Families of Remedies
This section will present the main "families" of remedies grouped according to condition treated in a tabular form for quick reference. The "families" of remedies considered will be those for the following conditions or patterns:
- Bi Syndrome
- Mental-emotional problems
- Headaches
- Phlegm
- Digestive problems
- Deficiency conditions
- Eye Problems
- Dampness
1. Bi Syndrome
The main remedies for Bi Syndrome are:
- Brocade Sinews™
- Nourish the Root and Clear Wind™
- Clear Channels™
- Invigorate the Root™
- Benefit the Sinews™
The remedies are compared and contrasted below. Please note that all remedies will treat Wind-Dampness in the joints and this has been omitted from the Patterns to concentrate on highlighting the differences between the remedies.
The main remedies for Bi Syndrome are:
Brocade Sinews™
Pattern:
Liver-Blood deficiency
Indications:
Chronic Bi, especially in women
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Choppy
Nourish the Root and Clear Wind™
Pattern:
Liver and Kidney-Yin deficiency
Indications:
Chronic Bi in the elderly
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Without coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty
Clear Channels™
Pattern:
Damp-Heat in the joints
Indications:
Acute or sub-acute joint pain with swelling, ache and redness of joints
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Sticky-yellow coating
Pulse: Slippery
Invigorate the Root™
Pattern:
Spleen and Kidney-Yang deficiency
Indications:
Chronic lower backache and knee-ache
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Weak-Deep
Benefit the Sinews™
Pattern:
Phlegm and Blood stasis in joints
Indications:
Chronic joint pain with swelling and joint deformities
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Swollen
Pulse: Slippery
2. Mental-emotional problems
The main remedies for Mental-emotional problems are:
- Brocade Sinews™
- Release Constraint (Freeing Constraint)™
- Freeing the Sun™
- Clear the Soul™
- Open the Heart™
- Calm the Shen™
- Root the Spirit™
- Breaking Clouds™
- Freeing the Moon™
- Heavenly Empress™
- Settling the Soul™
- Nourish the Soul™
- Searching Soul™
- Bright Spirit™
Remedies for mental-emotional problems:
Release Constraint™
Pattern:
Liver-Qi stagnation
Indications:
Depression, irritability, moodiness
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Slightly red sides
Pulse: Wiry
Clear the Soul™
Pattern:
Phlegm-Heat in Lungs and Heart, Shen obstructed
Indications:
Anxiety, worry, insomnia, feeling oppression in chest
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Swollen
Pulse: Slippery
Open the Heart™
Pattern:
Heart-Qi stagnation
Indications:
Anxiety, worry, insomnia, feeling oppression in chest
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: No change
Pulse: Slightly Wiry on HE pulse
Calm the Shen™
Pattern:
Spleen, Liver and Heart-Blood deficiency
Indications:
Anxiety, insomnia, depression
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Choppy
Root the Spirit™
Pattern:
Liver-Yin deficiency, Hun unsettled
Indications:
Insomnia
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: No coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty
Breaking Clouds™
Pattern:
Spleen and Kidney-Qi deficiency
Indications:
Depression
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Weak
Freeing the Moon™
Pattern:
Liver-Blood and Spleen-Qi deficiency, Liver-Qi stagnation
Indications:
Depression, irritability, moodiness, pre-menstrual tension
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale or normal
Pulse: Fine on right, slightly Wiry on left
Freeing the Sun™
Pattern:
Liver-Qi stagnation turning into Heat
Indications:
Irritability, moodiness, propensity to anger
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Red on sides
Pulse: Wiry
Heavenly Empress™
Pattern:
Heart and Kidney-Yin deficiency with Heart Empty Heat
Indications:
Insomnia, anxiety, mental restlessness
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Red without coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty, Rapid
Settling the Soul™
Pattern:
Phlegm-Fire in Heart and Liver, Hun unsettled (from Shi), Shen obstructed
Indications:
"Manic behaviour", active at night, anxiety, mental restlessness, talking a lot, laughing
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Red, Swollen, sticky-yellow coating
Pulse: Slippery, Rapid
Nourish the Soul™
Pattern:
Liver, Kidney and Heart-Yin deficiency, Hun unsettled (from Xu)
Indications:
Insomnia, mental restlessness, slight "manic behaviour"
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: No coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty
Searching Soul™
Pattern:
Liver-Blood, Liver-Qi, and Kidney-Yang deficiency, Hun not "going"
Indications:
Depression
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Weak
Bright Spirit™
Pattern:
Phlegm and Qi stagnation in Lungs and Heat, Shen obstructed, Hun not "going"
Indications:
Depression, confusion
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Swollen
Pulse: Slippery
3. Headaches
The main remedies for chronic headaches are:
- Bend Bamboo™
- Brighten the Eyes™
- Clear Yang™
Of course there are very many other remedies that can treat headaches, but the above are the three remedies that are specifically for chronic headaches.
