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Pharmacopoeia – the ingredients

Pharmacopoeia – the ingredients

by | 1818,Jul, 2025 | Traditional chinese medicine

Ancient knowledge at the service of health

This article is the first in a series of three articles dedicated to Chinese pharmacopoeia, the other two being devoted to the recipe and the prescription. Their aim is to demystify this discipline and allow the reader to grasp the full value and wisdom it contains.

Chinese pharmacopoeia, a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is a discipline with a history spanning millennia. It incorporates a holistic understanding of the human being, considered an inseparable unity of body and mind.

Rooted in the principles of Taoism, it is based on the dynamic balance of qi (vital energy), yin and yang, and the five elements (wu xing: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). TCM views health as a state of harmony between the individual and their environment, influenced by the seasons, emotions, and cosmic cycles.

Foundational texts, such as the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shenn Nong’s Classic of Materia Medica, c. 200 BCE) and Zhang Zhongjing’s Shang Han Lun (2nd century CE), codified the properties of medicinal substances, their combinations, and their therapeutic applications. These works describe hundreds of remedies, primarily plant-based, but also animal and mineral. Each remedy is characterized by its nature (sì qì: cold, cool, warm, hot), its flavor (wǔ wèi: pungent, sweet, sour, bitter, salty), and its energetic tropism (meridians or target organs).

Chinese pharmacopoeia is not limited to the isolated use of substances. It relies on prescriptions (fāng) in which several ingredients act synergistically to treat complex imbalances of the mind and body. This systemic approach, which combines empirical observation and philosophical principles, aims to restore the harmonious circulation of qì, correct yin-yang imbalances and eliminate pathogenic factors (bìng xié).

A wide variety of natural substances

Chinese medicine therefore uses plant-based substances, as well as animal, mineral, fungal, and organic substances. Each is selected for its specific properties and its action on the meridians, organs, and energy flows.

These remedies work synergistically to treat the individual. Through this ancestral knowledge, Chinese medicine does not simply cure: it prevents, harmonizes, and balances the individual in their physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.

Plant Substances

Plants dominate the Chinese pharmacopoeia; they represent approximately 80% of the substances. Different parts of plants are used (see below). For example, fruits (guǒ), such as Shān Zhā (Crataegus pinnatifida), facilitate the digestion of fats. Rhizomes, such as Huáng Lián (Coptis chinensis), drain fire from the Heart and Stomach and are used for mouth ulcers or irritability.

mon vegetal

Animal Substances

Animal substances, although less common, are essential in certain contexts. Lù Jiǎo (deer antler) tonifies Kidney Yang. It is indicated for sexual weakness or lower back pain. Mǔ Lì (oyster shell) grounds Yang and calms the mind. It is prescribed for insomnia or restlessness. Their use is strictly regulated to respect ethical principles and natural cycles.

Mineral Substances

Minerals are also used in traditional remedies. For example, Shí Gāo (gypsum) soothes excessive heat in high-fever syndromes. Zhū Shā (cinnabar) calms the mind, but its use is limited due to its toxicity. Lóng Gǔ (fossilized dragon bone) grounds the mind and stabilizes emotions.

Fungal Substances

Fungal substances are also used. For example, Fú Líng (Poria cocos), a fungus, acts on dampness and the Spleen, promoting the elimination of pathogenic fluids. These substances are considered intermediaries between the plant and mineral realms; they embody the Earth element.

The different plant substances

In traditional Chinese medicine, the various parts of medicinal plants are utilized: roots, leaves, stems, flowers, bark, and seeds. Each part is used for its unique therapeutic properties.

Each part is associated with one of the five elements (Earth, Wood, Fire, Metal, Water). It plays a specific role in restoring the balance of qi, yin, and yang.

Roots, such as Dǎng Shēn or Huáng Qí, tonify and nourish, conveying the concept of Earth’s stability.

