Dry-frying

chǎo (炒)

Herbs are heated and stirred in a wok using a moderate heat until the herb darkens slightly and gives off the herb’s characteristic aroma.

Reduces cold, bitter or toxic natures of herbs, lessens bad tastes, and makes the herb’s ingredients more available for extraction in decoction.

Gardeniae Fructus (zhī zǐ), Vaccariae Semen (wáng bù liú xíng), Paeoniae Radix rubra (chì sháo), Paeoniae Radix alba (bái sháo),  Cassiae Semen (jué míng zǐ), Cannabis Semen (huǒ má rén),Ziziphi spinosae Semen (suān zǎo rén), Coicis Semen (yì yǐ rén), Euryales Semen (qiàn shí), Crataegi Fructus (shān zhā) .

Most seeds are dry-fried to cause them to crack open and allow their ingredients to be released during decoction. In some cases herbs are dry-fried to give them longer shelf-life.

Wine-frying

jiǔ chǎo(酒炒)

There are two methods.

1. Herbs are first soaked in rice-wine and then stir-fried over a moderate fire.

2. Herbs are stir-fried over a moderate fire as rice wine is spritzed onto them.

Same functions as dry-frying with the additional functions of increasing the blood-moving and collateral-freeing function of the treated herb.

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (dà huáng), Pheretima (dì lóng), Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix (dān shēn), Paeoniae Radix alba (bái sháo), Paeoniae Radix rubra (chì sháo), Angelicae sinensis Radix (dāng guī), Clematidis Radix (wēi líng xiān).

Wine travels to the upper body and thus wine-treated herbs are usually applied to treatment of upper body disorders.

Vinegar-frying

cù chǎo (醋炒)

There are two methods.

1) Herbs are first soaked in rice-vinegar and then stir-fried over a moderate fire.

2) Herbs are stir-fried over a moderate fire as rice vinegar is spritzed onto them.

Same functions as dry-frying with the additional functions of increasing an herb’s ability to invigorate blood and relieve pain.

Sparganii Rhizoma (sān léng), Curcumae Rhizoma (é zhú), Kansui Radix (gān suì), Bupleuri Radix (chái hú), Cyperi Rhizoma (xiāng fù), Corydalis Rhizoma (yán hú suǒ), Curcumae Radix (yù jīn), Myrrha (mò yào), Olibanum (rǔ xiāng).

Vinegar is sour and thus is used to guide herbs to the Liver channel.

Brine-frying

yán chǎo(鹽炒)

There are two methods.

1) Herbs are first soaked in salted water and then stir-fried over a moderate fire.

2) Herbs are stir-fried over a moderate fire as salted water is spritzed onto them.

Guides herbs to the lower burner and increases an herb’s function of nourishing yin and directing fire downward.

Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (zhī mǔ), Phellodendri Cortex (huáng bǎi), Foeniculi Fructus (xiǎo huí xiāng), Eucommiae Cortex (dù zhòng), Psoraleae Fructus (bǔ gǔ zhī), Astragali complanati Semen (shā yuàn zǐ).

This method of treatment is mostly applied to herbs that  tonify the Kidney, secure essence, treat bulging disorders, promote urination, or drain ministerial fire.

Honey-frying

mì zhì (蜜炙)

The herb is mix-fried with refined honey. Usually the honey is diluted with water and heated before adding the herbs.

Honey-frying increases the cough-relieving herbs’ ability to moisten the lung and relieve cough. For tonifying herbs, it increases their function of tonifying the Spleen and augmenting qi.

Glycyrrhizae Radix (gān cǎo), Astragali Radix (huáng qí), Ephedrae Herba (má huáng), Stemonae Radix (bǎi bù), Cynanchi stauntonii Rhizoma (bái qián), Mori Cortex (sāng bái pí), Mori Folium (sāng yè), and Trichosanthis Pericarpium (guā lóu pí).

When applied to herbs that are dispersing in nature, honey-frying moderates the dispersing nature. It also can decrease side effects and improve the flavor of treated herbs.

Bran-frying

fū chǎo (麩炒)

Wheat bran is added to a heated wok and cooked on a medium flame until it begins to smoke. The herb is then added in and continually stirred until the herb darkens slightly.

Same functions as dry-frying with the additional functions of increasing the tonifying nature of tonifying herbs and moderating the dispersing or drying nature of dispersing or drying herbs.

