
The Herbal Haiku

A Materia Medica of Chinese Medicine and Haiku

_  
_Alexander Lucksmith

Copyright © 2015 by Alexander L. Pieroni

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof  
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

The information herein is for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Consult a licensed health care practitioner if seeking diagnosis or treatment. As Doc said "the doctor who treats himself is twice the fool".

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing, May 2015  
Pigeonpine Press

Visis HerbalHaiku.com and Pigeonpine.com

Note for E-readers: This book was designed and published as a print volume. Some changes were made to accommodate as many e-readers as possible including the removal of illustrations. This book is also currently enrolled in the Kindle MatchBook program granting anyone who purchased a physical copy through Amazon a complementary e-reader version as well.
To my friends on the other side:

Doc the Acupuncturist  
Baisao and Steve, the Tea Sellers  
Grandma the Librarian
Notes about this edition

You know those carved roadside sculptures of bears? The ones made out of old logs carved with a chainsaw. Their usually sold in the same places where you can buy Styrofoam tubs of nightcrawlers and beef jerky in tobacco chew canisters. Standing in a loose group underneath the price of diesel and phone cards, as if they were about to have a reunion photo taken. Some grinning with buck teeth, holding a salmon trophy aloft, some majestic and pastoral, and some so roughly cut that only imagination and sentimentality keep them from becoming kindling. That is what this book is; a family of pinewood ursa beaming with hope and pride by the highway onramp. Maybe in the future I'll have a lacquer of proper grammar and a gallery that doesn't also sell TruckNuts and nachos. But until then, you can find me covered in woodchips, smelling like labor, trying to carve my goofy smile into a hunk of wood.

If you know me personally, think of this book as my proxy. I might not be there in person to make you tea and tinctures, but you will always have me in stories. Hopefully I'll end up in your glovebox or carry-on bag as a passenger on your next journey. If you don't know me, by the time you finish this book I am sure we will be fast friends and I'm looking forward to the adventures we will surely have.

With love across the oceans,

Alex "Lucksmith" Pieroni
Introduction

My very first book on herbs and their uses is still one of my favorites. Gregory Tilford's Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West. It was not purchased for me and I'm not sure where it came from. In my mind it is one of those household goods that has no origin and is never replace, like an heirless heirloom. Whatever its origins, it came with me every weekend when we would head into the foothills outside of Denver. Fishing only yielded fish, and rock-hounding only yielded rocks, but plants could do anything. There were bluebells that tasted like oysters, groundcover with a crunch like a cucumber, and Shooting Stars with a tasty root, yet so small they did not "justify the death of these beautiful plants. I still have the same copy I've had since I was a kid. Every rip and fold only adding to how precious it is. Between the last page and the back cover is a stained imprint of what I swear still smells like yarrow.

I only trusted my amateur harvesting skills so much. When a book warns you that angelica root and water hemlock look nearly identical, you learn to avoid anything with a while umbrella of flowers. Luckily Denver, being in close proximity to the patchouli scented streets of Boulder, had enough natural grocers to supply me with all the herbs I needed. One particular grocer, now part of a much larger chain, had so many bins and tubs of plant parts that I had to find a new compendium to go with my travel-worn Tilford. I tried on a few different books, but like a good pair of shoes, you know the right thing when you see it. For me, it was a $3 copy of John Lust's "The Herb Book". Hundreds of herbs, dozens of formulas, recipes, dyes, lifestyle tips. This book brought herbalism from a weekend pastime to an aspirational lifestyle. At 15, with poor grades and a long-term plan of "graduate and move to a monastery in Japan", this became a lifeline to a less robe-wearing future.

To be honest, it is a future I am still reaching for. After high school I followed a watercourse of change, and not often as a willing participant. Half way through college, I was getting antsy to get my hands back into bins of herbs. This time, I wanted to be on the side of the register that did not have me depositing my paycheck in exchange for plants. A too brief apprenticeship with the first registered Acupuncturist in Colorado opened a door for me that I will never forget. A door to a 600 square foot dispensary at the front of a Chinese medicine college in a bad part of town that I look back on as paradise. While I wasn't a student, I got to learn about the structures and mechanism that move the cosmic machines of Oriental medicine. I had walls of herbs and things we called herbs but were really bugs, rocks, and pieces of people all at my tasting disposal. I also had a library of professors from Yellow Emperors to Divine Farmers who all taught me so much. I did have two teachers in particular that I took classes with nearly every day. One was Chinese Natural Cures by Henry Lu and the other the Materia Medica by Dan Bensky. Two teachers I have never met in person with two different learning styles, both of which contributed greatly to this book and to my overall satisfaction with life.

Maybe hand in hand with my love for herbs and Chinese medicine is my love for haiku and renga. Like my herbal field guide, I am not sure where my passion for haiku came from. I suspect a 2nd grade poetry assignments and a gold star sticker may have something to do with it. Whatever the origin, I loved the puzzle of trying to condense thunderstorms into droplets that make the reader exclaim "it's raining!" Along with Kerouac's "Dharma Bums", Faubion Bower's haiku anthology is the only other book I take with me while traveling. Scrawled on its yellowing margins are dozens of haiku written from airplanes over Kyoto, in rest stops along I-25, and corporate hotel rooms in downtown Atlanta.

At the top of each entry in this book is the Pinyin name of the herb, aligned to the page edge for easy reference. Following that are the common English names, the Japanese Kampo name, and the Latin name. The next section, marked in italics, are the qualities and organ channels associated with the herb. Below that are a jumble of words that may or may not have anything to do with anything, but are generally arranged in what I intend to be a pleasing pattern. I've named this truncated renga a "san-ku". If you say it fast enough, "san-ku" sounds like "thank you" with a bit of an accent, which is exactly the feeling I want to express to these herbs, and to you dear reader. Wherever you find this book, I hope it inspires you find the same adventures, aspirations, and education that made its creation possible.

Index of Subjects

Herbs That Regulate the Qi

Herbs That Anchor the Spirit

Herbs That Clear Heat and Dry Dampness

Herbs That Clear Heat and Relieve Toxicity

Aromatic Herbs That Transform Dampness

Herbs For External Applications

Herbs That Cool and Transform Phlegm Heat

Herbs That Cool the Blood

Herbs That Dispel Wind Dampness

Herbs That Drain Dampness

Herbs That Drain Downward

Herbs That Drain Fire

Herbs That Expel Parasites

Herbs That Extinguish Wind and Stop Tremors

Herbs That Invigorate Blood

Herbs That Nourish the Heart and Calm the Spirit

Herbs That Open Orifices

Herbs That Release the Exterior Wind Cold

Herbs That Release Exterior Wind Heat

Herbs That Relieve Coughing and Wheezing

Herbs That Relieve Food Stagnation

Herbs That Stabilize and Bind

Herbs That Stop Bleeding

Herbs That Tonifies Blood

Herbs That Tonifies Qi

Herbs That Tonify Yang

Herbs That Tonifies Yin

Herbs That Transform Phlegm Cold

Herbs That Warm the Interior and Expel Cold

# Herbs That Regulate the Qi
## Chen Pi

### Aged Tangerine peel  
陳皮 (Chinpi)  
Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm, Aromatic  
LU, SP, ST

• Regulates and descends Qi, improves transportive function in the middle Jiao, and relieves the diaphragm

• Dries dampness and transforms phlegm

• Prevents stagnation from tonic herbs

At the library  
I see myself a bookworm  
eating all I smell

A bookshelf of vintages  
words ageing to perfection

Ink, paper, and glue  
bound intoxication  
gourmet information

## Chen Xiang

### Eaglewood, Aloeswood, Aquilaria  
沈香 (Jinko)  
Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm, Aromatic  
KI, SP, ST

• Promotes the movement of Qi and alleviates pain

• Directs rebellious Qi downward, removes cold, warms the middle Jiao, and stops vomiting

• Helps the kidneys grasp Qi and increases kidney warmth

In summer, hidden  
in the winter, revealed  
the eagles nest

It makes its home where it will  
and no one dares disturb it

Talons and freedom  
It is the perfect symbol  
of our native land

## Chuan Lian Zi

### Sichuan Pagoda Tree, Sichuan Chinaberry, Melia  
Fructus Toosendan

##### Bitter, Cold, Slightly Toxic  
BL, LIV, SI, ST

• Promotes the movement of Qi, dredges liver QI, guides out heat, and stops pain

• Clears heat, dries dampness, regulates qi, alleviates pain due to damp-heat stagnant qi

• Kills parasites and fungus and stops pain

1 p.m., wedding  
at 3 p.m., funeral  
6p.m., church

Shepard should be a title  
like minister or servant

My old reverend;  
a container for talents  
Swiss-army person

## Da Fu Pi

### Betel husk  
大腹皮 (Daifukuhi)  
Pericarpium Arecae

##### Spicy, Slightly Warm  
LI, SI, SP, ST

• Promotes the downward movement of Qi and relaxes the middle Jiao

• Expels damp, promotes urination and reduces edema

High schooler's party  
I'm acting conspicuous  
sipping from my flask

No one else needs to know   
that I filled it with water

I wonder who else  
is smoking oregano  
and popping Red-Hots 

## Fo Shou

### Finger Citron, Buddha's Hand Fruit  
Fructus Citri Sarcodactylis

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm  
LI, LU, ST, SP

• Regulates and soothes liver Qi

• Harmonizes the stomach, strengthens the spleen, and dries dampness

• Regulates lung QI and transforms phlegm

A hand that reaches  
tree to the farmer  
a hand that reaches

So much love he has for us  
stretching forward from the green

I'm hesitating...  
To chop the fingers from god  
to garnish my tea...

## Li Zhi He

### Lychee nut  
Semen Litchi

##### Sweet, Warm  
LIV, ST

• Regulates the Qi and stops pain

• Disperses cold and stagnation, especially in the liver

With a single mind  
he prepares the herb I seek  
Hurls it from the tree

I wish I could understand  
all the words you are saying

closed for winter  
your wood-paneled office  
is littered with shells

## Mei Gui Hua

### Asian Rosebud  
Flos Rosae Rugosae

##### Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Warm  
LIV, SP

• Promotes the movement of Qi and relieves stagnation

• Promotes the movement of Qi, harmonizes the blood, clears stasis, and regulates menstruation

• Soothes the liver, eases pain, and dries diarrhea

In 29 years  
I've never played so long  
until I met you

I spilled my tea  
when you told me I had a godson

We're hunting ghosts  
with flashlights and stickers  
endless poltergeists 

## Mu Xiang

### Saussurea, Costus Root  
木香 (Mokko)  
Radix Aucklandiae

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm  
GB, LI, SP, ST

• Promotes the movement of Qi and alleviates pain

• Regulates stagnated Qi in the intestines

• Clears damp heat and harmonizes liver and spleen

• Strengthens the spleen and prevents stagnation

Bacon turn to wood  
a container of slices  
the apothecary wall

Every time I portion you  
I think myself a butcher

Hunger quenched  
with a tea made of breakfasts  
Medicine as food

## Qing Pi

### Blue Citrus, Unripe Tangerine peel  
Pericarpium Citri Reticulate Viride

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm  
GB, LIV, ST

• Spreads liver Qi and breaks up stagnation

• Reduces food stagnation and accumulations

• Dries dampness and transforms phlegm

Abrasive flavor  
Wincing from my harsh treatment  
from a tiny dry medic

Resetting dislocation  
is a violent affair

Soft words and aspirin  
are of almost no comfort  
when I'm unconscious

## Shi Di

### Kaki, Persimmon calyx  
Calyx Kaki

##### Bitter, Astringent, Neutral  
LU, ST

• Descends stomach Qi downward

My heart in my throat  
I see an Edo geisha   
and my hiccups stop

Her white face a reflection  
of my past and future lives

Who does she become  
layers of silk on the floor,  
Netflix on TV

## Tan Xiang

### Sandalwood, Chandana  
Santanlum album

##### Spicy, Warm, Aromatic  
LU, SP, ST

• Promotes Qi movement, harmonizes the middle Jiao, and softens pain

• Dispels cold, clears blood stagnation, and improves digestion

Indra makes footwear  
that carries us from this world   
on fragrant cushions

they are neither soft nor hard  
but provide perfect support

I would burn my shoes  
to perfume the heavens  
with the wood from my soul

## Wu Yao

### Lindera Root  
烏薬 (Uyaku)  
Radix Linderae

##### Spicy, Warm  
BL, KI, LU, SP

• Promotes the movement of Qi, alleviates pain

• Warms the kidneys and disperses cold

The friendly stallion  
Letting go of the reins   
it ran for the fence

I would have been excited   
but I lost my grip on life

In my tai chi class  
I get another chance  
and enjoy the ride

## Xiang Fu

### Nut-Grass, Purple Nutsedge Root  
香附 (Kobushi)  
Rhizoma Cyperi

##### Slightly Bitter, Slightly Sweet, Spicy, Neutral  
GB, LIV, TB,

• Spreads and regulates liver Qi

• Regulates menstruation alleviates pain

I once met a man:  
little personality,  
and was friends with all

Everyone likes listeners  
except for other listeners

Proofreading my words   
is infinity harder  
then creating them 

## Xie Bai

### Chives, Chinese Garlic  
Bulbus Allii Macrostemi

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm  
LI, LU, ST

• Unblocks the Yang Qi, clears turbidness, and disperses phlegm

• Promotes the movement of Qi and Blood, alleviates pain, and disperses hardness

• Directs Qi downward, reduces stagnation, and dries diarrhea

From the dim sum cart  
we get single syllables  
while others get names

25 visits later  
we get an introduction

Yet when I bring guests  
they assume I will translate  
and call them by name

## Zhi Ke

### Bitter Orange  
枳殻 (Kikoku)  
Fructus Aurantii

##### Bitter, Spicy, Slightly Cold  
SP, ST, LI

• Moves Qi, reduce distention, eases pressure, and softens hardess

My high school heartthrob  
a cynical girl  
who wore orange underwear

it's like I knew a secret,  
sunrise behind storm clouds

one time the day broke  
and I said it wasn't bright  
never saw the sun again

## Zhi Shi

### Unripe Bitter Orange  
枳実 (Kijitsu)  
Fructus Aurantii Immaturus

##### Bitter, Spicy, Cool  
LI, SP, ST

• Breaks up Qi stagnation, reduces accumulations, and transforms phlegm

• Directs qi downward, removes stagnant food, and unblocks bowels.