Leaves, such as Bò He, disperse wind and target the superficial layers, embodying the vitality of Wood. Stems, such as Pú Gōng Yīng, regulate energy flow. Flowers, such as Jú Huā, soothe emotions associated with Fire.

Finally, barks, such as Dù Zhòng—associated with Metal—protect and strengthen. And seeds, like Gǒu Qǐ Zǐ, concentrate the vital essence of Water.

Harvested at precise times to maximize their energy, these parts are combined in synergistic formulas, reflecting a holistic approach where each element contributes to harmonizing body and mind.

A closer look at plant substances

The roots (Gēn)

Roots (gēn) are among the most frequently used plant parts due to their high concentration of active ingredients, associated with the Earth element, a symbol of stability and nourishment.

They are harvested in autumn or winter, when the plant’s energy is concentrated underground. For example, Dǎng Shēn (Codonopsis pilosula) tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi. It is used in cases of chronic fatigue or digestive disorders.

Huáng Qí (Astragalus membranaceus), another tonifying root, strengthens defensive Qi (wèi qì) to support immunity and prevent infections. Roots like Shēng Dì Huáng (Rehmannia glutinosa) nourish Yin and are prescribed for Yin deficiency syndromes, such as thirst or hot flashes.

The Leaves (Yè)

The leaves (yè), associated with the Wood element, capture the energy of wind and movement. They are harvested in spring or summer, when their vitality is at its peak.

Sāng Yè (Morus alba) disperses wind-heat in lung ailments, such as dry coughs or mild fevers.

Bò He (Mentha haplocalyx), with its aromatic leaves, clears the surface (biǎo) by promoting sweating in cases of external attack syndromes. Their action is often ascending and dispersing, targeting the superficial layers of the body.

The Stems (Jīng)

The stems (jīng) regulate the movement of qi, whether ascending (shēng) or descending (jiàng). Harvested in spring, they embody the vigor of the sap.

Pú Gōng Yīng (Taraxacum mongolicum) drains damp-heat and is used for urinary tract infections and abscesses.

Húo Má Rén (Cannabis sativa, stem) acts on the intestines to lubricate and facilitate defecation in cases of constipation.

Flowers (Huā)

Flowers (huā), associated with the Fire element, are harvested at their peak bloom to capture their yang energy. They often influence emotional state and Liver function.

Jú Huā (Chrysanthemum morifolium) soothes the Liver, clarifies vision, and disperses wind-heat, and is indicated for headaches and eye irritations.

Jīn Yín Huā (Lonicera japonica) eliminates toxic heat in infections such as tonsillitis.

Bark (Pí)

Bark (pí), associated with the Metal element, is harvested in autumn or spring when the sap is abundant. It has protective and astringent properties.

Dù Zhòng (Eucommia ulmoides) strengthens the Kidneys and bones; it is used for lower back pain. Huáng Bǎi (Phellodendron amurense) drains damp-heat, particularly in genitourinary infections.

Seeds (Zǐ)

Seeds (zǐ), associated with the Water element, are harvested when ripe for their ability to store vital energy (jīng). Gǒu Qǐ Zǐ (Lycium barbarum) nourishes the yin of the Liver and Kidneys, improving vision and vitality. Sū Zǐ (Perilla frutescens) lowers pulmonary qi, relieving asthma or cough.

Preparation of plants and substances

The preparation of traditional remedies, while sometimes simple (drying, cutting for decoctions), often requires specific techniques. These techniques serve precise purposes: facilitating absorption, ensuring preservation, reducing toxicity, modifying energetic properties, increasing efficacy, or eliminating undesirable constituents.

These processes, rigorously developed throughout the history of Chinese pharmacopoeia, remain strictly applied today to guarantee the reliability of the remedies.

Drying (Gān)

Drying (gān) is essential for preserving the substances. Plants like Bái Zhú (Atractylodes macrocephala) are sun-dried to enhance their tonic properties, while flowers like Jú Huā are shade-dried to preserve their essential oils. Sun-drying (shài gān) accentuates the yang properties, while shade-drying (yīn gān) preserves the yin.

