Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) utilizes a wide range of medicinal substances, including herbs, minerals, and animal products. While there are numerous Chinese medicines used in TCM, I’ll provide you with a list of commonly used ones along with their primary uses. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and the uses mentioned are not comprehensive. It’s important to consult a qualified TCM practitioner for proper diagnosis and treatment. Here are the important Chinese medicines in TCM and their uses:
Ginseng (Ren Shen): Boosts energy, enhances mental clarity, and strengthens the immune system.
Astragalus (Huang Qi): Supports immune function, increases vitality, and promotes healing.
Licorice (Gan Cao): Harmonizes herbal formulas, soothes the digestive system, and clears phlegm.
Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang): Nourishes blood, strengthens the kidneys, and tonifies Yin.
Chinese Skullcap (Huang Qin): Clears heat, reduces inflammation, and promotes detoxification.
Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui): Warms the body, improves circulation, and supports kidney function.
White Atractylodes (Bai Zhu): Strengthens digestion, boosts energy, and reduces dampness.
Poria Mushroom (Fu Ling): Drains dampness, promotes urination, and calms the mind.
Chinese Yam (Shan Yao): Nourishes the spleen and stomach, supports digestion, and tonifies Qi.
Dong Quai (Dang Gui): Regulates menstrual cycles, nourishes blood, and invigorates circulation.
Eucommia Bark (Du Zhong): Strengthens the bones and muscles, supports the kidneys, and improves lower back pain.
Chinese Red Dates (Da Zao): Tonifies Qi, nourishes blood, and supports digestion.
Chinese Angelica Root (Bai Shao): Harmonizes blood, relieves pain, and regulates menstruation.
Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua): Clears heat, improves vision, and calms the liver.
Tribulus (Bai Ji Li): Tonifies the liver and kidneys, strengthens the back and knees, and enhances libido.
Chinese Hawthorn (Shan Zha): Improves digestion, reduces food stagnation, and supports cardiovascular health.
Chinese Skullcap (Huang Lian): Clears heat, eliminates toxins, and treats infections.
Scutellaria (Huang Bai): Clears heat and dampness, treats urinary tract infections, and promotes detoxification.
Gardenia (Zhi Zi): Clears heat, reduces inflammation, and calms the liver.
Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi): Tonifies Qi, nourishes the kidneys, and supports liver health.
Red Reishi Mushroom (Ling Zhi): Enhances vitality, boosts the immune system, and calms the mind.
Chinese Gentian (Long Dan Cao): Clears heat, detoxifies the liver, and treats liver and gallbladder disorders.
Chinese Lovage Root (Chuan Xiong): Invigorates blood circulation, relieves pain, and treats menstrual disorders.
Safflower (Hong Hua): Invigorates blood circulation, alleviates pain, and promotes menstruation.
Chinese Licorice Root (Gan Cao): Harmonizes herbal formulas, soothes the digestive system, and clears phlegm.
Raw Rehmannia Root (Sheng Di Huang): Nourishes Yin, cools the blood, and treats fevers.
Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shu Di Huang):
Chinese Skullcap Root (Huang Qin): Clears heat, reduces inflammation, and treats infections.
Bupleurum Root (Chai Hu): Harmonizes the liver, relieves tension, and treats emotional disorders.
Chinese Salvia Root (Dan Shen): Invigorates blood circulation, removes blood stasis, and supports cardiovascular health.
Chinese Clematis Root (Wei Ling Xian): Dispels wind-dampness, relieves pain, and treats rheumatic conditions.
Chinese Senega Root (Yuan Zhi): Calms the mind, relieves anxiety, and treats insomnia.
Chinese Goldthread Rhizome (Huang Lian): Clears heat, eliminates toxins, and treats gastrointestinal infections.
Chinese Skullcap Root (Huang Bai): Clears heat and dampness, treats urinary tract infections, and promotes detoxification.
Trichosanthes Root (Tian Hua Fen): Clears heat and promotes the production of body fluids, treats dryness in the lungs and throat.
