Chinese herb directory

The following directory provides individual profiles for 307 of the most important and widely prescribed herbs in Chinese herbal medicine. Each page covers the herb’s TCM properties (nature, flavour and channels), principal actions and indications, the key classical formulas in which it appears, modern pharmacological research, and clinical cautions.

Chinese herbs are never prescribed individually — they are always combined into precisely balanced formulas tailored to each patient’s individual TCM pattern. To see the classical formulas that combine these herbs into complete prescriptions, visit the Chinese herbal medicine formula directory.

I am Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto, a member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) with over 25 years of clinical experience. I prescribe pharmaceutical-grade herbal granules from Sun Ten in Taiwan. Online consultations are available for patients throughout the UK and internationally.

Browse herbs A–Z

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | W | X | Y | Z

Ai Ye — Mugwort Leaf (Artemisia argyi)

Bā Dòu — Croton seed (Croton tiglium)
Bái Fù Zǐ — Giant Typhonium rhizome (Rhizoma Typhonii)
Bái Jiǔ — Clear rice wine / spirit (Vinum)
Bai Shao — White Peony Root (Paeonia lactiflora)
Bai Bu — Stemona Root (Stemona sessilifolia)
Bai Guo — Ginkgo biloba seed (Ginkgo biloba)
Bai Jiang Cao — Patrinia Herb (Patrinia scabiosaefolia)
Bai Mao Gen — Woolly Grass Rhizome (Imperata cylindrica)
Ba Ji Tian — Morinda Root (Morinda officinalis)
Bái Zhǐ — Angelica dahurica root (Angelica dahurica)
Bǎi Zǐ Rén — Biota seed / oriental arborvitae seed (Platycladus orientalis)
Bing Lang — Areca Seed / Betel Nut (Areca catechu)
Bai He — Lily Bulb (Lilium brownii)
Bai Zhu — White Atractylodes (Atractylodes macrocephala)
Ban Lan Gen — Isatis Root (Isatis tinctoria)
Ban Xia — Pinellia Rhizome (Pinellia ternata)
Bīng Táng — Rock sugar (Saccharum sinensis)
Bo He — Chinese Peppermint (Mentha haplocalyx)
Bai Tou Weng — Pulsatilla Root (Pulsatilla chinensis)
Bai Jie Zi — White Mustard Seed (Sinapis alba)
Bu Gu Zhi — Psoralea Fruit (Cullen corylifolium)
Bai Dou Kou — Round Cardamom (Amomum kravanh)
Bai Hua She She Cao — Hedyotis (Hedyotis diffusa)
Bai Wei — Cynanchum Root (Cynanchum atratum)
Bai Xian Pi — Dictamnus Root Bark (Dictamnus dasycarpus)
Bai Bian Dou — White Hyacinth Bean (Lablab purpureus)
Bi Ba — Long Pepper (Piper longum)
Bing Pian — Borneol (Borneolum syntheticum) Bai Ji — Bletilla Rhizome (Bletilla striata)
Bian Xu — Common Knotweed (Polygonum aviculare)

Cāng Ěr Zǐ — Xanthium fruit / cocklebur (Xanthium sibiricum)
Cāng Zhú — Black atractylodes / grey atractylodes (Atractylodes lancea)
Cǎo Guǒ — Tsaoko fruit (Amomum tsao-ko)
Cǎo Wū — Wild aconite root (Aconitum kusnezoffii)
Ce Bai Ye — Biota Leaf (Platycladus orientalis)
Che Qian Zi — Plantain Seed (Plantago asiatica)
Chì Shí Zhī — Halloysite / red clay (Halloysitum rubrum)
Chuan Bei Mu — Fritillary Bulb (Fritillaria cirrhosa)
Chai Hu — Bupleurum Root (Bupleurum chinense)
Chen Pi — Aged Tangerine Peel (Citrus reticulata)
Chi Shao — Red Peony Root (Paeonia lactiflora)
Chi Xiao Dou — Adzuki Bean (Vigna umbellata)
Chuān Wū — Sichuan aconite main root (Aconitum carmichaelii)
Chuan Xiong — Sichuan Lovage Root (Ligusticum chuanxiong)
Chuān Xīn Lián — Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata)
Cao Dou Kou — Grass Cardamom Seed (Alpinia katsumadai)
Chuan Jiao — Sichuan Pepper (Zanthoxylum bungeanum)
Chuan Lian Zi — Sichuan Chinaberry Fruit (Melia toosendan) Chūn Gēn Pí — Ailanthus bark (Ailanthus altissima)
Ci Ji Li — Tribulus / Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris)
Ci Shi — Magnetite (mineral) (Magnetite)