No matter how fun  
it only takes one asshole  
to make things shitty

So we thought of the bouncer  
who cut us off from more wine

Don't give me coffee  
I just want to hear the song  
of the cicada

# Herbs That Anchor the Spirit
## Ci Shi

### Lodestone  
Magnetitum

##### Spicy, Salty, Cold  
KI, LIV

• Anchors liver Yang and calms the spirit

• Enrich the kidneys and liver

• Helps kidneys to grasp Qi

Drawing all inward  
Drawing up courage and strength  
Drawing out true self

Place a lodestone in my heart,  
I am attracted to you

Daylight's morning blade  
made in Ise to cut through  
the velvet of night

## Hu Po

### Amber  
Succinum

##### Sweet, Neutral  
BL, HRT, LIV

• Stops tremors and palpitations, calm the spirit.

• Invigorates the blood, dissipate stasis, and unblocks the menses.

• Promotes and unblocks urination

• Reduce swellings and promote healing

Ancient sap, tiger soul.  
All fears departs the body  
and falls to the ground.

The amber resin sutra   
takes a million years to chant

No one sings that song  
since the ancients converted  
to builder's lumber

## Long Gu and Long Qi

### Dragon's Bones and Dragon's Teeth  
竜骨 Ryukotsu  
Fossilia Mastodi

##### _Sweet, Astringent, Neutral  
Long Gu_ __

##### _: HRT, LIV, KI  
Long Chi_ __

#####  : HRT, LIV

• Calms the spirit and eases anxiety

• Calms the liver and anchors floating Yang

• Prevents leakage of fluids due to deficiency

• Topically for non-healing sores and ulcers.

Ancient teeth and bones  
Transforms the timid rabbit  
into a dragon

Did you hear about the carp?  
He goes by the name Ryu

An old lady grinds  
Her age becomes a number  
Tiny to ancients

## Mu Li

### Oyster Shell  
牡蠣 Borei  
Concha Ostreae

##### Salty, Astringent, Cool  
KI, LIV

• Strongly anchors the spirit

• Benefits the Yin, anchors floating Yang, and calms the liver

• Prevents leakage of fluids

• Absorbs acidity and pain in the stomach

A thousand sea shells  
crash upon the soiled beach  
and drag the filth down

The most humbles of cravings   
A drop of the ocean's life

The shell cuts my lip  
Salt mixes with blood and spit  
I swallow the mess

## Zhen Zhu

### Pearl  
Margarita

##### Sweet, Salty, Cold  
HRT, LIV

• Sedates the heart and calms tremor and palpitations.

• Clears the liver and clears small visual obstructions.

• Promotes healing and generates flesh.

Drops of purity  
washes heat from the surface  
of my skin and heart

The vain dissolve it in wine  
Cannot undue what's been done

Sometimes it's the "truth"  
of what we perceive as real  
that clouds our vision

## Zhu Sha

### Cinnabar

##### Sweet, Cool, Very Toxic  
HRT

• Sedates the heart and calms the spirit

• Clears phlegm and sedates nervous movement

• Clears heat and resolves toxicity topically

Fool's Ruby  
There is no life here  
only death

Call out to GogyoYama  
When the enemy rebels

Sometimes a mountain  
can crush a great enemy  
into a great friend

## Bai Bian Dou

### Hyacinth Bean  
Semen Lablab Album

##### Sweet, Neutral to Slightly Warm  
SP, ST

• Clears summer heat and Dampness.

• Strengthens the spleen

• Treats overindulgence in food or alcohol

A night on the town  
Filled with street food and liquor  
Is nursed by a bean

I drink an extra bottle  
Knowing at home, a nursemaid

Toilet bowel prayers;  
I question my punishment  
A beer tips over

## He Ye

### Lotus Leaf  
Folium Nelumbinis

##### Bitter, Slightly Sweet, Neutral  
HRT, LIV, SP

• Treats summer heat

• Raises and clears the spleen Yang, especially after summer heat

• Stops bleeding in the lower Jiao

_Upon the 8_ th _leaf  
Sits the Medicine Buddha  
who lends you his chair

I ask you to clear my heat  
I ask you to wrap my rice

Humbleness exists  
when the flower is unplucked  
and the leaf is pulled _

## Lu Dou

### Mung Bean  
Semen Phaseoli Radiati

##### Sweet, Cold  
HRT, ST

• Clears summer heat and quenches thirst.

• Clears heat and toxins

• Prevents overheating

• Antidote to Fu Zi (Aconite).

A wise man once said  
"Sprouted Mung Beans give me life,  
but they smell like death"

If you care what you smell like  
then your nose becomes your eyes

Sunny solitude  
In a flower field I play  
No one eats a skunk

## Qing Hao

### Sweet Wormwood  
Artemisiae Annuae

##### Bitter, Cold  
KI, LIV, GB

• Clears summer heat

• Clears blood or Yin deficient fever

• Cools the blood and stops bleeding

• Stops malarial disorders and clears liver heat

Pliny's bitter gift  
"Health is an honorable prize"  
Artemisiae

I see no yellow halo  
and Van Gogh turns up his nose

Not all falling stars  
signal the end of the world,  
Perseid's herald

## Xi Gua

### Watermellon  
Fructus Citrulli

##### Sweet, Bland, Cold  
BL, HRT, ST

• Clears summer heat and generates fluids

• Promotes urination and removes jaundice

• Cools lung and stomach heat

_Under the noon sun  
I bite the red flesh  
and spit out the seeds

There is no manual labor  
that Xi Gua_ _cannot afford

My heart is grateful  
Even my empty wallet  
does not ask for more_

# Herbs That Clear Heat and Dry Dampness
## Huang Bai

### Phellodendron Bark  
黄柏 ōbaku  
Cortex Phellodendri

##### Bitter, Cold  
BL, KI

• Drains damp heat in lower Jiao

• Drains kidney Fire with kidney Yin deficiency

• Drains Fire and heat toxicity

• Can be toasted to decrease bitter and cold qualities

Ōbaku Bark.  
For the thrifty and the wise  
a panacea

Sometimes we reach for silver  
when simple iron will do

A house built with wood  
Moves with the wind and earthquake  
while palaces fall

## Huang Lian

### Coptis Root  
黄連 Ouren  
Rhizoma Coptidis

##### Bitter, Cold  
HRT, LI, LIV, ST

##### Clears Heat and drains damp

• Drains Fire and related toxicities

• Clears heat and stops bleeding

• Calms heart and stomach fire

Cold and dry at heart,  
yet grows in the damp and humid.  
A Coloradan in Oregon

This land is much more fertile  
for yucca and juniper

Ask Brother Yellow  
when he finishes plowing  
what crops you should sew

## Huang Qin

### Scute, Skullcap Root  
黄芩 Ougon  
Radix Scutellariae

##### Bitter, Cold  
LU, ST, GB, LI

• Clears heat, drains fire, detoxifies, and dries damp

• Clears heat and stops bleeding

• Clears heat and calms the fetus

• Calms liver Yang rising

Yellow Aspirin,  
your nine functions are hidden  
behind bitter taste

A teacher shows discipline  
Rigid reeds stand together

Merciless doctor  
may leave a hole in my heart  
but not in my chest 

## Ku Shen

##### Sophora, Pagoda Tree Root  
苦参 Kujin  
Radix Sophorae Flavescentis

##### Bitter, Cold  
BL, HRT, LI, LIV, ST, SI

• Clears heat and dries dampness

• Kills parasites, stops wind and itching

• Clears heat and promotes urination

Little Pagodas,  
crafted by a master's hand  
munched on by a cow

Masters build gifts to the world   
The cow is just as grateful

At Kobo's Tō-ji  
I remember meeting  
a refreshing man

## Long Dan Cao

### Chinese Gentian Root  
竜胆 Ryu Tan  
Radix Gentianae

##### Bitter, Cold  
GB, LIV, ST

• Drains damp heat from the liver and gallbladder

• Clears excessive liver fire

And you, looking up  
with Azalea and Primula  
The three king flowers

Hidden in the violet,  
A fire-eating serpent

Purple ground dragon  
Your gentleness bites my wrath  
and drags it downward 

## Qin Pi

### Korean Ash, Fraxinus Bark  
Cortex Fraxini

##### Bitter, Astringent, Cold  
GB, LI, LIV

• Drains damp-heat

• Drains liver fire

• Clears wind-damp

Generous parents  
The olive and the lilac  
rear a kind child

A staff made of ask tree Bark  
will support a lot of weight

To ones spitting flames  
A patient man will listen;  
extinguishing ears 

# Herbs That Clear Heat and Relieve Toxicity
## Bai Hua She She Cao

### Hedyotis, Oldenlandia  
Hedyotis Diffusae

##### Bitter, Sweet, Cold  
LI, LIV, SI, ST

• Clears heat, strongly relieve fire toxicity, reduces abscess

• Clears heat and promotes urination

Awaiting his death  
He mentions Oldenlandia  
and sews seeds of life

His soul is made fireproof  
on a hedyotis throne

Do you value herbs  
more than the lives they save  
Apothecary

## Bai Tou Weng

### Pulsatilla, Asian Pasqueflower Root  
Radix Pulsatillae

##### Bitter, Cold  
LI, ST

• Clears heat and relieves fire toxicity

• Stops fluid damage from heat

• Good substitute for Goldenseal

In April we hunt  
for what others have left us  
painted and waiting

The purple Pulsatilla  
Only serves sight in the west

No eggs left to find   
And none left to be hidden   
Empty nest syndrome

## Bai Xing Pi

### Chinese Dittany Root   
Cortex Dictamn

##### Bitter, Cold  
LI, ST

• Clears heat and relieves fire toxicity

• Expels wind and dries dampness

• Clears damp heat and stops itching

In the Gas Plant's heart   
is a tonic for the skin,  
guarded by odor

The burning bush of the East   
grows far from Moses' Horeb

A small cosmic joke,  
that they could speak to Yahweh  
through this stinking shrub

## Ban Lan Gen

### Isatis, Indigo Woad Root  
Radix Isatis

##### Bitter, Cold  
HRT, LU, ST

• Drains heat and relieves fire toxicity

• Cools the blood

• Benefits the throat.

