narrowing (increasing pain, vomiting and a bloated abdomen) and perforation (suddenly a hard, rigid abdomen). A perforation is an emergency (call 112). Helicobacter is treated with antibiotics.
Hiccups
In Chinese medicine mainly 'rebellious qi': liver and stomach qi move upwards too strongly.
General
Xuan fu dai zhe tang works specifically; persimmon calyx in shi di tang is also a well-known remedy.Xuan fu dai zhe tangShi di tang
With gas formation, internal cold and sluggish digestion
Diarrhoea with blood, high fever or dehydration, and diarrhoea in babies and the elderly: see a doctor at once.
Haemorrhoids
Haemorrhoids are fleshy swellings on the inside or outside of the anus. The book distinguishes four kinds of external haemorrhoids: varicose (mainly when straining or squatting), connective-tissue haemorrhoids (a skin fold with itching after a bowel movement), thrombosed haemorrhoids (a purplish-blue lump with a hard ball of clotted blood) and inflamed haemorrhoids (acute, very painful swelling without a ball). Internal haemorrhoids start inside the anal margin and can grow until they come out; they pass through three stages: bleeding with a small haemorrhoid, bleeding with a haemorrhoid that goes back by itself or by hand, and heavy bleeding with a haemorrhoid that no longer goes back.
Internal
Use huai hua san, or the Chinese patent remedy Fargelin.Huai hua san
Also in the bookFor external use the book describes an ointment of oak bark, agrimony, bayberry bark, yarrow, echinacea, comfrey and calendula, to be applied or inserted.
Always have blood with the stool investigated, even if you think it is haemorrhoids.
Ulcerative colitis
An inflammation of the large intestine with abdominal pain, stools with mucus and pus, recurring diarrhoea and sometimes fever. In severe cases there is also bleeding, more than six bowel movements a day, fever and nausea, resulting in weight loss and anaemia. According to the book the formulas can be supplemented with tree peony bark, red peony and peach kernel.
Huai hua san without bitter orange, with white peony, great burnet, bai ji, cuttlefish bone and huang qin.Huai hua san
Ulcerative colitis is a serious chronic disease that must be treated by a gastroenterologist.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis A is transmitted through contaminated stools or saliva, for example when flies land on faeces and then on food. Complaints are nausea, vomiting, indigestion, pain in the upper right abdomen, weakness, fatigue, yellow eyes and skin, irritability, dark urine and pale stools. In Chinese medicine it is usually damp heat in liver or gallbladder, or spleen qi deficiency with accumulated dampness and a dominating liver.
Damp heat in the liver
Yin chen hao tang is the specific formula for this, also for gallstones and cholecystitis.Yin chen hao tang
Also in the bookAccording to the book, woad leaf or root and schisandra can be added to these formulas; Chinese research showed that schisandra can lower raised liver values.
Hepatitis must always be diagnosed and followed up by a doctor. Effective medicines exist for hepatitis B and C.
Liver cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is irreversible liver damage, usually from alcohol. Many complications can occur, such as bleeding in the stomach and intestine, heart failure, stomach ulcers and malnutrition. In Chinese terms it is deficiency (spleen, kidney, liver) and excess (cold and hot dampness, stagnation of blood and qi) at the same time.
Zhen wu tang with fu ling, akebia, areca peel, water plantain and zhu ling.Zhen wu tang
Also in the bookFor severe ascites and swelling, the book mentions the formula zhou che wan, which contains very strong, toxic purgatives.
Liver cirrhosis is a life-threatening disease that must be treated by a gastroenterologist. Many herbs burden the liver; always consult the doctor.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
Complaints are sudden sweating, nausea, fainting or feeling faint, weakness, a red face and a rapid heartbeat; at night it can cause nightmares or interrupted sleep. Causes are side effects of medicines, adrenal insufficiency (rare), after meals, after exercise, fasting, alcohol and insulin (often from a skipped meal). Blood sugar is easy to measure with a finger prick.
Spleen and heart deficiency with emotional and neurological complaints
In a hypo: take fast-acting sugar at once (glucose, lemonade). Unconsciousness from a hypo is an emergency (call 112). Have recurring hypos investigated.
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes is a disorder in the processing of carbohydrates due to too little (effective) insulin, with much urination, thirst, itching, hunger, weakness and weight loss; the frequent urination can also make the skin dry. The diagnosis is made with blood and urine tests. In Chinese medicine it is called 'inner wasting and thirst', divided into an upper, middle and lower form; the cause is irregular eating, changing emotions and a yin-deficient constitution, with kidney yin deficiency as the basis. The upper form gives heat and yin deficiency in the lung with thirst and much urination; the middle form also more appetite and hunger; the lower form (kidney yin deficiency) tinnitus, nocturnal emission, night sweats, warmth in palms, soles and chest and a dry mouth.
Upper form
Bai hu tang with ginseng (bai hu jia ren shen tang).Bai hu tang
The book states that type 2 diabetes can often be cured with less sugar and herbs. Diabetes must always be treated and monitored medically; never stop or change medication yourself. Herbs can affect blood sugar; consult your doctor when using insulin or tablets.
