Chinese herbal medicine (中药, zhōngyào) is one of the great pillars of TCM. The tradition begins with Shennong (神农), the legendary "Divine Farmer" who tasted hundreds of herbs. The Shennong Ben Cao Jing catalogued 365 substances in three grades:
- Upper Grade (上品) — 120 substances for nourishing life (ginseng, reishi, goji)
- Middle Grade (中品) — 120 for treating disease with some caution
- Lower Grade (下品) — 125 for attacking disease, limited duration
「药有君臣佐使，以相宣摄。」
— Shennong Ben Cao Jing (神农本草经)"Medicines have sovereign, minister, assistant, and envoy roles, working together in harmonious combination."
Herb Properties · 中药性能
The Four Natures · 四气
| Nature | Effect | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Hot 热 | Strongly warms, dispels cold | 附子, 干姜, 肉桂 |
| Warm 温 | Gently warms, promotes circulation | 人参, 当归, 黄芪 |
| Cool 凉 | Mildly clears heat | 薄荷, 桑叶, 菊花 |
| Cold 寒 | Strongly clears heat, resolves toxins | 黄连, 黄芩, 石膏 |
| Neutral 平 | Balanced | 甘草, 茯苓, 山药 |
The Five Flavors · 五味
| Flavor | Action | Organ |
|---|---|---|
| Pungent 辛 | Disperses, opens, promotes circulation | Lung |
| Sweet 甘 | Tonifies, harmonizes, moderates | Spleen |
| Bitter 苦 | Drains, dries, clears heat | Heart |
| Sour 酸 | Astringes, consolidates | Liver |
| Salty 咸 | Softens hardness, descends | Kidney |
The Formula System · 方剂学
Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi · 君臣佐使
The Four Roles in Formula Design
- 君 Sovereign (Jun) — Chief herb targeting the primary pattern
- 臣 Minister (Chen) — Supports and enhances the sovereign
- 佐 Assistant (Zuo) — Assists, moderates harsh properties, treats secondary symptoms
- 使 Envoy (Shi) — Guides the formula to the target, harmonizes all ingredients
Classic Formulas · 经典方剂
Gui Zhi Tang · 桂枝汤
Cinnamon Twig Decoction — The "Harmonizing" Formula
From Zhang Zhongjing's Shanghan Lun. The "ancestor of all formulas." Treats Wind-Cold invasion with disharmony between Wei and Ying qi.
| Role | Herb | Chinese | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 君 | Gui Zhi | 桂枝 | Warms meridians, releases exterior |
| 臣 | Bai Shao | 白芍 | Nourishes Ying qi, astringes Yin |
| 佐 | Sheng Jiang | 生姜 | Assists exterior release |
| 佐 | Da Zao | 大枣 | Tonifies Spleen qi |
| 使 | Zhi Gan Cao | 炙甘草 | Harmonizes all ingredients |
Si Jun Zi Tang · 四君子汤
Four Gentlemen — The Foundation of Tonification
| Role | Herb | Chinese | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 君 | Ren Shen | 人参 | Tonifies Spleen/Lung qi |
| 臣 | Bai Zhu | 白术 | Strengthens Spleen, dries dampness |
| 佐 | Fu Ling | 茯苓 | Drains dampness, calms spirit |
| 使 | Zhi Gan Cao | 炙甘草 | Harmonizes, tonifies Spleen |
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan · 六味地黄丸
Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill — Kidney Yin Foundation
| Role | Herb | Chinese | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 君 | Shu Di Huang | 熟地黄 | Nourishes Kidney Yin and Jing |
| 臣 | Shan Zhu Yu | 山茱萸 | Tonifies Liver/Kidney |
| 臣 | Shan Yao | 山药 | Tonifies Spleen/Kidney |
| 佐 | Ze Xie | 泽泻 | Drains Kidney turbidity |
| 佐 | Fu Ling | 茯苓 | Drains dampness |
| 佐 | Mu Dan Pi | 牡丹皮 | Clears Liver heat |
Xiao Yao San · 逍遥散
Free Wanderer Powder — The Emotional Harmonizer
| Role | Herb | Chinese | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 君 | Chai Hu | 柴胡 | Soothes Liver, relieves constraint |
| 臣 | Bai Shao | 白芍 | Nourishes Liver blood |
| 臣 | Dang Gui | 当归 | Nourishes/activates blood |
| 佐 | Bai Zhu + Fu Ling | 白术+茯苓 | Strengthens Spleen |
| 使 | Sheng Jiang + Bo He | 生姜+薄荷 | Warms Stomach, vents heat |