• Grows in Colorado through Oregon

I always felt cool  
in a sea of indigo.  
Middle school denim

No one saw me in khaki  
I stood out by blending in

I lost only fear  
in my awkward camouflage  
A lawn made of blades

## Ban Zhi Lian

### Bearded Scutellaria, Barbed Skullcap Root  
Herba Scutellariae Barbatae

##### Spicy, Slightly Bitter, Cool  
LIV, LU, ST

• Clears heat, relieves fire toxicity

• Invigorates the blood and reduces swelling

• Reduces edema and promotes urination

I have a feeling   
he would have shown us the herb  
after the gallows

Knowledge does not disappear  
It simply goes back to sleep

Cosmic library  
I look through your card index   
and long for Google

## Chuan Xin Lian

### Andrographis, Kalamegha  
Andrographis paniculata

##### Bitter, Cold  
LI, LU, SI, ST

• Clears heat and relieves fire toxicity

• Dries dampness and stops diarrhea

• Cools the blood and resolves phlegm

Sometimes wisdom hides  
in the bitter mouth of an ass  
whispers in the brays

Slip some mint to the donkey  
And let its yammers refresh

Who knows what burdens  
Sapped the strength from the stallion  
and broke the camel's back

## Da Qing Ye

### Indigo, Isatis Leaf  
Folium Isatidis

##### Bitter, Salty, Very Cold, Slightly Toxic  
HRT, LU, ST

• Clears heat and relieves toxicity

• Cools the blood and dissipates eruptions

• Clears heart, lung, and stomach heat toxins

Once, at 3am  
I broke out the clothing dye  
Drunk in Tokyo

From the backyard bamboo grove  
I call arashi shibori

Hyaka-en twine wrapped  
Wikipedia tells me  
How to make it rain

## Hong Teng

### Sargentodoxa Vine  
Caulis Sargentodoxa

##### Bitter, Neutral  
LI, LIV

##### Clears heat, relieves toxicity, and reduces abscesses

##### Invigorates the blood, stops pain, and disperses stasis

Only in the hills  
do people know the secret  
of the carved vine

Making wooden fetishes  
from a pretty looking branch

I snap off an arm  
And chew on it reverently  
Medicine Buddha

## Jin Yin Hua

### Honeysuckle Flower, Woodbine  
金銀花 (kinginka)  
Flos Lonicerae

##### Sweet, Cold  
LI, LU, ST

• Clear heat, relieves fire toxicity

• Expells wind heat

• Clears damp heat from the lower Jiao

Innocent romance  
Honeysuckle perfume  
Spring is on a fling

The sweetness of a first date   
cools his toxic bitterness

When a heart is burned  
no ice can stop the damage  
It still longs for fire

## Lian Qiao

### Forsythia Fruit  
連翹, rengyo  
Fructus Forsythiae

##### Bitter, Slightly Spicy, Slightly Cool  
GB, HRT, LU

• Clear heat and toxins in the upper Jiao

• Reduces abscesses and swellings

• Clears blood heat

• Promotes urination

A golden bell rings  
Apothecary aside  
No one can hear it

I drink Lian Qlao tea  
and my voice rings like a bell

We make harmony  
With her sister, JIn Yin Hua  
and sell it for a song

## Ma Bo

### Puffball  
Lasiosphera

##### Spicy, Neutral  
LU

• Clears the lungs, relieves fire toxicity, and improves the throat

• Topically to stop bleeding, especially around the mouth

Smoke from the lawn's egg  
The Divine and his paintbrush  
shows us his humor

We pluck miracles from dirt  
And sauté them in butter

There is nothing wrong  
Layers of miracles  
Jawbreaker blessings 

## Ma Chi Xian

### Purslane  
Herba Portulacae

##### Sour, Cold  
LI, LIV

• Clears fire toxicity and cools the blood

• Clears damp heat and treats sores

• Antidote for wasp stings and snakebites.

It does not perish  
when its uprooted and dried  
A plant for pilgrims

Delicious in a salad  
I follow the rabbits way

Like a pilgrimage   
start slow and take a little  
Joy builds with patience

## Pu Gong Ying

### Dandelion  
蒲公英, hokoei  
Herba Taraxac

##### Bitter, Sweet, Cold  
LIV, ST

• Clears heat, relieves fire toxicity, and unblocks urination

• Dissipates nodules and reduces abscesses

• Promotes lactation - due to heat.

• Clears the liver and the eyes

Above emerald   
a golden lion roaring  
Common dandelion

They are not "Roundup Ready"  
No one is "Roundup Ready"

Sometimes I'm the sun  
Other times I am the moon  
Either way, I bloom

## Qing Dai

### Processed Indigo Leaf  
Indigo Naturalis

##### Salty, Cold  
LIV, LU, ST

• Cools the blood and reduces maculae

• Clears heat and resolves fire toxicity

• Drains liver fire and cools summer heat

• Clears liver wind fire and lung heat

A cube of twilight   
clears heat from the viscera  
And washes the sky

Fires burn out in the night  
Dark red cinders smoldering

He strikes wood on wood  
"Beware of fires, beware!"  
Mokuton alarm

## Ren Dong Teng

### Honeysuckle Vine Stem  
忍冬, nindo  
Caulis Lonicerae

##### Sweet, Cold  
LI, LU, ST

• Clears Heat and toxicity

• Dispels wind dampness and unblocks the channels

• Cools the blood

• Clears damp heat from the lower Jiao

• Expels wind heat

Deep in the rootstock  
A sunset is blooming  
to take away heat

Ignoring the twilight's horn  
I look to solemn sources

From brown and woody  
there is the slow seep of life  
And all things spring forth

## Shan Dou Gen

### Bushy Sophora, Pigeon-Pea Root  
Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis

##### Bitter, Cold, Slightly Toxic  
LI, LU

• Clears heat, relieves fire toxicity, improves throat

• Clears damp heat jaundice

Garbage collector  
Plucks leavings from the sidewalk  
Feathered uniform

Someone called them "flying rats"  
They need an AFSCME steward

Who could mistake them  
What once was known as "Rock Dove"  
is now detritus

## She Gan

### Blackberry Lilly Root  
Rhizoma Belamcandae

##### Bitter, Cold  
LU

• Clears heat, relieves toxicity, and improves the throat

• Transforms phlegm and clears the lungs

Did the leopard steal  
The pattern from this lily,  
or other way round

Maybe neither stole either   
and both admired both?

Like the lily root  
You diffuse my argument  
and clear my fever

## Tu Fu Ling

### Smilax, Smooth   
Greenbriar Rhizome  
土茯苓 (Dobukuryo)  
Rhizoma Smilacis Glabre

##### Sweet, Bland, Neutral  
LIV, ST

• Relieves toxicity and clears dampness

• Clears damp heat from the skin

• Promotes urination and clears lower Jiao heat

Dark Age's treasure  
Cousin of sarsaparilla  
humble earthen root

Once precious in rarity   
Now precious in your flavor

Essence of root beer  
You quench my thirst and clear heat  
One more, for the road

## Tu Niu Xi

### Tuniuxi Root  
Radix Achryanthis Longae

##### Bitter, Sour, Neutral  
LIV, KI

• Drains fire and relieves toxicity

• Clears heat toxin and heals abscesses and skin sores

• Invigorates blood and dissipates stasis

Treasure of Ganesh,  
Flower of two dozen names  
You bring forth great change

You spur us to move faster  
Devil's horsewhip at my feet

I don't have the heart  
to use you in the way  
a doctor could do

## Ya Dan Zi

### Bruceae Fruit  
Fructus Bruceae

##### Bitter, Cold, Toxic

• Clear heat and toxins, expels dampness, and cools the blood

• Treats intermittent malarial disorders and kills parasites

• Softens hardness

_Ya Dan Zi_ _  
sounds like a New York waiter  
asking "you done, sir?"

Rarely does a toxic plant  
Sound as toxic as its name

It softens hardness   
expels damp, cools the blood  
And makes me giggle_

## Ye Ju Hua

### Wild Chrysanthemum Flower  
Flos Chrysanthemi Indici

##### Bitter, Spicy, Cool  
LIV, LU

• Drains fire and relieves toxicity

_A barbarian,  
tightly curled fists not blooming  
Ye Ju Hua_ __ _

A cousin claims refinement  
Splayed out in garden troughs

A helpful neighbor  
With an ear for your gossip  
Flos chrysanthemi_

## Yu Xing Cao

### Hottuynia, Fishwort Herb  
Herba Hottuyniae

##### Spicy, Cool  
LI, LU

• Clears heat and toxins, reduces swellings and abscess

• Relieves toxicity and expels pus for toxic sores

• Drains damp-heat, promotes urination

A worn-down clinic   
open late on a Friday.  
Mud clam hides a pearl

Anointed badge of office;  
Tongue depressors and lab coat

A doctor gives faith   
by heating a stethoscope   
with warm even breath 

## Zi Hua Di Ding

### Violet, Earth Spike, Corydalis Bungeana  
Herba Violae

##### Spicy, Bitter, Cold  
HRT, LIV

• Clears heat and fire toxicity

• Clears hot sores internally and externally

• Assists in the treatment of snakebite

The spike of the Earth   
Steals venom from viper's fangs  
and turns it to dirt

A bouquet of violets  
take the sting out of her words

Nothing can stay hard  
in the face of such softness  
sumire yuri

# Aromatic Herbs That Transform Dampness
## Bai Dou Kou

### White Cardamom  
Fructus Amomi Rotundus

##### Warm, Aromatic, Acrid  
Lu, SP, ST

• Transforms Dampness

• Warms the middle

• Transforms stagnation in the chest

Pungent smelling white  
Soother of the middle jiao  
greasy feelings gone

Father in the spice aisle  
Matching mother's cooking

There is a flavor   
That perfumes all of her food  
Spiceless addition

## Cang Zhu

### Atractalodes  
蒼朮 Sojutsu  
Rhizoma Atractylodis

##### Spicy, Bitter, Warm, Aromatic  
ST, ST

• Strengthens Spleen and dries damp

• Clears bi-syndrome in extremities.

• Flushes damp-heat from lower burner

Herb like a bath robe;  
warming, cooling, and drying  
in the right places

Who puts on a big red robe   
When all one needs is a sip

Smells like ripened cheese  
From a land you can't visit  
This woody rootstock

## Cao Dou Kou

### Grass Cardamom, Katsumada Galangal   
Semen Alpiniae Katsumadai

##### Spicy, Warm, Aromatic  
SP, ST

• Dries dampness

• Warms the middle burner

• Strengthens the Spleen

Gently warms the spleen  
distention and stomach woes  
are carried away

What a name for piercing smell  
"Wild grass cardamom pods"

Growing in the hills  
Delightful discovery  
Cherished by children

## Cao Guo

### Tsaoko Fruit  
Fructus Amomi Tsaoko

##### Spicy, Aromatic, Warm  
SP, ST

• Strongly dries dampness and warms the middle Jiao

• Relives malarial symptoms

• Dissipates heat stagnation, distention, and phlegm

Pearls from the Devil.  
A gift that overcomes cold  
with a smell like hell

Embers in a fireplace  
Makes ice water look like tea

A smoky fire  
Drives away the mosquitos  
Drives in the campers

## Hou Po

### Magnolia Bark  
厚朴 Kobuku  
Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis

##### Bitter, Spicy, Aromatic, Warm  
LI, LU, SP, ST

• Resolves stagnation of Qi in the Middle Jiao

• Transforms phlegm and dries Damp.

• Descends Rebellious Qi

In the waxy green  
are flowers white like heaven  
but smell like brimstone

Amethysts and ivory  
I bring to you in bunches

I think of the South  
A place I have never been,  
Outside of airports 

## Pei Lan

### Orchid Grass  
Herba Eupatorii

##### Spicy, Neutral, Slightly Toxic  
SP, ST

• Transforms Damp and awakens the Spleen.

• Clears early summer heat and transforms damp.

• Clears turbidity in the middle Jiao

I seek relief from  
the rain of the summer sun  
in sheaves of tall grass

Filed away from the heat  
I sit inside, looking out

In the summer we beg  
for the relief we curse  
throughout the winter

## Sha Ren

### Cardamom, Grains of Paradise  
縮砂 (砂仁) Shukusha  
Fructus Amomi

##### Spicy, Aromatic, Warm  
SP, ST

• Moves Qi, Transforms Damp, Strengthens Spleen, and stops vomiting.

• Warms the middle, Stops Diarrhea.

• Prevents tonifying herbs from causing stagnation

Bright transforming herb  
excites the middle Jiao  
and calm the unborn

Moderating indulgence  
it keeps the party going

Guarding stomach's bar  
the aromatic bouncer;  
Grains of paradise

## Huo Xiang

### Patchouli  
藿香 Kakko  
Herba Agastaches

##### Spicy, Aromatic, slightly warm  
LU, SP, ST

• Dispels dampness, opens the doors, and relieves summer heat

• Harmonizes the Middle Jiao and eases vomiting.

• Treats fungal infections of the hands and feet.