Overactive thyroid
An overactive thyroid often goes together with an enlarged thyroid (goitre), according to the book from a low iodine level, or with Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease. Complaints are palpitations, weight loss, poor heat tolerance, bulging eyes, high blood pressure and anxiety.
Thyroid diseases must be treated by a doctor. Iodine-rich seaweed can actually worsen an overactive thyroid.
Underactive thyroid
In an underactive thyroid, the thyroid makes too little hormone. Primary cases are usually due to Hashimoto's disease, in which the immune system attacks the thyroid; secondary cases are due to too little stimulation from the pituitary gland. Complaints are feeling cold, thin, dry, brittle hair, fatigue and muscle weakness, slow reflexes, a low body temperature, unexplained weight gain and dry skin. Chinese herbal medicine recommends seaweed in the diet and uses formulas that stimulate the yang of kidney and spleen.
An underactive thyroid is treated with thyroid hormone; always consult the doctor.
Lupus (SLE)
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, possibly with a strong hereditary component, that can affect many organs and connective tissue. At first the complaints are vague: fatigue, poor appetite, weight loss, joint pain, mild fever, sensitivity to sunlight and rash (often a butterfly-shaped rash in the middle of the face). Later the liver, kidneys, heart and blood vessels, digestion and nervous system can be affected; kidney failure is the main cause of death.
Heat from excess
Sudden onset, high fever, a red face, red rash and spots, irritability, thirst, joint complaints, constipation and scanty dark urine; in severe cases coma and delirium.Xi jiao di huang tang
Internal heat from yin deficiency
Mild afternoon fever, warm palms and soles, dark red rash, night sweats, fatigue, insomnia, painful joints and back and hair loss.Qing hao bie jia tang
Yang deficiency of spleen and kidney
A pale face, oedema of face and limbs, a distended abdomen, cold limbs, shortness of breath, loose stools and frequent urination.Wu ling san
Also in the bookFor each type, the book describes an adapted version of the formula; see the variations on the formula page.
Lupus must be treated by a rheumatologist. Herbs can at most be complementary, in consultation with the practitioner.
Thrombocytopenic purpura
An autoimmune disease in which platelets are broken down, with bruises, bleeding and consequently infections. Occurs mainly in children and young adults, more often in women. The acute form often follows a viral infection and begins suddenly with chills, fever, bruises and bleeding of skin and mucous membranes; the chronic form alternates with quiet periods and often goes together with an enlarged spleen.
Bleeding from heat in the blood
Sudden onset with fever, many deep purple spots, blood in the urine and a red face.Xi jiao di huang tang
Fire from yin deficiency
More purplish-red spots, mainly on the legs, with dizziness, tinnitus, warm palms and soles, night sweats, bleeding gums, nosebleeds and heavy menstruation.Zuo gui wan
Spleen qi deficiency
Lighter, pink spots that come and go, with fatigue, dizziness, palpitations and poor appetite.Gui pi tang
A low platelet count can cause life-threatening bleeding and must be treated by an internist or haematologist. Many blood-moving herbs increase the risk of bleeding.
Cancer
According to the book, cancer in China today is rarely treated with herbs alone. Where possible, the tumour is first treated surgically or in another medical way; herbs are used as a complement to reduce side effects, support recovery and help prevent recurrence. The book describes five strategies: moving qi and blood (including tangerine peel, mu xiang, agarwood, nutgrass rhizome, dang gui, chuanxiong, dan shen and yan hu suo); softening hardenings (sargassum, kelp, self-heal, bei mu, gua lou); transforming phlegm and dampness (ban xia, fu ling, zhu ling, lingzhi, Job's tears); driving out 'toxin' (including huang lian, huang qin, dandelion, houttuynia and ku shen); and supporting the body's own strength with tonics for qi, blood and yin.
Support during radiotherapy and chemotherapy
The book mentions a combination of lingzhi, huang qi and privet fruit.
Herbs do not cure cancer and must never replace or delay treatment. Many herbs interact with chemotherapy and other cancer medication: use them only in consultation with the treatment team.
Treatment by condition
Respiratory tract
For upper respiratory complaints from wind and cold (cold, chills, aching body, cough with thin, watery phlegm, no sweating, a superficial, tight pulse) the book uses ma huang tang. For wind and heat (fever, aversion to heat, sore throat, slight chills, sweating, cough with thicker yellow phlegm, a rapid pulse and a reddish tongue) yin qiao san. According to the book, the first picture corresponds to a common cold and the second to flu.
Colds, cough and bronchitis
Chills without sweating, in a stronger constitution
High fever, breathlessness, cough lasting longer than three weeks or coughing up blood: see your GP.
Asthma and emphysema
Asthma is a reversible narrowing of the smaller airways, triggered by allergy, weather changes, stress, colds, emotions, exertion or unknown factors. Typical are sudden wheezing (especially when breathing out), a tight feeling in the chest and a dry or phlegmy cough, often after previous attacks. In emphysema (COPD) the feeling of narrowing is absent and wheezing, shortness of breath and cough develop more gradually; smoking is a common cause, as is long-term exposure to substances such as asbestos, quartz and coal dust.
