Pharmacological Properties

I added this section for my patients that ask for a list of their herbs as a way of helping them to “look up” the individual herbs in their prescription to gain an understanding of their pharmacological properties.

Acanthopanax – Wu Jia Pi – anti arthritic, anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, antitussive, antipyretic, antitumor and boosts the immune system. It’s also vasodilatve and diuretic.

Achyranthes – Huai Niu Xi – anti arthritic, anti inflammatory, analgesic, hemostatic, diuretic, lowers blood pressure.

Agastache – Huo Xiang -anti bacterial, antifungal, digestive by increasing HCL.

Agrimonia – Xian He Cao – astringent, hemostatic, detoxicant, antiparasitic, anti inflammatory, anti bacterial, analgesic, Antineoplastic, H2 O extract lowers blood pressure

Ailanthus – antiparasitic, antifungal, Antineoplastic, astringent, febrifugal

Albizzia – He Huan Pi – sedative, hypnotic.

Alisma –Ze Xie – diuretic, antibacterial, lowers blood pressure, hepatoprotective, lowers cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar. 

Anemarrhena – Zhi Mu – anti bacterial, antifungal, antineoplastic antipyretic, and lowers blood sugar and it’s antineoplastic. 

Angelica Dahurica – Ze Xie –anti bacterial, antitoxin, analgesic

Angelica – Du Huo – anti arthritic, analgesic, anti inflammatory, anti clotting, sedative, hypnotic, antiulcer, anti spasmodic (intestinal), the lowers blood pressure through vasodilation

Angelica Sinensis – Dang Gui –anticoagulant, analgesic, anti inflammatory and hepatoprotective, anti bacterial and stimulates the immune system.

Apricot Seed – see Prunis Persica

Arctium – Niu Bang Zi – anti bacterial, anti inflammatory regulates blood sugar and protein urea and protects the liver as well.

Artemesia Ap. – Ching Hao – anti bacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antihypertensive, antipyretic, hemostatic, increases bile

Asparagus – Tian Men Dong – anti bacterial, anti tumor, antitussive,generates fluids.

Aster – Zi Wan – anti bacterial, antitussive, expectorant, antiviral and antineoplastic.

Astragalus – Huang Qi – boosts the immune system by increasing red and white blood cell production, anti bacterial and lowers blood pressure. 

Attractylodes Alba – Bai Zhu –diuretic, antineoplastic, antidiabetic, anticoagulant, anti bacterial, boosts the immune system.

Aurantium – Zhe Shi – diuretic, anticoagulant, antidiabetic, Antineoplastic, boosts immune system, carminative, G.I. excitatory

Bamboo Skin – Zhu Ye – Antipyretic, diuretic

Belamcandia – She Gan – anti bacterial, antiviral and antifungal. 

Biota seed – Bai Zi Ren – sedative, emollient.

Bupleurum – Chai Hu – anti bacterial, antiviral, liver protectant, lowers cholesterol by increasing bile production and secretion, boosts the immune system.

Capillaris (Artemesia)–Yin Chen Hao –anti bacterial, liver protectant, lowers cholesterol, increases bile, antihypertensive, antifungal, antipyretic  

Cardamon – Sha Ren – digestive, increases the peristalsis of the intestines and the hydrochloric acid of the stomach.

Carthamus – Hong Hua – inhibits clotting, uterine and heart stimulant, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.

Chaenomelas – Mu Gua – anti arthritic, antineoplastic, liver protectant, mildly digestive

Chrysanthemum – Ju Hua – anti bacterial, antiviral, lowers blood pressure and fever through vasodilation.

Cinnamon Twig – Gui Zhi – anti bacterial, antiviral, antitussive, analgesic.

Citrus peel – Chen Pi – antiulcer, increases peristalsis, lowers cholesterol, expectorant, antiasthmatic.

Clove – Chuan Xiong – anti bacterial, anti parasitic and antifungal, antiviral and anti asthmatic, increases bile and hydrochloric acid.

Cnidium – Chuan Xiong – anticoagulant, lowers blood pressure through vasodilation, anticoagulant, sedative, antibacterial. Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Codonopsis – Dang Shen – immune booster, increases red and white blood cells and hypoxia resistance. Antiulcer, and lowers blood pressure. 

Coix – Yi Yi Ren – antiviral, antineoplastic, analgesic, anti inflammatory, diuretic and antipyretic. 

