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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese herbology | 4/5 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_herbology | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T09:18:01.077830+00:00 | kb-cron |
The traditional practice of using now-endangered species is controversial within TCM. Modern Materia Medicas such as Bensky, Clavey and Stoger's comprehensive Chinese herbal text discuss substances derived from endangered species in an appendix, emphasizing alternatives. Parts of endangered species used as TCM drugs include tiger bones and rhinoceros horn. Poachers supply the black market with such substances, and the black market in rhinoceros horn, for example, has reduced the world's rhino population by more than 90 percent over the past 40 years. Concerns have also arisen over the use of turtle plastron and seahorses. TCM recognizes bear bile as a medicinal. In 1988, the Chinese Ministry of Health started controlling bile production, which previously used bears killed before winter. Now bears are fitted with a sort of permanent catheter, which is more profitable than killing the bears. More than 12,000 asiatic black bears are held in "bear farms", where they suffer cruel conditions while being held in tiny cages. The catheter leads through a permanent hole in the abdomen directly to the gall bladder, which can cause severe pain. Increased international attention has mostly stopped the use of bile outside of China; gallbladders from butchered cattle (牛胆; 牛膽; niú dǎn) are recommended as a substitute for this ingredient. Collecting American ginseng to assist the Asian traditional medicine trade has made ginseng the most harvested wild plant in North America for the last two centuries, which eventually led to a listing on CITES Appendix II. Chinese medicinal plant materials (CMPMs) release chemicals that attracts the Drugstore beetle, leading to the accumulation of this pest and further infestation and damage to these plants.
== Herbs in use ==
Chinese herbology is a pseudoscientific practice with potentially unreliable product quality, safety hazards or misleading health advice. There are regulatory bodies, such as China GMP (Good Manufacturing Process) of herbal products. There is a lack of high-quality scientific research on herbology practices and product effectiveness for anti-disease activity. In the herbal sources listed below, there is little or no evidence for efficacy or proof of safety across consumer age groups and disease conditions for which they are intended. There are over 300 herbs in common use. Some of the most commonly used herbs are Ginseng (人参; 人參; rénshēn), wolfberry (枸杞子; gǒuqǐzǐ), dong quai (Angelica sinensis, 当归; 當歸; dāngguī), astragalus (黄耆; 黃耆; huángqí), atractylodes (白术; 白朮; báizhú), bupleurum (柴胡; cháihú), cinnamon (cinnamon twigs (桂枝; guìzhī) and cinnamon bark (肉桂; ròuguì)), coptis (黄连; 黃連; huánglián), ginger (姜; 薑; jiāng), hoelen (茯苓; fúlíng), licorice (甘草; gāncǎo), ephedra sinica (麻黄; 麻黃; máhuáng), peony (white: 白芍; báisháo and reddish: 赤芍; chìsháo), rehmannia (地黄; 地黃; dìhuáng), rhubarb (大黄; 大黃; dàhuáng), and salvia (丹参; 丹參; dānshēn).
== 50 fundamental herbs == In Chinese herbology, there are 50 "fundamental" herbs, as given in the reference text, although these herbs are not universally recognized as such in other texts. The herbs are:
== Other Chinese herbs == In addition to the above, many other Chinese herbs and other substances are in common use, and these include:
== Herbal Formulas ==
=== Types of Formulas === Traditional Chinese herbs are used either standalone, or in a grouping, jointly with other herbs. When several herbs are used together, this amalgamation is called a 'herbal formula'. There are, generally speaking, three types of herbal formulas used in TCM:
- Classic Formulas – these are formulas which TCM practitioners believe have withstood the test of time over the centuries, and are mentioned in classical texts, such as the Shanghan Lun.
- Patent Formulas – these are either classic formulas, or newer commonly used formulas created in recent decades. The patent formulas stand out in that their usage is common enough, that they are frequently mass-produced by large companies, in China, the United States, and elsewhere.
- Custom-Made Formulas – these formulas are composed by a TCM Practitioner, to match the specific diagnosis and medical condition of a patient. These formulas are often partially based on the older, classic formulas.
=== Formula Hierarchy === The prescription of TCM formulas, is based on 4-tier system of hierarchy. The 4-tiers are: Jun (君), Chen (臣), Zuo (佐) and Shi (使). These four tiers are often translated as: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Courier; or Monarch, Minister, Assistant, Envoy (also: 'Guide').
This feudal-like hierarchy denotes the power and role of each herb in a given formula. The Jun is the herb which is usually of the highest relative dosage, and leads the main action of the formula. In the majority of formulas, there is only one Jun (Monarch) herb. Sometimes, a formula may feature 2-3 Jun herbs, or lack a dominant Jun herb altogether. The Chen support the Jun in its actions, and provide additional uses for the medical purpose of the formula. The Zuo assist the Jun and Chen, but are given at a much lower dosage (relative to themselves), to deemphasize their influence, for various reasons. The Shi's main role is to help guide the formula to the correct bodily areas or organ systems inside of which it is meant to act. The Shi are also sometimes used "to harmonize the properties of other herbs in the formula". Most herbs can serve as either Jun (Monarch), Chen (Minister) or Zuo (Assistant) – the first three tiers in the herbal hierarchy. But only certain herbs, are considered fit to serve as Shi. This is because only some herbs are believed to have the ability, to guide other herbs into a given bodily area or organ system.
=== Matching and contrasting herbs === Within TCM formulas, there are also strict rules about which herbs pair well together (Dui Yao), and which are either contradictory, incompatible, or may cause a reaction amongst themselves, or with Western Medicine Drugs. For example: Gan Cao (Licorice) is incompatible with the herbs Yuan hua, Jing Da Ji, Hai Zao and Gan Sui. It may also alter the therapeutic effects of corticosteroids.
== Notable people ==