Inability to sweat
Ma huang tang, especially with zi wan, apricot kernel, coltsfoot flower, gua lou and bai bu.Ma huang tang
Can also be used in between, between the ma huang formulas.Xiao chai hu tang
Heat
With thick yellow phlegm, more thirst and a red face.Ding chuan tang
Asthma and COPD must be treated medically; never stop prescribed inhalers. An asthma attack with severe breathlessness or blue lips is an emergency (call 112). Ma huang (ephedra) is dangerous for the heart and blood pressure.
Flu and pneumonia
Flu is a common viral infection of the airways, especially in winter, that spreads via droplets (as when sneezing) and via eyes and mouth. Washing your hands and not touching your face after contact with a sick person reduce the risk. After one to six days come fever (the difference from a cold), chills, a runny nose, sore throat, swollen glands, headache on the forehead, muscle and joint pain, dry cough, chest pain and weakness. Children may wheeze. Flu usually passes by itself; according to the book yin qiao san could help prevent and shorten it. Flu can turn into pneumonia from bacteria or viruses.
Also in the bookAccording to the book, woad leaf and root, yuan zhi and houttuynia work strongly against viruses; they can be used alone or in the formulas.
Pneumonia is a serious disease that must be treated by a doctor, often with antibiotics. With breathlessness, confusion, or high fever in elderly or vulnerable people: call the GP at once.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs, but can also affect the meninges, kidneys and blood; the bacterium spreads through coughing. More and more TB is resistant to the usual drugs. In Chinese medicine it is lung yin deficiency, with dry, chronic cough (sometimes with blood), weight loss, heat in palms, soles and chest, night sweats, fever and chills. According to the book itself, herbs work only moderately here.
Tuberculosis is a notifiable infectious disease that must be treated with a long course of antibiotics. Anyone who may have been exposed should get tested through the public health service. Herbs must never replace the treatment.
Pleurisy
A painful inflammation of the pleura, with a sharp, stabbing pain that is worst when breathing in and when moving the chest, on one or both sides. Together with shortness of breath it often points to a serious illness. Possible causes are pneumonia, a pulmonary embolism, a collapsed lung, lung cancer, rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, and tuberculosis. In Chinese medicine it falls under chest pain from stagnation.
Main formula
The book mentions gua lou xie bai bai jiu tang: gua lou and Chinese chive (xie bai) with rice wine, possibly supplemented with ban xia, dan shen, fu ling, yan hu suo or hou po.
Always have pain on breathing, especially with shortness of breath, assessed medically at once: it may be a pulmonary embolism or collapsed lung (call 112).
Allergies of the upper airways
In hay fever and allergic rhinitis the nasal lining becomes inflamed by triggers such as pollen, house dust, animal hair, moulds, food or grasses; seasonally or all year round. Chronically it can lead to polyps in the nose and sinuses. Typical are a clear, watery nasal discharge, an itchy nose, sneezing and watery, itchy eyes.
Allergy, sinusitis and headache on forehead and temples
Also in the bookTierra also mentions trikatu, the Ayurvedic blend of black pepper, long pepper and ginger that warms the digestion and dries dampness, and capsules with echinacea, goldenseal, garlic and goldenrod. An old home remedy for a blocked nose is a little grated horseradish with honey and vinegar: its sharpness makes the nose run.
Goldenseal not during pregnancy or for long periods.
Sore throat and hoarseness
Sore throat with a dry, burning feeling and a hoarse voice
Also in the bookFor hoarseness the book mentions chewing a piece of calamus root ('the singer's herb' in India) and licorice tea with honey.
Calamus contains asarone: do not swallow and do not use often. Have hoarseness that lasts longer than three weeks investigated.
Treatment by condition
Heart and blood vessels
Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death in Western countries and is strongly linked to lifestyle and diet. A heart attack is often the end point of, among other things, high blood pressure, strokes, atherosclerosis and angina pectoris. Known risk factors are heredity, stress, overweight, too little exercise, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking; many of them can be prevented. The book names dan shen, he shou wu, dang gui, lingzhi, notoginseng and ginseng as herbs often found in formulas for the heart and blood vessels.
Heart disease (general)
The heart governs the blood and the circulation. According to Chinese medicine, heart disease arises from stagnation of blood and qi and from deficiency of qi and yang. Heart pain usually comes from stagnation of heart blood, but can also arise from a weak heart muscle in heart qi deficiency, or oedema in heart yang deficiency. According to the book, herbs work more as nourishment for the whole body than as targeted medicine, and must be supported by changes in diet and lifestyle.
Deficiency of qi and yin with weakness, shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue and insomnia
According to the book specific for heart disease, especially with palpitations.Zhi gan cao tang
Also in the bookThe book also mentions hawthorn berry and blossom, linden blossom, night-blooming cereus (Cactus grandiflorus), lily of the valley, garlic and cayenne pepper.