Aurantii Fructus immaturus (zhǐ shí), Aurantii Fructus (zhǐ ké), Atractylodis Rhizoma (cāng zhú), Codonopsis Radix (dǎng shēn), Dioscoreae Rhizoma (shān yào), and, Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (bái zhú).

Bran-frying also decreases the disagreeable smell or taste of foul-smelling or bad-tasting herbs.

Wine-steaming

jiǔ zhēng (酒蒸)

Herbs are put in a closed container and steamed with rice wine.

Changes the nature of herbs making them warmer and more nourishing.

Rehmanniae Radix (shēng dì huáng), Corni Fructus (shān zhū yú), Cistanches Herba (ròu cōng róng), Polygonati Rhizoma (huáng jīng), Ligustri lucidi Fructus (nǚ zhēn zǐ), Schisandrae Fructus (wǔ wèi zǐ), and Siegesbeckiae Herba (xī xiān cǎo).

Wine-steaming makes some herbs easier to slice and in some cases is used to preserve herbs. In the case of herbs like Polygonati Rhizoma (huáng jīng), steaming eliminates the herb’s tendency to irritate the throat.

Steaming

zhēng (蒸)

Herbs are put in a closed container and steamed.

Changes the nature of herbs making them warmer and more nourishing.

Ginseng Radix (rén shēn), Scrophulariae Radix (xuán shēn), and Chaenomelis Fructus (mù guā).

Steaming also makes herbs easier to slice.

Calcining

duàn (煅)

Different methods are used to heat an agent to a high temperature. Sometimes this is followed by dipping the heated item into vinegar or water.

Makes the agent friable, decreases foul tastes and odors, reduces an agent’s cold nature and reduces the water content of the agent.

Ostreae Concha (mǔ lì), Fossilia Ossis Mastodi (lóng gǔ), Alumen dehydratum (kū fán), Gypsum fibrosum (shí gāo), Arcae Concha (wǎ léng zǐ), Meretricis/Cyclinae Concha (gé qiào), Pyritum (zì rán tóng), Haematitum (dài zhě shí) , and Magnetitum (cí shí)

Calcining in general and especially vinegar dip-calcining makes agents more astringent.

Scorched

jiāo (焦)

A medium to high flame is used to stir-fry the herb until it is darkens considerably on the exterior but only slightly on the interior.

Scorched is primarily applied to increase an herb’s ability to disperse food stagnation and strengthen the Spleen.

Crataegi Fructus (shān zhā), Gardeniae Fructus (zhī zǐ) and Arecae Semen (bīng láng)

In some cases scorched is used to reduce an herb’s irritating nature.

Charring

tàn (炭)

A medium to high flame is used to stir-fry the herb until it is blackens on the exterior and darkens noticeably on the interior.

Increases or creates an ability to stop bleeding in the treated herb.

Sophorae Fructus (huái jiǎo), Artemisiae argyi Folium (ài yè), Cirsii japonici Herba sive Radix (dà jì), Cirsii Herba (xiǎo jì), Zingiberis Rhizoma (gān jiāng), Mume Fructus (wū méi), Moutan Cortex (mǔ dān pí), Sanguisorbae Radix (dì yú), Rubiae Radix (qiàn cǎo gēn), Typhae Pollen (pú huáng), Schizonepetae Herba (jīng jiè), and Saposhnikoviae Radix (fáng fēng).

Charring also increase the astringency of the treated herb and this astringency is usually applied to treating diarrhea or dysentery.

Complex treatments

fǎn fù zhì fǎ (反覆製法)

Generally, these Treatments involve multiple soakings of the herb (often in alum or limestone) and cooking in herb extracts (most commonly licorice and/or ginger).

Functions Vary depending on the treatment.

Pinelliae Rhizoma praeparatum (zhì bàn xià), Aconiti Radix lateralis praeparata (zhì fù zǐ), and Arisaematis Rhizoma praeparatum (zhì tiān nán xīng)

Pinelliae Rhizoma (bàn xià)

Untreated Pinelliae Rhizoma (shēng bàn xià 生半夏)

Untreated

Transforms phlegm and disperses knots.

Treats swellings and toxic bites of insects and snakes.

Toxic. Generally, only used externally.

Ginger-fried Pinelliae Rhizoma praeparatum (jiāng bàn xià 姜半夏)

Alum and ginger treated

Directs rebellious qi downward. Transforms phlegm and damp.

Treats middle burner rebellious qi seen in nausea and vomiting. It also treats focal distention.

Also used for plum-pit qi.