A hippie's blessing:  
Relief from the sun sickness,  
nausea, and fungus

In a yellow Vanagon  
I see specters of the past

Hitching on bumpers   
manifold aspirations  
On sticky paper

# Herbs For External Applications
## Ban Mao

### Chinese Blister Beetle   
斑猫 Hanmyo  
Mylabris

##### Spicy, Cold, Very Toxic  
LI, LIV, SI

• Attack toxins and softens sores

• Breaks apart clumps and blood stasis

• Causes blistering and strong movement on the skin

A pain for everyone  
that gives hope to many.  
What a humble bug

Barefoot step on Hanmyo  
reminds me that life is short

Phobia of death  
Makes us shut our eyes to life,  
Drives people to pain

## Liu Huang

### Sulphur

##### Sour, Hot, Toxic  
KI, LI, PER

• Relieves toxicity, kills parasites, stops itching.

• Tonifies MingMen fire and strengthen Yang

The smell of yellow  
The smell of burnt earth and springs  
The smell of healing

Only one sense is needed  
To find healing waters

Sharp smell makes me ask  
"industry or history?"  
My nose rejects both

## Lu Feng Fang

### Wasp Nest  
Nidus Vespae

##### Sweet, Neutral, Toxic  
LU, ST

• Relieve toxicity, expel wind, relieves itching and pain.

• Expel wind and dries dampness

• Treats tumors and parasites

Driving out wind,  
this home to yellowjackets  
is most inviting.

A fear of occupation   
leads to turbid residents

Creatures smelling fear  
Sedged-hat in Tokyo  
Draw their knives and shout

## Lu Gan Shi

### Calamine  
Smithsonitum

##### Sweet, Neutral  
LIV, ST

• Brightens the eyes

• Dries dampness and generates flesh

• Stops itching and resolves toxicity

You cut short the grip  
when poison ivy grabbed me  
with its burning grasp

Moonlight on the bathroom floor  
I wait for the mud to dry

Covered in the pink   
I regret my careless joy  
and its ceaseless itch

## Ma Qian Zi

### Nux Vomica, Horse Money Seeds  
Semen Strychnotis

##### Bitter, Cold, Very Toxic  
LIV, SP

• Unblocks the channels and disperse clumps

• Reduces swelling and alleviates pain.

• Cools blood heat

One incurs a debt  
when paying in Horse Money.  
Can you foot the bill?

If there is no bill to foot  
If is my feet that will pay

In western markets  
To go up you must go down  
The cycle of debt

## Ming Fan

### Alum

##### Sour, Astringent, Cold  
LI, LIV, LU, SP, ST

• Relieves toxicity, kills parasites, dry dampness, alleviate itch.

• Generates flesh and transforms putrid stagnation.

• Stops bleeding and lessens diarrhea

• Clears heat and expels phlegm

Friend of the Romans,  
Who used you to clean water  
And save shaved faces

My aunt's kitchen, long ago  
The alum tin gathers dust

Next to the allspice  
You were regrettably bland  
And never sold well

## Qing Fen

### Mercury  
Calomelas

##### Spicy, Cold, Very Toxic  
BL, KI, LIV

• Kills parasites and promotes the healing of sores.

• Expels water and unblocks the bowels and bladder.

Oh Lewis and Clark.  
They, who took Rush's Thunder,  
left echoing pits.

Of heroic medicine  
I only trust history

Loving intention:  
Even paper becomes pills,  
And poison cures pain

## She Chuang Zi

### Cnidium Seeds  
蛇床子 Jashoshi  
Fructus Cnidii Monnieni

##### Spicy, Bitter, Warm, Slightly Toxic  
KI, SP

• Dry dampness, kills parasites, stop itching on the skin

• Warms the kidneys and strengthens yang

• Disperses cold and wind

Hide with me under  
A delicate umbrella  
And I'll heal your wounds

You can't protect from the rain  
While watching out for serpents

Only drunkards share  
In the leaves of "Jashoshi"  
A bed made for snakes

## Xiong Huang

### Arsenic Sulfide  
Realgar

##### Spicy, Bitter, Warm, Very Toxic  
HT, LIV, ST

• Relieves toxicity and kills parasites

Only ghosts are made  
when "Masculine Yellow"  
Is mixed into wine

In a world full of bounty  
who would eat bitter parts?

Sharp shell hides the yolk   
Rind holds the watermelon  
Parsley tops carrots

# Herbs That Cool and Transform Phlegm Heat
## Chuan Bei Mu

### Fritillaria Bulb  
Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae

##### Bitter, Sweet, Cool  
HRT, LU

• Clears heat, transforms phlegm, stops coughing, and moistens the lungs

• Clears heat and dissipates heat-related nodules

• Directs heart fire downward

_A mother's first time  
She guides a gift towards her mouth  
and prays for abundance

Grandma give her Chuan Bei Mu_ _  
Tears and milk both start flowing

What was given to her   
from breast to mouth  
for eternity_

## Dan Nan Xing

### Arisaemae in bile  
Pulvis Arisaemae cum Felle Bovis

##### Bitter, Cool, Slightly Toxic  
LIV, LU, SP

• Transforms phlegm heat extinguishes wind, stops convulsions

Bitter on bitter  
What did I do to deserve this  
Bitter on bitter

I tremor at the odor  
and I tremor without it

Convulsing, I drink  
Gagging, I hold the black down  
Resting, I'm thankful

## Fu Hai Shi

### Costaziae Skeleton, White Pumice  
Os Costaziae

##### Salty, Cold  
LU

• Clears heat from the lungs and removes phlegm

• Softens hardness and dissipates phlegm nodules

• Promotes urination and unblocks the lungs

Aquatic wormstone  
Float on the sea stone  
Who found health in you?

No one looked at river mud   
and saw the gold in the silt

Yet who could deny  
that a stone that does not sink  
is less than magic

## Gua Lou

### Snakegourd Fruit  
Fructus Trichosanthis

##### Sweet, Cold  
LI, LU, ST

• Clears heat and transforms hot phlegm

• Reduces abscesses and dissipates nodules

• Regulates and loosens Qi in the chest

Geisha of Basho  
Closed petals during the day  
Loose lace at night

Cold blooded, they steal my warmth  
And open up when I cool

When the bud falls off   
what was a delicate bloom  
becomes nourishment 

## Gua Lou Ren

### Snakegourd Seed(Karonin)  
栝楼仁 (Karonin)  
Semen Trichosanthis

##### Sweet, Cold  
LIV, LU, ST

• Clears heat and transforms phlegm

• Expands the chest.

• Moistens the intestines

• Assists other herbs in expelling pus and promoting healing of sores

The Geisha's Sunday;  
Repairing her kimono,  
Drinking guava juice

She stores her painted smile   
and chooses what face to wear

Hair down, now common  
Her workplace giggle slips though  
in the checkout line

## Hai Ge Ke/ Ge Qiao

### Clam Shell  
Concha Cyclinae / Concha Meretricis

##### Bitter, Salty, Cold  
LU, ST

• Clears lung heat, descends lung qi, transforms phlegm

• Softens hardness and dissipates nodules

• Promotes urination and expels turbid dampness

• Eases pain due to stomach acid and heat.

I dreamed my foot caught  
in the bite of a clam shell  
tangled in bedsheets

Unreasonable phobia  
keeps me from diving too deep

Will my shell be used  
As an herbal remedy  
for a giant clam?

## Hai Zao

### Sargassum Seaweed  
Herba Sargassii

##### Bitter, Salty, Cold  
Ki, LIV, LU, ST

• Clears heat, reduces phlegm, and softens hardness

• Helps promote urination and reduces edema

Looking at her hands  
Volcanoes and Sargasso  
The hula dance

The I'pu 'pu thumping  
Pele's children and twirling

Under a white tent  
Her shining eyes, orchid lay  
Hula wedding dance

## Huang Yao Zi

### Potato Yam Tuber  
Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae

##### Bitter, Cold  
LIV, LU

• Dissipates nodules, clears phlegm, and reduces masses

• Cools the blood and stops bleeding

• Clears heat and reduces toxicity (surface and internally)

Climbing up a pole  
I wonder what will happen  
when the vine connects

The climbing root does not care  
if it grounds the power line

Hanging from a line   
A curious gourd peeks through  
A tuber dangles

## Kun Bu

### Kelp, Japanese Sea Tangle  
Thallus Eckloniae

##### Salty, Cold  
KI, LIV, ST

• Reduces phlegm and softens nodules

• Promotes urination and reduces swelling.

Faithful companion   
Always lapping at my feet  
Pacific ocean

Today it brings me a shell  
Tomorrow, an octopus

A bottled message  
Ocean waves playing fetch with  
my future version

## Pang Da Hai

### Sterculia Seed  
Semen Sterculiae Lychnophorae

##### Sweet, Cold  
LI, LU

• Clears and disseminates lung Qi

• Moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels

• Helps encourage the expression of rashes

Approaching the stage  
He belts out a song and says  
"it's gonna be ok"

Friday night karaoke  
Broken hearts and dollar beer

Bowery bird barfly  
Displaying blue tinted songs  
Looking for a mate

## Qian Hu

### Asian Masterwort Root, Hogfennel  
Radix Peucedani

##### Bitter, Spicy, Cool  
LU

• Moves rebellious lung qi downward and clears phlegm

• Clears wind-heat from the exterior and loosens the lungs

Four wild black hogs  
at a quick clip down the road  
Escape hungry eyes

In a land of poverty  
do ancient morals fill you?

Bacon and freedom  
Given with good intentions  
on a gun's barrel

## Gua Luo Gen / Tien Hua Fen

### Snakegourd Root  
栝楼根 (karokon)  
Radix Trichosanthis

##### Bitter, Slightly Sweet, Cold  
LU, ST

• Clears and drains lung heat, transforms phlegm, and moistens lung dryness.

• Drains heat and generates fluid

• Relieves toxicity, reduces swelling, and expels pus

In our paradise  
the root is where the snake lives  
Striking when eyes stray

A bite that doesn't hurt  
Cooling, draining, relieving

Aches like a venom  
We look for a remedy  
in a pair of fangs

## Tian Zhu Huang

### Tabasheer, Bamboo Sugar  
Concretio Bambusae Silicea

##### Sweet, Cold  
GB, HRT, LIV

• Clears and transforms phlegm heat

• Clears heat, cools the heart, and calms tremors

Fingers of the Earth   
I crack your knuckles loudly  
and borrow your marrow

How can you borrow something  
when you cannot replace it?

A loan between friends   
should be considered a gift  
that celebrates love

## Zhe Bei Mu

### Zhejian Fritillaria Bulb  
Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii

##### Bitter, Cold  
HRT, LU

• Clears and transforms phlegm heat

• Stops cough

• Clears heat and dissipates nodules

Its famous brother  
Gets all attention  
This, behind the scenes

A stagehand; the gatekeeper  
The spotlight worker, the sun

The cousins perform  
Zhejian, the somber actor  
Fritillaria

## Zhu Ru

### Bamboo Shavings  
竹筎 (chikujo)  
Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam

##### Sweet, Cool  
LU, ST

• Clears and transforms phlegm heat

• Clears heat from the stomach and stops vomiting

• Cools the blood and stops bleeding

Walking in the grove   
Sound of bamboo applauding  
The way home, closed

Expanding and contracting   
Cobwebs in the forest lungs

Once, in Kyoto  
A hummingbird followed me  
Nope, a honey wasp

# Herbs That Cool the Blood
## Bai Wei

### Swallowwort Root  
Radix Cynachi Atrati

##### Bitter, Salty, Cold  
KI, LU, ST

• Clears deficient heat and cools blood

• Promotes urination

• Relieves toxicity and toxic sores

Black drops plummeting  
Swallows dive bomb from rooftops  
My dog and I watch

She came to me in a dream  
And offered me her fur coat

For want of a ball  
and a scratch behind the ears  
she gives me her heart

## Di Gu Pi

### Wolfberry Root, Lycium Root  
地骨皮 (jikoppi)  
Cortex Lycii

##### Sweet, Bland, Cold  
Ki, LIV, LU

• Drains Yin deficiency fire and eliminates lurking heat.

• Clears lung heat.

• Clears heat, cools blood, and stops bleeding

Marble and ivy  
Fujin and Raijin of books   
Library columns

One supporting, one binding  
Stitching together a book

For a streak-free shine  
vinegar and newspaper  
The diamond clear mind

## Mu Dan Pi

### Tree Peony Root Bark  
牡丹皮 (botanpi)  
Cortex Moutan

##### Spicy, Bitter, Cool  
HRT, KI, LIV

• Clears both excess and deficient heat and cools blood

• Clear deficient fire

• Clears liver blood stasis and clears liver fire

• Drains pus and reduces swelling

Cut into slices  
your peel look like snail shells  
Oh, tree Peony

Cooling and grounding  
Liquid granite decoction

Skin of the mountain  
Even if grown on the plains  
you taste like the foothills

## Sheng Di Huang

### Chinese Foxglove Root  
地黄 (Jio)  
Radix Rehmanniae

##### Sweet, Bitter, Cold  
HRT, KI, LIV

• Clears Heat and cools the blood.

