Directing Medicines

Common to all systems is the idea that certain medicines direct the function of a formula to a specific part or organ of the Body. The following is a brief list of herbs which direct to a certain part of the Body.

Life Channel (Du Mai):
Clove; Deer horn
Head:
Warm: Betony, Cowslip, Eyebright, Rosemary, Vervain
Cool: Poppy seed, Rose, Willow leaf, Violet, Water Lilies, Pearl, Red Coral
Brain:
Calamus, Peony, Nutmeg, Mace, Walnut, Rosemary, Frankincense
Senses, General:
Calamus
Eyes:
Eyebright, Goji
Neck:
Figwort, Self Heal
Throat:
Figwort, Sage, Licorice
Breast:
Dandelion, Immature Mandarin peel Qing Pi
Heart:
Warm: Aloeswood, Angelica, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Mace, Valerian, Squill
Cool: Basil seed, Borage, Rose, Violet; Red Coral, Pearl
Lungs:
Warm: Elecampane, Licorice, Orris, Raisins, Ephedra
Cool: Tabasheer, Lungwort, Plantain, Horehound
Liver & Gall Bladder:
Saffron/ Calendula/ Safflower; Agrimony, Turmeric
Cool: Chicory, Dandelion, Endive, Fumitory, Gentian, Nightshade, Liverwort
Stomach:
Warm: Elecampane, Ginger, Galangal, Spikenard, Cumin, Mastic
Cool: Mint, Pomegranate peel, Quince, Sorrel, Gypsum, Calcite
Spleen:
Aniseed, Agrimony, Bay leaf, Centaury, Chicory, Fumitory, Hops, Thyme, Tamarisk, Wormwood, Ash tree bark, Fern root, Caper bark, Maidenhair, Lapis Lazuli
Kidney:
Lesser (Green) Cardamon, Asparagus root, Marshmallow root, Nettle root & seed, Celery root & seed, Parsley root & seed, Gromwell seed, Rocket seed, Rehmannia
Bladder:
Agrimony, Couch grass, Knotgrass, Nettle, Yarrow
Bowels:
Warm: Costus, Cumin, Caraway, Fennel, Valerian
Cool: Agrimony, Camomile, Buckthorn Plantain, Burnet, Rhubarb
Uterus:
Calamint, Feverfew, Motherwort, Mugwort, Oregano, Tansy, Peony, Amber
Joints:
Cowslip, Rosemary, Rue, St. John’s wort, Colchicum
Whole Body:
Licorice, Aconitum Fu Zi
Yang:
Velvet Deer Horn; Cinnamon, Aconitum Fu Zi, Sulphur
Yin:
Turtle Shell; Cold Seeds, Pearl, Rehmannia
Blood:
Madder, Myrrh, Saffron, Wine
Essence:
Placenta, Pearl, Cinnamon
Spirit, Mind:
Pearl, Red Coral, Amber, Saffron
Phlegm Humor:
Turbith, Agaric, Ginger
Bile Humor:
Yellow Myrobalan, Rhubarb, Barberry
Melancholy Humor:
Dodder, Agaric, Polypody, Senna, Black Myrobalan, Black Hellebore
Air / Wind:
Antelope horn; Chebulic Myrobalan

In addition, Mesue (Opera, 1598) gave the following list of medicines to guide the action of Purgative medicines to the various Organs and Parts. These are guiding medicines appropriated to the parts in general and so may be used as guiding medicines for uses other than purging.

Head
Nutmeg, Peony, Stoechas, Acorus, Aloeswood, Indian Salt, Rock Salt, Balsam, Balsam wood, Balsam fruit, Anacardium, Frankincense, Myrrh, Germander, Ground Pine, Schoenathus, Squill, Spikenard, Castoreum, Gentian, Thyme, Hyssop, Pepper, Marjoram, Sagapen
Lungs
Orris, Thyme, Hyssop, Maidenhair, Squill, Ammi, Cardamon, Cabbage juice, Cock broth, Nasturtium, Almond, Hazelnut, Fox lungs, Seseli, Opopanax, Myrrh, Sagapen, Radish, Calamus aromaticus, Asphodelus, Laurus, Calamint, Savin, Violet, Birthwort, Tragacanth, Gum Arabic, Frankincense, Honey, Sugar, Mulberry, Fenugreek, Horehound, Lilium
Liver
Spikenard, Asarum, Anise, Fennel seed, Fennel juice, Chicory, Endive, Bitter Almond, Indian leaf, Carrot, Agrimony, Wormwood, Lacca, Cinnamon, Asparagus, Decoction of Chickpea, Germander, Plantain, Orris, Laurus, Schoenanthus, Camomile, Fumitory, Whey, Parsley, Polium, Squill
Spleen
Carrot, Calamint, Spikenard, Tamarix, Caper, Cyclamen, Willow bark, Rock salt, Indian salt, Orris, Acorus, Horehound, Madder, Wormwood, Agrimony, Anise, Fennel, Asparagus, Squill, Asarum, Scordium, Agnus Castus, Germander, Bitter Almond, Birthwort
Joints
Ginger, Wild Rue, Opopanax, Thapsia, Cardamon, Leek water, Cabbage juice, Acorus, Three Peppers, Scordium, Germander, Ground Pine, Thyme, Amomum, Polium

Directing Medicines

See also: