Herbs That Regulate Qi

Herbs that regulate Qi are generally used to treat stagnated Qi which occurs in the organs due to some sort of blockage.  This type of stagnation usually represents itself as chest pain or abdomen pain.  There are 3 types of Qi stagnation which these herbs can help.

Middle burner or spleen and stomach Qi stagnation can be distinguished as epigastric and abdominal distention with pain, belching, vomiting, gas and acid regurgitation.

The second type of Qi stagnation is liver Qi stagnation.  Liver Qi stagnation represents itself as pain in the chest and flanks, loss of appetite, depression or irritability and possibly hernia pain.

The last type of stagnation is Lung Qi stagnation.  Lung Qi stagnation will have the symptoms of coughing, wheezing, difficult breathing and a possible distention in the chest.

All these herbs are usually cooked for the last 5 minutes in a decoction due to their aromatic and light properties.

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Chen Pi

Properties: PUNGENT, BITTER  – WARM, AROMATIC

Dosage: 3 – 9g.

Aged

Meridian: LUNG, SPLEEN, STOMACH

Tangerine Peel   -regulate stomach Qi, invigorates spleen Qi

-dry damp, transform phlegm

-prevents stagnation

Qing Pi

Properties: BITTER, PUNGENT  – WARM

Dosage: 3 – 9g.

Green Meridian: GALLBLADDER, LIVER, STOMACH

Tangerine Peel   -liver Qi stagnation, mastitis/hypochondriac pain/irritable

-dissipates lumps (nodules), reduces food stagnation

-raise blood pressure

*Do Not Use with Qi deficiency

Zhi Shi

Properties: PUNGENT, BITTER  – COOL

Dosage: 3 – 9g.

Immature Bitter

Meridian: LARGE INTESTINE, SPLEEN, STOMACH

Orange

-break up Qi stagnation, reduce accumulations

-transform phlegm, expel focal distention – abdominal pain, indigestion, constipation

-used with Qi tonifying herbs for prolapse of organs

 -raise blood pressure

Xiang Fu

Properties: PUNGENT, BITTER, SWEET  – NEUTRAL

Dosage: 4.5 – 12g.

Nut Grass Meridian: LIVER, SAN JIAO

Rhizome -spreads and regulates Qi , soothes Liver

-regulates menses, alleviates pain

Mu Xiang

Properties: PUNGENT, BITTER  – WARM

Dosage: 1.5 – 9g

Costus Meridian: GALLBLADDER, LARGE INTESTINE, SPLEEN, STOMACH

Root -promote movement of Qi, alleviate pain (ST&AB Pain), TENESMUS

-reg. Stagnated Qi in intestines, clears damp heat

-Jaundice, Dysentery, Diarrhea

-strengthen spleen, digestive disorders

Xie Bai

Properties: PUNGENT, BITTER  – WARM

Dosage: 4.5 – 9g

Chive Bulb

Meridian: LARGE INTESTINE, LUNG, STOMACH

FRESH – 30-60g.

-unblock Yang Qi in chest due to cold phlegm, disperse cold phlegm

-promote movement of Qi & Blood, alleviate pain – upper jiao

-direct Qi downward, reduce stagnation

Wu Yao

Properties: PUNGENT  – WARM

Dosage: 3 – 9g.

Lindera Root

Meridian: BLADDER, KIDNEY, LUNG, SPL.EEN

-promote movement of Qi, alleviate pain, Lower Jiao

-abdominal pain, hernia, menses pains

-warm kidney – stop enuresis & urine frequency

Chuan Lian Zi

Properties: BITTER  – COLD  – TOXIC

Dosage: 3 – 9g.

Jin Ling Zi

Meridian: BLADDER, LIVER, SMALL INTESTINE

Pagoda Tree Fruit            -promote movement of Qi, clear heat (liver/stomach), stop pain

-kills parasites, stop pain

Chen Xiang

Properties: PUNGENT, BITTER  – WAR, AROMATIC

Dosage: 1.5 – 3g.

Aloeswood Meridian: KIDNEY, SPLEEN, STOMACH

-promote movement of Qi, alleviate pain, upper and middle burner

-stomach pain with nausea/vomit, direct rebellious Qi downward

– helps kidney grasp Qi

-With Rou Chong Rong = constipation due to kidney deficiency

Zhi Ke (Qiao)

Properties: BITTER  – COOL

Dosage:1.5 – 4.5g.

Mature Bitter Orange Meridian: SPLEEN, STOMACH

-move Qi, reduce distention with deficiency

Fo Shou

Properties: PUNGENT, BITTER  – WARM

Dosage: 3 – 9g.

Finger Citron Fruit Meridian LIVER, LUNG, STOMACH, SPLEEN

-regulate soothe liver Qi – rib pain and distention, belching

-harmonize stomach, strengthen spleen – epigastric pain and distention, lack of appetite, belching vomiting

-dries damp, transform phlegm – chronic cough with phlegm and chest pain

Li Zhi He

Properties: SWEET, ASTRINGENT  – WARM

Dosage: 6 – 15g.

Leechee Nut

Meridian: LIVER, STOMACH

-regulate Qi, stop pain – abdominal pain, PMS pain, postpartum pain

-disperse cold and stagnation – hernia and testicular pain

Shi Di

Properties: BITTER, ASTRINGENT  – NEUTRAL

Dosage: 6 – 12g.

Persimmon Calyx Meridian LUNG, STOMACH

-direct stomach Qi down – stop hiccup and belching

Tan Xiang

Properties: PUNGENT  – WARM, AROMATIC

Dosage: 3 – 9g.

Sandalwood Meridian LUNG, SPLEEN, STOMACH

Powder  1.5 – 3g.

-promote Qi movement, alleviate pain – chest and abdomen pain

Da Fu Pi

Properties: PUNGENT   – WARM

Dosage: 6 – 9g.

Areca Peel

Meridian LARGE INTESTINE, SMALL INTESTINE, SPLEEN, STOMACH (Betel Husk) -promote downward movement of Qi, reduce food stagnation – epigastric and abdominal distention, belching, acid regurgitation, constipation -expel damp, promote urination – edema, damp in stomach and intestines