• Nourishes Yin and generates fluids.

• Cools ascending heart fire.

Sticky and secret  
the taste of the fox glove root  
is the taste ofYin

When in bloom, my heart stops  
When looks fade, my heart beats stronger

With ill intentions  
no one should pull up the root;  
A cloying sweetness

## Xi Jiao

### Rhinoceros Horn  
犀角 (saikaku)  
Cornu Rhinoceri

##### Bitter, Salty, Cold  
HRT, LIV, ST

• Clears deep stage heat and fire toxicity

• Clears the heart and calms the Shen

• Extinguishes liver wind and heat

There is no drug here  
Just the poison of money  
and a horn of hair

Feral pigs gnaw at false bone  
and dream of being human

A poacher is shot  
I mourn his situation  
but not much else

## Xuan Shen

### Ningpo Figwort Root  
Radix Scrophulariae

##### Salty, Sweet, Bitter, Cold  
KI, LU, ST

• Clears heat and cools blood

• Nourishes Yin.

• Drains fire and relieves toxicity.

• Softens hardness and dissipates hot nodules.

The autumn harvest  
Digging up the plant's lowers  
to treat our uppers

Ill, I croak like a bullfrog  
My neck swelling outward

Fields going fallow  
How many adventures die  
while I sit on the couch

## Yin Chai Hu

### Starwort Root  
Radix Stellariae

##### Sweet, Cool  
LIV, ST

• Clears deficient heat

• Helps ease symptoms related to childhood nutritional impairment due to heat accumulation

• Cools blood, and stops bleeding.

The candy aisle   
A child begs for a treat   
Mom acquiesces

Praying for jelly bean rain  
and chocolate coin riches

Don't lose that eye glint  
to the dullness of the world  
Oh my darling girl

## Zi Cao

### Groomwell Root, Chinese Stoneseed  
Radix Lithopermi, Radix Arnbiae

##### Sweet, Cold  
HRT, LIV

• Clears heat, cools the blood, relieves fire toxicity and encourages the expression of rashes.

• Clears damp heat from the skin

• Moisten the intestines and unblock the bowels.

One is soft purple herb  
hiding below its flowers  
One is hard purple herb

Brother to borage and comfrey  
You come from good roots

They hide their beauty secret  
in pearls filled with clear oil  
Nobless oblige

# Herbs That Dispel Wind Dampness
## Bai Hua She / Qi She

### Banded Krait, White Flower Snake  
Agkistrodon / Bungarus

##### Salty, Sweet, Warm Toxic  
LIV

• Powerfully unblocks the channels and dispels wind.

• Extinguishes wind from the skin and sinews and settles convulsions.

Blocking many hits  
I wrap my wrists in vipers  
and keep on fighting

That with the greatest venom  
is also the most timid

The rattlesnake lies  
buzzing with mock lethalness  
The krait carries death

## Can Sha

### Silkworm Feces  
Excrementum Bombycis Mori

##### Spicy, Sweet, Warm  
LIV, SP, ST

• Expels wind and dampness

• Harmonizes the stomach and transforms turbid dampness

In the most skilled hands  
even shit becomes treasure  
Silkworm excrement

Royalty wear the moltings  
of those which overcame themselves

Casting off treasure  
My soul goes flying freely  
to feed on nectar

## Cang Er Zi

### Cocklebur Fruit, Xanthium Fruit  
Fructus Xanthii

##### Sweet, Bitter, Warm, Toxic  
LU

• Expels wind dampness and opens the sinuses

• Dispels exterior wind and dampness

So anxious to help  
it hitches to my clothing  
and invites itself home

Toyama no kusuri  
No one likes your sales pitch

Oh Baiyaku-san  
was this job always your dream?  
Can't sell oil now

## Du Huo

### Pubescent Angelica Root  
Radix Angelicae Pubenscentis

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm  
BL, KI

• Dispels wind cold damp and releases the exterior.

• Dispels wind dampness and alleviates pain

• Treats Shao Yin level headache and toothache.

There is a sweetness  
that changes to bitter spice  
late in the springtime

What once was of the rootstock  
Severs its parental bond

The canes, once weeping  
branch out and reach for the sun  
Their very own sun 

## Hai Feng Teng

### Kadsura Pepper Stem, Futokadsura Stem  
Caulis Piperis Kadsurae

##### Spicy, Bitter, Slightly Warm  
LIV

• Dispels wind dampness bi and opens the channels.

• Disperses cold and alleviates pain

A link without hands  
Before the Kanmon tunnel  
Futokadsura

Ruby pendent drupes  
Jewelry from Ryukyu

Seeing drops of home  
Back straightens, cold disappears  
nostalgia medicine 

## Hai Tong Pi

### Erythina Bark, Coral-Bean Bark  
Cortex Erythrinae

##### Bitter, Spicy, Neutral  
KI, LIV, SP

• Dispels wind damp (hot or cold) and unblocks the channels.

• Promotes urination and reduces edema

• Treats itchy skin lesions and kills parasites

• Soothes toothache due to cavities

A fire burning  
Without scorching the soil  
or burning my nose

The parasites are foolish  
and run screaming from the "flames"

Plant this at your root   
let it drive off the dampness  
that chills in your heart

## Luo Shi Teng

### Star Jasmine Stem  
Caulis Trachelospermi

##### Bitter, Cool  
LIV

• Dispels wind damp heat while opening the channels and collaterals

• Cools the blood and reduces swelling.

Behind the factory  
Cascading over the wall  
fragrant abundance

All winter, a skeleton  
All summer, a thing of flesh

For just a few days  
the white hard-hats come off,  
noses turn skyward

## Mu Gua

### Chinese Quince Fruit  
木瓜 (Mokka)  
Fructus Chaenomelis

##### Sour, Warm  
LIV, SP

• Relaxes the sinews and muscles and unblocks the channels.

• Harmonizes the stomach, transforms dampness, reduces food stagnation, and nourishes the liver

Deep in forest park  
Looking, bending, and stashing  
I harvest the quince

Arboretum charity  
Wood giving alms to the poor

Like a Fruit ninja  
not a leaf or branch tremors  
Fruit disappears

## Qin Jiao

### Large-Leaf Gentiana Root, Chin-Chiu  
Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae

##### Bitter, Spicy, Slightly Cold  
GB, LIV, ST

• Expels Wind-Dampness, opens the channels, and soothes the sinews and collaterals

• Clears deficient heat

• Alleviates jaundice and resolves dampness.

• Moistens the intestines and bowels

Wrapped up in softness  
I can let go of evil  
The way a child can

Even when the cat scratches   
She strokes with a steady hand

Involuntary  
It's in its nature to strike  
and in hers to tame

## Sang Zhi

### Mulberry Twig  
Ramulus Mori

##### Bitter, Neutral  
LIV

• Clears wind dampness, unblocks the channels and collaterals, helps the joints and stops spasms.

• Reduces edema and promotes urination.

Caterpillar road  
Your branches give directions  
to a leafy home

Such a generous city  
to both guests and residents

I harvest the Fruit   
and feed the butterfly   
in my fleeting dream 

## Wei Ling Xian

### Chinese Clematis Root  
威霊仙 (ireisen)  
Radix Clematidis

##### Salty, Spicy, Warm, (some consider Toxic)  
BL

• Dispels wind damp, unblocks the channels, and relieves pain.

• Softens fish bones lodged in the throat.

• Reduces distention in the middle Jiao

Desperate for flavor   
They carried clematis seeds  
and called them pepper

If hard tack was my supper  
I'd eat dirt and call it salt

Exorcising tea  
A ghost swimming upstream   
fishbone in my throat

## Wu Jia Pi

### Siberian Ginseng, Eleuthrococcus Root,   
五加皮 (gokahi)  
Cortex Acanthopanacis

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm  
KI, LIV

• Dispels wind damp, strengthens the sinews and bones, nourishes the liver and kidneys

• Transforms dampness and reduces swelling

Mistaken for Red  
From the land of the Reds   
Five Additions Root

Banished to Siberia  
for being poorly marketed

With a heart of white  
it should travel everywhere  
I grant a visa

## Wu Shao She

### Black Grass Snake  
Zaocys, Coulbridae

##### Salty, Sweet, Neutral  
LIV, SP

• Strongly unblocks the channels and extinguishes Wind

• Dispels wind from the skin

• Dispels wind from the sinews, strengthens tendons and bones, and settles jitteriness

Some judge the black snake, thin as paper  
Against all serpent kind   
Yet it does not strike

Not all that is black is night  
Not all vipers have venom

Fangless or barbed  
I still fear being bitten   
By the rope of dark

## Xi Xian Cao

### St. Paul's Wort, Siegesbeckiae  
Herba Siegesbeckia

##### Bitter, Cold  
KI, LIV

• Dispels wind damp heat, strengthens the sinews, and unblocks the channels

• Calms the spirit, clears heat, and pacifies the liver

• Clears toxins and transforms damp heat

"Loathsome Harlotry"  
Such strong words were once spoken   
regarding naming

It is truly ironic  
That his name is now an herb

Perhaps as a plant  
He'll enjoy "harlotry"  
that he once denied

# Herbs That Drain Dampness
## Ban Bian Lian

### Chinese Lobelia  
Herba Lobeliae Chinensis

##### Sweet, Bland, Slightly Cold  
HRT, SI, LU

• Promotes urination and reduces edema

• Cools the blood, clears heat, and reduces toxicity

She chews on the leaf  
and then spat the green wad out  
on grandson's bee sting

in the world of microscopes   
no one can trust abuela

her knowledge fading  
it returns to the soil  
from which it once came

## Bei Xie

### Tokoro, Fish Poison Yam Rhizome  
Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae

##### Bitter, Neutral  
BL, LIV, ST

• Separates the pure from the turbid in the lower Jiao

• Expels wind damp, relaxes sinew, and unblocks the channels

• Clears damp heat from the skin

Slice a potato  
and throw it in the water  
All the fish float up

Is there cheating in fishing?  
If there is, please show me how

There is no honor  
in going to bed hungry  
Calorie-free pride

## Bian Xu

### Polygonum, Knotweet  
Herba Polygoni Avicularis

##### Bitter, Slightly Cold  
BL

• Clears damp heat from the bladder

• Expels parasites and stops itching.

Knotweed history  
twisted roots grow straight flowers  
Past choking present

I will tie my heart in knots  
and you can untangle me

I cannot unbind   
with my roots knotted too,  
I'll trust into you

## Che Qian Zi

### Asian Plantain Seeds  
車前子 (shazenshi)  
Semen Plantaginis

##### Sweet, Cold,  
BL, KI, LI, LU

• Promotes urination and clears heat

• Solidifies the stool and promotes urination.

• Clears Liver Heat and clears the eyes

• Clears the lungs, expels phlegm, and stops cough.

Barefoot in the thorns  
my father shows me plantain  
and I never forgot

on his back we crosses the weeds  
poison ivy brushing ankles

Brother got it worse  
He tried to tread on a path  
not revealed to him

## Chi Xiao Dou

### Aduki Bean  
Semen Phaseoli

##### Sweet, Sour, Neutral  
HRT, SI

• Clears heat, promotes urination, and reduces edema,

• Disperses blood stasis, swelling, and fire toxicity

• Clears damp heat and jaundice.

Outside the temple  
Obasan shares her spirit   
red beam buns

her hands work without thinking,  
heart connected to her wrist

there's no recipe  
only scoops and pinches  
from unlabeled tins

## Deng Xin Cao

### Bulrush Pith  
Medulla Junci

##### Sweet, Bland, Slightly Cold  
HRT, LU, SI

• Promotes urination, draws out dampness, unblock urinary function

• Clears heat from the heart channel into the small intestine and calms the spirit

"A drink between friends"  
is what we call the third  
the first, a business meeting

We sometimes drown our sadness   
in a happy pint-size bath

It hangs from my heart  
Resisting the waterslide  
Leading to paradise

## Di Fu Zi

### Broom Cypress, Belvedere Fruit  
Fructus Kochiae

##### Sweet, Bitter, Cold  
BL, KI

• Clears damp heat and promotes urination

• Expels dampness and stops itching

• Clears wind heat affecting the head

After collapse  
the brave and the poor return  
Urban pioneer

Deep in the auto city  
Corn stalks peek over bumpers

A decade of change  
for the lone cartographer  
Google Maps archive

## Dong Gua Zi

### Winter Mellon Seed, Wax Gourd Seed  
冬瓜子 (togashi)  
Semen Benincasae

##### Sweet, Cold  
LU, LI, SI, ST

• Clears lung and intestinal heat, expels phlegm, clears pus, and moistens the lungs

• Clears heat and drains dampness

The frost upon frost  
Honeydew in the snow  
chills the winter heat

Grown in the heart of winter  
with the promise of summer

A block of your sugar  
is all I've ever seen  
Do you even live?

