Herbal Encyclopedia

Explore detailed knowledge and medicinal values for 15 common herbs, from ginseng to ginkgo, letting each herb achieve its best medicinal effect

Ginseng
GinsengTonifying

Panax ginseng

Ginseng is a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb, known as the 'King of Herbs', with effects of greatly tonifying vital energy, restoring pulse, tonifying spleen and lung, generating body fluid, nourishing blood, and calming the mind. Mainly distributed in Northeast China and Korea, it is one of the most important tonic herbs in traditional Chinese medicine.

Nature & Taste
Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly warm
MeridianEnters Spleen, Lung, Heart meridians
Used PartRoot
Goji Berry
Goji BerryHeat-Clearing

Lycium barbarum

Goji berry is a precious tonic Chinese medicinal herb, known as the longevity fruit, with effects of nourishing liver and kidney, benefiting essence and improving vision, nourishing blood and calming the mind. Mainly distributed in Ningxia, Qinghai, and Gansu of China, it is one of the most important tonic herbs in traditional Chinese medicine.

Nature & Taste
Sweet, neutral
MeridianEnters Liver, Kidney meridians
Used PartFruit
Astragalus
AstragalusTonifying

Astragalus membranaceus

Astragalus is a commonly used qi-tonifying Chinese medicinal herb, known as the best qi tonic, with effects of tonifying qi and raising yang, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, promoting urination and reducing edema, expelling toxins and draining pus. Mainly distributed in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Gansu of China, it is one of the most important qi-tonifying herbs in traditional Chinese medicine.

Nature & Taste
Sweet, slightly warm
MeridianEnters Spleen, Lung meridians
Used PartRoot
Licorice
LicoriceHeat-Clearing

Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Licorice is a commonly used tonic Chinese medicinal herb, known as the 'Elder Statesman of Herbs', with effects of tonifying spleen and qi, clearing heat and detoxifying, expelling phlegm and relieving cough, moderating and relieving pain, and harmonizing other herbs. Mainly distributed in Xinjiang, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia of China, it is one of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine.

Nature & Taste
Sweet, neutral
MeridianEnters Heart, Lung, Spleen, Stomach meridians
Used PartRoot and rhizome
Ginger
GingerDigestive

Zingiber officinale

Ginger is a commonly used exterior-releasing Chinese medicinal herb, known as the 'Sacred Medicine for Vomiting', with effects of inducing sweating and releasing exterior, warming the middle and stopping vomiting, warming the lung and relieving cough. Originating from tropical Southeast Asia, now widely cultivated throughout China, it is one of the most commonly used medicinal and edible herbs in traditional Chinese medicine.

Nature & Taste
Pungent, slightly warm
MeridianEnters Lung, Spleen, Stomach meridians
Used PartRhizome
Turmeric
TurmericBlood-Activating

Curcuma longa

Turmeric is a commonly used blood-activating and stasis-removing Chinese medicinal herb, with effects of breaking blood and moving qi, unblocking meridians and stopping pain. Originating from India and Southeast Asia, now widely cultivated in Sichuan, Fujian, and Guangdong of China, it is an important blood-activating herb in traditional Chinese medicine and an important food spice.

Nature & Taste
Pungent, bitter, warm
MeridianEnters Spleen, Liver meridians
Used PartRhizome
Mint
MintHeat-Clearing

Mentha haplocalyx

Mint is a commonly used exterior-releasing Chinese medicinal herb, with effects of dispersing wind-heat, clearing head and eyes, benefiting throat and promoting rash eruption, soothing liver and moving qi. Widely distributed throughout China, it is a commonly used cool exterior-releasing herb in traditional Chinese medicine, and also an important spice and food additive.

Nature & Taste
Pungent, cool
MeridianEnters Lung, Liver meridians
Used PartLeaves
Chamomile
ChamomileCalming

Matricaria chamomilla

Chamomile is a commonly used medicinal plant with effects of sedating and calming the mind, anti-inflammatory and reducing swelling, relieving spasm and pain. Originating from Europe, now widely cultivated worldwide, it is one of the most important medicinal plants in traditional Western herbal medicine and a famous herbal tea ingredient.

Nature & Taste
Sweet, slightly bitter, neutral
MeridianEnters Liver, Spleen meridians
Used PartFlowers
Aloe Vera
Aloe VeraHeat-Clearing

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is a common medicinal plant with heat-clearing, detoxifying, laxative, and beauty-enhancing properties. Originating from tropical Africa, now widely cultivated worldwide, it is a traditional medicinal plant and an important raw material for modern cosmetics and health products.

Nature & Taste
Bitter, cold
MeridianEnters Liver, Large Intestine meridians
Used PartLeaves
Echinacea
EchinaceaTonifying

Echinacea purpurea

Echinacea is a famous immune-boosting herb with immune-enhancing, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Originating from North America, now widely cultivated worldwide, it is the most important immune-modulating herb in Western herbal medicine, commonly used to prevent and treat colds.

Nature & Taste
Sweet, slightly bitter, cool
MeridianEnters Lung, Spleen meridians
Used PartWhole plant
Ginkgo
GinkgoBlood-Activating

Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo is an ancient medicinal plant with blood-activating, memory-improving, and cardiovascular-protective properties. Known as a living fossil, it is one of the oldest tree species on Earth, widely distributed throughout China, and an important herb in traditional Chinese medicine.

Nature & Taste
Sweet, bitter, astringent, neutral
MeridianEnters Lung, Heart meridians
Used PartLeaves and seeds
Holy Basil
Holy BasilCalming

Ocimum sanctum

Holy Basil is a traditional Indian herb with stress-relieving, antioxidant, and immune-boosting properties. Known as the King of Herbs, it holds an important position in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions.

Nature & Taste
Pungent, warm
MeridianEnters Lung, Spleen, Liver meridians
Used PartLeaves
Dandelion
DandelionHeat-Clearing

Taraxacum mongolicum

Dandelion is a commonly used medicinal herb known for its dual role as food and medicine. It has heat-clearing, detoxifying, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Widely distributed across China, it is an important herb in traditional Chinese medicine for clearing heat and toxins.

Nature & Taste
Bitter, Sweet, Cold
MeridianLiver, Stomach
Used PartWhole Plant
Hawthorn
HawthornDigestive

Crataegus pinnatifida

Hawthorn is a commonly used digestive herb with properties that aid digestion, promote blood circulation, and support cardiovascular health. Widely distributed in northern China, it is an important herb in traditional Chinese medicine for digestive and cardiovascular wellness.

Nature & Taste
Sour, Sweet, Slightly Warm
MeridianSpleen, Stomach, Liver
Used PartFruit
Sweet Wormwood
Sweet WormwoodHeat-Clearing

Artemisia annua

Sweet Wormwood is an important antimalarial herb containing artemisinin. It has heat-clearing, fever-reducing, and anti-inflammatory properties. Widely distributed across China, it is a crucial herb in traditional Chinese medicine for treating malaria, recognized with a Nobel Prize.

Nature & Taste
Bitter, Pungent, Cold
MeridianLiver, Gallbladder
Used PartAerial Parts