Maceration (Jìn)

Maceration (jìn) extracts the active ingredients by soaking the substances in water, wine (yào jiǔ), or oil. Dāng Guī (Angelica sinensis) macerated in wine strengthens blood circulation; it is used to relieve menstrual pain. Soaking in rice water (mǐ shuǐ) harmonizes digestive functions, as with Fú Líng.

Powder (Fěn)

Powdering (fěn) facilitates administration and storage. Substances like Mǔ Lì are pulverized for pills or topical applications. Píng Wèi Sǎn powder combines Cāng Zhú, Hòu Pò, and Gān Cǎo to eliminate dampness and relieve nausea.

Burning (Huǒ Zhì)

Burning (huǒ zhì) alters the energetic properties. Gān Jiāng (dried Zingiber officinale) is heated to warm Stomach Cold, unlike raw ginger (shēng jiāng), which disperses Wind-Cold. Roasting (chǎo) enhances the tonic effects, as with Bái Zhú Chǎo.

Burning Under Ashes (Wèi)

Burning under ashes (wèi) involves wrapping substances in damp paper or rice paste and heating them under hot ashes. This method reduces volatile oils (essential oils) to avoid side effects. For example, Mù Xiāng (Saussurea lappa) prepared using this method (wèi mù xiāng) is used to regulate Stomach qi without causing irritation.

Calcination (Duàn)

Calcination (duàn) involves burning substances at high temperatures to reduce them to ash, eliminating impurities and altering their nature. Calcined Mǔ Lì (duàn mǔ lì) becomes more astringent; It is used to stop spontaneous sweating or seminal loss. This method is common for mineral substances such as Lóng Gǔ.

Fermentation (Fā Xiào)

Fermentation (fā xiào) activates the biological properties of substances. For example, Shén Qū (Massa medicata fermentata), obtained by fermenting grains, aids digestion and treats food stagnation.

Pharmacopoeia and Cosmology

In traditional Chinese thought, humankind stands between Heaven (天) and Earth (地), as symbolized by the diagram inherited from Mengzi: a vertical axis where Man (人) embodies the link between celestial laws and earthly manifestations.

This cosmological framework guides all of Chinese medicine, particularly its pharmacopoeia. Each remedy is more than just a substance: it is a vehicle for harmonizing cosmic and bodily forces.

Plants, minerals, animals, and fungi are chosen not only for their physiological effects. They are also selected for their ability to rectify the flow of energy (qi), balance yin and yang, and resonate with the organs according to the five elements.

Roots, anchored in the Earth, nourish stability; flowers, close to Heaven, uplift and disperse. Thus, each remedy participates in a subtle dialogue between above and below, between the invisible and the tangible.

The diagram reminds us that health is not simply the absence of disease. It is first an alignment between our deepest nature, our environment, and the laws of Heaven. And the pharmacopoeia is the precise instrument of this restoration.

Obstruction syndromes

Obstruction syndromes

by | 1616,Jun, 2025 | Traditional chinese medicine

Bi or painful obstruction syndromes

Bi syndromes, or painful obstruction syndromes, are frequently encountered clinical syndromes. They result from the obstruction of meridians by the combination of the “three demons” (Wind-Cold-Dampness) according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). These syndromes correspond to numerous pathologies in Western medicine, such as osteoarthritis, arthritis, and fibromyalgia, among many others.

Let’s explore these Bi syndromes through the story of Koffi.

The morning everything went wrong

Koffi isn’t a hero, a sage, or seriously ill. He’s just an ordinary man. A 36-year-old freelance graphic designer, he lives in a small apartment surrounded by his plants and his cat, Noodle. Two or three times a week, he runs a few kilometers. He’s gotten used to the aches and pains he regularly feels when he wakes up: “I must have slept awkwardly.”

But one morning, as he put his foot on the floor, a sharp pain shot through his hip. Not violent enough to make him scream, but too precise to ignore. He stretches, shakes his leg, but nothing helps. And Koffi thinks to himself: “It’s official. I’m getting old.” But this pain bothers him; he doesn’t understand its cause. He spends the day limping, searching the internet: “right hip pain upon waking for no reason,” exploring forums, but without success.

That evening, a friend told him about a Chinese doctor who had set up practice nearby, in a small, discreet courtyard. Driven to the limit by fatigue, pain, and no doubt a touch of curiosity, Koffi made an appointment.

At Dr. Shen’s

check syndromes-obstruction

The Chinese doctor is a small, thin man with disconcertingly sharp eyes. His name is Shen. He gestures for Koffi to sit down, then, without a word, takes his wrist and delicately places three fingers on the radial artery. The contact is light, almost imperceptible. Yet Koffi senses something—a kind of intense focus. Dr. Shen closes his eyes.

After a moment, in a calm voice, Shen says, “The Qi isn’t flowing. There’s an invasion of Wind-Dampness.” Koffi, a little embarrassed, coughs, “An invasion… by what exactly? Bacteria? A virus?”

Shen opens his eyes and tilts his head. “No. Perverse energies. External winds. Wind, Cold, Dampness. They’ve entered. Your body has opened the door.” Koffi is a little disconcerted by this explanation, but he feels he can trust this unusual doctor. Shen continues: “You have pain when you wake up, but less when you move?” Koffi nods. “A feeling of heaviness in your leg? The pain moving a little?” Koffi nods again.

Bi syndrome

“Bi Syndrome,” Shen concluded. “A blockage of Qi and Blood in the meridians.” He paused, then said, “We’re going to get it flowing. You’ll see.”

He took out his acupuncture needles and began the treatment. Shen handled them like a calligrapher, with quiet, almost affectionate concentration. He inserted one into Koffi’s leg, just below the knee. Another into the ankle. Then another, near the hip. “You’ll feel like a thread is being pulled taut,” he said calmly. “That’s the Qi. It responds… It comes back.”

Koffi did indeed feel something, a kind of deep tingling. He wanted to know more about this Bi and questioned Shen.
Shen sat up straight: “‘Bi’ means ‘obstruction.’ It’s when something blocks the flow of Qi and Blood. When the body becomes like a city with traffic jams: the streets are there, but nothing moves.” And he explains to him that there are different types of Bi, each with its own personality (see box).

Then he continues: “Those pains we ignore, those little aches and pains that ‘will go away,’ sometimes they’re signs of Bi. And if we let them take hold, they become chronic. They seep in. They eat away at you. And one day, you can no longer lift your arm. Or walk. Or sleep.”

Pain: a signal to be taken seriously

Looking intently into Koffi’s eyes, he said, “It’s not urgent because it’s serious. It’s urgent because it’s minor.” Koffi blinked. “You mean… the more subtle it is, the more attention you need to pay?” Shen smiled for the first time. “Exactly. The body speaks softly at first. Then it cries out. And sometimes it’s silent… but it’s damaging itself.”

Koffi began to understand that Shen’s medicine wasn’t “alternative.” It was an ancient, precise, demanding, yet profoundly human understanding of life.

The treatment finished, Dr. Shen removed the needles and said again, “Pain isn’t the enemy. It’s an alarm bell. It’s your body warning you that there’s an imbalance, that something isn’t circulating properly, or not enough. And that you’ve pushed yourself beyond your limits without listening.” He explains to him that where Qi flows freely, there is no pain. Conversely, where Qi stagnates, pain appears. Pain is Qi knocking at the door because it can no longer pass through.

If this signal is ignored, the pain takes hold, even changing form. And in the long run, if the imbalance persists, illness sets in. ‘Pain,’ Shen concludes, ‘is the body asking for a return to harmony. Don’t silence it. Learn its language. And it will thank you.’”