Heart disease belongs with a cardiologist. Lily of the valley is very toxic to the heart: do not use. Many herbs interact with heart medication and blood thinners. Chest pain: call 112.
High blood pressure
Blood pressure is measured as systolic pressure (the force with which the heart contracts) and diastolic pressure (the pressure between beats); higher than 140 over 90 counts as high. In Chinese medicine high blood pressure is not a disease in itself, but part of a broader pattern of imbalance; lifestyle and diet come first.
Rising liver yang in a heavy, strong constitution with a large, swollen abdomen
As a base; with gou teng and tian ma for wind, self-heal and long dan cao for heat, plantain seed and long dan cao for dampness, and du zhong, sang ji sheng and Chinese dodder seed for yang deficiency.Liu wei di huang wan
Also in the bookAbalone shell, self-heal and long dan cao can be added as needed. Lightly roasted, ground cassia seed is a cooling coffee substitute; coffee warms and strengthens rising liver yang. The book also mentions triphala, guggul, garlic and hawthorn.
High blood pressure must be treated and monitored by a doctor; never stop blood pressure medication yourself. Herbs can affect how it works.
Low blood pressure
A systolic pressure of 90 or lower counts as low. This too is more a sign of imbalance than a disease, often together with an underactive thyroid, anaemia, dizziness, poor appetite and fatigue. Chronic qi deficiency can lead to low blood pressure; tonics are then given.
Also in the bookFor qi deficiency huang qi, ginseng and dang shen can be added. According to Chinese research, cinnamon twig in high doses raises blood pressure, especially together with huang qi; Western herbalists also use garlic and cayenne pepper.
Have fainting or dizziness on standing up investigated.
Atherosclerosis
In arteriosclerosis the arteries harden; in atherosclerosis fats and other substances accumulate in the vessel wall.
Also in the bookAccording to the book, he shou wu and dan shen lower cholesterol. Ayurveda uses triphala and guggul; Western herbalists use hawthorn, linden, garlic and liver herbs such as Oregon grape or barberry and artichoke leaf.
High cholesterol and atherosclerosis belong with the GP. He shou wu can damage the liver. Guggul and garlic interact with blood thinners.
Angina pectoris
Severe chest pain, difficulty breathing and a tight feeling in the chest, not caused by overeating or heavy exertion. The main cause is blood stagnation.
Main formula
The book mentions gua lou xie bai bai jiu tang, supplemented with four of these blood-moving herbs: dan shen, safflower, notoginseng, red peony, chuanxiong, yan hu suo and cinnamon twig.
The Chinese patent remedy Salvia Pills combines dan shen with borneol. Dan shen also works alone or together with Chinese motherwort.
Also in the bookThe book also mentions hawthorn berry, linden blossom, Chinese motherwort, cayenne pepper and garlic.
Chest pain is an emergency: call 112. Angina pectoris must be treated by a cardiologist; dan shen and other blood-moving herbs strengthen blood thinners.
Varicose veins
In Chinese medicine an expression of blood stagnation, not a disease in itself. Getting the blood moving comes first.
Si wu tang with safflower, peach kernel and dan shen.Si wu tang
Also in the bookThe book also mentions hong hua tao ren jian. Externally: a strong tea of witch hazel, white oak bark and/or horse chestnut with a pinch of cayenne pepper; soak a flannel cloth in it and apply it as warm as possible to the area for 20–30 minutes twice a day.
A warm, red, painful calf can indicate thrombosis: see your GP at once. Do not apply too hot.
Swollen lymph nodes
According to the book caused by lodged heat and phlegm.
Also in the bookSelf-heal, oyster shell, sargassum and kelp, alone or together, are the main herbs for goitre and swollen glands.
Glands that stay swollen longer than three weeks, are hard or painless, or go together with fever, night sweats or weight loss: have them investigated.
Treatment by condition
Urinary tract
In Chinese medicine, the urinary tract belongs to the kidney and bladder; the kidney governs the opening and closing of the bladder. Urinary tract infections usually arise from damp heat in the bladder.
Urinary tract infection
Typical are painful or burning, difficult and frequent urination. Cystitis is the more chronic form; in nephritis there is often also lower back pain.
Fever, flank pain, blood in the urine, complaints in men, children or pregnant women, or complaints that do not improve within a few days: see your GP. Pyelonephritis must be treated with antibiotics.
Frequent urination
There are various causes, including nephritis and an enlarged prostate.
In Western medicine often an autoimmune disease. Chinese medicine distinguishes excess and deficiency.
Excess from damp heat in the urinary tract, sometimes with stones
The book mentions san jin tang ('three-gold decoction').
Deficiency of kidney yin
According to more recent Chinese insight, blood stagnation also plays a part; protein in the urine is seen as a form of blood stagnation. Combine blood-moving herbs such as dan shen, thistle, tree peony bark and Chinese motherwort with liu wei di huang wan.Liu wei di huang wan
Kidney diseases must be treated by a nephrologist. Many herbs are excreted via the kidneys or can burden them.