The main remedies for headaches are:
Bend Bamboo™
Pattern:
Liver-Yang rising, Liver-Blood deficiency
Indications:
Chronic headaches from Liver-Yang rising, dizziness, irritability
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale or normal
Pulse: Fine and slightly Wiry
Brighten the Eyes™
Pattern:
Liver-Blood deficiency
Indications:
Chronic, dull headaches, blurred vision, dizziness
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Choppy
Clear Yang™
Pattern:
Liver-Yang rising, Phlegm in head, Kidney deficiency
Indications:
Chronic headaches from Liver-Yang rising and Phlegm, dizziness, muzziness
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Swollen
Pulse: Slippery and Wiry
4. Phlegm
The main remedies for Phlegm are:
- Limpid Sea™
- Clear the Soul™
- Clear Yang™
- Benefit Sinews™
- Settling the Soul™
- Harmonize the Centre™
- Bright Spirit™
Remedies for Phlegm:
Limpid Sea™
Pattern:
Phlegm
Indications:
Sputum in throat, feeling of oppression of the chest
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Swollen
Pulse: Slippery
Clear the Soul™
Pattern:
Phlegm-Heat in Lungs and Heart
Indications:
Sputum in throat, feeling of oppression of the chest, anxiety
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Swollen, sticky-yellow coating
Pulse: Slippery
Clear Yang™
Pattern:
Phlegm, Liver-Yang rising, Kidney deficiency
Indications:
Sputum in throat, feeling of oppression of the chest, headaches
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Swollen
Pulse: Slippery or Wiry
Benefit Sinews™
Pattern:
Phlegm in the joints
Indications:
Sputum in throat, feeling of oppression of the chest, pain and deformity of joints
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Swollen
Pulse: Slippery
Settling the Soul™
Pattern:
Phlegm-Heat in Liver and Heart
Indications:
Sputum in throat, feeling of oppression of the chest, insomnia, "manic behaviour"
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Red, Swollen
Pulse: Slippery-Rapid
Harmonize the Centre™
Pattern:
Phlegm in the Stomach, Qi and Yin Xu of Stomach and Spleen, Blood stasis
Indications:
Sputum in throat, feeling of oppression of the chest, digestive problems, Type-II diabetes
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Swollen
Pulse: Slippery or Soggy
Bright Spirit™
Pattern:
Phlegm in Lungs and Heart, Qi stagnation
Indications:
Sputum in throat, feeling of oppression of the chest, anxiety, depression
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Swollen
Pulse: Slippery or Wiry
5. Digestive Problems
The main remedies for Digestive Problems are:
- Soothe the Centre™
- Prosperous Earth™
- Central Mansion™
- Drain Fields™
- Ease the Muscles™
- Smooth Passage™
- Jade Spring™
- Break into a Smile™
- Buddha's Hand™
- Harmonize the Centre™
Remedies for digestive problems:
Soothe the Centre™
Pattern:
Spleen-Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation in Middle Burner, Dampness
Indications:
Epigastric ache, distension and fullness, tiredness
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale, sticky coating
Pulse: Soggy
Prosperous Earth™
Pattern:
Spleen-Qi deficiency
Indications:
Tiredness, poor appetite, loose stools
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Weak
Central Mansion™
Pattern:
Qi and Yin deficiency of Stomach and Spleen, Dampness
Indications:
Loose stools, diarrhoea, tiredness, poor appetite
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Rootless coating
Pulse: Soggy
Drain Fields™
Pattern:
Dampness in Middle Burner
Indications:
Epigastric fullness and ache
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Sticky coating
Pulse: Slippery
Ease the Muscles™
Pattern:
Damp-Heat in Middle Burner
Indications:
Epigastric fullness and ache, thirst
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: sticky-yellow coating
Pulse: Slippery
Smooth Passage™
Pattern:
Spleen-Qi deficiency, Liver-Qi stagnation, Dampness in Intestines
Indications:
Abdominal pain and distension, irritable bowel
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Sticky coating
Pulse: Soggy or Slippery or Wiry
Jade Spring™
Pattern:
Stomach, Spleen and Lung-Yin deficiency
Indications:
Slight epigastric ache, dry mouth desire to drink in small sips
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: No coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty
Break into a Smile™
Pattern:
Liver-Qi stagnation in Lower Burner
Indications:
