Intro Herbs L2

• enhance or alter therapeutics action 
• to reduce side effects and/or toxicity
• to prevent spoilage and prolong shelf life
• to clean herbs prior to ingestion

• Boiling (zhu) - in water or other medium
• Steaming (zheng) - then drying herbs in sun
• Quenching (cui) - heated then immersed in cold water
• Simmering (ao) - herb reduced to thicken liquid/syrup

• frying with liquid (zhi) - change properties of herbs
• dry frying (chao) - increase warmth and moderate effect
• charred to ash (tan)-  enhance "stop bleeding"
• calcining (duan) - facilitate pulverization
• roasting (wei) - reduce toxicity or drastic effects

enhance tonifying and moistening effect

increases warmth and relieves nausea and vomiting

facilitates entrance to the liver and treats the liver disorder

unlocks channels, expels wind alleviates pain

facilitates entrance to kidney and treats kidney disorder

• soak herbs
• boil herms
• simmer for 20-30 mins
• cook herbs twice, obtaining one cup each time then mix

• decocted first toxic herb: toxic herbs, minerals and shells 
• added near end: aromatic herbs
• decocted in gauze: find structures, small seeds, grounded herbs
• separately decocted: expensive and rare herbs 
• dissolved in the strained decoction: highly viscous and sticky substances
• taken with the strained decoction: some expensive and aromatic substances

• follow dosage range
• correctly identify patterns 
• know directions and contraindication of herbs
• proper combinations
• reduce dosage while increasing frequency of intake 
• knowledge of long term use of same herb

• tinger bone 
• pangolin scales
• rhino horn 
• hawksbill sea turtle shell

• Xiang Xu 
• combining two substances with similar functions to accentuate their therapeutic actions

Xiang Shi 

Two or more substances with different actions in which one of the substances enhances the effect of the other in a specific clinical situation or symptom

Xiang Wei

A combination in which the toxicity or side effects of one substance are reduced ore eliminated by another substance

Xiang Sha 

Similar to Mutual Counteraction however the emphasis is on the substance that is reducing the undesirable side effects

Xiang Wu

Two substances that mutually minimise or neutralise each other's positive effects 

(8 pairs have this effect in common use)

Xiang Fan

The combination of two substances that give rise to side effects or toxicity that would not be present in either substance used alone

(18 incompatibles)

The use of one single substance to treat a patient

• Chief - direct effect of the pattern 
• Deputy - aids the chief or treat a coexisting pattern 
• Assistant - reinforces the chief or deputy; moderates toxicity 
• Envoy - guide; harmonise