Below is our list of our Top 100 most important traditional medicines.
To form this list, several factors have been taken into account:
In some cases, two herbs are listed in the same space, for example, Saffron and Safflower. Saffron is stronger and more commonly used in classical formula. However, Safflower is a common modern substitute and forms a far more economical and therefore practical substitute. In some cases, similar herbs from different traditions are classed together, for example, Orange peel and Tangerine peel (Chen Pi).
Because of the focus on practical use in modern day practice, a number of stronger but toxic medicines that should be in the Top 100, for example, Aconite, Opium and Nux Vomica, are omitted. Several other that are restricted in some countries are present, for example, Asarum and Calamus.
A few of the most important animal and mineral medicines are included.
To form this list, several factors have been taken into account:
- Widespread usage
- Indispensable
- Strong or Proven effect
In some cases, two herbs are listed in the same space, for example, Saffron and Safflower. Saffron is stronger and more commonly used in classical formula. However, Safflower is a common modern substitute and forms a far more economical and therefore practical substitute. In some cases, similar herbs from different traditions are classed together, for example, Orange peel and Tangerine peel (Chen Pi).
Because of the focus on practical use in modern day practice, a number of stronger but toxic medicines that should be in the Top 100, for example, Aconite, Opium and Nux Vomica, are omitted. Several other that are restricted in some countries are present, for example, Asarum and Calamus.
A few of the most important animal and mineral medicines are included.
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The Links below are for the PRO version which requires Subscription.
You can search for FREE versions on the FREE Herbal Materia Medica
Herbs
Absinthium, Wormwood / Yin Chen Hao
Achyranthes, Niu Xi
Acorus, Calamus, Shi Chang Pu
Agrimonia, Agrimony, Xian He Cao
Allium, Garlic
Aloe, Lu Hui
Amomum, Greater Cardamon, Sha Ren
Andrographis
Angelica sinensis, Dang Gui
Aquilaria, Aloeswood, Chen Xiang
Artemisia vulgaris, Mugwort, Ai Ye
Asarum, Asarabacca, Xi Xin
Asparagus officinalis, Tian Men Dong
Astragalus, Huang Qi
Atractylodes, Bai Zhu
Aurantium, Orange / Citrus, Tangerine, Chen Pi
Azadirachta, Neem
Bdellium, Guggulu
Cardamomum, Lesser Cardamom
Camphor, Borneo Camphor, Bing Pian
Cinnamonum, Cinnamon bark, Rou Gui
Coptis, Huang Lian
Costus, Mu Xiang
Crataegus, Hawthorn, Shan Zha
Crocus, Saffron / Carthamus, Safflower
Cuminum, Cumin
Curcuma, Turmeric, Jiang Huang
Cuscuta, Dodder seed, Tu Si Zi / Dodder Herb
Cynosbatus, Rose hip, Jin Ying Zi
Cyperus rotundus, Xiang Fu
Dioscorea, Chinese Yam, Shan Yao
Ephedra, Ma Huang
Equisetum, Horsetail, Mu Zei
Eugenia, Clove, Ding Xiang
Foeniculum, Fennel, Xiao Hui Xiang
Fumaria, Fumitory
Galls, Wu Bei Zi
Ganoderma / Ganoderma Ling Zhi
Gastrodia, Tian Ma
Gentiana, Gentian, Long Dan Cao
Glycyrrhiza, Licorice, Gan Cao
Hypericum, St. John’s Wort
Nardostachys, Indian Spikenard / Valerian
Inula, Elecampane
Jugulans Nux, Walnuts
Leonurus, Motherwort, Yi Mu Cao
Mastic, Mastic Gum
Mentha, Mint, Bo He
Myristica, Nutmeg, Rou Dou Kou
Myrobalan, Belleric
Myrobalan, Chebula, He Zi
Myrobalan, Emblic
Myrrha, Myrrh, Mo Yao
Notoginseng San Qi
Olibanum, Frankincense, Ru Xiang
Orchis, Satyrion
Paeoniae, Chinese Peony / Western Peony
Panax, Ginseng, Ren Shen
Papaver Semen, Poppy seed
Phoenix, Date
Piper, Pepper