## Dong Kui Zi

### Indian Mallow Seed  
Semen Abutii (sometimes Semen Malvae)

##### Sweet, Cold  
BL, LI, SI

• Promotes and unblocks

• Benefits the breasts and increases lactation

• Moisten the intestines and unblocks the bowels.

Door to door magpie  
selling nothing but futures  
and future futures

Campaigners make promises  
hoping crops grow in the shade

from a frozen stream  
we put our hands on the ice  
and beg for water 

## Fu Ling

### Tuckahoe, Hoelen  
茯苓 (bukuryo)  
Sclerotum Poriae Cocos

##### Sweet, Bland, Neutral  
HRT, KI, LU, SP

• Promotes urination and drains dampness

• Strengthens the spleen and harmonizes the middle Jiao

• Quiets the heart and calms the spirit

When the stomach screams  
the whole house is awaken  
and no one can dream

Hunger driving children  
to wear pants and moustaches

The world could be fed  
if Tuckahoe could be grown  
upon rotten hearts

## Guang Fang Zi

### Stephania Fangchi Root  
Radix Aristolochiae Fangii

##### Bitter, Spicy, Cold, Toxic  
BL, LU

• Sharply expels wind damp heat

• Promotes urination and reduces edema

_Bitter general  
against the wind, he's standing  
Plate armor crackling

In the broad field of August  
1,000 wind chimes standing

Guang Fang Zi_ _:  
A charm against ill fortune  
and crawling serpent _

## Han Fang Zi

### Four Stamen Stephania Root  
Radix Stephaniae Tetradrae

##### Bitter, Spicy, Cold, Toxic  
BL, KI, SP

• Expels wind damp and relieves pain

• Promotes urination and reduces edema

Open the four gates  
and drive out the enemy  
along with your friends

At the tip of a barrel  
there is no room to explain

with infrared eyes  
friends often look like a foe  
rarely the reverse 

## Hua Shi

### Talc  
滑石 (Kasseki)  
Talcum

##### Sweet, Bland, Cold  
BL, ST

• Promotes urination, drains heat from the bladder

• Clears summer heat and damp heat

• Absorbs dampness, clears heat, and stops bleeding topically

Watching elephants   
toss dirt and mud on their backs  
summer at the zoo

my head suddenly feels warm  
I powder myself with talc

in our DNA  
we share as many secrets   
as there are dust motes

## Jin Qian Cao

### Asian Moneywort, Loose Strife Herb  
Herba Lysimachiae

##### Sweet, Salty, Bland, Slightly Cold  
BL, GB, KI, LIV

• Promotes urination and expels stoned

• Clears damp heat in the liver and gallbladder and expels gallstones

• Reduces toxicity and swelling

King Lysimachus  
offered madness a flower  
and was given the same

A mad cow rendered inert  
in the presence of petals

to the ox I ask;  
is it the palmates of green,  
or the palm serene

## Mu Tong

### Armand Clematis Stem, Chocolate Vine Stem  
木通 (mokutsu)  
Caulis Akebiae

##### Bitter, Slightly Cold  
BL, HRT, SI

• Promotes urination and unblocks painful urinary dysfunction

• Drains heat from the heart through the small intestine

• Promotes lactation and unblocks the blood vessels

The ivory coast  
sends gifts to my beloved  
in bars and kisses

Some say it begins with a "k"  
but a kiss starts with a "c"

If ever there proof  
of a benevolent god,  
one looks to Hershey's

## Qu Mai

### Rainbow Pink, Proud Pink Herb  
Herba Dianthi

##### Bitter, Cold  
BL, HRT, SI

• Clears damp heat, promotes urination, and unblocks painful urination

• Breaks up blood stasis and invigorates blood circulation

• Clears heart and small intestine fire

• Unblocks the bowels

A water busker  
dancing in the flower pot  
Proud pink, sweet William

Dew lining A begging bowl  
cools my stomach and my heart

The 5-petal skirts  
in the sun, like bubblegum  
Pink upon the pink

## Shi Wei

### Felt Fern Leaf  
Folium Pyrrosiae

##### Bitter, Sweet, Slightly Cold  
BL, LU

• Promotes urination and drains damp-heat from the bladder

• Clears heat and stops bleeding

• Clears the lungs, expels phlegm, and relieves cough

Tripping over vines   
I make a bed of the dirt  
a blanket of ferns

my head smashes a bad stool  
forest scent cushions my fall

Check, nothing broken  
I wipe a drop of white blood  
a surprised bird flies

## Tong Cao

### Rice Paper Plant Pith  
Medulla Tetrapanacis

##### Sweet, Bland, Slightly Cold  
Lu, ST

• Promotes urination, resolves dampness, and clears heat

• Promotes lactation

_I'll write all my ills  
and deliver them to god  
on rice paper Pith

of the doctor's prescription  
I make a pulpy beverage

the calligrapher  
writes the character "genki"  
on Tong Cao_ _circles_

## Yi Yi Ren

### Job's Tears, Coix Seed  
薏苡仁 (yokuinin)  
Semen Coicis

##### Sweet, Bland, Slightly Cold  
KI, LU, SP

• Expels wind damp and relieves pain

• Strengthens the spleen and resolves dampness.

• Clears heat and expels pus

• Clears damp heat

Unwilling actor  
Job upon the stage of life  
no more re-runs, please

if all the world's a stage  
then where's the actors union?

They, who cast our parts  
already know our Talent  
and ask only for Action

## Yin Chen Hao

### Oriental Wormwood  
茵蔯蒿 (inchinko)  
Herba Artemisiae Scopariae

##### Bitter, Slightly Cold  
GB, LIV, SP, ST

• Clears damp heat from the liver and gallbladder and relieves jaundice.

• Clears damp heat and releases dampness

Lonesome actor drinks   
enough to see the stars  
that he longs to be

No one makes a manager  
from green fairy's agency

Poured strait from those eyes  
Her intoxicating gaze  
fills his empty heart 

## Yu Mi Xu

### Cornsilk  
Stigma Maydis

##### Sweet, Bland, Neutral  
BL, GB, LIV

• Promotes urination, reduces edema, unblocks urinary dysfunction

• Regulates the gallbladder and clears damp heat

• Removes jaundice and treats wasting and thirsting disorder

Discarded clothing  
From these strands, she made a doll  
Dust bowl companion

Husking the corn, it feels like  
how husking the corn feels like

Tempered by the sun  
Her temper never showing  
to her spoiled son

## Ze Xie

### Water Plantain Rhizome  
沢瀉 (takusha)  
Rhizoma Alismatis

##### Sweet, Bland, Cold  
BL, KI

• Promotes urination and drains dampness

• Drains deficient kidney fire

• Drains damp heat in the lower Jiao and settles Ministerial fire

Dog leaps from a truck  
and pisses on a flower  
hops back in the cab

both seem perfectly happy  
to be part of this tableau

The flowers don't care  
if nourishment is yellow  
or if it is clear

## Zhu Ling

### Griffolia, Umbel Polypore Mushroom  
猪苓 (Chorei)  
Sclerotum Polyporus

##### Sweet, Bland, Slightly Cool  
KI, SP, BL

• Promotes urination and drains dampness

• Dispels damp heat with turbid dysfunction

A wise man once said  
a parasol is to rain  
as sun is to moon

From beneath the umbrella   
the whole world looks soggy

The weight of raindrops  
isn't counted in ounces  
nor measured in grams

# Herbs That Drain Downward
## Ba Dou

### Croton Seed  
巴豆 (Hazu)  
Fructud Crotonis

##### Spicy, Hot, Toxic  
LI, LU, ST

• Vigorously purges and warmly unblocks

• Drives out water and reduces edema

• Dissolves clogged phlegm and improves the condition of the throat

• Promotes healing of abscesses and ulcers topically

No one will answer  
no matter how loud you knock  
Oh, battering ram

Whatever you are selling   
I am not interested

Selling liberty?  
Your pitch could use improvement  
and my door needs fixed

## Da Huang

### Rhubarb Root and Rhizome  
大黄 (daio)  
Radix et Rhizoma Rhei

##### Bitter, Cold  
HRT, LI, LIV, ST

• Drains heat and purges accumulations

• Drains heat from the blood

• Clears heat and fire, transforms dampness, and promotes urination

• Invigorates the blood and dispels blood stasis

• Clears heat and reduces fire toxicity

Corruptions limit;  
We accept bitter and cold  
to fight the putrid

Now the battle is over  
and we feel fully drained

For 17 days   
the Great Yellow is in charge  
We live as Spartans

## Fan Xie Ye

### Senna Leaf  
Folium Sennae

##### Sweet, Bitter, Cold  
LI

• Drains downward, guides out stagnation

• Eliminates excess heat and summer heat

_Da Huang_ _'s junior;  
he takes knives and hands out forks  
turns stink into sweet

if you beat a mule to death  
it cannot take you forward

Traffic at a halt  
A man curses his cabbie  
Summer in New York_

## Gan Sui

### Euphorbie Root  
Radix Kansui

Bitter, Sweet, Cold, Toxic  
KI, LI, LU

• Drains water downward and drives out congested fluid

• Expels Phlegm

• Clears heat, reduces swellings, and softens hardenings

There was two lines  
one of them was given pink  
There were two lines

Is it death or the farmer  
who winnows wheat from the chaff

5 stages of grief  
Starts with cleaning out your desk  
ends in classifieds 

## Huo Ma Ren

### Hemp Seed  
Semen Cannabis

##### Sweet, Neutral  
LI, SP, ST

• Lubricates, and nourishes the intestines and hair

• Mildly nourishes Yin, clears heat, and promotes the healing of sores

She is watching me  
as I fill the cup half way  
discarding the rest

beheld by her eyes and hand   
the taboo becomes product

A weekend of joy.  
Has the memory faded  
from my bladder?

## Lu Hui

### Dried Aloe Juice Concentrate  
Aloe

##### Bitter, Cold  
LI, LIV, ST

• Drains fire and guides out accumulation

• Kills parasites and strengthens stomach

• Clears heat and cools the liver

Across the dessert  
The yucca prods the workers  
the aloe heals them

Spears bristling them forward  
spears that prevent regression

Mother and child  
wade across the shallow end  
Rio Grand crossing

## Mang Xiao

### Mirabilite, Glauber's Salt, Sodium Sulfate  
芒硝 (Bosho)  
Natrii Sulfas

##### Bitter, Salty, Spicy, Very Cold  
LI, ST

• Purges accumulations, guides out stagnation, soften hardness, and moistens dryness

• Clears heat, drains fire, and reduces swelling

After the monsoon  
the photo albums floating  
across the basement

will you make new memories  
or was the past more buoyant?

Above the flotsam  
the future is hard to see  
through the past's jetsam

## Qian Niu Zi

### Morning Glory Seeds  
Semen Pharbitidis

##### Bitter, Spicy, Cold, Slightly Toxic  
KI, LI, LU, SI

• Drives out water through urine and stool

• Descends lung Qi and drives out phlegm and mucus

• Unblocks the bowels and removes damp heat

• Expels intestinal parasites and reduces food stagnation

The sun has risen  
counting morning glory seeds  
sun rises again

who hid syllables of god  
in such a minuscule pods?

The holy verse read   
"not the human consumption"  
prayer envelopes

## Shang Lu

### Poke Root  
Radix Phytolaccae

##### Bitter, Cold, Toxic  
BL, KI, LI, SP

• Drives out water through the stool and urine

• Reduces sores and carbuncles topically

• Removes phlegm, stops cough, and resolves lumps

• Reduces swelling and nodules

At the speed limit  
or several miles over  
the fare is the same

I get one word in English  
to the thousand in his phone

To the yellow thunderbolt  
there is no pain or trouble  
not solved with a tip

## Yu Li Ren

### Bush Cherry Pit  
Semen Pruni

##### Bitter, Spicy, Sweet, Neutral  
LI, SI, SP

• Moistens intestines and unblocks the bowel

• Promotes urination and reduces edema in the legs.

