Chinese herbal medicine categories — herbs and formulas

The classical Chinese Materia Medica is organised into 17 categories, each corresponding to a primary therapeutic action. Both the 189 individual herbs in the herb directory and the 260+ classical formulas sit within this same framework. Knowing the category clarifies what a herb or formula does and when to consider it — in TCM, the category is the action.

The 17 categories

Each category page below lists both the relevant individual herbs (with links to each herb’s profile) and the classical formulas built from those herbs.

1. Release the Exterior (解表剂) — for acute Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat invasions; warm-acrid herbs (Ma Huang, Gui Zhi, Sheng Jiang) and cool-acrid herbs (Bo He, Sang Ye, Ju Hua). 19 herbs.
2. Clear Heat (清热剂) — for excess heat, heat-toxin, blood heat, deficiency heat, damp-heat and Liver fire; Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Sheng Di, Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao. 29 herbs.
3. Drain Downward (泻下剂) — purgative and moistening laxative herbs; Da Huang, Huo Ma Ren. 2 herbs.
4. Harmonise (和解剂) — Shao Yang and Liver-Spleen harmonisation; primarily a formula category (Xiao Chai Hu Tang, Xiao Yao San).
5. Treat Dryness (治燥剂) — for external and internal dryness; primarily a formula category (Sang Xing Tang, Bai He Gu Jin Tang).
6. Expel Dampness (祛湿剂) — aromatic transformers, drainage diuretics, wind-damp expellers; Fu Ling, Cang Zhu, Yi Yi Ren, Du Huo. 16 herbs.
7. Warm the Interior (温里剂) — for internal cold; Fu Zi, Gan Jiang, Rou Gui, Wu Zhu Yu. 8 herbs.
8. Tonify (补益剂) — for deficiencies of Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang. Subdivided into Qi tonics (14 herbs), Blood tonics (5 herbs), Yin tonics (11 herbs) and Yang tonics (9 herbs). 39 herbs total.
9. Stabilise and Bind (固涩剂) — astringents; Wu Wei Zi, Wu Mei, Shan Zhu Yu. 8 herbs.
10. Calm the Spirit (安神剂) — Shen tonics; Suan Zao Ren, Bai Zi Ren, Long Gu, Mu Li, Yuan Zhi. 7 herbs.
11. Open the Sensory Orifices (开窍剂) — aromatic Shen-opening herbs; Shi Chang Pu. 1 herb.
12. Regulate Qi (理气剂) — for Qi stagnation; Chen Pi, Xiang Fu, Mu Xiang, Zhi Shi. 8 herbs.
13. Regulate Blood (理血剂) — invigorate Blood + stop bleeding; Dan Shen, Hong Hua, Chuan Xiong, San Qi, Ai Ye. 25 herbs.
14. Expel Wind (治风剂) — calm Liver and extinguish internal Wind; Tian Ma, Gou Teng. 3 herbs.
15. Expel Parasites (驱虫剂) — Sha Chong Yao; Bing Lang, Fei Zi, Shi Jun Zi, Ku Lian Pi. 4 herbs.
16. Reduce Food Stagnation (消食剂) — Shan Zha, Mai Ya, Shen Qu, Ji Nei Jin. 5 herbs.
17. Cough, Wheezing and Phlegm (止咳化痰平喘剂) — transform Phlegm and stop cough; Ban Xia, Chen Pi (as Phlegm-resolver), Xing Ren, Bei Mu. 15 herbs.

How categories guide prescribing

Pattern diagnosis (the patient’s configuration of Eight Principles, Zang-Fu involvement, and Six Stages or Wei Qi Ying Xue position) identifies the required category. Within the category, the specific herb or formula is selected for the precise sub-pattern, and modifications are made for the individual patient. This is what makes prescribing in Chinese medicine personalised rather than condition-driven.

Herbs by category vs formulas by category

An individual herb belongs to one primary category but may have secondary actions that overlap with others. A classical formula is constructed from a careful combination of herbs from one or several categories, designed to address the patient’s complete pattern. The herb category tells you what a single substance does; the formula category tells you what a multi-herb prescription is built to do. Both are presented together on each category page below.

Browse the full herb directory (189 individual herb profiles) or formula directory (260+ classical formulas).