Coptis – Huang Lian – broad spectrum anti bacterial, antiviral, antifungal, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, antipyretic and anti inflammatory.

Corydallis – Yan Hu Suo – anti bacterial, anti spasmodic, anti ulcer, analgesic and sedative.    

Crataegus – Shan Zha – anti bacterial, cardiatonic, lowers cholesterol and triglycerides lowers blood pressure through vasodilation, digestive by increasing HCL. 

Curcuma Longa – Jiang Huang – anti arthritic, anti inflammatory, analgesic, anti bacterial, antifungal, inhibits clotting, lowers cholesterol, triglycerides and high blood pressure.

Curcuma Zed – E Zhu – anti cancer, antineoplastic, anti bacterial, digestive, carminative, inhibits clotting to relieve pain.

Cyperus – Xiang Fu – carminative, digestive, antibacterial, antipyretic,  analgesic, sedative.

Desmodium – Jin Qian Cao – gallstones, kidney stones, anti bacterial.

Dictamus – Sai Xian Pi – anti bacterial, antifungal, antipyretic

Dianthus – Qu Mai – anti bacterial, lowers blood pressure through diuresis, uterine and GI stimulant, Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Dioscorea – Shan Yao –

Epimedium – Yin Yang Huo – antiviral, anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, antirheumatic, antitussive, expectorant, lowers blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol, increases libido

Eriobotrya – Pi Pa Ye – anti bacterial, antiviral, anti asthmatic, antitussive, expectorant

Eucommia – Du Zhong – anti bacterial, boosts immune system, sedative, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol

Fennel – Hui Xiang – carminative, anti bacterial, increases peristalsis in the intestines and inhibits HCL secretion.

Forsythia – Lian Qiao – broad spectrum anti bacterial, liver protectant.

Frankincense – see Mastic

Fraxinella – See Dictamus

Frittillaria – Zhe Bei Mu – antitussive

Gardenia – Zhi Zi –anti bacterial, antifungal, lowers blood pressure, liver protective.

Gelatin – E Jiao – boosts white blood cells and hemoglobin, increases absorption and retention calcium, hemostatic

Gentiana Macro. – Qin Jiao – anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, antipyretic, antifungal, antihistamine, antihypertensive, raises blood sugar

Gentiana Scabra. – Long Dan Cao – anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, antihistamine, antiarthritic, liver protective, diuretic, increases bile and gastric juices

Ginger Dry – Gan Jiang – antiemetic, warming, slightly increases peristalsis, stimulant

Ginger, fresh – Gan Jiang – anti-emetic, anti bacterial, antifungal, increases HCL and Peristalsis. 

Ginko – Bai Guo – anti bacterial, antimycobacterial, bronchodilator, expectorant, uterine stimulant

Glehnia – Bei Sha Shen – expectorant, analgesic, lowers temperature

Hoelen – see Poria

Hottunia – Yu Shing Cao – broad spectrum anti bacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti inflammatory, analgesic and hemostatic.  

Hu Jiang – antibacterial, antitussive, anti asthmatic, antidiabetic, anti inflammatory, hemostatic, cardiatonic by lowering cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and heart rate, antineoplastic, analgesic. Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Isatis leaf – Da Qing Ye – broad spectrum anti bacterial, antiviral antifungal and antineoplastic. 

Isatis Root – Ban Lang Gen – anti bacterial, antiviral, inhibits clotting

Jujube – Da Zao – Antineoplastic, increases body weight and endurance, liver protectant

Kochia – Di Fi Zi – anti bacterial, antifungal, diuretic

Licorice – Gan Cao – anti bacterial, antiulcer, antitoxin, antihistamine, anti asthmatic, antitussive and expectorant, NT spasmodic, anti inflammatory, analgesic and hepatoprotective.

Ligustici Wallichi – see Cnidium

Ligustrum – Nu Zhen Zi – cardiatonic, diuretic, anti bacterial and antidiabetic, lowers cholesterol and triglycerides and stimulates blood production and protects the liver.  Antiradiation,(antidotes resultant neutropenia).

Lily – Bai He – Antitussive, antiasthmatic, expectorant, increases hypoxia resistance.

Linum seed – Huo Ma Ren – laxative and emollient, increases the peristalsis of the intestines, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.

