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The Essential Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine Identification and Safe Dosage


Introduction: Identifying Chinese Herbal Medicine

Identifying Chinese Herbal Medicine is a foundational skill in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Accuracy in identification, combined with precise dosage calculation, ensures patient safety and therapeutic success.

Key Considerations for Chinese Herbal Medicine Dosage:
To prescribe effectively, practitioners must analyze these core factors:

  • Patient Profile: Adjust based on body weight, age, and gender (e.g., lower doses for children, seniors, or during menstruation).
  • Condition Severity: Acute conditions may require higher doses, while chronic cases favor smaller, sustained amounts.
  • Chinese Herbal Medicine Form: Decoctions typically require higher dosages than concentrated powders.

Texture & Quality Guidelines:

  • Plant Parts: Flowers and leaves are lighter (smaller doses), while minerals and shells are heavy (10-30g).
  • Standard Range: Non-toxic plants generally range from 3-10g.
  • Safety & Duration:
    Prescriptions should be monitored closely, especially when using herbs that promote circulation or elimination.
  • The 7-Day Rule: Limit initial prescriptions to 1 week unless you are deeply familiar with the patient’s long-term response. Stop or reduce dosage once symptoms improve to maintain balance.


  • 1. Relieving superficial

  • 2. Clearing heat

  • 3. Herbs for purging

  • 4. Eliminating wind-damp

  • 5. Aroma for transforming damp

  • 6. Promoting water

  • 7. Internal warming

  • 8. regulating qi

1.Herbs for relieving superficial syndrome:


1-1.Pungent and warm: 

Gui Zhi, Zi Su Ye, Jing Jie, Xi Xin, Fang Feng, Bai Zhi, Xin Yi, Cang Er Zi,


1-2 Pungent and cool:

Bo He, Niu Bang Zi, Sang Ye, Ju Hua, Ge Gen, Chai Hu, Sheng Ma

Gui Zhi

Zi Su Ye

Jing Jie

Xi Xin

Fang Feng

Bai Zhi

Xin Yi

Cang Er Zi

Bo He

Niu Bang Zhi

Sang Ye

Ju Hua

Ge Gen

Chai Hu

Sheng Ma

  • 9. improving digestion

  • 10. eliminating parasites

  • 11. stopping bleeding

  • 12. moving blood

  • 13. relieving cough

  • 14. calming mind

  • 15. calming LV

  • 16. opening orifice

9.Herbs for improving digestion:

Shan Zha, Mai Ya, Lai Fu Zi
  • 17.1 Qi tonics

  • 17.2 Yang tonics

  • 17.3 Blood tonics:

  • 17.4 Yin tonics

  • 18. astringing

17-1 Qi tonics:

Dang Shen, Tai Zi Shen, Huang Qi, Bai Zhu, Shan Yao, Gan Cao, Zhi Gan Cao, Bai Bian Dou