Cōng Bái — Spring onion white (Allium fistulosum)
Dà Huáng — Chinese rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum)
Dà Jǐ — Peking spurge root (Euphorbia pekinensis)
Da Zao — Chinese Date (Ziziphus jujuba)
Dǎn Nán Xīng — Bile-Arisaema, gall-Arisaema (Arisaema cum Bile)
Dan Shen — Red Sage Root (Salvia miltiorrhiza)
Dang Shen — Codonopsis Root (Codonopsis pilosula)
Dang Gui — Chinese Angelica Root / Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis)
Di Yu — Garden Burnet Root (Sanguisorba officinalis)
Dōng Guā Zǐ — Winter melon seed, wax gourd seed (Semen Benincasae)
Du Huo — Pubescent Angelica Root (Angelica pubescens)
Du Zhong — Eucommia Bark (Eucommia ulmoides)
Dan Dou Chi — Prepared Soybean (Glycine max)
Dan Zhu Ye — Lophatherum (Lophatherum gracile)
Deng Xin Cao — Juncus / Rush Pith (Juncus effusus)
Dong Chong Xia Cao — Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis)
Ding Xiang — Clove Flower Bud (Syzygium aromaticum) Da Qing Ye — Isatis Leaf (Isatis indigotica)
Di Gu Pi — Wolfberry Root Bark (Lycium chinense)
Di Fu Zi — Kochia Fruit (Kochia scoparia)
Da Fu Pi — Areca Peel (Areca catechu)
Dai Zhe Shi — Haematite (mineral) (Haematite)

E Zhu — Zedoary Rhizome (Curcuma zedoaria) E Bu Shi Cao — Small Centipeda (Centipeda minima)

Fang Feng — Siler Root (Saposhnikovia divaricata)
Fáng Jǐ — Stephania root (Stephania tetrandra / Aristolochia fangchi)
Fu Zi — Prepared Aconite Root (Aconitum carmichaelii)
Fu Ling — Poria / China Root (Poria cocos)
Fei Zi — Torreya Seed / Chinese Nutmeg Yew (Torreya grandis)
Fu Pen Zi — Chinese Raspberry (Rubus chingii) Fo Shou — Buddha's Hand Citron (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis)
Fu Xiao Mai — Light Wheat Grain (Triticum aestivum)
Fu Shen — Poria-with-Pine-Root (Poria cocos)

Gan Cao — Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza uralensis)
Gan Jiang — Dried Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Gān Suì — Kansui root (Euphorbia kansui)
Gé Huā — Kudzu flower (Pueraria lobata)
Gēng Mǐ — Non-glutinous rice (Oryza sativa)
Ginseng — Panax Ginseng Root / Rén Shēn (Panax ginseng)
Gou Qi Zi — Goji Berry / Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum)
Gou Teng — Gambir Stem (Uncaria rhynchophylla)
Gui Zhi — Cinnamon Twig (Cinnamomum cassia)
Ge Gen — Kudzu Root (Pueraria lobata)
Gua Lou — Trichosanthes Fruit (Trichosanthes kirilowii)
Gu Sui Bu — Drynaria Rhizome (Drynaria fortunei)
Gao Liang Jiang — Lesser Galangal Rhizome (Alpinia officinarum) Gao Ben — Chinese Lovage (Ligusticum sinense)
Gou Ji — Chain Fern Rhizome (Cibotium barometz)
Gu Ya — Millet Sprout (Setaria italica)

Hai Zao — Sargassum / Brown seaweed (Sargassum pallidum)
He Shou Wu — Fo-Ti Root (Polygonum multiflorum)
He Ye — Lotus Leaf (Nelumbo nucifera)
Hēi Zhī Ma — Black sesame seed (Sesamum indicum)
Hong Hua — Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)
Hòu Pò — Magnolia bark (Magnolia officinalis)
Hu Zhang — Japanese Knotweed Root (Reynoutria japonica)
Huái Jiǎo — Sophora fruit / pagoda tree pod (Sophora japonica)
Huang Bai — Phellodendron Bark (Phellodendron chinense)
Huang Jing — Solomon’s Seal Rhizome (Polygonatum sibiricum)
Huang Qin — Skullcap Root (Scutellaria baicalensis)
Huang Lian — Coptis Rhizome / Goldthread (Coptis chinensis)
Huang Qi — Astragalus Root (Astragalus membranaceus)
Huai Hua — Sophora Flower (Styphnolobium japonicum)
Huo Xiang — Agastache / Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
Huo Ma Ren — Hemp Seed (Cannabis sativa)
Han Lian Cao — Eclipta (Eclipta prostrata)
He Huan Pi — Mimosa Tree Bark (Albizia julibrissin)
Hong Jing Tian — Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)
Hou Tou Gu — Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus)
Hui Shu Hua — Maitake Mushroom (Grifola frondosa)
He Zi — Chebula Fruit (Terminalia chebula) Hua Shi — Talc (mineral) (Talcum)
Hu Tao Ren — Walnut (Juglans regia)
Hu Huang Lian — Picrorhiza (Picrorhiza kurroa)
Hai Jin Sha — Japanese Climbing Fern Spore (Lygodium japonicum)
Hu Po — Amber (fossil resin) (Succinum)

