Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on Chinese Herbal Medicine, including definitions and properties of herbs, historical texts, and foundational theories of traditional Chinese medicine.

Materia Medica

A body of knowledge about herbal medicine, including the properties and uses of plants for therapeutic purposes.

Pattern Identification

The process of identifying disease patterns based on clinical signs and symptoms to guide treatment.

Huáng Dì Nèi Jīng

The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, an ancient Chinese medical text that discusses the principles of Chinese medicine and mentions herbal prescriptions.

Shén Nóng Běn Cǎo Jīng

The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica, a historical source for herbal knowledge in traditional Chinese medicine.

The Four Qi

The classification of herbal temperature properties into hot, cold, warm, and cool.

The Five Tastes

Refers to the five main flavors of herbs: Acrid (Pungent), Sweet, Bitter, Sour, and Salty, each associated with specific therapeutic functions.

Acrid

A taste that disperses and moves, often used to induce sweating and release the exterior.

Bitter

A taste that dries dampness and drains heat, often used for conditions like constipation and excessive heat.

Sour

A taste that astringes and stabilizes, often used to prevent excessive leakage of fluids.

Sweet

A taste that tonifies and harmonizes, often used to moderate and support digestive functions.

Salty

A taste that purges and softens hardness, typically associated with kidney health.

Temperature Characteristics

The classification of herbal properties that refer to how herbs affect the body's temperature and physiological state.

Pathomechanism

The process by which a disease arises and develops, providing insight into treatment approaches.

Tao Hong Jing

A historical figure credited with compiling the Shén Nóng Běn Cǎo Jīng and promoting agricultural practices.

Grand Materia Medica

A comprehensive herbal text compiled by Lǐ Shí Zhēn, containing 1,892 medicinal substances categorized logically.

Tastes and Properties

The combined characteristics of herbs, including their flavors and how they interact with the body's systems.