Table 1.
Four properties, five flavors and meridians.
| Herb name | Herb Property | Herb Flavor | Herb Meridian Tropism |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hu Zhang (Polygoni cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix) |
Mildly cold |
Mildly bitter |
Gallbladder meridian, Lung meridian, Liver meridian |
| Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus) |
Mildly cold |
Bitter |
Lung meridian, Small intestine meridian, Heart meridian |
| Ban Lan Gen (Isatidis Radix) |
Cold |
Bitter |
Stomach meridian, Heart meridian |
| Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) |
Mildly cold |
Bitter, Pungent |
Gallbladder meridian, Lung meridian, Liver meridian |
| Bai Jiang Cao (Patrinia scabiosifolia Herba) |
Mildly cold | Bitter, Pungent |
Stomach meridian, Large intestine meridian, Liver meridian |
| Ma Bian Cao (Verbenae Herba) |
Cold | Bitter, Pungent |
Liver meridian, Spleen meridian |
| Lu Gen (Phragmitis Rhizoma) |
Cold |
Sweet |
Bladder meridian, Lung meridian, Stomach meridian |
| Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) |
Even |
Sweet |
Lung meridian, Spleen meridian, Stomach meridian, Heart meridian |