Jī Zǐ Huáng — Egg yolk (Vitellus Ovi Galli)
Jie Geng — Platycodon Root (Platycodon grandiflorum)
Jin Yin Hua — Honeysuckle Flower (Lonicera japonica)
Jú Hé — Tangerine seed (Citrus reticulata)
Jú Hóng — Red tangerine peel (Citrus reticulata)
Ju Hua — Chrysanthemum Flower (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
Jue Ming Zi — Cassia Seed (Cassia obtusifolia)
Ji Li — Tribulus Fruit (Tribulus terrestris)
Jiang Huang — Turmeric Rhizome (Curcuma longa)
Jing Jie — Schizonepeta (Schizonepeta tenuifolia)
Ji Nei Jin — Chicken Gizzard Lining (Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae Galli)
Ji Xue Teng — Spatholobus (Spatholobus suberectus)
Jin Ying Zi — Cherokee Rose Fruit (Rosa laevigata) Jin Qian Cao — Christina Loosestrife (Lysimachia christinae)

Ku Lian Pi — Chinaberry Bark / Persian Lilac Bark (Melia azedarach)
Kuan Dong Hua — Coltsfoot Flower (Tussilago farfara)
Ku Shen — Sophora flavescens Root (Sophora flavescens) Kun Bu — Kelp (Laminaria japonica)

Lí Lú — Black False Hellebore root (Radix et Rhizoma Veratri)
Lian Qiao — Forsythia Fruit (Forsythia suspensa)
Lai Fu Zi — Radish Seed (Raphanus sativus)
Lián Xū — Lotus stamen (Nelumbo nucifera)
Lian Zi — Lotus Seed (Nelumbo nucifera)
Ling Xiao Hua — Campsis Flower (Campsis grandiflora)
Reishi Mushroom — Reishi mushroom / Lingzhi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum)
Long Yan Rou — Longan Fruit (Dimocarpus longan)
Long Dan Cao — Gentian Root (Gentiana scabra)
Long Gu — Dragon Bone (fossilised bone)
Lu Gen — Reed Rhizome (Phragmites communis) Lu Hui — Aloe (Aloe vera)
Lu Lu Tong — Liquidambar Fruit (Liquidambar formosana)
Luo Shi Teng — Star Jasmine Stem (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

Mai Men Dong — Ophiopogon Tuber / Lilyturf Root (Ophiopogon japonicus)
Mai Ya — Germinated Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Mu Dan Pi — Tree Peony Root Bark / Moutan (Paeonia suffruticosa)
Méng Shí — Chlorite schist (Lapis Chloriti)
Mu Gua — Chinese Quince Fruit (Chaenomeles speciosa)
Mù Tōng — Mutong stem (Akebia / Clematis / Aristolochia spp.)
Mu Xiang — Costus Root (Aucklandia lappa)
Mu Li — Oyster Shell (Ostrea gigas)
Ma Huang — Ephedra (Ephedra sinica)
Mo Yao — Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) Man Jing Zi — Vitex Fruit (Vitex trifolia)
Ma Chi Xian — Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Mang Xiao — Glauber's Salt / Mirabilite (mineral) (Mirabilite)
Mu Zei — Rough Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)

Niu Xi — Achyranthes Root (Achyranthes bidentata)
Nu Zhen Zi — Glossy Privet Fruit (Ligustrum lucidum)
Niu Bang Zi — Burdock Fruit (Arctium lappa)

Ou Jie — Lotus Node (Nelumbo nucifera)

Nuò Mǐ — Glutinous rice (Oryza sativa var. glutinosa)
Pu Gong Ying — Dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum)
Pi Pa Ye — Loquat Leaf (Eriobotrya japonica)
Pei Lan — Eupatorium (Eupatorium fortunei)
Pu Huang — Typha Pollen (Typha angustifolia) Pang Da Hai — Sterculia Seed (Sterculia lychnophora)

