Table 2.
Top 20 Chinese herbs and efficacy based on frequency of usage in the 38 study prescriptions.
| English name | Latin name | Chinese Pinyin name | Frequency of usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kidney-tonifying herbs | |||
| Achyranthes Root | Radix achyranthis bidentatae | Niuxi | 24 |
| Prepared Radix Rehmanniae | Radix rehmanniae preparata | Shudihuang | 18 |
| Malaytea Scurfpea Fruit | Fructus psoraleae | Buguzhi | 14 |
| Eucommia bark | Cortex eucommia | Duzhong | 13 |
| Chinese Taxillus Twig | Herba taxilli | Sangjisheng | 13 |
| Drynaria Fortunei | Rhizoma drynariae | Gusuibu | 13 |
| Epimedium herb | Herba epimedii | Yinyanghuo | 10 |
| Common Macrocarpium Fruit | Fructus corni | Shanzhuyu | 7 |
| Prepared common Monkshood Daughter Root | Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata | Fuzi | 7 |
| Blood-activating herbs | |||
| Achyranthes Root | Radix achyranthis bidentatae | Niuxi | 24 |
| Chinese Angelica | Radix angelicae sinensis | Danggui | 20 |
| Suberect Spatholobus Stem | Caulis spatholobi | Jixueteng | 14 |
| Danshen Root | Radix salviae miltiorrhizae | Danshen | 11 |
| Szechwan Lovage Rhizome | Rhizoma chuanxiong | Chuanxiong | 10 |
| Pain relief | |||
| Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root | Radix angelicae pubescentis | Duhuo | 10 |
| Clematis Root | Radix clematidis | Weilingxian | 10 |
| White Peony Root | Radix paeoniae alba | Baishao | 9 |
| Common Flowering Quince Fruit | Fructus chaenomelis | Mugua | 9 |
| Others | |||
| Licorice Root | Radix glycyrrhizae | Gancao | 16 |
| Astragalus | Radix astragalus | Huangqi | 10 |
| Wolfiporia Extensa | Poria cocos | Fuling | 7 |