TCM Herbs by Channel Influences

TCM Herbal Database - Materia Medica - Channels Influenced

Within Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbs are divided into many categorizations which help to ensure they are used effectively. Below you will find herbs categorized by the meridians, or channels, that the herbs will influence. When preparing formulas for a given condition you may use herbs that either effect a particular meridian or organ directly or herbs that will help lead the properties of other herbs into a particular channel.

For example, you may want an herbal formula that cools lung heat for a cough. You can use herbs that are directly cooling on the lungs or a combination of herbs that are cooling and have a strong influence on leading that property of the herbs to the lungs.

You may also use herbs to protect a certain channel or organ system from side effects of stronger herbs that you are using to treat a particular condition.

Listed below are the channels influenced along with the number of herbs within each meridian that are contained in our tcm herbal database.

375 TCM Herbs Listed By The Channels They Influence

Below is a table of the Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs categorized by the channels they influence. You may click on a channel to view the names and functions of each individual herb as well as to learn more about the channel influences. You may also view the herbs categorized by properties and functions.

Channel Influenced	Num of Herbs
Gall Bladder	22
Heart	85
Kidney	102
Large Intestine	71
Liver	200
Lung	145
Pericardium	7
Small Intestine	22
Spleen	117
Stomach	135
Triple Heater	5
Urinary Bladder	43

Some Herbs To Peruse...

Zhong Jie Feng Sarcandra Herb

Clears heat and Cools Blood, removes skin spots/purpura, rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic injury.

Functional Grouping

Herbs That Cool The Blood

Properties

Channels Influenced

Zhong Jie Feng

Qu Mai Dianthus

Clears damp heat, promotes urination, unblocks lin syndrome - for any lin, especially xue lin.
Breaks up blood stasis - amenorrhea due to blood stasis.
Unblocks the bowels - constipation.

Functional Grouping

Herbs That Drain Dampness

Properties

Channels Influenced

Qu Mai

Gui Zhi Cinnamon Twig

Releases muscle layer and adjusts ying and wei qi levels
Useful in wind-cold-damp bi syndromes to warm channels and disperse cold
Resolves blood stagnation particularly from cold - dysmenorrhea
Unblocks yang qi in the chest - shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations
Resolve edema and accumulation of cold phlegm

Functional Grouping

Herbs That Release The Exterior Wind Cold

Properties

Channels Influenced

Gui Zhi

Su Mu Sappan Wood

Invigorate blood, reduce swelling - post partum abdominal pain, amenorrhea, pain and swelling due to trauma.
Stops bleeding - excessive post partum bleeding with vertigo and shortness of breath.