Table 1.
Frequency, module, and meridian tropism of the top 20 medicinal herbs.
| No. | TCM Name(Chinese Pinyin) | Species Name/Scientific Name | Family | Genus | Properties | Meridians | Effect | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezhu | 1.Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton[Zingiberaceae] 2.Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe [Zingiberaceae] |
Zingiberaceae Martinov | Curcuma L. | Warm, Pungent, Bitter |
Spleen, Liver |
Treatment of mass in the abdomen, amenorrhea due to blood stasis, distension and pain. | 226 |
| 2 | Chishao | Paeonia lactiflora Pall. | Paeoniaceae Raf. | Paeonia | Minor cold, Bitter |
Liver | Treatment of pain in the chest and coastal regions, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, mass formation in the abdomen, traumatic injuries. | 218 |
| 3 | Danggui | Angelica sinensis (Oliv.)Diels | Apiaceae Lindl. | Angelica. | Warm, Pungent, Sweet |
Spleen, Liver, Heart |
To nourish blood and regulate menstruation, quicken blood, relieve pain, moisten intestines and relieve constipation. | 202 |
| 4 | Sanleng | Sparganium stoloniferum (Buch.-Ham. ex Graebn.) Buch.-Ham. ex Juz. | Typhaceae Juss. | Sparganium L. | Mild, Bitter |
Spleen, Liver |
To break blood, move qi and relieve pain, disperse accumulation. | 198 |
| 5 | Yanhusuo | Corydalis yanhusuo (Y.H.Chou & Chun C.Hsu) W.T.Wang ex Z.Y.Su & C.Y.Wu [Papaveraceae] | Papaveraceae Juss. | Corydalis DC. | Warm, Pungent, Bitter |
Spleen, Liver, Heart |
For stagnation of vital energy or blood stasis resulting in headache, chest pain, hypochondriac pain, epigastric pain, abdominal pain, backache, arthralgia, dysmenorrhea or trauma. | 185 |
| 6 | Taoren | Prunus persica (L.) Batsch | Rosaceae | Prunus L. | Mild, Sweet, Bitter |
Large Intestine, Liver, Heart |
To regulate blood and dispel stasis, moisten intestines and free stool. | 177 |
| 7 | Danshen |
Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge [Lamiaceae] |
Lamiaceae Martinov | Salvia L. | Minor cold, Bitter |
Liver, Heart |
To regulate blood and dispel stasis, regulate menstruation and relieve pain, nourish blood and quiet spirit, cool blood. | 164 |
| 8 | Chuanxiong | 1.Conioselinum anthriscoides (H.Boissieu) Pimenov & Kljuykov [Apiaceae] 2.Ligusticum chuanxiong 3.Conioselinum anthriscoides ‘Chuanxiong' [Apiaceae] |
Apiaceae | Ligusticum | Warm, Pungent |
Liver, Cardiovascular, Gallbladder |
To move qi and quicken blood, dispel wind and relieve pain. | 125 |
| 9 | Guizhi | Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl [Lauraceae] | Lauraceae | Cinnamomum Schaeff. | Warm, Pungent, Sweet |
Lung, Bladder, Heart |
To dissipate cold and resolve exterior, warm channels and free network vessels, promote yang and transform qi. | 123 |
| 10 | Puhaung | Typha angustifolia L. [Typhaceae] | Typhaceae | Typha L. | Mild, Sweet |
Liver, Heart |
To lower cholesterol, cool blood and stanch bleeding, quicken blood and dispel stasis. | 112 |
| 11 | Wulingzhi * | Faeces Togopteri | Trogopterus xanthipes Milne | Edwards | Warm, Sweet, Bitter, Salty |
Liver | To quicken blood and relieve pain, transform stasis and stanch bleeding, disperse accumulation and resolve toxin. | 109 |
| 12 | Huangqi | Astragalus mongholicus Bunge [Fabaceae] | Fabaceae Lindl. | Astragalus L. | Warm, Sweet |
Lung, Spleen |
To boost qi and secure exterior, disinhibit urine and draw toxin, expel pus, close sores and engender flesh. | 104 |
| 13 | Xiangfu | Cyperus rotundus L. | Cyperaceae Juss. | Cyperus. | Mild, Pungent, Slightly Sweet, Slightly Bitter |
Spleen, Liver, Three End |
To move qi and relieve depression, regulate menstruation and relieve pain. | 99 |
| 14 | Mudanpi | Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews [Paeoniaceae] | Paeoniaceae Raf. | Paeonia L. | Minor cold, Pungent, Bitter |
Liver, Heart, Kidney |
To clear heat and cool blood, quicken blood and dissipate stasis. | 95 |
| 15 | Fuling |
Wolfiporia extensa(Peck) Ginns Poria cocos(Schw.)Wolf |
Polyporaceae | Poria Pers.ex Grag | Mild, Sweet, Neutral |
Spleen, Heart, Kidney |
To disinhibit water and percolate damp,fortify spleen and quiet heart. | 90 |
| 16 | Gancao | Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC. [Fabaceae] | Fabaceae Lindl | Glycyrrhiza Tourn. ex L. | Mild, Sweet |
Lung, Spleen, Stomach, Heart |
To supplement center and boost qi, relax tension and relieve pain | 74 |
| 17 | Shuizhi | Whitmania pigra Whitman | Gnathobdellida | Hirudinidae | Mild, Bitter, Salty |
Liver | To clear heat and resolve toxin, disperse swelling and relieve pain. | 74 |
| 18 | Baishao | Paeonia lactiflora Pall. | Paeoniaceae Raf. | Paeonia L. | Minor cold, Sour, Bitter |
Spleen, Liver |
To calm liver and relieve pain, nourish blood and regulate menstruation, constrain yin and check sweating. | 73 |
| 19 | Moyao | Commiphora myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. | Burseraceae Kunth | Commiphora Jacq. | Mild, Pungent, Bitter |
Spleen, Liver, Heart, Kidney |
To quicken blood and relieve pain, disperse swelling and engender flesh. | 67 |
| 20 | Honghua | Carthamus tinctorius L.[Asteraceae] | Asteraceae Bercht. & J.Presl | Carthamus L. | Warm, Pungent |
Liver, Heart |
To quicken blood and free menstruation, dissipate stasis and relieve pain. | 66 |