Growing by gravel  
Crimped green leaf, red berry  
Backyard bush berry

In summer, Gian and I  
turn the red shrub green

We once dug a hole   
for no other reason  
than to dig a whole

## Yuan Hua

### Lilac Daphne Flower  
Flos Genkwa

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm, Toxic  
KI, LI, LU

• Drains water downward, drives out congested fluid, and promotes urination

• Resolves phlegm and stops cough

• Kills parasites topically

Inhaling vapors   
he sees my engine failing  
Oil shop oracle

My tribute displeases him  
20% off coupon

The black ritual;  
The impure is driven out  
golden crude poured in 

# Herbs That Drain Fire
## Dan Zhu Ye

### Bamboo leaves and Stem  
淡竹葉 (takuchikuyo)  
Herba Lophatheri

##### Sweet, Bland, Cold  
HRT, SI, ST

• Clears heat with irritability and thirst

• Promotes urination and clears damp heat

Cellulose hoarder  
the panda consumes his weight   
in tubes of grasses

Everyone loves a panda  
yet forget it is a bear

In misty china  
Rangers toil to preserve  
an ink brush paining

## Gu Jing Cao

### Buerger Pipewort Flower  
Flos Eriocauli

##### Sweet, Neutral  
LIV, ST

• Disperse wind heat in the liver channel and brightens the eyes

For months in japan   
I wondered who played two notes  
walking down the street

I mistook the produce call  
for someone on recorder

pi....... Pipaaaaa  
the vegetable ambulance  
driving down my block

## Han Shui Shi

### Red Gypsum, Calcite  
Glauberitum

##### Salty, Spicy, Cold  
HRT, KI, ST

• Expels summer heat

• Clears heat and drains fire

• Burns and sores topically

• Promotes urination and reduces edema

• Directs fire downward and softens hardness

On the cul-de-sac  
she raises her crystal wand  
made of acrylic

surely its mythic amber  
and not a plastic resin

in those hands of hers  
that can barely hold the world   
cheap becomes precious

## Jue Ming Zi / Cao Jue Ming

### Fetid Cassia Seed, Sickle Senna Seed  
決明子 (ketsumeishi)  
Semen Cassiae

##### Bitter, Salty, Sweet, Slightly Cold  
KI, LI, LIV

• Clears the vision and expels wind heat

• Calms the liver and anchors liver Yang

• Moistens intestines and unblocks the bowels

• Lowers blood pressure and serum cholesterol

Pungent on pungent  
the seeds of sickle senna  
perfume my spice rack

Walking into my kitchen  
every smell a tale

A biography  
told in stains and memories  
of every meal cooked

## Lian Zi Xin

### Lotus Plumule  
Plumula Nelumbinis

##### Bitter, Cold  
HRT, PC

• Drains heart fire and relieves irritability

• Stops bleeding and binds the essence

Heart inside the heart  
the yellow inside the pink  
lightning in the night

In the flower's purity  
Pandora left her free will

Plucking the plummule  
The flower still calls for bees  
produces no seed

## Lu Gen

### Reed Rhizome  
Rhizoma Phragmitis

##### Sweet, Cold  
LU, ST

• Clears heat and irritation from the lungs and stomach

• Clears stomach heat and regulates stomach Qi

• Clears heat and promotes urination

• Relieves vomiting and belching

• Encourages rashes to surface

• Eases food poisoning

The dirt of the week   
is placed on a tiny hook  
and cast to the fish

The gum from the park permits   
drawing bars on the windshield

Coke over Pepsi  
and earthworms over leaches  
every Saturday

## Mi Meng Hua

### Pale Butterfly Bush Flower  
Flos Buddlejae

##### Sweet, Slightly Cool  
LIV

• Benefits the eyes and clears the liver

• Moistens liver dryness

Perfect handwriting   
A voice as loud as silence  
Shy English student

Emphasizing in thick lines  
bold, and underlined twice

I only got "mmm"  
when enlightenment was found   
Never "wakata"

## Qing Xiang Zi

### Silver Quail-Grass Seed  
Semen Celosiae

##### Sweet, Slightly Cool  
LIV

• Strongly drains liver fire and clears wind heat

• Treats hypertension due to liver yang rising

• Improves vision

Lost in Hakone  
soft music pumped into fog  
a quail, running

I would call it "Brigadoon"  
and everyone understood

It was my first time  
and every time I return  
a new Babylon

## Shi Gao

### Gypsum  
石膏 (Sekko)  
Gypsum Fibrosum

##### Spicy, Sweet, Very Cold  
LU, ST

• The most important herb to clear internal heat, especially in the qi and yang ming levels.

• Clears excess lung heat

• Clears blazing stomach fire

• Topically for eczema, burns, ulcerated sores, and wounds

A dose of gypsum  
Magma becomes an island  
the world starts to cool

the deep cold of the ocean  
crashing against fresh basalt

We start to warm up   
when we stop resisting it  
Pacific Ocean

## Xia Ku Cao

### Selfheal Spike  
夏枯草 (Kagoso)  
Spica Prunellae

##### Bitter, Spicy, Cold  
GB, LIV

• Clears liver fire and brightens the eyes

• Clears heat and dissipates nodules

• Treats hypertension accompanied by liver fire or yang rising.

It does not bandage  
It only stops the burning  
in a scorched heart

medicine kit in my chest  
the key, deep in my liver

A cut in her heart  
She matches it on her arm  
just to watch it heal

## Xiong Dan

### Bear Gallbladder  
Vessica Fella Ursi

##### Bitter, Cold  
GB, HRT, LIV, SP

• Clears heat from the heart and liver and alleviates spasms

• Clears and drains liver heat and benefits the eyes

• Topically to relieve fire toxicity

Crated wilderness  
isn't a substitute for  
the bite of nature

Plastic piping does not give  
what the wild wood crafted

tapping suffering   
without the taste of courage  
is dry and useless

## Ye Ming Sha

### Bat Guano  
Faeces Vespertilionis

##### Spicy, Cold  
LIV

• Clears liver and improves vision and improves night blindness

• Disperses blood stasis and bruising

_Shining night stand  
gives a 2_nd _chance  
to flying rat shit

what is good for the flower   
might not be good for the mouth

A gift mined from caves  
only the saints could find it  
A gift mind from caves_

## Zhi Mu

### Know Mother Root  
知母 (chimo)  
Rhizoma Anemarrhenae

##### Bitter, Sweet, Cold  
KI, LU, ST

• Clears heat and drains fire from the lung and stomach

• Nourishes Yin and moistens dryness

• Generates fluids and clears deficient fire

• Ameliorates the dryness of tonifying and warming herbs

Who would take value  
in doctors and literature  
when mother knows best

Chicken soup can cure the plague  
grilled cheese reverses the flu

There's none who question  
what faith lies between magic  
and the word of mom

## Zhi Zi

### Cape Jasmine Fruit  
Fructus Gardeniae

##### Bitter, Cold  
HRT, LIV, LU, ST, TB

• Clears heat, fire, and reduces irritability

• Drains damp heat in the lower Jiao and triple burner

• Cools the blood, stops bleeding, and relieves toxicity

• Topically for swelling.

The fisherman's wife  
blowing kisses to the waves  
Seaside jasmine bush

White capped waves reaching up  
white capped flowers reaching down

the scent of blossoms  
and the spray of the ocean  
perfume of Venus

# Herbs That Expel Parasites
## Bing Lang

### Betel Nut  
檳榔子 (Binrojin)  
Semen Arecae

##### Acrid, Bitter, Warm  
LI, ST

• Kills parasites, especially tapeworms

• Promote movement of Qi, reduce stagnation, drains down and unblocks the bowels

• Promote urination and relieves nausea

• Treats malarial disorder

Cherry blossom stains  
on the curry shop sidewalk  
Betel nut petals

In the North, a drink that kills  
In the South, a chew that lives

White nut turning red  
draining and expelling   
the heats of India

## Chang Shan

### Feverflower Root  
Rhizoma Dichroae

##### Bitter, Spicy, Cold, Toxic  
HRT, LIV, LU

• Checks malarial conditions and kills parasites

• Induces vomiting to expel phlegm in the chest

Customer and clerk  
argue over 12 cents  
Bitter fights bitter

The rest of the line reflects   
on what is good behavior

The next in the line  
gives both of them a quarter  
buying sheepish looks

## Guan Zhong

### Shield Fern  
Rhizoma Dryopteris

##### Bitter, Cold, Slightly Toxic  
LIV, ST

• Kills parasites

• Drains heat and relieves fire toxicity

• Cools the blood and stops bleeding

A stick for a sword   
a kitten for a dragon  
a fern for a shield

the cat goes skittering off  
I thank the knight for his help

His trusty wizard  
I slay monsters with day-glo  
and a plug-in light

## Nan Gua Zi

### Red Squash Seed  
Semen Cucurbitae Moschatae

##### Sweet, Neutral  
LI, ST

• Expels parasites and alleviates pain

• Benefits post-partum fluid movement

I carved out his head  
threw away his brain matter  
and roasted his dreams

My trophy on the front porch  
a symbol of victory

Before all is lost  
I grant him enlightenment   
Jack-o-Lantern

# Herbs That Extinguish Wind and Tremors
## Bai Ji Li / Ci Ji Li

### Caltrop Fruit  
蒺藜子 (刺蒺藜) (Shitsurishi)  
Fructus Tribuli

##### Bitter, Spicy, Neutral  
LIV

• Calms the liver and anchors the yang

• Dredges liver Qi, extinguishes liver fire, and disperses stagnation and clumping

• Treats liver Yang rising with headaches and eye irritation

• Expels wind and stops itching.

Late in the summer  
I curse the fruits of the sun  
and grab my bare foot

The sting of injustice  
outlasts the sting of the seed

I crush the caltrops  
A tea that stings my stressors  
and defends my heart

## Di Long

### Minor Blue-Green Earth Dragon, Earthworm  
Lumbricus

##### Salty, Cold  
BL, LIV, LU, SP

• Drains liver heat, extinguishes wind, and stops spasms and convulsions

• Clears lung heat and calms wheezing.

• Clears heat in the channels and promotes movement

• Clears heat and promotes urination

• Treats blood pressure associated with liver yang rising.

In the rain, come up  
and dance along the sidewalk  
until the sky clears

Minor blue-green earth dragon   
is what medics call the worm

Who could feel disgust  
for the one who bites the hook  
and ploughs the garden

## Gou Teng

### Uncaria Vine, Gambir, Cat's Claw  
釣藤鈎 (Chotoko)  
Ramulus cum Uncis Uncariae

##### Sweet, Slightly Cold  
LIV, PC

• Extinguishes wind and alleviates spasms

• Drains liver heat and pacifies liver Yang

• Releases the exterior, especially in tension headaches

Calling me hither   
with the same hand it uses  
to drive me away

Who would make such a creature   
who shows love with a razor?