Chinese Clematis Root (Hou Po): Dispels dampness, promotes the movement of Qi, and treats digestive disorders.
Chinese Peony Root Bark (Mu Dan Pi): Cools the blood, removes blood stasis, and treats gynecological disorders.
Chinese Rhubarb Root (Da Huang): Clears heat, purges accumulations, and treats constipation.
Chinese Knotweed Root (Hu Zhang): Invigorates blood circulation, reduces swelling, and treats menstrual disorders.
Chinese Motherwort Herb (Yi Mu Cao): Promotes blood circulation, regulates menstruation, and treats postpartum conditions.
Chinese Skullcap Herb (Huang Qin): Clears heat, calms the liver, and treats anxiety and irritability.
Chinese Thorowax Root (Chai Hu): Harmonizes the liver and relieves stagnation, treats liver disorders and depression.
Chinese Paris Rhizome (Chong Lou): Clears heat, reduces swelling, and treats inflammation.
Chinese Dittany Bark (Bai Xian Pi): Promotes blood circulation, relieves pain, and treats skin disorders.
Chinese Smilax Rhizome (Tu Fu Ling): Clears heat and toxins, promotes urination, and treats skin conditions.
Chinese Taxillus Herb (Sang Ji Sheng): Tonifies the liver and kidneys, strengthens the bones, and treats osteoporosis.
Chinese White Willow Bark (Bai Liu): Reduces pain and inflammation, treats arthritis and headaches.
Chinese Dodder Seed (Tu Si Zi): Tonifies the kidneys, nourishes Jing, and treats male infertility.
Chinese Desmodium Herb (Bai Bian Dou): Clears heat, promotes urination, and treats edema.
Chinese Chrysanthemum Flower (Ju Hua): Clears heat, improves eyesight, and treats headaches and hypertension.
Chinese Selfheal Spike (Xia Ku Cao): Clears heat and toxins, treats sore throat and inflammation.
Chinese Prunella Spike (Xia Ku Cao): Clears heat and toxins, treats skin infections and swelling.
Chinese Patrinia Herb (Bai Jiang Cao): Clears heat, detoxifies, and treats skin conditions and infections.
Chinese Coptis Rhizome (Huang Lian): Clears heat, eliminates toxins, and treats gastrointestinal infections.
Chinese Isatis Root (Ban Lan Gen): Clears heat and toxins, treats sore throat and fevers.
Chinese Skullcap Herb (Huang Qin): Clears heat, reduces inflammation, and treats infections.
Chinese Forsythia Fruit (Lian Qiao): Clears heat, relieves toxicity, and treats infections.
Chinese Gardenia Fruit (Zhi Zi): Clears heat, reduces inflammation, and treats jaundice and skin conditions.
Chinese Scutellaria Root (Huang Qin): Clears heat, eliminates toxins, and treats respiratory infections.
Chinese Drynaria Rhizome (Gu Sui Bu): Strengthens the bones and tendons, treats fractures and osteoporosis.
Chinese Eucommia Bark (Du Zhong): Strengthens the bones and muscles, treats lower back pain and weakness.
Chinese Achyranthes Root (Niu Xi): Invigorates blood circulation, strengthens the bones, and treats joint pain.
Chinese Earthworm (Di Long): Clears heat, promotes blood circulation, and treats convulsions and spasms.
Chinese Frankincense (Ru Xiang): Invigorates blood circulation, relieves pain, and treats traumatic injuries.
Chinese Myrrh (Mo Yao): Invigorates blood circulation, reduces swelling, and treats traumatic injuries.
Chinese Dragon’s Blood Resin (Xue Jie): Invigorates blood circulation, stops bleeding, and treats bleeding disorders.
Chinese Fleeceflower Root (He Shou Wu): Tonifies the liver and kidneys, nourishes blood, and treats hair loss.
Chinese Psoralea Fruit (Bu Gu Zhi): Tonifies the kidneys, strengthens the bones, and treats impotence and infertility.
Chinese Asiatic Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu): Tonifies the kidneys, strengthens the Yang, and treats erectile dysfunction.
