Chinese herbology is the theory of traditional Chinese herbal therapy, which accounts for the majority of treatments in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). A Nature editorial described TCM as "fraught with pseudoscience", and said that the most obvious reason why it has not delivered many cures is that the majority of its treatments have no logical mechanism of action.
Ginseng is the root of plants in the genus Panax, such as Korean ginseng (P. ginseng), South China ginseng (P. notoginseng), and American ginseng (P. quinquefolius), characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. Ginseng is common in the cuisines and medicines of China and Korea.
Kampo or Kanpō medicine, often known simply as Kanpō, is the study of traditional Chinese medicine in Japan following its introduction, beginning in the 7th century. It was adapted and modified to suit Japanese culture and traditions. Traditional Japanese medicine uses most of the Chinese methods, including acupuncture, moxibustion, traditional Chinese herbology, and traditional food therapy.
The Three Treasures or Three Jewels are theoretical cornerstones in traditional Chinese medicine and practices such as neidan, qigong, and tai chi. They are also known as jing, qi, and shen.
Gynostemma pentaphyllum, also called jiaogulan, is a dioecious, herbaceous climbing vine of the family Cucurbitaceae widely distributed in South and East Asia as well as New Guinea.
Chinese patent medicine are herbal medicines in Traditional Chinese medicine, modernized into a ready-to-use form such as tablets, oral solutions or dry suspensions, as opposed to herbs that require cooking.
Chinese classic herbal formulas are combinations of herbs used in Chinese herbology for supposed greater efficiency in comparison to individual herbs. They are the basic herbal formulas that students of Traditional Chinese medicine learn. Later these students will adapt these classic formulas to match the needs of each patient.
Kampō medicine is the Japanese study and adaptation of Traditional Chinese medicine. Today in Japan, Kampo is integrated into the national health care system. In 1967, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approved 4 kampo medicines for reimbursement under the National Health Insurance (NHI) program. In 1976, 82 kampo medicines were approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Currently, 148 kampo medicines are approved for reimbursement.
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang is a Chinese classic herbal formula. In Japanese kampo, it is known as "Hochū-ekki-tō". It is commonly made into Chinese patent medicine.
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, also known as Liuwei Dihuang teapills or Six Flavor Rehmanni, is a prescription in traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacy to treat yin deficiency. In Japanese kampo, it is known as "Rokumi-gan". It is commonly made into Chinese patent medicine.
Shi Quan Da Bu Wan, also known as Shiquan Dabu teapills, is a Chinese classic herbal formula. In Japanese kampo, it is known as "Jūzen-daiho-tō". It is commonly made into Chinese patent medicine. It is composed of two famous formulas which tonify the blood and the qi plus the addition of huang qi and rou gui.
Xiao Yao Wan, also known as Free and Easy Wanderer, is a Chinese classic herbal formula. It is commonly made into Chinese patent medicine.
Panax notoginseng is a species of the genus Panax, and it is commonly referred to in English as Chinese ginseng or notoginseng. In Chinese it is called tiánqī, tienchi ginseng, sānqī or sanchi, three-seven root, and mountain plant. P. notoginseng belongs to the same scientific genus as Panax ginseng. In Latin, the word panax means "cure-all", and the family of ginseng plants is one of the best-known herbs.
Shō-saiko-tō (小柴胡湯), also known as minor bupuleurum formula and xiǎocháihútāng (XCHT), is a herbal supplement, believed to enhance liver health. Sho-Saiko-To is a widely used prescription drug in China and is a listed formula in China and Japan as a Kampo medicine. There are currently ongoing clinical trials for Sho-Saiko-To at University of California, San Diego and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The active ingredients of sho-saiko-to discovered so far include baicalin, baicalein, glycyrrhizin, saikosaponins, ginsenosides, wogonin, and gingerol.
Shennong Bencaojing is a Chinese book on agriculture and medicinal plants, traditionally attributed to Shennong. Researchers believe the text is a compilation of oral traditions, written between about 206 BC and 220 AD. The original text no longer exists, but is said to have been composed of three volumes containing 365 entries on medicaments and their description.
Anshen Buxin Wan is a dark brown or sugar-coated pill used in Traditional Chinese medicine to "calm the spirit and tonify the heart". It acts as a sedative and has adaptogenic properties. It is used to nourish the heart and calm the nerves caused by "yin and blood deficiencies".
Shengmai Wan is a brown pill used in Traditional Chinese medicine to "replenish qi, restore normal pulse, nourish yin and promote the production of body fluids". It is aromatic and tastes sour, sweet and slightly bitter. It is used where there is "deficiency of qi and yin marked by cardiac palpitation, shortness of breath, scarcely perceptible pulse and spontaneous sweating".
In herbal medicine, a herbal tonic is used to help restore, tone and invigorate systems in the body or to promote general health and well-being. A herbal tonic is a solution or other preparation made from a specially selected assortment of plants known as herbs. They are steeped in water and drunk either hot or cool. Herbal tonics are believed to have healing properties ranging from relieving muscle and joint pain and extend as far as inhibiting some cancers.