Lithospermum – Zi Cao – anti bacterial, antiviral, antineoplastic, anti inflammatory, stimulates the gastrointestinal tract.

Longan – Long Yan Rou – antifungal, sedative

Lonicera – Jin Yin Hua – broad spectrum antibiotic, antiviral, antitoxin, anti inflammatory, antipyretic.  Mild stimulant (1/6th of caffeine).

Loranthus – Sang Ji Sheng – antiviral, antirheumatic, antihypertensive, anticoagulant, diuretic.  Sedative and tranquilizing cardiatonic.  Prevents miscarriage.

Lycium bark – Di Gu Pi – anti bacterial, anti malarial, antipyretic, inhibits shigella.  Lowers blood pressure and sugar.

Lycium Fruit – Gou Qi Zi – immune booster, antineoplastic, increases red white and T cells and inhibits fat deposition in the liver. Lowers cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar.  Uterine stimulant.

Magnollia bark – Hou Po –anti bacterial, antifungal, antihypertensive, inhibits hydrochloric acid production and duodenal peristalsis.

Magnollia flowers – Xin Yi –antifungal, analgesic, antihypertensive, inhibits bacteria and fungus.  Uterine stimulant.

Massa Medicata Fermentata – Shen Chu – digestive, uses different enzymes to promote the digestion of starch and carbs. Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Mastic – Ru Xiang – analgesic for trauma, promotes wound healing, antitubercular.  Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Melia Toosendan – Chuan Lian Zi -anti bacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antitoxin

Mentha – Bo He – anti bacterial, antipyretic, stomachic, analgesic.

Millettia – Ji Xue Teng -anti arthritic, uterine stimulant.

Morus bark – Sang Bai Pi – antitussive, anti asthmatic, inhibits bacteria, antipyretic, hypnotic and diuretic.

Morus Leaf – Sang Ye – anti bacterial, anti diabetic and lowers cholesterol.

Moutan  – Mu Dan Pi – anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, sedative, analgesic, lowers blood pressure, anti seizure and immune enhancing.  Contraindicated in pregnancy.

 Mume – Wu Mei – Antiparasitic, anti bacterial, antifungal, increases bile secretion.

Myrrh – Mo Yao –anti bacterial, antifungal, increases peristalsis of the intestines and lowers cholesterol.  Promotes wound healing.  Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Oldenlandia – Bai Hua She She Gao –Antineoplastic, anti bacterial, antitoxin, increases white blood cells.  Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Ophiopogen – Mai Men Dong – anti bacterial, anti diabetic increase hypoxia resistance.

Paeony Red – Chi Shao Yao – anti bacterial, antiviral, anti inflammatory, antiulcer, analgesic, inhibits a platelet aggregation and lowers blood pressure without changing heart rate.

Paeony White – Bai Shao Yao – anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, anti spasmodic, anti clotting, lowers blood pressure.

Peach Seed – see Prunis Persica

Perilla Leaf – Zi Su Ye – anti bacterial, antitussive, anti spasmodic for bronchial spasms while reducing bronchos-secretions. Increases peristalsis and hydrochloric acid.

Phellodendron – Huang Bai – anti bacterial, bacillary dysentery, antitussive and expectorant, lowers blood pressure.

Phragmites – Lu Gen – antitussive, antitoxin, antipyretic, diuretic, slightly inhibits peristalsis, slightly sedative

Plantago Seed –Che Qian Zi – diuretic, antitussive, expectorant, lowers blood pressure

Platycodon – Jie Geng – anti bacterial, antifungal, expectorant, antitussive, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol, anti inflammatory, analgesic and sedative.

Polygala – Yuan Zhi – sedative, hypnotic, expectorant, diuretic and uterine stimulant.

Polygonatum roots –Huang Jing – anti bacterial, antifungal, anti diabetic, dilates blood vessels to lower blood pressure.

Polygonum Multiflorum – Ho Shou Wu –anti bacterial, lowers blood pressure cholesterol and triglycerides.  Increases HDL, white blood cells, T- lymphocytes, macrophage activity and peristalsis.  Lowers heart rate and increases adrenal and thyroid secretions and peristalsis.  Antiaging.

Polyporus – Zhu Ling – anti bacterial, diuretic, antineoplastic, hepatoprotective, increases T-Cell counts and activity also increases potassium, sodium, and chloride excretion.