Clear Pinelliae Rhizoma praeparatum (qīng bàn xià 清半夏) or clear-water Pinelliae Rhizoma praeparatum (qīng shǔi bàn xià 清半夏)

Alum-treated

Dries damp and transforms phlegm.

Treats phlegm-cough and phlegm that gives rise to dizziness.

Also treats vertigo, palpitation and thin mucus.

Standard Pinelliae Rhizoma praeparatum (fǎ bàn xià 法半夏)

Limestone and licorice treated

Dries damp and transforms phlegm.

Similar to alum-treated herb but slightly less drying.

Mostly used in prepared products.

Cyperi Rhizoma (xiāng fù)

Untreated Cyperi Rhizoma (shēng xiāng fù生香附)

Untreated

Moves upward and outward to treat exterior conditions; moves qi in the chest.

Used in formulas for treatment of external patterns and also treats focal distention and rib pain.

Sheng Xiang Fu is often quick-fried over a strong fire to remove the fine hairs on the rhizome so technically speaking it is not untreated.

Vinegar-fried Cyperi Rhizoma (cù zhì xiāng fù 醋香附)

Vinegar-fried

Treatment increases the herb’s ability to relieve pain, dredge liver qi and disperse knots.

Treats abdominal and stomach pain owing to food or qi stagnation.

Cyperi Rhizoma (xiāng fù) is sometimes treated with ginger, vinegar, wine and salt (called quadruple treatment). It’s function is similar to that of the vinegar treated herb.

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (dà huáng)

Untreated Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (shēng dà huáng 生大黃)

Untreated

Strong ability to purge the intestines, drain fire and resolve toxin.

Used to free the stool as in Major Order the Qi Decoction (dà chéng qì tāng)  and to drain fire and resolve toxin in Rhubarb and Moutan Decoction (dà huáng mǔ dān tāng).

The herb is post-added to preserve its ability to purge the intestines.

Wine-fried Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (jiǔ dà huáng 酒大黃)

Wine-fried

Treatment decreases the herb’s purgative function and carries the herb to the upper burner.

Treats upper burner excess heat patterns seen as lung abscess and other lung heat disorders.

Steamed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (shú dà huáng 熟大黃)

Wine-steamed

Treatment decreases the herb’s purgative function and increases its ability to disperse stasis and invigorate the blood.

Treats abdominal masses, blocked menses and internal static blood.

Vinegar-fried Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (cù dà huáng 醋大黃.

Vinegar-fried

Treatment decreases the herb’s purgative function and adds an ability to disperse stasis and transform stasis.

Treats food accumulation that presents with fullness and focal distention. It also is used with blood moving herbs to disperse abdominal masses.

Crataegi Fructus (shān zhā)

Untreated Crataegi Fructus (shān zhā 生山楂)

Untreated

Invigorate blood and transform stasis.

Treats blood-stasis menstrual pain and menstrual irregularity.

Dry-fried Crataegi Fructus (chǎo shān zhā 炒山楂)

Dry-fried

Transforms food accumulation Dry-frying reduces the herb’s tendency toward irritation of the stomach.

Treats Spleen deficiency food stagnation.

Similar to scorched but slightly less apt at dispersing stagnation.

Scorched Crataegi Fructus (jiāo shān zhā 焦山楂)

Scorched

Disperses food stagnation and relieves diarrhea

Treats Spleen deficiency food stagnation as in Preserve Harmony Pill (bǎo hé wán).

Treatment reduces the sour taste of the herb and increases the bitter taste.

Carbonized Crataegi Fructus (shān zhā tàn 山楂炭)

Charred

Stops bleeding, relieves diarrhea, and, disperses food stagnation.

Especially used for Spleen deficiency diarrhea and intestinal wind with signs of food stagnation.

Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (bái zhú)

Untreated Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (shēng bái zhú 生白朮)

Untreated

Strengthens the Spleen and dries damp, promotes water metabolism and disperses swelling.

Treats internal collection of fluids and thin mucus as well as superficial edema and wind-damp painful obstruction.

The untreated herb can be drying.

Earth-fried Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (tǔ chǎo bái zhú)土炒白朮)

Earth-fried

Strengthens the Spleen and relieves diarrhea.

Treats Spleen-deficiency diarrhea or loose stools

Bran-fried Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (fū chǎo bái zhú 麩炒白朮)

Bran-fried

Treatment moderates the herb’s drying nature and increases its ability to strengthen the Spleen.

Treats Spleen deficiency that gives rise to digestive weakness or spontaneous sweating.

Tonifies the Spleen without being overly drying.

