INDIVIDUAL HERBS
Q & A:
CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE
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INDIVIDUAL HERBS
The English translation of the Chinese Materia Medica by Bensky and Gamble discusses 470 substances in its revised edition of 1993. Each substance/herb is classified under one of 18 main categories and has a diversity of different characteristics attributed to each one, including a detailed description of its therapeutic effects.
DANG GUI -Radix Angelica Sinensis- or as some know it :
TANGKUEI (Angelica Root)
- Category: herbs that tonify the blood
- Properties: sweet, acrid, bitter, warm
- Channels entered: heart, liver, spleen
-
Actions & Indications:
*Tonifies the blood and regulates the menses: for patterns of blood deficiency with symptoms such as ashen complexion, tinnitus, blurred vision, palpitations. Also very commonly used for blood deficiency associated with menstrual disorders such as irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea,etc.
*Invigorates and harmonizes the blood and disperses cold: an important herb for stopping pain due to blood stasis. Commonly used for abdominal pain, traumatic injury, and carbuncles due to blood stasis, especially when there is also cold from deficiency. Also used in the treatment of blood deficiency with chronic wind-damp painful obstruction.
*Moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels: for dry intestines due to blood deficiency.
*Reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh, and alleviates pain.
Used in treating sores and abscesses where its ability to both tonify and invigorate the blood leads to improvement.
- Cautions & Contraindications:
use with caution in cases of diarrhea or abdominal distention due to
damp obstruction.
Contraindicated for yin deficiency with heat signs. -
Dosage: 3-15 gram.
Individual herbs are seldom prescribed alone as there are many considerations to be taken into account.
Please do not self-prescribe!!
It is not healthy and you may think that herbal medicine does not work if you complicate things or fail.
see HERBAL
FORMULAS