Medicinal cuisine combines Chinese herbs with food, a unique feature of Chinese culinary culture. Only 77 herbs are suitable for culinary use. Below is a list of 72 herbs (5 currently unavailable) with their properties and functions for reference. For specific medicinal cuisine recipes, always follow a physician's prescription or verified formulas from medical texts.
1. Star Anise (大茴香/八角/大料): The mature fruit of Illicium verum, an evergreen shrub in the Magnoliaceae family. Pungent and sweet in taste, warm in nature. Warms the middle burner, dispels cold, regulates qi, and alleviates pain.
3. Ginger: The rhizome of Zingiber officinale, a herbaceous plant of the Zingiberaceae family. Pungent and warm in nature. It induces sweating to dispel cold, stops vomiting, and eliminates phlegm.
4. Longan: The aril of the longan fruit, a tree of the Sapindaceae family. Sweet and warm in nature. It tonifies qi and blood, benefits the heart and spleen, and treats insomnia and forgetfulness.
5. Hawthorn: The ripe fruit of the Hawthorn tree (Crataegus pinnatifida), a tree or large shrub of the Rosaceae family. It has a sour and sweet taste with a slightly warm nature. It aids digestion, eliminates food stagnation, and promotes blood circulation to remove stasis.Sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature. It tonifies the middle energizer, nourishes blood, calms the spirit, and moderates the properties of other herbs. 7. Fennel: The mature fruit of the herbaceous plant Foeniculum vulgare (Umbelliferae family). Pungent in taste, warm in nature. It warms the liver to relieve pain and warms the middle energizer to harmonize the stomach. 8. Quince: The mature fruit of the shrub Chaenomeles speciosa (Rosaceae family).Taste: sour; Nature: warm. It dispels dampness, alleviates rheumatic pain, relaxes tendons, aids digestion, and treats beriberi. 9. White Broad Bean = Broad Bean: The mature seed of the leguminous vine plant, Vigna radiata. Taste: sweet; Nature: neutral. It fortifies the spleen, transforms dampness, and treats spleen deficiency with diarrhea. 10.Lily: The bulb of Lilium, Lilium lancifolium, or Lilium brownii, herbaceous plants of the Liliaceae family. Sweet in taste, slightly cold in nature. Clears heat, nourishes yin, moistens lungs, and calms the spirit. 11. Sichuan Pepper: The mature pericarp of Zanthoxylum bungeanum, a shrub or small tree of the Rutaceae family. Pungent in taste, hot in nature, slightly toxic. Warms the middle burner, dispels cold, dries dampness, relieves itching, and kills parasites.
12. Euryale Seed: The mature seed kernel of the water caltrop (Euryale ferox), a herbaceous plant of the Nymphaeaceae family. Sweet and damp in taste, neutral in nature. It fortifies the spleen to stop diarrhea and leukorrhea, tonifies the kidneys to secure essence and reduce urination.
14. Citrus medica: The fruit of the small tree or shrub Citrus medica from the Rutaceae family. Pungent, bitter, and sour in taste, warm in nature. It疏肝理气 (regulates liver qi), transforms phlegm, and relieves chest congestion.
15. Olive: The fruit of the olive tree from the Oleaceae family. Sweet and astringent in taste, warm in nature. It soothes the throat, reduces swelling, regulates qi, and alleviates pain.
16. Apricot Kernel: The mature seed of the tree-like apricot, Siberian apricot, Northeast apricot, or bitter apricot from the Rosaceae family. It tastes bitter, has a warm nature, and is slightly toxic. It can relieve coughing and asthma, and moisten the intestines to promote bowel movements.It can eliminate phlegm, soften hardened masses, promote diuresis, and reduce swelling.
18. Peach Kernel: The mature seed of the peach or mountain peach, a small tree of the Rosaceae family. It has a bitter and sweet taste and a neutral nature. It can invigorate blood circulation, remove blood stasis, moisten the intestines, and relieve constipation.
19. Lotus Seed: The mature seed of the lotus, an aquatic plant of the Nymphaeaceae family. It has a sweet and astringent taste and a neutral nature.It fortifies the spleen to stop diarrhea, tonifies the kidneys to secure essence, and nourishes the heart to calm the spirit.
20. Mulberry Fruit: The fruit cluster of the mulberry tree (Moraceae). Sweet in taste, cold in nature. It replenishes yin blood, benefits the liver and kidneys, and moistens the intestines to relieve constipation.
21. Chinese Pistachio Nut: The seed of the Chinese pistachio tree (Taxodiaceae).Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. It can kill parasites, moisten the lungs, and provide mild laxative effects.
