Table 2.
MFH varieties and their functional features [21].
| Names | Parts to Be Consumed | Therapeutic Class | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese Name | English Name | |||
| Ren shen | Panax ginseng C.A. Mey. | Root | Qi-reinforcing medicinal | To reinforce the vital energy, to remedy collapse and restore the normal pulse, to benefit the spleen and lung, to promote the production of body fluid, and to calm the nerves. |
| Xi hong hua | Crocus sativus L. | Stigma | Blood-activating stasis removing medicinal | To activate blood circulation and eliminate blood stasis, to remove heat from blood and counteract toxicity, and to calm the nerves. |
| Rou cong rong | Cistanche afghanica Gilli | Fleshy stem | Yang-reinforcing medicinal | To reinforce the kidney, replenish vital essence and blood, and induce taxation. |
| Dang gui | Angelica acutiloba (Siebold & Zucc.) Kitag. | Root | Blood-tonifying medicinal | To enrich blood, activate blood circulation, regulate menstruation, relieve pain, and relax bowels. |
| Huang qi | Astragalus aaronii (Eig) Zohary | Root | Qi-reinforcing medicinal | To reinforce qi and invigorate the function of the spleen. |
| Fu ling | Poriacocos (Schw.) Wolf | Sclerotium | Diuretic dampness excreting medicinal | To cause diuresis, to invigorate the spleen function, and to calm the mind. |
| Yi zhi ren | Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. | Fruit | Astringent medicinal | To warm spleen, check diarrhea, warm kidney, reduce urine, and secure essence. |
| Sheng jiang | Zingiber officinale Roscoe | Fresh rhizome | Pungent-warm exterior-releasing medicinal | To induce perspiration and dispel cold, to warm the stomach and arrest vomiting, and to resolve phlegm and relieve cough. |
| Yu zhu | Polygonatumodoratum (Mill.) Druce | Rhizome | Yin-tonifying Medicinal | To nourish yin, promote the production of body fluid, and relieve dryness syndromes. |
| Gao liang jiang | Alpinia officinarum Hance | Rhizome | Interior-warming medicinal | To warm the stomach and relieve vomiting, dispel cold, and relieve pain. |
| Xiang ru | Mosla chinensis Maxim. | Aerial parts | Pungent-warm exterior-releasing medicinal | To promote diaphoresis and release to the exterior, to resolve dampness and harmonize the spleen and stomach, to promote water metabolism and release edema |
| Hei hu jiao | Piper nigrum L. | Fruit | Interior-warming medicinal | To dispel cold from the stomach and to eliminate phlegm. |
| Ling zhi | Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss.ex Fr.) Karst. | Dried sporocarp | Qi-reinforcing medicinal | To invigorate qi and calm the nerves and relieve cough and asthma. |
| Sang shen | Morus alba L. | Ear of fruit | Yin-tonifying medicinal | To promote the production of body fluid. |
| Jiang huang | Curcuma longa L. | Tuberoid | Blood-activating and stasis-dispelling medicinal | To eliminate blood stasis, promote the flow of qi, stimulate the release of menstruation, and relieve pain. |
| Ge gen | Puerarialobata (Willd.) Ohwi | Tuberoid | Pungent-warm exterior-releasing medicinal | To relieve fever, to promote the production of body fluid, to facilitate eruption, and to arrest diarrhea. |
| Suan zao ren | Ziziphi Spinosae Semen | Seed | Heart-nourishing tranquillizing medicinal | To replenish the liver, to cause tranquilizations, to arrest excessive perspiration, and to promote the production of body fluid. |
| Gan cao | Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. | Root, rhizome | Qi-reinforcing drugs | To reinforce the function of the spleen and replenish qi, to remove heat and counteract toxicity, to dispel phlegm and relieve cough, to alleviate spasmodic pain, and to moderate drug actions. |
| Lai fu zi | Raphanus sativus L. | Seed | Digestants | To promote digestion and relieve abdominal distension and to relieve cough and resolve phlegm. |
| Rou gui | Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl | Bark | Interior-warming medicinal | To supplement body fire, to reinforce yang, and to lead the fire back to the kidney, to dispel cold and relieve pain, and to activate blood circulation and stimulate menstrual discharge. |
| Tian ma | Gastrodia elata Blume | Stem and tuber | Liver-pacifying and wind-extinguishing medicinal | To extinguish wind and check tetany, to calm liver and subdue yang, to dispel wind, and to free network vessels. |
| Gou qi zi | Lycium barbarum L | Fruit | Yin-tonifying medicinal | To benefit the liver and the kidney, to replenish vital essence, and to improve eyesight. |
| Yu xing cao | Houttuynia cordata thunb. | Aerial parts | Heat-clearing and detoxicating medicinal | To remove toxic heat, to promote the drainage of pus, and to relieve dysuria. |
| Jue ming zi | Cassia obtusifolia L. | Ripe seed | Fire-purging medicinal | To remove heat from the liver, to improve eyesight, and to relax bowels. |
| Shan zhu yu | Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc. | Fruit | Astringent medicinal | To replenish the liver and kidney, to restrain seminal discharge, and to relieve collapse. |
| Da zao | Ziziphus jujuba Mill. | Ripe fruit | Qi-reinforcing medicinal | To tonify the spleen and replenish qi, to nourish blood, and to ease the mind. |
| Shi hu | Dendrobium nobile Lindl. | Fresh or dried stems | Yin-tonifying medicinal | Treatment of thirst due to impairment to yin or deficiency of body fluid, loss of appetite with nausea, fever in deficiency conditions after a severe disease, and impaired vision. |
| Bi bo | Piper longum L. | Ear of fruit | Interior-warming medicinal | To warm the interior and expel internal cold |