Table 1.
Modern Research about the function of common tonic traditional Chinese medicine.
| Tonic Herbs | Represents | Properties | Channel tropism | Function | Modern research |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qi-invugorating | Ginseng | Sweet Slightly bitter Mild |
Lung Spleen Heart |
Excessive nourishing primordial qi. Tranquilization method. |
Anti-inflammation Antiallergic Antifatigue |
| Acanthopanaxsenticosus | Sweet Slightly bitter |
Spleen Lung Heart Kidney |
Nourishing qi to invigorate spleen. Invigorating kidney and tranquilization method. |
Antifatigue Antistress Antiradiation Antihypoxia |
|
| Rhodiola rosea | Sweet Cold |
Spleen Lung |
Invigorates spleen and nourishing qi. Promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis. |
Antifatigue Antihypoxia Improves brain activity |
|
| Astragalus | Sweet Slightly warm |
Spleen Lung |
Invigorating spleen and strengthening middle energizer. Invigorating splenic yang. |
Antifatigue Antistress Antiageing |
|
| Licorice | Sweet Warm |
Heart Lung Spleen Stomach |
Invigorate spleen and nourishing qi. Relieving spasm and pain. |
Antiarrhythmia Analgesia Adrenal cortical hormone-like effect |
|
|
| |||||
| Blood tonics | Radix Paeoniaalba | Bitter Sour Slightly cold |
Liver Spleen |
Nourishing blood and retaining yin. Nourishing liver and relieving pain. |
Anti-inflammation Analgesia |
| Angelica sinensis | Sweet Pungent Warm |
Liver Heart Spleen |
Replenishing blood and regulating menstruation. Promoting blood circulation to arrest pain. |
Dilate coronary artery Protect the myocardium |
|
| Polygonum multiflorum thumb | Bitter Sweet Astringent Slightly warm |
Liver Kidney |
Strengthening and nourishing marrow and essence. | Antiageing | |
| Radix Rehmanniae | Sweet Slightly warm |
Liver Kidney |
Replenishing blood nourishing yin. Replenishing essence and nourishing marrow. |
Promotes the synthesis of adrenal cortical hormone | |
|
| |||||
| Ying-invigorating | Lily | Sweet Slightly cold |
Lung Heart Stomach |
Nourishing yin and moistening lung. Cooling pericardium for tranquilization. |
Composure Antiallergy |
| Glossy Privet Fruit | Sweet Bitter Cool |
Liver Kidney |
Nourishing liver and kidney | Antiageing Regulates the balance of immunity |
|
| Eclipta alba | Sweet Sour Cold |
Liver Kidney |
Nourishing liver and kidney. Cooling blood for hemostasis. |
Improves immune function | |
|
| |||||
| Yang-invigorating | Psoralea corylifolia | Bitter Pungent Warm |
Kidney Spleen |
Invigorating kidney and strengthening yang. Consolidating essence and astringing urine. |
Antiageing Neuromodulation |
| Morinda officinalis | Pungent Sweet Slightly warm |
Kidney Liver |
Invigorating kidney and strengthening yang. | Strengthen adrenal cortical Hormone-like effect | |
| Cistanche tubulosa | Sweet Salty Warm |
Kidney Large intestine |
Invigorating kidney and strengthening yang. | Active adrenal gland to release corticosteroids | |
| Folium Epimedii | Sweet Pungent Warm |
Liver Kidney |
Invigorating kidney and strengthening yang. Dispelling wind to eliminate dampness. |
Strengthens the endocrine function of thalamic-pituitary and adrenal cortex axis | |
| Fructus Alpinia oxyphylla | Pungent Warm |
Kidney Spleen |
Astringing urine. Warming spleen and promoting appetite. |
Strengthen myocardial constriction | |