22. Light Fermented Soybeans: Fermented processed product of mature soybean seeds from the Fabaceae family. Pungent in taste, slightly warm in nature. It can resolve exterior syndromes and relieve restlessness, treat initial stages of wind-cold invasion and warm diseases with fever, and be used for conditions like restlessness in febrile diseases.
23.Black Sesame: Mature seeds of the black sesame plant (family: Linaceae). Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Nourishes liver and kidneys, moistens the five viscera. 24. Black Pepper: Mature fruit of the black pepper vine (family: Piperaceae), with outer husk removed. Pungent in taste, hot in nature. Warms the middle burner, dispels cold. Used for cold pain in epigastrium and abdomen, deficiency-cold diarrhea. 25.Honey: A sugary substance produced by the Chinese honeybee or Italian honeybee. Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. It fortifies the spleen, detoxifies, moistens the lungs to relieve cough, and lubricates the intestines to promote bowel movements.
26. Lettuce: The stem or leaves of a herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family. Bitter in taste, cold in nature. It treats heat toxins, sores and swellings, and thirst.
27.Coix Seed: The kernel of the Coix plant (family Poaceae). Sweet and bland in taste, cool in nature. Promotes diuresis and drains dampness, clears heat and expels pus, benefits the lungs and strengthens the spleen.
28. Goji Berry: The ripe fruit of the Goji shrub (family Solanaceae). Sweet in taste, neutral in nature.It replenishes essence and blood, benefits the liver and kidneys, and improves vision.
29. Black-banded Rat Snake: The dried body of the black-banded rat snake (Colubridae) with internal organs removed. Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. It dispels wind, unblocks meridians, calms convulsions, and stops spasms.
30. Ziziphus Seed: The seed of the Ziziphus jujuba (Rhamnaceae) shrub or small tree.Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Nourishes the heart and calms the spirit, astringes to stop sweating, treats insomnia.
31. Licorice: Root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhiza inflata, or Glycyrrhiza glabra. Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Tonifies the middle energizer and boosts qi, clears heat and detoxifies, expels phlegm and stops coughing, moderates drug properties.
32. Oyster Shell: Shell of the oyster species Long oyster, Dalian Bay oyster, or Near-river oyster. Salty and astringent taste, slightly cold nature. Can calm the spirit, pacify liver yang, astringe and consolidate, soften hardness and disperse nodules.
33. Osmanthus Flower Buds: Flower buds of the shrub or small tree Osmanthus fragrans (Rutaceae). Sweet and slightly bitter in taste, neutral in nature. Regulates qi to relieve chest congestion, stimulates appetite, and stops vomiting.
34. Luo Han Guo: Fruit of the vine plant Momordica grosvenorii (Cucurbitaceae). Sweet in taste, cool in nature. Clears heat and relieves summer heat, quenches thirst and clears the lungs, stops coughing and dissolves phlegm.
35. Cinnamon Bark (肉桂=桂皮): The bark of the Cinnamomum tree (Cinnamomum genus). Pungent and sweet in taste, warm in nature. It warms the middle burner to dispel cold, warms the kidneys to assist yang, and warms the meridians to promote circulation.
36. Cassia Seed (决明子): The mature seeds of Cassia obtusifolia or Cassia tora (Fabaceae family). Sweet, bitter, and salty in taste, slightly cold in nature. It clears the liver to improve vision and moistens the intestines to relieve constipation.
37. Radish Seed (Lai Fu Zi): Mature seeds of the herb Radix Raphani (Brassicaceae). Pungent and sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Aids digestion, eliminates food stagnation, relieves cough, dissolves phlegm, and calms wheezing.
38. Dried Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi): Dried peel of various citrus fruits like Citrus reticulata or Citrus unshiu (Rutaceae). Pungent and bitter in taste, warm in nature. Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, regulates qi, and harmonizes the middle burner.
39. Amomum Fruit: The mature fruit of Amomum villosum, Amomum hainanense, or Amomum compactum, herbs of the Zingiberaceae family. Pungent taste, warm nature. It transforms dampness, promotes qi circulation, warms the middle burner, and stops diarrhea.
40. Black Plum: The nearly ripe fruit of Prunus mume, a tree of the Rosaceae family. Sour taste, neutral nature. It consolidates the lungs to stop coughing, astringes the intestines to stop diarrhea, and stops bleeding while generating fluids.
41. Nutmeg: The seed of the tree Myristica fragrans. Pungent taste, warm nature. It astringes the intestines to stop diarrhea and warms the middle to promote qi circulation.It dispels wind and resolves exterior syndromes, alleviates pain, clears nasal passages, and reduces swelling while draining pus.
