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.

373 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	69
Liver	199
Lung	144
Pericardium	7
Small Intestine	21
Spleen	115
Stomach	135
Triple Heater	5
Urinary Bladder	43

Some Herbs To Peruse...

Lu Jiao Jiao Deer Antler Glue

Tonifies kidney yang - low energy, fertility issues.
Tonifies kidney essence - impotence, fertility, low sperm count
Stops bleeding - blood in the stools, excessive menstruation, blood in the urine

Functional Grouping

Herbs That Tonify Yang

Properties

Channels Influenced

Lu Jiao Jiao

Kun Bu Kelp

Reduces phlegm, softens hardness - nodules in the neck, fullness in the chest due to phlegm.
Promotes urination, reduces swelling - lower extremity edema (adjunctive herb).

Functional Grouping

Herbs That Cool and Transform Phlegm Heat

Properties

Channels Influenced

Kun Bu

Yin Yang Huo Arial Parts of Epimedium, Horny Goat Weed

Tonify kidney yang - impotence, spermatorrhea, frequent urination, poor memory, painful and cold lower back and knees.
Expel wind-damp, cold - spasms, cramps, joint pain, numbness in limbs.
Strengthen yin and yang, harnesses liver yang rising - dizziness, low back pain, irregular menses from liver and kidneys and subsequent liver yang rising.

Functional Grouping

Herbs That Tonify Yang

Properties

Channels Influenced

Yin Yang Huo

Lu Gen Reed Rhizome

Clears heat, generates fluids - heat patterns with high fever, irritability, thirst.
Clears lung heat - cough, thick yellow sputum.
Clears stomach heat - vomiting, belching.
Clears heat, diuretic - dark, scanty urine, xue lin, accompanied by thirst and irritability.
Encourages rashes to the surface - for febrile disease with rashes that are incompletely expressed.