Polygoni multiflori Radix (hé shǒu wū)

Untreated Polygoni multiflori Radix (shēng hé shǒu wū 生首烏)

Untreated

Disperses swellings, resolves toxin and moistens the intestines.

Treats swellings and sores.

Seldom used in modern times. It is not generally available.

Black bean treated Polygoni multiflori Radix (hēi dòu zhì shǒu wū) 黑豆製首烏) or Polygoni multiflori Radix praeparata (zhì hé shǒu wū)

Black bean treated

Nourish the Liver and Kidney, augments essence and blood, blackens the hair, and strengthens the sinews and bones.

Treats prematurely greying hair, weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus and other signs of weakness in the blood and essence and deficiency in the Liver and Kidney.

Treatment with black-bean extract also eliminates the untreated herb’s effect of moving the stool. Some companies use rice wine treatment instead of black bean extract.

Eucommiae Cortex (dù zhòng)

Untreated Eucommiae Cortex (shēng dù zhòng 生杜仲)

Untreated

Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, strengthens the sinews and bones and quiets the fetus.

Treats wind-damp pain or injury in the lower back and knees in the presence of deficiency of the Liver and Kidney.

The untreated herb is warm and drying and thus particularly suited for cold-damp deficiency obstruction patterns.

Brine-fried Eucommiae Cortex (yán chǎo dù zhòng 鹽炒杜仲) or dry-fried Eucommiae Cortex (chǎo dù zhòng 炒杜仲)

Brine-fried

Treatment increases the herb’s function of tonifying the Liver and Kidneys and decreases its drying nature.

Impotence, back pain and insecure fetus in patients with Liver and Kidney deficiency.

Paradoxically, the brine-fried item is also used to treat high blood pressure. Apparently, the amount of salt imbibed is minimal.

Hordei Fructus germinatus (mài yá)

Untreated Hordei Fructus germinatus (shēng mài yá 生麥芽)

Untreated

Disperses food accumulation, dredges the Liver.

Treats food accumulation. Especially in the presence of Liver qi stagnation.

All forms of this herb are used to end milk production after breastfeeding has ceased. Most practitioners, however, prefer the dry-fried item for this function.

Dry-fried Hordei Fructus germinatus (chǎo mài yá 炒麥芽)

Dry-fried

Treatment increases the herb’s ability to disperse food accumulation.

Especially suited for food stagnation owing to deficiency.

The scorch-fried herb is said to be even better than the dry-fried herb at dispersing food accumulation, especially when the pattern includes diarrhea.

Ephedrae Herba (má huáng)

Untreated Ephedrae Herba (má huáng 生麻黃)

Untreated

Induces sweat, releases pathogens from the exterior and promotes water metabolism to disperse swelling. Also calms asthma and diffuses Lung qi.

Treats wind-water edema, wind-cold exterior patterns characterized by absence of sweating and painful wind-damp obstruction patterns.

In the dermatology clinic this herb is used to treat yin sores.

Honey-prepared Ephedrae Herba (mì zhì má huáng 蜜炙麻黃)

Honey-fried

Treatment renders the herb less dispersing and more moderate.

Best for calming asthma and diffusing Lung qi.

Treats cough and asthmatic breathing with copious clear phlegm in patterns where wind-cold fetters the Lungs. Is best suited for patterns where the exterior cold pathogen is not severe.

Phellodendri Cortex (huáng bǎi)

Untreated Phellodendri Cortex (shēng huáng bǎi 生黃柏)

Untreated

Drain fire, resolve toxin and dry damp.

Treats damp heat especially in the lower body as in dysentery and diarrhea, damp-heat rashes and painful urination.

Brine-fried Phellodendri Cortex (yán chǎo huáng bǎi 鹽炒黃柏)

Brine-fried

Brine-frying increases the herbs function of promoting descent of fire, enriching yin and reducing deficiency fevers.

Treats steaming bones, night sweats, seminal emissions, weakness in the knees, and coughing of blood associated with yin-deficiency fire.

A less common treatment for this herb is charring (to treat bleeding).

Wine-fried Phellodendri Cortex (jiǔ chǎo huáng bǎi 酒炒黃柏)

Wine-fried

Wine-frying reduces the bitter and cold nature of the herb and leads the herb to the upper burner.

Treats red eyes, sore throat or mouth sores. It is also applied to the treatment of vaginal discharge.

Because wine rises to the head, this agent can also be used to treat heat disorders of the head and face.