Kidney stones
Small stones can usually be passed in the urine. According to the book, the same herbs work for kidney and gallstones: yin chen hao, akebia, rhubarb and turmeric.
Oedema can be a sign of heart, kidney or liver disease: have the cause investigated. Sudden swelling of one leg: think of thrombosis.
Treatment by condition
Female reproductive organs
Si wu tang is regarded as the basic formula for blood deficiency in gynaecology. Always discuss complaints around menstruation, pregnancy and menopause with a GP, midwife or gynaecologist.
Agrimony with notoginseng; according to the book also effective in bleeding from qi deficiency.
Functional bleeding around menopause
Si wu tang, or agrimony with notoginseng, together with kidney herbs such as xu duan, Chinese dodder seed, goji and prepared and raw rehmannia.Si wu tang
Heavy or irregular bleeding, bleeding after menopause or between periods: always have it investigated. Heavy bleeding with dizziness or fainting is an emergency.
Infertility
Deficiency of liver and kidney
The book mentions wu zi wan ('five seeds'): cuscuta, psoralea, schisandra, goji, plantain seed, Chinese raspberry and related herbs.
Blood stagnation in endometriosis
Si wu tang with nutgrass rhizome, yan hu suo and Chinese motherwort.Si wu tang
Blood stagnation, inflammation of ovaries or endometrium, or an abnormal position of the uterus
Have infertility investigated by your GP or gynaecologist. Stop herbs as soon as you are or want to become pregnant, unless your doctor or midwife agrees.
Tendency to miscarry
The book describes formulas to help prevent miscarriage.
Kidney yang deficiency
According to the book ba wei di huang wan with Chinese dodder seed, xu duan, du zhong, goji and privet fruit, sometimes with aconite.
During pregnancy use herbs only in consultation with a midwife or doctor. Aconite and many other herbs in these formulas are dangerous for the unborn child. Bleeding or abdominal pain during pregnancy: call the midwife at once.
Difficult labour
The book describes formulas to speed up labour, strengthen contractions and, for exhaustion from a long labour, ginseng tea.
Strengthening contractions
According to the book dang gui shao yao san, possibly throughout pregnancy.
Childbirth belongs under the supervision of a midwife or doctor. The book mentions ma huang tang with aconite to speed up labour; that is life-threatening for mother and child and we deliberately do not include it.
Mastitis
Fire in the liver meridian
The main cause according to the book. The characteristic formula is wu wei xiao du yin ('five-ingredient detoxifying decoction'), supplemented with gua lou peel, bei mu and tree peony bark.
Mastitis with fever, a hard red area or feeling generally ill: contact your GP or lactation consultant; antibiotics are sometimes needed. Keep feeding or pumping.
Also in the bookFennel seed, dandelion root and borage, alone or together, are said to increase milk production; marshmallow root is said to make the milk richer.
Ge gen tang contains ma huang, which passes into breast milk: not while breastfeeding without consultation. Borage contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and is not suitable while breastfeeding. Ask a lactation consultant for advice.
Liu jun zi tang with mu xiang and sha ren, for abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, poor appetite and a thin body; with dried ginger for cold and bamboo shavings for heat.Liu jun zi tang
Also in the bookThe book also mentions a mustard poultice on the abdomen early in pregnancy, and a mixture of one part ground coriander seed to four parts sugar with rice water.
During pregnancy use herbs only in consultation with your midwife. According to many sources ban xia is not suitable during pregnancy. With severe vomiting and dehydration (hyperemesis): get in touch.
Menopause
According to Chinese medicine, menopausal complaints such as hot flushes, nervousness, palpitations, mood swings and insomnia mainly come from kidney yin deficiency and/or stagnant liver qi.
Kidney yin deficiency
Liu wei di huang wan, alone or with goji root bark, bai wei, privet fruit, raw rehmannia and dang gui.Liu wei di huang wan
According to the book the most characteristic formula for menopausal complaints.Er xian tang
Always have bleeding after menopause investigated.
Uterine prolapse
Usually from qi deficiency. According to the book, Chinese research found bitter orange (zhi ke) effective in prolapse of the uterus, rectum or stomach.
Formula
Bu zhong yi qi tang with much huang qi (up to 30 g a day) and 35 g bitter orange.Bu zhong yi qi tang
Have a prolapse assessed by your GP or gynaecologist; pelvic floor physiotherapy often helps. Bitter orange in high doses can cause palpitations and raised blood pressure.
Fibroids and cysts
Stagnation of blood and fluid with lumps in the lower pelvis
According to the book stronger with zedoary and wang bu liu xing (blood stagnation) and storax, gua lou and bei mu (phlegm). The book also mentions pangolin scales; the pangolin is a protected species.Gui zhi fu ling wan
Also in the bookAccording to the book, Western herbalists use chaste tree berry, together with a daily 20-minute warm castor oil compress and a heating pad.
Always have fibroids and cysts investigated and monitored by a gynaecologist.
Treatment by condition
Male reproductive organs
Always discuss prostate, testicle and potency complaints with a GP or urologist.
Impotence
Usually from kidney yang deficiency. After an operation on the prostate or colon, blood stagnation can also be the cause.