43. Chrysanthemum: The capitulum of the herbaceous plant Chrysanthemum morifolium (family Asteraceae). Sweet and bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature. It disperses wind-heat, clears liver heat to improve vision, clears heat and detoxifies, and calms liver yang.
44.Agastache: The aerial parts of the herbaceous plant Agastache rugosa or Agastache rugosa var. rugosa from the Lamiaceae family. Pungent taste, slightly warm nature. It can transform dampness and promote qi circulation, harmonize the middle burner and invigorate the spleen, dispel summer heat and resolve exterior syndromes.
45. Prunus mume seed: The mature seed of the shrub Prunus mume or Prunus mume var. mume from the Rosaceae family. Pungent and bitter taste, neutral nature. It can moisten the intestines and relieve constipation, promote diuresis and reduce swelling.
46. Ginkgo Nut: The mature seed of the Ginkgo biloba tree (family Ginkgoaceae). Sweet, bitter, and astringent in taste; neutral in nature; slightly toxic. It can relieve coughing and asthma, and stop leukorrhea.
47. Allium tuberosum Bulb: The bulb of the herb Allium tuberosum (family Liliaceae). Pungent and bitter in taste; warm in nature. It can promote yang energy, relieve arthralgia, warm the middle burner, and regulate qi.
48. Mint: Stems and leaves of the herb Mentha (Lamiaceae). Pungent taste, cool nature. Dispels wind-heat, clears throat congestion, expels wind to resolve rashes, and relieves liver stagnation.
49. Clove: Flower buds or fruits of the tree Syzygium aromaticum (Myrtaceae). Pungent taste, warm nature. Descends qi to stop hiccups, warms the middle to relieve pain, and warms the kidneys to assist yang.
50. Galangal: The rhizome of Galangal, a herbaceous plant of the Zingiberaceae family. Pungent taste, warm nature. It warms the middle burner and dispels cold, treating cold pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, vomiting due to stomach cold, etc.It regulates liver qi and transforms phlegm.
52. Poria: The sclerotium of Poria cocos (Fungus poria). Sweet and bland in taste, neutral in nature. It promotes diuresis to drain dampness, strengthens the spleen to transform phlegm, and calms the mind to soothe the spirit.
53. Fire Hemp Seed: The mature fruit of Cannabis sativa (hemp), a herbaceous plant of the Moraceae family. Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. It moistens the intestines to relieve constipation, used for dry bowel constipation.
54. Safflower: The tubular inflorescence of the herbaceous plant Carthamus tinctorius (family Asteraceae). Pungent taste, warm nature. Promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis. Treats sores, swellings, pain, trauma injuries, rheumatic arthralgia, and irregular menstruation.
55. Perilla Leaf: The leaf of the herbaceous plant Perilla frutescens (Lamiaceae family). Pungent taste, warm nature. Dispels cold and releases the exterior, regulates qi and relieves fullness, neutralizes toxins from fish and crab.
56. Malt: The processed product of germinated mature fruit of the herbaceous plant barley (Poaceae family). Sweet taste, neutral nature. Promotes digestion and eliminates food stagnation, reduces lactation, used for food accumulation and stagnation.
57. Elsholtzia: The aerial parts of Elsholtzia ciliata, a herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae family. Pungent in taste, slightly warm in nature. It induces sweating to resolve exterior syndromes, dispels summer heat and dampness, and promotes diuresis to reduce swelling.
58. Chicken Gizzard Lining: The inner lining of the gizzard of domestic chickens (Phasianidae). Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. It aids digestion, resolves food stagnation, dissolves hard masses and stones, and consolidates essence to reduce urination.
59. Lotus Leaf: The leaf of the aquatic plant Nelumbo nucifera (L.) L. (family Nymphaeaceae). Bitter in taste, neutral in nature. Clears heat and relieves summer heat, promotes the ascent of clear yang, and stops bleeding.
60. White茅Root: The rhizome of the herbaceous plant Imperata cylindrica (family Poaceae). Sweet in taste, cold in nature. Cools the blood to stop bleeding, clears heat to generate fluids, and promotes urination. Best used fresh.
[FS:PAGE]61. Mulberry Leaf: The leaf of the mulberry tree (Moraceae). Bitter and sweet in taste, cold in nature. It disperses wind-heat, clears lung heat, clears liver heat to improve vision, and cools the blood to stop bleeding.
62. Purslane: The aerial parts of the purslane plant (Portulacaceae). Sour in taste, cold in nature. It clears heat and detoxifies.