Qiàn Cǎo — Madder root (Rubia cordifolia)
Qian Hu — Peucedanum Root (Peucedanum praeruptorum)
Qiān Niú Zǐ — Morning glory seed (Pharbitis nil)
Qiang Huo — Notopterygium Root (Notopterygium incisum)
Qín Pí — Ash bark (Fraxinus rhynchophylla)
Qīng Hāo — Sweet wormwood / sweet Annie (Artemisia annua)
Qīng Mù Xiāng — Aristolochia root (Aristolochia debilis)
Qing Pi — Green Tangerine Peel (Citrus reticulata)
Qian Shi — Euryale / Foxnut (Euryale ferox) Qin Jiao — Large-Leaf Gentian (Gentiana macrophylla)
Qing Dai — Natural Indigo (Indigo naturalis)
Qu Mai — Fringed Pink (Dianthus superbus)

Rou Gui — Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum cassia)
Rou Cong Rong — Cistanche (Cistanche deserticola)
Ru Xiang — Frankincense (Boswellia carteri)
Rou Dou Kou — Nutmeg Seed (Myristica fragrans)

Sang Ye — Mulberry Leaf (Morus alba)
San Qi — Notoginseng Root (Panax notoginseng)
Sang Ji Sheng — Mulberry Mistletoe (Taxillus chinensis)
Shā Rén — Amomum fruit (Amomum villosum)
Shā Yuàn Zǐ — Flattened milkvetch seed (Astragalus complanatus)
Shen Qu — Medicated Leaven (Massa fermentata medicinalis)
Shan Yao — Chinese Yam (Dioscorea opposita)
Shan Zha — Hawthorn Berry (Crataegus pinnatifida)
Shan Zhu Yu — Asiatic Cornelian Cherry Fruit (Cornus officinalis)
Sheng Di Huang — Raw Rehmannia Root (Rehmannia glutinosa)
Sheng Jiang — Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Shí Gāo — Gypsum
Shí Hú — Dendrobium stem / Noble dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile)
Shu Di Huang — Prepared Rehmannia Root (Rehmannia glutinosa)
Sōng Zǐ Rén — Pine nut (Pinus koraiensis)
Suan Zao Ren — Sour Jujube Seed (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa)
San Leng — Sparganium Rhizome (Sparganium stoloniferum)
Sang Bai Pi — Mulberry Root Bark (Morus alba)
Sha Shen — Glehnia / Adenophora Root (Glehnia littoralis)
Sheng Ma — Cimicifuga Rhizome (Cimicifuga foetida)
Shi Chang Pu — Acorus Rhizome (Acorus tatarinowii)
Shi Jun Zi — Quisqualis Fruit / Rangoon Creeper (Quisqualis indica)
Sha Ji — Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
Suo Yang — Cynomorium (Cynomorium songaricum) She Gan — Belamcanda / Blackberry Lily (Belamcanda chinensis)
Sang Zhi — Mulberry Twig (Morus alba)
Sang Shen — Mulberry Fruit (Morus alba)
Shan Dou Gen — Vietnamese Sophora Root (Sophora tonkinensis)
Shi Di — Persimmon Calyx (Diospyros kaki)
Shi Liu Pi — Pomegranate Rind (Punica granatum)

Tian Ma — Gastrodia Rhizome (Gastrodia elata)
Tian Men Dong — Asparagus Tuber (Asparagus cochinchinensis)
Tao Ren — Peach Kernel / Peach Seed (Prunus persica)
Tǔ Bèi Mǔ — Bolbostemma tuber (Bolbostemma paniculatum)
Tǔ Fú Líng — Smilax rhizome, China root (Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae)
Tu Si Zi — Dodder Seed / Cuscuta (Cuscuta chinensis)
Tai Zi Shen — Pseudostellaria Root (Pseudostellaria heterophylla)
Tian Hua Fen — Trichosanthes Root (Trichosanthes kirilowii)
Tong Cao — Rice Paper Plant pith (Tetrapanax papyriferus) Tian Nan Xing — Jack-in-the-Pulpit Rhizome (Arisaema erubescens)
Ting Li Zi — Descurainia Seed (Descurainia sophia)
Tan Xiang — Sandalwood (Santalum album)

Wēi Líng Xiān — Chinese clematis root (Clematis chinensis)
Wu Yao — Lindera Root (Lindera aggregata)
Wu Zhu Yu — Evodia Fruit (Tetradium ruticarpum)
Wu Wei Zi — Schisandra Berry / Five Flavour Fruit (Schisandra chinensis)
Wang Bu Liu Xing — Vaccaria Seed (Vaccaria segetalis)
Wu Bei Zi — Chinese Gall (Galla chinensis)
Wu Mei — Mume Plum / Smoked Plum (Prunus mume) Wu Jia Pi — Eleuthero Root Bark (Eleutherococcus senticosus)

