acrid, salty, cold

Kd, Lv

anchors and calms shen, sedate fright, nourish yin xu w Lv yang rising, nourishes Kd, augments Lv (hearing loss), helps Kd grasp Qi (calms wheezing)

sweet, astringent, neutral

Ht, Kd, Lv

heavily sedates and calms spirit, calms Lv and anchors floating yang, prevents leakage of fluid, night sweats, astringes leakage of fluid and secures slippage disorders, chronic non healing sores and ulcerations

sweet, sour, neutral

Ht, Lv, Sp

nourishes Ht yin (palpitations, insomnia), calms mind, augments Lv blood, prevents abnormal sweating (spontaneous and night sweats)

sweet, sl bitter, neutral

Ht, Lv

nouirshes Ht, calms spirit, nourishes blood (insomnia, excess dreaming)and unblocks channels (pain and numbness in limbs), expels wind damp heat bi, wind damp cold bi, expels wind (alleviate itching int. and ext.)

sweet, neutral

Ht, Kd, LI, Sp

nourishes Ht, calm spirit, lubricates intestines, unblocks bowels, night sweats  and insomnia due to yin xu

bitter, acrid, sl warm

Ht, Lu

calms mind, quiets heart, expels phlegm and clears orifice, phlegm misting heart (epilepsy and mania), expels phlegm from Lungs (coughing w copious sticky sputum), dissipates abscesses and swellings (boils, sores, carbuncles)

do not overdose

salty, cold

Kd, Lv

drains fire, subdues Lv, improves vision, Lv heat patterns that affects eyes (red, swollen)

crush and boil for 30 min

salty, astringent, cool, 

Lv, Kd

settles, calms spirit, palpitations w anxiety, benefits yin, anchors floating yang, astringe leakage of fluids and stop sweating, softens hardenings, dissipates nodules, St pain due to acidity

crush and boil for 30 min

sweet, salty, cold

Ht, Lv

sedates the Ht, calms fright (nightmares),settles tremors and palpitations, clear Lv heat, visual obstructions, promotes healing, generates flesh, used topically for chronic, nonhealing ulcers

bitter, cold, 

Ht, Lv, Pc

subdues Lv yang, calms Lv, DESCENDS rebellious Qi, Lu Qi (wheezing and asthma) and St qi (vomiting, belching, hiicup), cools blood, stops bleeding

sweet, neutral

Lv

#1 for dizziness, subdues Lv yang, extinguishes wind, controls spasms, tremors, HA due to Lv yang rising, opens collaterals to relieve pain, Bi syndrome,wind phlegm obstructing upward the orfices extinguish wind and alleviate pain

better for anchoring yang

sweet, cool

Ht, Lv

clears Lv heat, subdues Lv yang, release exterior, wind heat patterns, fever, HA, red eyes, extinguish wind, stop convulsions (childhood also), used for hypertension

paired w Tian Ma 

Gou teng better for Lv fire

acrid, bitter, warm

Lv, Lu

calms and anchors Lv yang, regulates smooth flow of Lv QI for postpartum Lv Qi constraint causing insufficient lactation w distention, dispels wind heat, brightens eyes, red eyes, runny eyes, dispels wind to stop itching, wind-rash, and treat vitiligo

bitter, sweet, cool

Lv, Kd, Li

clears Lv heat, reduces hypertension, cardiac disease, clears Lv and brightens eyes, moistens intestines and unblocks bowels

salty, cold

Lv, Lu, Sp, Ub

drains heat, extinguish wind, stops spasm and convulsions, opens collaterals and channels, calms wheezing and asthma, promotes urination, treat wind heat Bi or wind cold damp syndromes

bitter, sweet, cool

Lv, Ht

clears Ht, opens orifice, clear Lv and relieve toxicity, extinguish wind, stop tremors, for coma w closed mouth and phlegmy sound due to phlegm-heat obstructing Ht orifice, drain heat and relieve fire toxicity (red, painful, swollen, ulcerated throat)