Leaving the office, Koffi is not “cured.” Not yet.

But he walks differently. Slower. More upright. Like someone who no longer runs from his pain, but listens to it. He is beginning to perceive its hidden meaning.

Key points to remember

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the term Bi means “obstruction.” It refers to a disruption of the harmonious flow of Qi (vital energy) and Blood. This imbalance is often caused by the invasion of external pathogenic factors, called Xie Qi: Wind, Cold, Dampness, and sometimes Heat.

Each type of Bi has specific characteristics:

  • Wind Bi: Migratory, variable pain.
  • Cold Bi: Fixed, deep pain, aggravated by cold.
  • Dampness Bi: Sensations of heaviness, swelling, and numbness.
  • Heat Bi: Intense pain, redness, and inflammation.

Here are some situations that can generate Bi:

  • Irregular sleep and wake schedules, or overwork, injure Qi and Blood, weaken the meridians, and compromise the body’s defenses. This allows external pathogens to penetrate the body.
  • A cold or damp environment, or a profession that exposes one to cold, wind, and dampness, creates conditions conducive to the penetration of Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens into the body.
  • Alcohol abuse, or a diet that is too rich or insufficient, injures the Spleen Qi, leading to the internal production of Phlegm and Dampness, which then circulates in the meridians.
  • Excessive eating injures Jing and Blood. Yin deficiency leads to an excess of Fire, and the Blood is no longer able to nourish the tendons.
  • Stagnation of the Seven Emotions (Anger, Joy, Emotional Shock, Worry, Sadness, Overthinking, and Fear), and Blood stasis in the meridians, are also contributing factors. Bruising or Blood stagnation following external trauma can also occur.

Stagnation

Stagnation

by | 2727,May, 2025 | Traditional chinese medicine

When energy freezes

In the subtle vision of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), life is movement. Qi, Blood, and Body Fluids must circulate freely, like breath through branches, like a stream flowing between stones. This vital flow sustains health, mental clarity, and peace of mind. But sometimes, this current slows down. It swirls without moving forward, becomes murky, thickens… and eventually stagnates.

This phenomenon is called stagnation. It is not a static state, but a gradual, often insidious imbalance that can give rise to most modern chronic ailments. When energy ceases to flow, life becomes heavier, more strained… sometimes painful. This stagnation is at the root of many pathologies.

Repressed emotions

Stagnation can affect different levels. The most frequent is Qi stagnation, particularly in the Liver, the organ that governs the free flow of energy throughout the body. This imbalance is directly linked to repressed, unexpressed emotions, stress, frustration, and even suppressed anger. Modern humans are saturated with it. The signs are often subtle but revealing: tension in the sides, frequent sighing, fluctuating moods, chest tightness, menstrual irregularities, and even depression.

When stagnation persists, it deepens. The Blood, in turn, can cease to circulate harmoniously. This is known as Blood stasis. This type of stagnation is denser and more deeply rooted. It manifests as fixed, localized pain, often nocturnal, and sometimes intense. It is the root cause of many gynecological disorders—endometriosis, fibroids, painful periods—as well as lumps, nodules, and abnormal scarring.

On another level, stagnation can affect bodily fluids, leading to an accumulation of moisture or mucus. This creates a state of physical and mental heaviness: slow digestion, sticky fatigue, a coated tongue, heavy limbs, phlegm, and mental confusion. This is a gentle, slow, invisible—but persistent—stagnation.

When inflammation sets in

Sometimes, the nature of this stagnation evolves further. Excessively stagnant Qi generates heat through friction. This phenomenon is feared in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): the stagnation then transforms into heat. This internal fire can manifest as inflammation, irritability, redness, a sensation of localized heat, or even bleeding or skin disorders. This marks a turning point in the imbalance: at this stage, the blockage is no longer simply trying to release itself—it is attacking.