Atractylodis Rhizoma (cāng zhú)

Untreated Atractylodis Rhizoma (shēng cāng zhú 生蒼朮)

Untreated

Transforms damp, harmonizes the Stomach and dispels exterior wind-damp.

Treats wind-damp painful obstruction, external contractions with damp, damp-warmth, and pain in the legs and knees.

Nine-Herb Decoction with Notopterygium (jiǔ wèi qiāng huó tāng) is an example.

Bran-fried Atractylodis Rhizoma (fū chǎo cāng zhú 麩炒蒼术)

Bran-fried

Treatment imparts the bran’s fragrance to the herb and makes it better able to strengthen the Spleen.

Treats damp obstruction or thin mucus stagnation in the middle burner, various eye disorders, and damp-heat downpour to the legs and knees.

Because treatment moderates the herb’s drying nature, and reduces irritating oils the bran-fried herb is well suited for middle burner disorders and patients who tend to yin deficiency.

Ziziphi spinosae Semen (suān zǎo rén)

Untreated Ziziphi spinosae Semen (shēng suān zǎo rén 生酸棗仁)

Untreated

Nourishes the heart, quiets the spirit, and tonifies the Liver.

Insomnia, irritability, palpitations and forgetfulness.

Treated and untreated Ziziphi spinosae Semen (suān zǎo rén) look very similar, but taste very different. The untreated herb is unpalatable like uncooked peanuts and the roasted herb is much tastier, like roasted peanuts. In addition, the stir-fried herb is much more fragrant than the untreated one.

Dry-fried Ziziphi spinosae Semen (chǎo suān zǎo rén 炒酸棗仁)

Dry-fried

Nourishes the Heart, quiets the spirit, inhibits sweating. and fragrantly arouses the Spleen.

Fright palpitations, deficiency insomnia, night sweats and forgetfulness.

The treated herb is warmer and thus usually included in warming formulas. Also, as with most seeds, dry-frying makes the components inside the seed more available during decoction.

Glycyrrhizae Radix (gān cǎo)

Untreated Glycyrrhizae Radix (shēng gān cǎo 生甘草)

Untreated

Drains fire, resolves toxin, transforms phlegm and relieves cough.

Treats phlegm-heat cough, toxic swellings, sore, swollen throat, and undesirable reactions to food or medicine.

All forms of this herb also are used to harmonize the herbs of a formula.

Glycyrrhizae Radix praeparata (zhì gān cǎo 炙甘草)

Honey-fried

Tonifies the Spleen and harmonizes the Stomach, augments qi and restores the pulse.

Deficiency of the middle burner that presents as decreased food intake, fatigue of the spirit, and pain in the epigastrium and abdomen.

Mori Cortex (sāng bái pí)

Untreated Mori Cortex (sāng bái pí 生桑白皮)

Untreated

Drains the Lung, calms asthmatic breathing, and relieves cough. Also, can move water and disperse swelling.

Treats Lung heat or phlegm-fire cough and asthmatic breathing. Also treats ede,a of the face and limbs.

The untreated herb also moistens the lungs but much less than the honey-fried version.

Honey-prepared Mori Cortex (sāng bái pí 蜜炙桑白皮) or prepared Mori Cortex (zhì sāng bái pí 炙桑白皮)

Honey-fried

Moistens the Lung and relieves cough.

Treats lung deficiency cough.

Treatment reduces the cold and draining nature of the herb making it safer for children, old folks and those with a fragile constitution.

Astragali Radix (huáng qí)

Untreated Astragali Radix (shēng huáng qí 生黃芪)

Untreated

Best for augmenting the protective qi, securing the exterior, drawing out toxicity, generating flesh, promoting urination and reducing swelling.

Treats deficiency sweating, weakness in the defense qi, various stages of toxic swellings and qi-deficiency edema.

Found in formulas such as Support the Interior and Eliminate Toxin Drink (tuō lǐ xiāo dú yǐn) and Jade Windscreen Powder (yù píng fēng sǎn).

Honey-prepared Astragali Radix (mì zhì huáng qí  炙黃芪)

Honey-fried

Best for augmenting qi and tonifying the center,

Treats middle burner deficiency that gives rise to lack of appetite, loose stools, sinking of the middle qi (prolapse of rectum or uterus), qi-deficiency bleeding, fatigue and weakness in the four limbs.

The honey-fried item is also suitable for treating qi-deficiency constipation.

Paeoniae Radix alba (bái sháo)

Untreated Paeoniae Radix alba (shēng bái sháo 生白芍)

Untreated

Nourishes blood, preserves yin, calms and restrains Liver yang.