Poria – Fu Ling – anti bacterial, lowers blood sugar, alcohol extract is diuretic, water isn’t.

Poria Center – same as Poria

Prunella –Xia Ku Cao – anti bacterial, antihypertensive, anti inflammatory.

Prunis Armeniaca – Xing Ren – antitussive, anti bacterial, antihypertensive, antineoplastic.

Prunis Persica – Tao Ren – antitussive, antiparasitic, anti inflammatory, emollient, anticoagulant.  Prevents and helps dissolve clots.  Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Pueraria – Ge Gen – antispasmodic, antipyretic, antihypertensive, anticoagulant, dilates brain and coronary blood vessels relieving spasms.

Rehmannia Cooked – same as raw

Rehmannia Raw – Sheng Di Huang – anti bacterial, antifungal, antihypertensive, anti inflammatory, hemostatic and cardiatonic, increases adrenocortical hormone levels in the blood and hepatoprotective.

 Rhubarb – Da Huang – laxative, broad spectrum antibiotic, antihypertensive, hemostatic, hepatoprotective, anti inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic.  Increases bile and gastric juices to lower cholesterol.  Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Rosa Chinensis – anti inflammatory

Salvia – Dan Shen – anti bacterial, antihypertensive, anticoagulant, antineoplastic, sedative, thrombolytic, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol.

Sanguisorba – Di Yu – hemostatic, anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, antiemetic.

Sargassum – Hai Zao – antihypertensive, hemostatic, anticoagulant, increases phagocytic activity, high iodine content treats hyper and hypothyroid

Saussurea – Mu Xiang – anti bacterial, intestinally and bronchially antispasmodic, anti hypertensive, antiulcer, carminative

Schizandra – Wu Wei Zi – anti bacterial, antitussive, cardiatonic and vasodilating, astringent, gonadotropic.

Schizonenepeta – Jing Jie – anti bacterial, anti-pyretic, hemostatic, analgesic, bronchial dilating, antitussive, expectorant.

Scrophularia – Xuan Shen – anti bacterial, anti-pyretic, lowers blood sugar, sedative.

Scute – Huang Qin – broad spectrum anti bacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-pyretic, anti hypertensive, diuretic, hepatoprotective.

Seigesbeckia – Xi Xian Cao – antirheumatic, anti inflammatory, anti hypertensive, antibiotic, immunosuppressant.

Senna leaf – Fan Xie Ye – laxative, anti bacterial, hemostatic.  Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Siler – Fang Feng – anti bacterial, anti-pyretic, antifungal, antiviral, analgesic.

Smilax – Tu Fu Ling – anti bacterial, anti arthritic, anti toxin, anti cancer.

Sophora Flavescens – Ku Shen – anti bacterial, antifungal, anti asthmatic, antineoplastic, antifungal, antipruritic, paraciticide, increases white blood cells, lowers blood pressure by dilating blood vessels, lowers cholesterol, diuretic.

Sophora Flower – Huai Hua – anti bacterial, antifungal, antiulcer, anti inflammatory, anti spasmodic, hemostatic, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, dilates blood vessels, increases cardiac output while decreasing heart rate, protects from radiation damage.

Stemona – Bai Bu – anti bacterial, antifungal, insecticide, suppresses cough through the brain.

Stercula – Pang Da Hai – analgesic, diuretic, increases peristalsis, lowers blood pressure

Taraxicum – Pu Gong Ying – anti bacterial, antiviral, diuretic, cholagogue, hepatoprotective and immune booster.

Thilaspi – Bai Jiang –anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, promotes the generation of liver cells and prevents their degeneration, sedative, hypnotic.

Trichosanthes Root – Tian Hua Fen – anti bacterial, antiviral, antineoplastic, raises blood sugar.  Promotes the generation of antibodies.  Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Viola – Zi Hua Di Ding – anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, antitoxin, antipyretic.

Vitex – Man Jing Zi – analgesic, antipyretic, sedative, antibiotic, antiarthritics.

Xanthium – Cang Er Zi – anti bacterial, antifungal, antitussive, analgesic, lowers blood sugar, antipruritic.

Zedoria – see Curcuma Zed.

Zizyphus Seed – Suan Zao Ren –sedative, hypnotic, analgesic, antipyretic, uterine stimulant, & lowers blood pressure.