Polygonatum, Soloman’s Seal, Yu Zhu
Prunella, Self-heal, Xia Ku Cao
Prunus armeniaca, Bitter Almond / Sweet Almond
Rehmannia, Shu Di Huang
Rhabarbari, Rhubarb, Da Huang
Rosa, Rose, Mei Gui Hua
Rubia, Madder, Qian Cao
Santalum, Sandalwood, Tan Xiang
Sarsaparilla / China root, Tu Fu Ling
Scrophularia, Figwort, Xuan Shen
Scutellaria, Huang Qin
Sesamum, Sesame, Hei Zhi Ma
Solanum nigrum, Black Nightshade, Long Kui
Tabasheer, Tian Nan Xing
Taraxacum, Dandelion, Pu Gong Ying
Tribulus, Caltrop, Ci Ji Li
Trigonella, Fenugreek, Hu Lu Ba
Tussilago, Coltsfoot, Kuan Dong Hua
Viscum, Mistletoe, Sang Ji Sheng
Withania, Ashwaganda
Zedoaria, Zedoary, E Zhu
Zinziberis, Ginger, Gan Jiang
Ziziphus, Jujube, Chinese Date, Da Zao
Mineral
Alum, Bai Fan
Amber, Hu Po
Calcite / Gypsum
Red Earth, Chi Shi Zhi
Gold, Jin
Hematite, Dai Zhi Shi
Magnetite, Ci Shi
Pearl, Zhen Zhu
Red Coral, Shan Hu
Shilajit
Animal
Mature Deer Horn
Velvet Deer Horn, Lu Rong
Earthworm, Di Long
Viper, Bai Hua She
Honey, Feng Mi
Absinthium, Wormwood / Yin Chen Hao
Achyranthes, Niu Xi
Acorus, Calamus, Shi Chang Pu
Agrimonia, Agrimony, Xian He Cao
Allium, Garlic
Aloe, Lu Hui
Amomum, Greater Cardamon, Sha Ren
Andrographis
Angelica sinensis, Dang Gui
Aquilaria, Aloeswood, Chen Xiang
Artemisia vulgaris, Mugwort, Ai Ye
Asarum, Asarabacca, Xi Xin
Asparagus officinalis, Tian Men Dong
Astragalus, Huang Qi
Atractylodes, Bai Zhu
Aurantium, Orange / Citrus, Tangerine, Chen Pi
Azadirachta, Neem
Bdellium, Guggulu
Cardamomum, Lesser Cardamom
Camphor, Borneo Camphor, Bing Pian
Cinnamonum, Cinnamon bark, Rou Gui
Coptis, Huang Lian
Costus, Mu Xiang
Crataegus, Hawthorn, Shan Zha
Crocus, Saffron / Carthamus, Safflower
Cuminum, Cumin
Curcuma, Turmeric, Jiang Huang
Cuscuta, Dodder seed, Tu Si Zi / Dodder Herb
Cynosbatus, Rose hip, Jin Ying Zi
Cyperus rotundus, Xiang Fu
Dioscorea, Chinese Yam, Shan Yao
Ephedra, Ma Huang
Equisetum, Horsetail, Mu Zei
Eugenia, Clove, Ding Xiang
Foeniculum, Fennel, Xiao Hui Xiang
Fumaria, Fumitory
Galls, Wu Bei Zi
Ganoderma / Ganoderma Ling Zhi
Gastrodia, Tian Ma
Gentiana, Gentian, Long Dan Cao
Glycyrrhiza, Licorice, Gan Cao
Hypericum, St. John’s Wort
Nardostachys, Indian Spikenard / Valerian
Inula, Elecampane
Jugulans Nux, Walnuts
Leonurus, Motherwort, Yi Mu Cao
Mastic, Mastic Gum
Mentha, Mint, Bo He
Myristica, Nutmeg, Rou Dou Kou
Myrobalan, Belleric
Myrobalan, Chebula, He Zi
Myrobalan, Emblic
Myrrha, Myrrh, Mo Yao
Notoginseng San Qi
Olibanum, Frankincense, Ru Xiang
Orchis, Satyrion
Paeoniae, Chinese Peony / Western Peony
Panax, Ginseng, Ren Shen
Papaver Semen, Poppy seed
Phoenix, Date
Piper, Pepper
Polygonatum, Soloman’s Seal, Yu Zhu
Prunella, Self-heal, Xia Ku Cao
Prunus armeniaca, Bitter Almond / Sweet Almond
Rehmannia, Shu Di Huang
Rhabarbari, Rhubarb, Da Huang
Rosa, Rose, Mei Gui Hua
Rubia, Madder, Qian Cao
Santalum, Sandalwood, Tan Xiang
Sarsaparilla / China root, Tu Fu Ling
Scrophularia, Figwort, Xuan Shen
Scutellaria, Huang Qin
Sesamum, Sesame, Hei Zhi Ma
Solanum nigrum, Black Nightshade, Long Kui
Tabasheer, Tian Nan Xing
Taraxacum, Dandelion, Pu Gong Ying
Tribulus, Caltrop, Ci Ji Li
Trigonella, Fenugreek, Hu Lu Ba
Tussilago, Coltsfoot, Kuan Dong Hua
Viscum, Mistletoe, Sang Ji Sheng
Withania, Ashwaganda
Zedoaria, Zedoary, E Zhu
Zinziberis, Ginger, Gan Jiang
Ziziphus, Jujube, Chinese Date, Da Zao
Mineral
Alum, Bai Fan
Amber, Hu Po
Calcite / Gypsum
Red Earth, Chi Shi Zhi
Gold, Jin
Hematite, Dai Zhi Shi
Magnetite, Ci Shi
Pearl, Zhen Zhu
Red Coral, Shan Hu
Shilajit
Animal
Mature Deer Horn
Velvet Deer Horn, Lu Rong
Earthworm, Di Long
Viper, Bai Hua She
Honey, Feng Mi