Lower abdominal distension and pain
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Slightly red sides
Pulse: Wiry
Buddha's Hand™
Pattern:
Qi stagnation in Middle Burner, rebellious Stomach-Qi, Dampness
Indications:
Belching, acid regurgitation hiccup, nausea, vomiting, epigastric distension and fullness
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Sticky coating
Pulse: Wiry on right Guan (ST position)
Harmonize the Centre™
Pattern:
Qi and Yin deficiency of Stomach and Spleen, Phlegm in Stomach, Blood stasis
Indications:
Poor digestion, obesity, Type-II diabetes
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: No coating or rootless coating
Pulse: Soggy or Slippery or Floating-Empty
6. Deficiency Conditions
Yang
The main remedies to tonify Yang are:
- Strengthen the Root™
- Unicorn Pearl™
- Herbal Sentinel -Yang™
Remedies to tonify Yang:
Strengthen the Root™
Pattern:
Kidney-Yang deficiency
Indications:
Backache, dizziness, frequent urination, tiredness, cold feeling
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Weak-Deep
Unicorn Pearl™
Pattern:
Kidney-Yang deficiency, Liver-Blood deficiency
Indications:
Backache, dizziness, frequent urination, tiredness, cold feeling, more for women
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Weak-Deep
Herbal Sentinel-Yang™
Pattern:
Kidney and Lung-Yang deficiency
Indications:
Propensity to colds, allergic rhinitis or asthma, tiredness, cold feeling
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Weak-Deep
Yin
The main remedies to tonify Yin are:
- Nourish the Root™
- Growing Jade™
- Herbal Sentinel - Yin™
- Jade Spring™
- Root the Spirit™
- Nourish the Soul™
- Heavenly Empress™
Remedies to tonify Yin:
Nourish the Root™
Pattern:
Kidney-Yin deficiency
Indications:
Lower backache, dizziness, tinnitus, dry throat, feeling of heat
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Without coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty
Growing Jade™
Pattern:
Liver and Kidney-Yin deficiency
Indications:
Lower backache, dizziness, tinnitus, dry throat, feeling of heat, more for women
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Without coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty
Herbal Sentinel-Yin™
Pattern:
Lung and Kidney-Yin deficiency
Indications:
Lower backache, dizziness, tinnitus, dry throat, feeling of heat, propensity to cold, allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Without coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty
Jade Spring™
Pattern:
Lung, Stomach and Spleen-Yin deficiency
Indications:
Dry throat, dry mouth with desire to sip, dry stools, dry cough
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Without coating, ST crack
Pulse: Floating-Empty
Root the Spirit™
Pattern:
Liver-Yin deficiency, Hun unsettled
Indications:
Insomnia
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Without coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty
Nourish the Soul™
Pattern:
Liver, Kidney and Heart-Yin deficiency, Hun unsettled (from Xu)
Indications:
Insomnia, mental restlessness, slight “manic” behaviour
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Without coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty
Heavenly Empress™
Pattern:
Heart and Kidney-Yin deficiency with Heart Empty Heat
Indications:
Insomnia, anxiety, mental restlessness
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Without coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty
Qi
The main remedies to tonify Qi are:
- Prosperous Earth™
- Central Mansion™
Remedies to tonify Qi:
Prosperous Earth™
Pattern:
Spleen-Qi deficiency
Indications:
Tiredness, desire to lie down, dislike to speak, loose stools
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Weak
Central Mansion™
Pattern:
Qi and Yin deficiency of Stomach and Spleen, Dampness
Indications:
Tiredness, diarrhoea, desire to lie down, dislike to speak
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Soggy
Blood
The main remedies to norish the Blood are:
- Precious Sea™
- Brighten The Eyes™
- Brocade Sinews™
- Calm The Shen™
- Glorious Sea™
Remedies to nourish Blood:
Precious Sea™
Pattern:
Liver-Blood and Spleen-Blood deficiency
Indications:
Tiredness, blurred vision, dizziness, numbness, scanty periods
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Choppy
Brighten The Eyes™
Pattern:
Liver-Blood deficiency
Indications:
Blurred vision, dizziness, dry eyes, diminished vision
