CAc Herbal Medicine and Integrative Therapies Flashcards

Which herb is considered the premier Qi tonic and is most often used as the Jun (Emperor/King) herb in tonifying formulas?

Answer: Ren Shen (Ginseng)

Ren Shen (Ginseng) is the most powerful Qi tonic in Chinese herbal medicine and frequently serves as the Jun herb in formulas for profound Qi deficiency.

Huang Qi (Astragalus) primarily tonifies which aspect of the body's Qi?

Answer: Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) and Lung Qi

Huang Qi strengthens Wei Qi (defensive Qi) and Lung Qi, tonifies the exterior, and is widely used for immune deficiency and spontaneous sweating.

Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) is the foundational formula for which pattern?

Answer: Spleen and Stomach Qi deficiency

Si Jun Zi Tang is the base formula for Spleen and Stomach Qi deficiency, containing Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, and Zhi Gan Cao.

Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) primarily performs which function in Chinese herbal medicine?

Answer: Invigorates Blood and removes Blood stasis

Dan Shen primarily invigorates Blood and removes stasis, making it a key herb for cardiovascular conditions, chest pain, and dysmenorrhea.

What is the primary role of Gan Cao (Licorice root) as an envoy herb in Chinese herbal formulas?

Answer: It harmonizes the other herbs and moderates toxic or harsh effects

Gan Cao serves as a harmonizing Shi (envoy) herb that moderates harsh or toxic herb actions, tonifies Spleen Qi, and helps integrate the other herbs.

Which Chinese herb is classified as highly toxic due to aconitine alkaloids and must be pre-cooked before adding other herbs?

Answer: Fu Zi (Processed Aconite)

Fu Zi contains toxic aconitine alkaloids and must be pre-cooked for 30–60 minutes to hydrolyze the alkaloids before other herbs are added to the decoction.