Xiang Fu — Nutgrass Rhizome / Cyperus (Cyperus rotundus)
Xiān Máo — Curculigo rhizome, golden eye grass (Rhizoma Curculiginis)
Xiang Gu — Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinula edodes)
Xiǎo Mài — Wheat grain (Triticum aestivum)
Xīn Yí Huā — Magnolia flower bud (Magnolia biondii)
Xing Ren — Apricot Kernel (Prunus armeniaca)
Xu Duan — Teasel Root (Dipsacus asper)
Xi Xin — Asarum (Asarum sieboldii)
Xia Ku Cao — Self-Heal Spike (Prunella vulgaris)
Xi Yang Shen — American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)
Xuan Shen — Scrophularia Root (Scrophularia ningpoensis)
Xie Bai — Allium macrostemon bulb (Allium macrostemon) Xiao Hui Xiang — Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Xian He Cao — Agrimony (Agrimonia pilosa)
Xuan Fu Hua — Inula Flower (Inula britannica)
Xiang Ru — Elsholtzia (Elsholtzia splendens)
Xi Xian Cao — Sticky Nightshade (Siegesbeckia orientalis)
Xiao Ji — Small Thistle (Cirsium setosum)

Yè Jiāo Téng — Fleeceflower stem (Polygonum multiflorum)
Yě Jú Huā — Wild chrysanthemum flower (Chrysanthemum indicum)
Yi Zhi Ren — Black Cardamom Fruit (Alpinia oxyphylla)
Yi Mu Cao — Chinese Motherwort / Leonurus (Leonurus japonicus)
Yi Yi Ren — Job's Tears Seed (Coix lacryma-jobi)
Yin Xing Ye — Ginkgo leaf / Maidenhair tree leaf (Ginkgo biloba)
Yin Yang Huo — Epimedium / Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium brevicornu)
Yīng Sù Ké — Poppy husk (Papaver somniferum)
Yù Jīn — Curcuma tuber (Curcuma aromatica)
Yù Mǐ Xū — Corn silk (Stigma Maydis)
Yuán Huā — Genkwa flower (Daphne genkwa)
Yuan Zhi — Polygala Root (Polygala tenuifolia)
Yu Zhu — Solomon’s Seal Rhizome (Polygonatum odoratum)
Yan Hu Suo — Corydalis Rhizome (Corydalis yanhusuo)
Yin Chai Hu — Stellaria Root (Stellaria dichotoma)
Yu Xing Cao — Houttuynia (Houttuynia cordata)
Yun Zhi — Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor)
Yi Tang — Maltose / Malt Sugar (Saccharum Granorum) Yin Chen Hao — Capillaris (Artemisia scoparia)
Yu Li Ren — Japanese Bush Cherry Kernel (Prunus japonica)

Zao Jiao Ci — Gleditsia Spine (Gleditsia sinensis)
Zào Xīn Huáng Tǔ — Oven earth / stove earth (Terra Flava Usta)
Ze Lan — Bugleweed (Lycopus lucidus)
Ze Xie — Water Plantain Rhizome / Alisma (Alisma plantago-aquatica)
Zhi Ke — Bitter Orange Fruit (Citrus aurantium)
Zǐ Bèi Tiān Kuí — Purple-backed begonia (Begonia fimbristipulata)
Zi Cao — Gromwell Root (Lithospermum erythrorhizon)
Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng — Viola / Chinese violet (Viola yedoensis)
Zi Su Ye — Perilla Leaf (Perilla frutescens)
Zhi Mu — Anemarrhena Rhizome (Anemarrhena asphodeloides)
Zi Wan — Aster Root (Aster tataricus)
Zhi Zi — Gardenia Fruit (Gardenia jasminoides)
Zhu Ru — Bamboo Shavings (Phyllostachys nigra)
Zhu Ye — Bamboo Leaf (Phyllostachys nigra)
Zhe Bei Mu — Zhejiang Fritillary (Fritillaria thunbergii)
Zhi Shi — Immature Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium)
Zhu Ling — Polyporus (Polyporus umbellatus)
Zōng Lǘ Pí — Palm fibre (Trachycarpus fortunei)
Zi Su Zi — Perilla Seed (Perilla frutescens)

Animal substances (reference only — not used or prescribed)

The animal-derived substances below are part of the traditional Chinese Materia Medica and are documented here for information and reference only. I do not use or prescribe any animal products; plant and mineral alternatives are used instead, and endangered species cannot be prescribed in the UK.