Chinese Prepared Aconite Root (Fu Zi): Warms the body, dispels cold, and treats Yang deficiency.
Chinese Eucommia Bark (Du Zhong): Strengthens the bones and muscles, supports the kidneys, and treats lower back pain.
Chinese Psoralea Fruit (Bu Gu Zhi): Tonifies the kidneys, strengthens the bones, and treats impotence and infertility.
Chinese Horny Goat Weed (Yin Yang Huo): Tonifies the kidneys, strengthens Yang, and treats erectile dysfunction.
Chinese Ligusticum Root (Chuan Xiong): Invigorates blood circulation, relieves pain, and treats headaches and menstrual disorders.
Chinese Poria Mushroom (Fu Ling): Drains dampness, promotes urination, and calms the mind.
Chinese Red Sage Root (Dan Shen): Invigorates blood circulation, reduces inflammation, and treats cardiovascular conditions.
Chinese Cardamom Fruit (Bai Dou Kou): Warms the middle burner, promotes digestion, and treats abdominal pain.
Chinese Costus Root (Mu Xiang): Promotes digestion, relieves pain, and treats gastrointestinal disorders.
Chinese Nutmeg (Rou Dou Kou): Warms the middle burner, promotes digestion, and treats abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Chinese Ginger (Sheng Jiang): Warms the middle burner, dispels cold, and treats digestive disorders.
Chinese Red Peony Root (Chi Shao): Cools the blood, removes blood stasis, and treats gynecological disorders.
Chinese White Peony Root (Bai Shao): Nourishes blood, calms the liver, and treats menstrual disorders.
Chinese Polygonum Vine (Ye Jiao Teng): Calms the liver, invigorates blood circulation, and treats hypertension.
Chinese Uncaria Stem (Gou Teng): Calms the liver, extinguishes wind, and treats headaches and dizziness.
Chinese Lotus Seed (Lian Zi): Tonifies the spleen and kidneys, nourishes the heart, and treats insomnia.
Chinese Job’s Tears Seed (Yi Yi Ren): Drains dampness, promotes urination, and treats edema and arthritis.
Chinese Coix Seed (Yi Mi): Drains dampness, clears heat, and treats skin disorders and diarrhea.
Chinese Nelumbo Seed (Lian Zi Xin): Calms the heart, stops palpitations, and treats insomnia and anxiety.
Chinese White Mustard Seed (Bai Jie Zi): Dispels phlegm, reduces nodules, and treats goiter and scrofula.
Chinese Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi): Tonifies the kidneys, strengthens Yang, and treats impotence and premature ejaculation.
Chinese Desmodium Leaf (Huang Jing): Nourishes Yin, tonifies Qi, and treats dry cough and lung deficiency.
Chinese Mulberry Leaf (Sang Ye): Cools the lung, disperses wind-heat, and treats cough and sore throat.
Chinese Bamboo Leaf (Zhu Ye): Clears heat, promotes urination, and treats fevers and urinary disorders.
Chinese White Willow Bark (Bai Liu): Reduces pain and inflammation, treats arthritis, and relieves headaches.
Chinese Lycium Berry (Gou Qi Zi): Tonifies the liver and kidneys, nourishes Yin, and improves vision.
Chinese Schisandra Fruit (Wu Wei Zi): Tonifies Qi, nourishes the kidneys, and improves liver health.
Chinese Red Sage Root (Dan Shen): Invigorates blood circulation, reduces inflammation, and treats cardiovascular conditions.
Chinese Ligusticum Root (Chuan Xiong): Invigorates blood circulation, relieves pain, and treats headaches and menstrual disorders.
Chinese Sichuan Lovage Rhizome (Chuan Xiong): Invigorates blood circulation, relieves pain, and treats headaches and gynecological disorders.
Chinese Frankincense (Ru Xiang): Invigorates blood circulation, relieves pain, and promotes wound healing.
Dr Neeraj Kaushik, Founder-Kaushik Acupuncture & Complementary Medicine