This stagnant fire can take root in the tissues and develop into complex pathological forms. This is referred to as “phlegm-heat” (Tan Re), a form of pathogenic accumulation that infiltrates the deep organs, forming hard, hot, painful masses. Thus, from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), certain degenerative processes such as cysts, nodules, or even tumors can take root not through external aggression, but through unresolved internal accumulation.

This imbalance affects all ages and all social classes. Women are often more susceptible due to the cyclical nature of their blood and their deep connection to the Liver and Uterus. However, men, children, the elderly, and those with sedentary or hyperactive lifestyles are also at risk.

Signs of stagnation

Because stagnation doesn’t arise directly from a lack of physical movement; it primarily stems from emotional imbalances.

  • The Liver governs anger and emotional flexibility. Its stagnation hinders adaptation and mental fluidity.
  • The Heart governs the spirit (Shen); persistent stagnation disrupts the Shen.
  • The Spleen, weakened by excessive rumination or worry, can produce Phlegm that blocks the mind.
  • The Kidneys, in cases of deficiency, can deprive the Heart and Liver of their Yin or Yang foundation.

It’s possible to experience this stagnation before it becomes pathological. Heavy digestion, a slightly purplish tongue, diffuse aches and pains, disturbed sleep, and an irregular menstrual cycle are signs of stagnation. Similarly, a constant need to sigh, and a feeling of blockage in the throat or solar plexus are also signs.

A suitable diet

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), stagnation is treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, and, of course, diet. What we eat is not only matter but also information. A suitable diet can prevent stagnation or dissipate existing stagnation.

When Liver Qi is blocked, a light, ascending spring diet is recommended. This promotes free circulation. Green vegetables, sprouts, aromatic herbs such as mint, white radish, celery, citrus fruits, and light green tea are powerful allies. Conversely, excess fats, red meat, refined sugar, or alcohol worsen internal pressure.

When Blood stagnates, a blood-vitalizing diet is recommended. Red foods, which are nourishing and blood-thinning, are most suitable: beets, black rice, quail eggs, goji berries, carrots, and a touch of natural red wine. Anything cold, processed, or too salty should be avoided.

A personalized treatment

To combat dampness stagnation, often linked to a weakened Spleen, a drying and warming diet is preferred. Red beans, lotus seeds, pearl barley, dried ginger, white pepper, and steamed root vegetables are recommended. Dairy products, bananas, cold raw vegetables, and sugary juices are the main culprits in this process.

And when stagnation has already transformed into heat, it is necessary to soothe while simultaneously draining: lotus, chrysanthemum, white peony root, cooked cucumber, celery, bitter melon, and clear soups made with light legumes can then complement a more comprehensive strategy of gentle detoxification. Fire is not fought with cold, but with cool, orderly dampness.

However, the best results will be obtained by combining the various tools of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with a personalized diagnosis and treatment plan. It will often be valuable to add emotional support and physical exercise, or even qi gong.

Cultivate a calm mind

Emotions therefore play a major role in the development of stagnation. Depending on the emotion involved, it will manifest in the organ to which it is connected.

Thus, excessive joy—or excitement—leads to stagnation of qi in the heart. The heart may begin to beat irregularly or too rapidly. This can also lead to hypertension, insomnia, a restless mind, etc.

Anger leads to stagnation of Liver qi, the main organ responsible for the free flow of qi throughout the body. This can lead to vision problems, diarrhea, dry and brittle nails, tinnitus, dizziness, and headaches. This stagnation—or overpressure of Liver qi—is also the cause of premenstrual syndrome or depression. According to the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, pain in the body is a direct result of anger interfering with the flow of Qi in the Liver.

Persistent thoughts or mental rumination can lead to stagnation of Qi in the Spleen and a loss of its vitality. This can result in decreased appetite, bloating, mental fog, and an inability to solve problems.

To remedy this, it is therefore important to be aware of our emotions, to be conscious of them, and not to let them control us. By cultivating a calm mind daily, we can limit the risk of emotional outbursts and, consequently, stagnation.