Chinese Herbs Guide: Essential TCM Herbs Explained

How Chinese Herbs Are Classified

A Western herbal might list a plant under the conditions it treats. The Chinese materia medica works differently. It describes each herb by a small set of properties that predict how the herb behaves in the body. Once you understand these properties, any herb profile on xemgiosinh.com becomes easy to read.

1. Nature (四气): the herb's temperature

Herbs are graded as cold, cool, neutral, warm or hot. Cooling herbs clear heat, and warming herbs dispel cold. Asian ginseng is slightly warm, goji berry is neutral, and Dang Gui is warm. Matching nature to the person is the first rule of safe herbal use.

2. Flavor (五味): what the herb does

The five flavors each hint at an action. Sweet herbs tonify and harmonize. Pungent herbs disperse and move. Bitter herbs drain and dry. Sour herbs astringe and hold in. Salty herbs soften and purge. Licorice root, the sweetest herb in the pharmacy, is also the great harmonizer.

3. Channels (归经): where the herb goes

Each herb is said to "enter" particular organ channels. Astragalus enters the Spleen and Lung, which is why it is used for fatigue and frequent colds. Goji enters the Liver and Kidney, which is why it is used for the eyes and lower back.

4. Category: the herb's main job

Category	Main purpose	Examples on this site
Qi tonics	Strengthen energy, digestion and breath	Ginseng, astragalus, licorice
Blood tonics	Nourish Blood, complexion and menstruation	Dang Gui
Yin tonics	Moisten, cool and nourish deep reserves	Goji berry
Exterior-releasing herbs	Treat the early stage of colds	Cinnamon twig, fresh ginger
Heat-clearing herbs	Cool inflammation and "fire"	Coptis, honeysuckle

Why Herbs Are Usually Combined

Single herbs are the exception in Chinese medicine. Most are prescribed inside a formula, where partners boost their strengths and balance their weaknesses. Ginseng rarely appears without licorice, and Dang Gui is paired with astragalus to build Blood. To see how herbs become prescriptions, continue to our classic Chinese formulas hub.

Buying Quality Chinese Herbs

• Choose tested suppliers. Look for identity testing, heavy-metal and pesticide screening, and GMP-certified manufacturing.
• Check the botanical name. Common names are confusing. "Angelica" and "ginseng" can each refer to several different plants.
• Avoid sulfur-fumigated herbs. Unnaturally bright colors can be a warning sign.
• Store herbs well. Keep them in airtight containers away from light, heat and humidity.

Safety First

Natural does not mean harmless. Herbs can interact with medications, especially blood thinners, diabetes and blood-pressure drugs. Some are unsuitable in pregnancy. The NCCIH guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine and Memorial Sloan Kettering's About Herbs database are excellent independent references. Always tell your doctor and a qualified herbalist what you take.

New to the subject? Start with the complete beginner's introduction on the xemgiosinh.com homepage, then return here to go deeper, one herb at a time.