Blood deficiency and stagnation
Si wu tang with zedoary, safflower, wang bu liu xing and niu xi.Si wu tang
Also in the bookThe book also mentions ashwagandha: a teaspoon with honey, three times a day.
Orchitis
Formula
Huang lian jie du tang, which is used for all infections and inflammations.Huang lian jie du tang
Also in the bookThe book also mentions a mixture of echinacea, goldenseal and garlic, every two to three hours, tapering off as the complaints subside. In India an oil of gotu kola (gently heated in sesame oil for a few minutes, cooled and strained) is applied to the scrotum, and a teaspoon of gotu kola powder with honey is taken three times a day.
A painful, swollen testicle is an emergency: it may be a torsion (go straight to your GP or the emergency department). An inflammation from an STI must be treated with antibiotics.
Also in the bookThe book also mentions a tincture of echinacea, goldenseal, chaparral (creosote bush) and garlic, with tea of yellow dock and dandelion root. In India: tea of ginger, turmeric and unrefined sugar; ghee boiled with saffron; and the mucilage of tulsi seed.
Discharge from the penis often points to an STI: get tested. Chaparral (creosote bush) can cause serious liver damage and is advised against here.
Prostate complaints
Many men around fifty develop an enlarged prostate, according to the book usually from kidney deficiency.
Kidney yin deficiency
Liu wei di huang wan, supplemented with blood-moving herbs (dan shen, chuanxiong, red peony, zedoary, safflower, wang bu liu xing, niu xi), diuretic herbs for a slow or incomplete stream (water plantain, fu ling) and sargassum and kelp to soften swellings.Liu wei di huang wan
Inflammation and dampness in the liver and bladder meridians
Also a combination of huang bai, huang qin, dandelion, talc, akebia and yin chen hao.Long dan xie gan tang
Also in the bookThe book mentions the Chinese patent remedy Kit Kat Pills for an enlarged prostate with frequent urination, and saw palmetto berries for a benign enlarged prostate (two capsules, three times a day).
Have prostate complaints investigated; an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer cause similar complaints.
Treatment by condition
Nervous system and psyche
Headache and migraine
Headache is often a sign of an unbalanced diet or lifestyle, the weather and other external influences, but also of emotions. Recurring headache such as migraine is influenced by stress and diet, but comes more directly from an imbalance in circulation, metabolism and nervous system; the flashes of light and distorted images arise from narrowing of blood vessels in the brain. Migraine often runs in families, especially in women between ten and thirty, and usually decreases after fifty. Chinese medicine distinguishes four locations: headache on the forehead (stomach and intestines, 'yang ming'), on the crown (liver), at the temples (gallbladder) and at the back of the head and in the neck (bladder meridian). Chuanxiong, bai zhi and gao ben are important single herbs to add.
External or acute, from wind (tension and cramp)
For headache on both sides, on the forehead, back of the head, crown or as migraine, possibly with dizziness, chills, fever and a blocked nose.Chuan xiong cha tiao san
Wind, cold and damp with more involvement of liver and stomach
Sudden, very severe headache, headache with a stiff neck, fever, loss of function or confusion, or headache after a fall: see a doctor at once (call 112).
Stress, anxiety, hysteria and insomnia
In Chinese medicine the heart houses the spirit (shen), and the liver keeps qi and emotions flowing smoothly. When the heart overheats or lacks yin or blood, the spirit is restless: you sleep badly, startle easily or feel driven. When liver qi stagnates, it shows rather as irritability, tension and low mood, often together with an unsettled stomach.
Calming and antispasmodic
Can also be added to any formula for stress, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia and cramps; stronger with sour jujube seed, arborvitae seed, fu shen and albizia flower.Gan mai da zao tang
Liver blood deficiency with liver heat
Especially for insomnia in which you wake shortly after falling asleep, nervousness, frustration and anxiety. Dragon tooth and oyster shell make this and other formulas stronger for palpitations and insomnia.Suan zao ren tang
Rising liver fire
Insomnia with high blood pressure, headache, anger, restlessness and a full or painful feeling in the chest.Long dan xie gan tang
Heat and phlegm
Insomnia with restlessness, palpitations, dizziness, nausea, much white phlegm and timidity.Wen dan tang
Yin deficiency of heart and kidney
Insomnia from overwork and too much studying, with forgetfulness, restlessness, fatigue, nocturnal emission and dry stools.Tian wang bu xin dan
Nervousness, insomnia, forgetfulness, nightmares, palpitations and especially mental fatigue from low blood sugar.Gui pi tang
A wide range of nervous and mental complaints
According to the book the most versatile of all Chinese formulas.Chai hu gui zhi tang
Also in the bookWestern herbs for stress complaints according to the book: skullcap (also when coming off alcohol and drugs), valerian (mild sleep aid, more for cold), passionflower (insomnia), hops (insomnia from digestive complaints), chamomile (calming, also for being quick to cry) and American ginseng. Ayurvedic remedies: jatamansi (Indian valerian, milder), calamus (focus and concentration), asafoetida, and brahmi (gotu kola or Bacopa monnieri), alone or with calamus, jatamansi and ashwagandha. Also shiro basti: warm brahmi oil on the head, for example massaged into the scalp half an hour before showering; dripping it onto the forehead is for a trained panchakarma therapist. For brahmi oil: simmer 115 g dried brahmi in a litre of sesame oil with half a litre of water until only the oil remains, and strain.