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Choppy
Brocade Sinews™
Pattern:
Liver-Blood deficiency
Indications:
Joint ache, better with rest
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Choppy
Calm The Shen™
Pattern:
Liver, Spleen and Heart-Blood deficiency
Indications:
Insomnia, anxiety, depression
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Choppy
Glorious Sea™
Pattern:
Liver-Blood deficiency
Indications:
Chronic skin problem, dry skin
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Choppy
7. Eye Problems
The main remedies for eye problems are:
- Brighten the Eyes™
- Bend Bamboo™
- Drain Fire™
- Nourish Root™
Remedies for eye problems:
Brighten the Eyes™
Pattern:
Liver-Blood deficiency
Indications:
Blurred vision, dry eyes, diminished vision, diminished night vision, dizziness
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Choppy
Bend Bamboo™
Pattern:
Liver-Blood deficiency, Liver-Yang rising
Indications:
Blurred vision, dry eyes, diminished vision, diminished night vision, red eyes, dizziness, headache
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale or normal
Pulse: Wiry or Fine-Wiry
Drain Fire™
Pattern:
Liver-Fire
Indications:
Dry eyes, red eyes, swollen eyelids, painful eyes
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Red, redder on sides, yellow coating
Pulse: Wiry-Rapid
Nourish Root™
Pattern:
Liver and Kidney-Yin deficiency
Indications:
Dry eyes, blurred vision, diminished vision, diminished night vision, dizziness tinnitus
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Without coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty
8. Dampness
The main remedies for Dampness are:
- Ease the Muscles™
- Drain Fields™
- Soothe the Centre™
- Buddha's Hand™
- Central Mansion™
- Smooth Passage™
- Separate Clear and Turbid™
- Clear the Root™
- Water Passages™
- Welcome Fragrance™
Remedies for Dampness:
Ease the Muscles™
Pattern:
Damp-Heat in Stomach and Spleen and in muscles
Indications:
Epigastric fullness, nausea, thirst, sticky taste, muscle ache
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Thick sticky-yellow coating
Pulse: Slippery
Drain Fields™
Pattern:
Dampness in Stomach and Spleen and in muscles
Indications:
Epigastric fullness, muscle ache, sticky taste
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: thick sticky-white coating
Pulse: Slippery
Soothe the Centre™
Pattern:
Dampness in Stomach and Spleen, Spleen-Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation
Indications:
Epigastric fullness and distension, poor digestion, tiredness
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Sticky coating, teethmarks, Pale
Pulse: Soggy
Buddha's Hand™
Pattern:
Rebellious Stomach-Qi, Qi stagnation, Dampness in Stomach and Spleen
Indications:
Belching, epigastric fullness, nausea
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Sticky coating
Pulse: Slippery or Wiry on Stomach position
Central Mansion™
Pattern:
Qi and Yin deficiency of Stomach and Spleen, Dampness Middle Burner
Indications:
Poor digestion, diarrhoea, tiredness
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Pale, rootless coating or sticky coating
Pulse: Soggy
Smooth Passage™
Pattern:
Dampness and Qi stagnation Lower Burner, Spleen-Qi deficiency
Indications:
Alternation of constipation and loose stools, abdominal distension and fullness
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: May have red sides, sticky coating
Pulse: Slippery or Wiry
Separate Clear and Turbid™
Pattern:
Dampness in the Bladder
Indications:
Urinary difficulty, frequent urination
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Sticky coating on root
Pulse: Slippery on Chi position left
Clear the Root™
Pattern:
Dampness in Lower Burner, Blood stasis
Indications:
Prostate hypertrophy, urinary difficulty
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Sticky coating on root with red spots
Pulse: Slippery
Water Passages™
Pattern:
Dampness in the Bladder, Kidney deficiency
Indications:
Chronic urinary difficulty and frequency, lower backache, dizziness, tinnitus
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Without coating in centre, sticky coating on root
Pulse: Weak, slightly slippery on left chi position
Welcome Fragrance™
Pattern:
Dampness in nose and sinuses
Indications:
Sinusitis, thick-yellow-bloody nasal discharge, ache face and forehead
Tongue / Pulse:
Tongue: Sticky coating
Pulse: Slippery