Treats menstrual disorders, headache, dizziness, irritability, and spontaneous or night sweating when these are owing to blood deficiency.

Wine-fried Paeoniae Radix alba (jiǔ chǎo bái sháo 酒炒白芍)

Wine-fried

Treatment renders the herbs less sour and cold so that the herb’s function of harmonizing the middle and moderating tension is enhanced.

Treats cramping pain in the abdomen and stomach, rib pain, cramping pain in the limbs and post-partum abdominal pain.

Though uncommon, this herb can also be mix-fried with vinegar. In that case its astringent quality is increased and the treated herb is used in addressing bleeding disorders such as blood in the urine.

Dry-fried Paeoniae Radix alba (chǎo bái sháo 炒白芍)

Dry-fried

Dry-frying moderates the cold nature of the herb and increases its ability to preserve yin and nourish blood.

Treats Liver attacking Spleen deficiency that gives rise to intestinal rumbling, painful cramping diarrhea, or chronic diarrhea with abdominal pain eased by warmth and pressure.

Chuanxiong Rhizoma (chuān xiōng)

Untreated Chuanxiong Rhizoma (shēng chuān xiōng 生川芎)

Untreated

Invigorates blood and moves qi. Dispels wind and relieves pain.

Treats blood stasis and qi stagnation that brings about menstrual pain, blocked menses, and irregular menstruation as well as swellings and sores, trauma, headache, head wind, and wind-damp painful obstruction.

In general, the wine-treated herb is used for upper body disorders and the untreated herb treats the lower body. Nonetheless, both forms of the herb can be used for either location.

Wine-fried Chuanxiong Rhizoma (jiǔ chǎo chuān xiōng 酒川芎)

Wine-fried

Wine leads the herb to the upper body and increases its function of moving blood and qi and relieving pain.

Often used for blood stasis headache and pain in the ribs and chest.

Bupleuri Radix (chái hú)

Untreated Bupleuri Radix (shēng chái hú 生柴胡)

Untreated

The untreated herb is uplifting and dispersing.

Treats exterior patterns and qi fall patterns.

Many practitioners also feel that the untreated herb is preferred for dredging the Liver especially if the Liver stagnation has engendered heat.

Vinegar-fried Bupleuri Radix (cù chái hú 醋炒柴胡)

Vinegar-fried

Vinegar-frying decreases the herb’s ability to uplift and disperse and increases its ability to dredge the Liver and relieve pain.

Mostly used to treat Liver qi stagnation that results in pain and distention in the ribs, menstrual pain and menstrual irregularity.

An example of this use is in Revive Health by Invigorating the Blood Decoction (fù yuán huó xuè tāng).

Gardeniae Fructus (zhī zǐ)

Untreated Gardeniae Fructus (shēng zhī zǐ 生梔子)

Untreated

Drain fire, resolves dampness, dispel irritability and cool the blood and resolve toxin.

Treats hot sores and swellings, warmth disorders with high fever, damp-heat gallbladder disorders, Liver heat disorders and painful urination.

The untreated herb is preferred also for external application in the treatment of trauma. Also, the charred herb is used to treat blood-heat bleeding.

Dry-fried Gardeniae Fructus (chǎo zhī zǐ 炒梔子)

Dry-fried

Same functions as the untreated herb but slightly more moderate in qi and flavor.

Same as the untreated herb but preferred for patients for whom the untreated herb is too cold and bitter.

As untreated herb is quite bitter and cold it can disturb the middle burner digestive function and lead to nausea or vomiting. Thus, in patients with Spleen-Stomach weakness the dry-fried agent is preferable.

Ginseng Radix (rén shēn)

Ginseng Radix alba (bái rén shēn 白人參) or (bái shēn 白參)

Untreated

Tonify qi, generate fluids, restore the pulse, secure abandoned disorders, tonify the Spleen and augment the Lung.

Treats constitutional deficiency tending toward abandoned disorders, Spleen deficiency digestive disorders, thirst and wasting and thirsting disorder.

Ginseng Radix rubra (hóng rén shēn 紅人參) or (hóng  shēn 紅參)

Steamed

Greatly tonify the source qi, restore the pulse, secure abandoned disorders, augment qi and contain the blood in the vessels.

Treats constitutional deficiency tending toward abandoned disorders, cold limbs, faint pulse, and qi failing to contain blood.

The treated herb is considerably warmer than the untreated item.