Cinnabar in zhu sha an shen wan and tian wang bu xin dan contains mercury: do not use. Calamus contains the carcinogenic asarone. The book also mentions an asafoetida enema; we do not include it. With persistent anxiety, low mood or insomnia: seek help from your GP.
Poor memory and dementia
Kidney deficiency
Usually from declining function of kidney and liver. Yuan zhi (memory), he shou wu (anti-ageing, brain and memory) and goji are useful additions; the book also mentions deer antler.Ba wei di huang wan (jin gui shen qi wan)
Also in the bookWestern herbalists use ginkgo leaf extract for circulation in the brain. Ayurvedic: equal parts brahmi (especially Bacopa), calamus, jatamansi and ashwagandha, finely ground with ghee, a teaspoon three times a day.
Have memory problems investigated by your GP. Ginkgo strengthens blood thinners; he shou wu can damage the liver.
Also in the bookFor heat the book mentions equal parts gotu kola, calamus, asafoetida and jatamansi, kneaded into pills with two parts ghee and one part honey, three times a day.
Depression, mania and schizophrenia are serious conditions that need treatment by a GP, psychologist or psychiatrist. Never stop psychiatric medication yourself. If you have suicidal thoughts: contact your local crisis line or emergency services.
Treatment by condition
Joints and nerves
Back pain and sciatica
Stagnation of wind, cold and damp
Cold in the lower back, pain radiating along the spine to the legs and aversion to cold.Du huo ji sheng tang
Kidney yin deficiency
Back pain that improves with pressure and massage, weakness extending into the legs, worse after exertion, with restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, thirst, warm palms and soles, night sweats and afternoon fever.Liu wei di huang wanZhi bai di huang wanZuo gui wan
Pain radiating from the back to the flanks and abdomen and difficulty standing for long.Wu yao shun qi san
Damp heat
With pain in the knees and lower back and dark urine.Er miao san
Back pain with loss of strength or feeling in the legs, problems with urination or bowel movements, or a numb feeling in the buttocks: go straight to your GP or the emergency department.
Ma xing yi gan tang (a variant of ma huang tang with Job's tears) or yi yi ren tang.Ma huang tangYi yi ren tang
Rheumatoid arthritis must be treated by a rheumatologist to prevent joint damage. Formulas with aconite or ma huang only under supervision.
Muscle weakness and muscle atrophy
Muscle atrophy ('wei syndrome') causes muscle weakness, motor limitations and in a later stage paralysis. The book mentions, among others, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, myotonic syndromes, myasthenia gravis, hormonal muscle diseases, periodic paralysis and hysterical paralysis.
The diseases mentioned are serious and belong with a neurologist; herbs can at most be complementary.
Epilepsy
In epilepsy a person occasionally suddenly loses consciousness or has acute cramps, sometimes with a fall, foam at the mouth, rolling eyes, jerking limbs and a cry. After the seizure it feels like waking from an exhausting sleep; a seizure lasts seconds to minutes. Primary epilepsy is hereditary, secondary arises from brain injury. In Chinese medicine it is internal liver wind and dampness, triggered by stress, diet, heredity or turbid phlegm. Under emotional stress the liver and kidneys become exhausted; yin can then no longer restrain yang, heat lodges with internal wind, and body fluids thicken into wind and phlegm that block the nervous system. An unbalanced diet can also damage spleen and stomach, with turbid phlegm and wind that rise and block the heart.
General
Xiao yao san, or one of the formulas below, with ban xia, tian nan xing, yuan zhi, bamboo shavings, oyster shell, tu fu ling and shi chang pu as needed.Xiao yao san
Epilepsy must be treated by a neurologist; never stop anti-epileptic drugs yourself. A seizure lasting longer than five minutes or quickly followed by another is an emergency (call 112). Many herbs can affect how anti-epileptic drugs work.
Treatment by condition
Injuries
Injuries, wounds, burns and cuts
According to the book, you use medicinal oil for bruises where the skin is broken and alcohol liniments when the skin is intact. The book prefers them to cold compresses, because they are anti-inflammatory and get the blood moving without slowing recovery. Rub them in generously, or place a soft cloth with oil or liniment on the area for one to two hours.
Also in the bookMedicinal oil: simmer shi chang pu, notoginseng, gardenia, rhubarb, chuanxiong and safflower in water until most of the water has evaporated, strain, add sesame oil and simmer until all the water is gone. Alcohol liniment: steep the same herbs with myrrh in alcohol, a few centimetres above the herbs, for two weeks to six months, and strain. For a cooler effect add menthol, wintergreen and camphor oil; for a warmer one cinnamon oil. Simpler: grated garlic and/or ginger in sesame or olive oil, or in alcohol or apple cider vinegar.
