Here is an overview of 50 fundamental herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), commonly recognized for their widespread use, historical significance, and therapeutic importance. It's important to note that there isn't one single universally agreed-upon "official" list of exactly 50 herbs; selections vary based on classical texts, modern clinical practice, and regional traditions. This list represents herbs frequently considered foundational due to their versatility, potency, and frequency of prescription:
Ginseng (人参, Rénshēn): Prime Qi tonic, especially for deficiency.
Astragalus (黄芪, Huángqí): Tonifies Qi, boosts immunity, lifts sinking.
Licorice (甘草, Gāncǎo): Harmonizes formulas, tonifies Qi, clears heat/toxins, relieves spasms.
Atractylodes (白术, Báizhú): Tonifies Spleen Qi, dries Dampness, promotes urination.
Angelica (当归, Dāngguī): Primary blood tonic, invigorates blood, regulates menses.
Rehmannia (生地黄/熟地黄, Shēngdìhuáng/Shúdìhuáng): Raw cools blood; cooked tonifies blood and essence.
White Peony (白芍, Báisháo): Nourishes blood, preserves Yin, calms liver, relieves pain.
Cinnamon Twig (桂枝, Guìzhī): Releases exterior (wind-cold), warms channels, promotes circulation.
Poria (茯苓, Fúlíng): Leaches Dampness, promotes urination, strengthens Spleen, calms spirit.
Mint (薄荷, Bòhe): Releases exterior (wind-heat), clears head/eyes, soothes throat, vents rashes.
Bupleurum (柴胡, Cháihú): Harmonizes Lesser Yang, lifts Yang Qi, soothes Liver Qi stagnation.
Scutellaria (黄芩, Huángqín): Clears heat, dries dampness (especially upper/lower burner), stops bleeding.
Coptis (黄连, Huánglián): Clears heat, dries dampness (especially heart/stomach), detoxifies.
Gardenia (栀子, Zhīzǐ): Clears heat, drains fire (especially from heart/liver), cools blood, relieves irritability.
Gypsum (石膏, Shígāo): Clears intense heat (especially from lung/stomach), quenches thirst.
Anemarrhena (知母, Zhīmǔ): Clears heat, nourishes Yin (especially lung/kidney).
Lonicera (Honeysuckle, 金银花, Jīnyínhuā): Clears heat, resolves toxicity (infections, sores).
Forsythia (连翘, Liánqiào): Clears heat, resolves toxicity, disperses nodules.
Isatis (板蓝根, Bǎnlángēn): Clears heat, cools blood, resolves toxicity (epidemics, mumps, sore throat).
Moutan (Tree Peony Bark, 牡丹皮, Mǔdānpí): Cools blood, activates blood, clears deficient heat.
Persica (Peach Kernel, 桃仁, Táorén): Invigorates blood, breaks stasis, moistens intestines.
Carthamus (Safflower, 红花, Hónghuā): Invigorates blood, dispels stasis, relieves pain.
Salvia (Dan Shen, 丹参, Dānshēn): Invigorates blood, cools blood, clears heat, calms spirit.
Cnidium (Chuanxiong, 川芎, Chuānxiōng): Invigorates blood, moves Qi, expels wind, relieves pain (headache).
Aconite (Prepared, 附子, Fùzǐ): Restores depleted Yang, warms interior, dispels cold, relieves pain.
Ginger (Fresh, 生姜, Shēngjiāng): Releases exterior (wind-cold), warms middle, stops vomiting.
Pinellia (半夏, Bànxià): Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, stops vomiting, disperses nodules.
Citrus Peel (Chen Pi, 陈皮, Chénpí): Regulates Qi, dries dampness, transforms phlegm, harmonizes middle.
Magnolia Bark (Hou Po, 厚朴, Hòupò): Moves Qi, eliminates dampness, relieves fullness.
Agastache (Huo Xiang, 藿香, Huòxiāng): Resolves summerheat/damp, harmonizes middle, stops vomiting.
Coix (Yi Yi Ren, 薏苡仁, Yìyǐrén): Clears heat, promotes urination, leaches dampness, drains pus.
Alisma (Ze Xie, 泽泻, Zéxiè): Promotes urination, leaches dampness, clears heat.
Polyporus (Zhu Ling, 猪苓, Zhūlíng): Promotes urination, leaches dampness.
Ephedra (麻黄, Máhuáng): Releases exterior (wind-cold), promotes sweating, relieves wheezing, disperses water.
Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui, 肉桂, Ròuguì): Warms kidney Yang, dispels cold, promotes circulation.
Eucommia (杜仲, Dùzhòng): Tonifies Kidney/Liver, strengthens bones/tendons, prevents miscarriage.
Ligustrum (Nu Zhen Zi, 女贞子, Nǚzhēnzǐ): Nourishes Liver/Kidney Yin, clears deficient heat, brightens eyes.
Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi, 五味子, Wǔwèizǐ): Astringes lungs/kidneys, calms spirit, stops diarrhea/sweating.
Lycium (Gou Qi Zi, 枸杞子, Gǒuqǐzǐ): Nourishes Liver/Kidney Yin, brightens eyes.
Ophiopogon (Mai Dong, 麦冬, Màidōng): Nourishes Lung/Stomach Yin, clears heat, moistens dryness.
Platycodon (Jie Geng, 桔梗, Jiégěng): Directs herbs upward, transforms phlegm, benefits throat, drains pus.
Bitter Orange (Zhi Shi, 枳实, Zhǐshí): Breaks up Qi stagnation, relieves distension/fullness.
Saussurea (Mu Xiang, 木香, Mùxiāng): Moves Qi, regulates middle, relieves pain.
Amomum (Sha Ren, 砂仁, Shārén): Transforms dampness, awakens Spleen, moves Qi, prevents miscarriage.
Corydalis (Yan Hu Suo, 延胡索, Yánhúsuǒ): Invigorates blood, moves Qi, relieves pain (especially Qi/Blood stagnation).
Dendrobium (Shi Hu, 石斛, Shíhú): Nourishes Stomach/Kidney Yin, clears heat.
Polygala (Yuan Zhi, 远志, Yuǎnzhì): Calms spirit, opens orifices, transforms phlegm.
Zizyphus (Suan Zao Ren, 酸枣仁, Suānzǎorén): Nourishes heart/liver blood, calms spirit, promotes sleep.
Fossil (Dragon Bone, Long Gu, 龙骨, Lónggǔ): Anchors Yang, calms spirit, secures essence.
Oyster Shell (Mu Li, 牡蛎, Mǔlì): Anchors Yang, softens hardness, calms spirit, secures essence.
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