Qi li san contains cinnabar (mercury). Never take liniments with wintergreen or camphor internally and do not use them on large or open wounds or on children. The book also mentions turpentine; it irritates the skin and we advise against it. Deep, large or dirty wounds and burns larger than a palm: see your GP or go to the emergency department.
Treatment by condition
Skin
Eczema, dermatitis, itching, acne, erysipelas and psoriasis
Dermatitis covers many skin complaints with redness and weeping or dry, scaly skin; eczema is the chronic form. Qi, blood, lungs, large intestine, spleen, stomach, kidneys and heart can be involved; in a later stage blood stagnation often plays a part, which makes healing more difficult. External causes are wind, cold, damp or heat, which disturb the lung and the defensive qi. Lodged heat in stomach and intestines comes from too much fatty and warming food, such as fatty meat, oily food, sugar, alcohol and spices; cold, damp shellfish can also lead to lodged heat. Dampness always arises from disturbed digestion, which in turn affects the lungs (which govern the skin). Heat in the blood arises from too much stress, which exhausts the kidney qi and burdens the heart (emotions and blood vessels). A deficiency of qi and blood leaves the skin poorly nourished.
Rash over the whole body, including face and hands, with heat, itching, swelling and pus, worse at night; especially in young children.Shi wei bai du tangFang feng tong sheng san
Warm frostbite (white, numb skin) slowly and have it assessed medically.
Cold sores, genital herpes and shingles
Herpes simplex is a recurring viral infection with small blisters on the lips, mouth or genitals. The book distinguishes heat in the blood and damp heat in the liver meridian.
Also in the bookAntiviral herbs such as woad root and leaf, yuan zhi and dandelion can be added; tree peony bark, xuan shen and raw rehmannia cool heat in the blood.
Shingles in or around the eye, in the elderly or in people with reduced immunity: see your GP within three days for antiviral medicines.
Also in the bookExternally: garlic with olive oil, tea tree oil or bloodroot tincture.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria) is corrosive and can seriously damage the skin; do not use it. Do not use tea tree oil undiluted and never swallow it.
Hair loss
Chinese medicine usually sees hair loss as blood stagnation; it often begins with nervousness that makes the qi stagnate and later leads to blood stagnation and hair loss.
Stagnation of blood and qi
The book mentions dan shen yin; for blood deficiency with dang gui and prepared rehmannia added.
Have sudden or patchy hair loss investigated; it can be related to thyroid problems or iron deficiency.
Boils and carbuncles
A boil is a festering infection around a hair follicle and sebaceous gland that spreads into the subcutaneous tissue; a carbuncle is deeper, larger and more serious. Both belong to toxic damp heat.
A boil on the face, a carbuncle, fever or rapidly spreading redness: see your GP. Do not squeeze it yourself.
Treatment by condition
Mouth, eyes and ears
According to the book, mouth and gum complaints mostly come from stomach heat. The eyes are governed by the liver, and the ability to see belongs to the kidneys; therefore formulas that clear liver heat and nourish liver and kidney yin are used together with cooling herbs.
Also in the bookThe book describes a mouthwash of oak bark, rhatany root, bayberry bark, echinacea, myrrh and goldenseal: steep 115 g in half a litre of water for two weeks, strain, add a few drops of mint oil and rinse twice a day with a teaspoon in an oral irrigator. In India, with spongy, inflamed gums the teeth are brushed two or three times a day with fine haritaki powder (he zi), and triphala is taken.
Have bleeding or receding gums assessed by a dentist or dental hygienist.
Pain in the eye, sensitivity to light or worse vision: see your GP the same day.
Cataract
According to the book from deficiency of kidney essence with heart fire, together with nervousness, anxiety, palpitations, insomnia and blurred vision.
Cataract is treated surgically; have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist. Ci zhu wan contains cinnabar (mercury).
Improving eyesight
The book mentions ming mu di huang wan ('rehmannia pill that brightens the eyes'), comparable to qi ju di huang wan but more strongly blood-nourishing.
Also in the bookThe book also mentions a tincture of echinacea, goldenseal and garlic, three or four times a day, and ear drops of mullein flowers and/or rue in olive oil, or garlic juice with an equal amount of olive oil.
Do not use ear drops with a possibly perforated eardrum or a discharging ear. Earache in young children with fever, or earache lasting longer than three days: see your GP. Rue is toxic.
Deafness and tinnitus
Difficult to treat, especially if the complaint has existed for more than a year.
Kidney deficiency
With lower back and joint pain, dizziness, blurred vision, impotence and nocturnal emission; ci zhu wan with goji, privet fruit, Chinese dodder seed and prepared rehmannia, or ba wei di huang wan.Ci zhu wanBa wei di huang wan (jin gui shen qi wan)
Partial hearing loss with headache, fever, aversion to cold and wind, painful joints and itchy ears; fang feng tong sheng san for excess with lung heat, jing fang bai du san when wind attacks the lungs.Fang feng tong sheng sanJing fang bai du san