Soft, and then sharpness  
longing turning to fury  
cats furry belly

## Ling Yang Jiao

### Antelope Horn  
羚羊角 (Reiyokaku)  
Cornu Antelopis

##### Salty, Cold  
HRT, LIV

• Extinguishes wind, controls spasms, and drains liver heat

• Calms the liver, improves vision, and anchors the yang

• Drains heat and fire toxicity

Fence on the prairie  
holding back the coyote  
over slips two prongs

For a moment, suspended  
life and death over pickets

A dash and a leap   
A mother returning home  
A meal escapes

## Quan Xie

### Scorpion  
Buthus Martensi

##### Salty, Spicy, Neutral, Toxic  
LIV

• Extinguishes liver wind and strongly stops tremors

• Strongly clears fire toxins and nodules

• Unblocks the collaterals, tracks down wind, and stops pain

Above Mt. Casper  
underneath the oil shale  
fossils and cousins

Test you bravery at night  
and watch them glow like plastic

They fluoresce no more  
Mixing them in paper bags  
for tremmoring patients

## Shi Jue Ming

### Abalone Shell  
Concha Haliotidis

##### Salty, Cold  
KI, LIV

• Drains liver fire, descends and anchors rising yang, and pacifies the lover

• Improves the vision and clears visual obstructions

• Calms internal wind, clears stomach fire and stops pain

On our honeymoon  
we try the conch at dinner  
because we are in love

It is the first of many  
experiments we will share

Some left on the plate  
Neither of us like the taste  
but we love the flavor 

## Tian Ma

### Heavenly Hemp Rhizome  
Rhizoma Gastrodiae

##### Sweet, Neutral  
LIV

• Calms the liver, extinguishes liver wind from either heat or cold patterns, and stops spasms and tremors

• Extinguishes wind, alleviates pain, and subdues rising liver Yang

• Disperse painful obstruction due to wind phlegm

Nothing narcotic  
in this vinegared tuber  
Nothing except peace

Taste like stale potato chips  
Looks and smells about the same

Some things in poor taste,  
like bad jokes and bland herbs,  
hide wisdom and peace

## Wu Gong

### Centipede  
Scolopendra

##### Spicy, Warm, Toxic  
LIV

• Extinguishes wind and stops spasms

• Dissipates toxins and nodules and relieves fire toxins

• Unblocks the collaterals and stops pain

A stick through the head   
they latch on and attack it  
Violent medicine

Attacking all during life  
Attacking wind after death

Shaking out my boots  
to the tatami it drops  
Shaking in my boots

# Herbs That Invigorate Blood
## Huai Niu Xi

### White Oxknee Root  
牛膝 (Goshitsu)  
Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae

##### Bitter, Sour, Neutral  
KI, LIV

• Invigorates blood expels blood stasis

• Nourishes liver and kidney Yin, strengthens the sinews, bones, and joints

• Clears damp heat in the lower Jiao

• Brings blood and fire downward

The sedge-hat farmers  
compelled to walk behind them  
as they till the field

The oxen pull the farmer  
The farmer pushes the ox

No energy lost   
when pushing comes from pulling  
and pull comes to push

## Chi Shao

### Red Peony Root  
Radix Paeoniae Rubra

##### Bitter, Sour, Slightly Cold  
LIV, SP

• Invigorates blood and dispels stasis

• Clears heat and cools the blood

• Clears liver fire and relieves eye pain

The scent of coyness  
Peony with blood for sap  
blushes at my touch

My heart runs flush with vigor  
when your pollen is let loose

Plucking at your dress  
your evergreen modesty  
tastes good in my cup

## Chuan Shan Jia

### Pangolin Anteater scales  
Squama Manitis

##### Salty, Cool  
LIV, ST

• Disperses blood stasis, unblocks menses, and promotes lactation

• Reduces swellings and promotes discharge of pus

• Expels wind damp from the channels.

In search of scales  
who would disassemble   
god's artwork

He gives away a bouquet  
and someone steals a vase

At a certain point  
scarcity becomes prayer  
\---

## Chuan Xiong

### Szechwan Lovage Rhizome  
川芎 (Senkyo)  
Rhizoma Chuanxiong

##### Spicy, Warm  
GB, LIV, PC

• Invigorate blood, promote movement of Qi

• Expels wind and alleviates pain

• Clears headache pain and tension

I have a craving  
sticky sour and saccharine  
Lovage and gummies

The flavors of adulthood  
can't match the taste of youth

No one can eat it  
and appear adult  
Slice of watermelon

## Dan Shen

### Red Sage Root  
Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae

##### Bitter, Slightly Cold  
HRT, LIV, PC

• Invigorate blood and breaks up blood stasis in lower abdomen

• Clear heat and soothe irritability

• Cools the blood and reduces abscesses

• Nourishes the blood and calms the spirit

Truth burns, like a brand  
We reach out our arms and wince  
holding hot iron

they tell us that we can't hold  
and that we cannot release

A heard of mad monks  
pastoral and violent  
stampede in my mind

## E Zhu

### Zedoary Root  
Rhizoma Curcumae Zedoariae

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm  
LIV, SP

• Invigorates the blood, promotes the movement of Qi, alleviates pain

• Dissolve accumulations, stagnation, and pain

When you were sick  
I walked a million miles  
to hide my weakness

I would call you on the phone  
and pray to hear your voicemail

I grew so small  
hoping the patent bottle  
could keep me hidden

## Hong Hua

### Safflower  
紅花 (Koka)  
Flos Carthami

##### Spicy, Warm  
HRT, LIV

• Invigorates the blood and unblocks menstruation

• Dispels blood stasis and alleviates pain

Deep in the fire  
the meat begins to sizzle  
fat dribbles on coals

Sticks, filthy moments ago  
now serve as our chopsticks

Before they can burst  
we spear the german sausage  
with a pocket knife

## Hu Zhang

### Japanese Knotweed Rhizome  
Rhizoma Poligoni Cuspidati

##### Bitter, Cold  
GB, LIV, LU

• Invigorates blood, dispels stasis, and unblocks the channels

• Clears heat and resolves dampness

• Drains heat and transforms phlegm

• Discharges toxins and disperses swelling

The loom and shuttle  
in my grandparent's basements  
I imagine the sound

Playing string and percussion  
a single tune lasting weeks

My scratchy blanket  
has grown much softer  
since my grandma died

## Ji Xue Teng

### Millettia Root and Vine  
Caulis Spatholobi

##### Bitter, Sweet, Warm  
HRI, LIV, SP

• Invigorates the movement of blood and tonifies the blood

• Invigorate the channels and relax the sinews

Three flavors today  
if you were to consume me;  
bitter, sweet, and warm

In my backyard, a garden  
weeds and petunias complete

Wild tomatoes  
plentiful and delicious  
making my mouth itch

## Jiang Huang

### Tumeric  
Rhizoma Curcumae Longae

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm  
LIV, SP, ST

• Invigorate the blood, eliminates blood stasis, and unblock menses

• Promote the movement of Qi and opens the channels

• Expels wind, invigorates the blood, and reduces swelling

Different qualities  
yet seen through the same eyes  
Printed photographs

no one takes pictures to show  
they take them to remember

"you should have been there  
hooded field, sunset water"  
-dry ginger

## Lu Lu Tong

### Liquidamber, Sweetgum Fruit  
Fructus Liquidamberis

##### Bitter, Neutral  
LIV, ST

• Promotes movement of qi and invigorates the blood, opens middle Jiao, and unblocks the channels

• Promotes urination and expels wind

• Promotes lactation

• Treats allergies

Cleaning up my lawn  
the next platonic solid  
is the sweetgum shell

caught using Menger's sponge  
to clean up my messy meth

Sum of existence:  
No volume, endless surface  
and gum tree seedpods

## Mo Yao

### Myrrh  
Resina Commiphorae

##### Bitter, Neutral  
HRT, LIV, SP

• Invigorate blood, dispel blood stasis, reduces swelling and alleviate pain

• Promotes healing and generates flesh

They gave him myrrh  
because no life is lived  
without hurt and healing

There are no bands of gold  
that can brace a bleeding heart

Even the divine  
loose a tusk or an eye,  
or take with them scars

## Ru Xiang

### Boswellia, Frankincense  
Gummi Olibani

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm  
HRT, LIV, SP

• Invigorates blood and increases the movement of Qi

• Relax the sinews, invigorates the channels, and alleviates pain

• Reduces swellings and generates flesh

In the Sahara  
you ask a tree to cry  
to avoid weeping

Who is to say it is sad?  
It could be weeping with joy

A blood donation  
irrregardless of species  
or even phylum

## San Leng

### Burr-Reed Rhizome  
Rhizoma Sparganii

##### Bitter, Spicy, Neutral  
LIV, SP

• Breaks up blood stasis, promotes movement of Qi, and alleviates pain

• Dissolves accumulations and regulates menstruation

Grit polishes rock  
sandpaper polishes wood  
life polishes life

diamonds colliding in space  
Atoms colliding at CERN

little in nothing  
chased by Shrodinger's cat  
creates everything

## Shui Zhi

### Leech  
Hirudo

##### Bitter, Salty, Neutral, Slightly Toxic (Toxic to pregnancy)  
BL, LIV

• Breaks up blood stasis and reduces masses

• Clears water passages

Mud under my sock  
I flick it....!  
I flick flick flick it!

A lion thrashing madly  
a painless thorn in his foot

He flicked his lighter  
The mud became animate  
and fell to the ground

## Si Gua Luo

### Loofah  
Fructus Luffae Retinervus

##### Sweet, Neutral  
LIV, LU, ST

• Resolves toxicity and reduces swelling

• Unblocks the channels and collaterals in the breast

• Unblocks the channels and collaterals and dispels Wind

• Expels phlegm and cough from lung heat

I scrub with a Fruit  
and yet at the same time  
I eat my washcloth

Can you scrub out that last poem?  
Its foul taste is lingering

Triton, a practical god  
who makes tool, food, and fish all one  
in service of all

## Su Mu

### Sappan Wood  
蘇木 (Soboku)  
Lignum Sappan

##### Salty, Spicy, Sweet, Neutral  
HRT, LIV, SP

• Invigorates blood, reduces swelling, opens the channels, and alleviates pain

• Stops bleeding

From my balcony  
twilight cobblestone road  
the clack of wood heels

a rectangle firefly  
follows her into the dark

her voice now fading  
I can still hear her wood soul  
going down the road

## Tao Ren

### Peach Kernel  
桃仁 (Tonin)  
Semen Persicae

##### Bitter, Sweet, Neutral  
HRT, LI, LIV, LU

• Breaks up blood stasis and invigorates the blood

• Moistens intestines and unblock the bowels

• Drains abscesses

Soft, hard, then bitter  
three lifetimes held in one hand  
The immortal's peach

When bitter does not offend  
the sweetness can be found

Unpacking the peach kernels  
I hope that somebody  
enjoyed the Fruit

## Tu Bie Chong

### Wingless Cockroach  
土鳖虫 (Shachu)  
Eupolyphaga / Steleophaga

##### Salty, Cold, Slightly Toxic  
HRT, LIV, SP

• Breaks up and drives out blood stasis, invigorates circulation, and disperses masses

• Renews and rebuilds joints, sinews, and bones

How come our elders  
who are older than mankind  
do not get respect

I feel that we should honor   
those who live without a head

Who'll remember us  
when we chop off our own head?  
None, but the cockroach

## Wa Leng Zi

### Ark shell, Cockle shell  
Concha Arcae

##### Salty, Neutral  
LIV, LU, SP

• Invigorates the blood, dissolve phlegm, softens abdominal masses, and resolves stagnation

• Absorb acid and alleviate pain

To the sea, a home  
to the cockle, its an ark  
to my foot, a pain

Salt and sand in my cut foot  
I imagine I'm poisoned

On our honeymoon  
we were afraid of the sea,  
the benevolent sea

## Wang Bu Liu Xing

### Cow Soapwort Seeds  
Semen Vaccariae

##### Bitter, Neutral  
LIV, ST

• Invigorates the blood and channels and promotes the movement of blood

• Reducing swelling and drains abscesses

• Promotes healing of cut wounds

A steak, milk, and cheese  
I'm always asking of her  
giving as if it's nothing

I saw you frolic in spring  
and yet, I can still eat you

I can't not eat you  
But I have not learned yet  
how I say thank you

## Wu Ling Zhi

### Flying Squirrel Feces  
Excrementum Trogopteri seu Pteromi

##### Bitter, Salty, Warm  
LIV

• Invigorates the blood, relieves pain, and dispels blood stasis

• Transforms stasis, stop bleeding, and eliminates toxins

Religious trinket  
made of plastic and spray paint  
god still lives in there

it is not in the carving  
it's in the salesman's hand

Buyer and seller  
To make the magic beans grow  
it takes perfect faith

## Xue Jie

### Sanguis Draconis, Dragon's Blood  
Resina Daemonoropis

##### Sweet, Salty, Neutral  
HRT, LIV

• Dispels blood stasis, relieves pain, and invigorates the blood

• Protects decay of ulcer's surface and generates flesh

• Stops bleeding topically

Two pricks, small and big  
The tube goes from clear to red  
The bay fills slowly

I imagine dividends  
paid against my needle pain

Everything borrowed  
is shared, person to person  
Eternal living

## Yan Hu Suo

### Corydalis Root  
延胡索 (Engosaku)  
Rhizoma Corydalis

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm  
HRT, LIV, ST

• Invigorates blood, moves Qi, and strongly alleviates pain

• Induces and prolongs sleep

Heroine when drunk  
and a doctor when sober  
Corydalis Root

He doesn't overthink it  
when I take away his thoughts

Once, while on the clock  
he was invited to drink  
I declined-

## Yi Mu Cao

### Chinese Motherwort  
益母草 (Yakumoso)  
Herba Leonuri

##### Bitter, Spicy, Slightly Cold  
BL, HRT, LIV

• Invigorates the blood, dispels stasis, and regulates menses

• Promotes urination and reduces swelling

• Clears heat and resolves toxicity

A knight at the gate   
They call him the lion heart  
they call her a him

Underneath her chest armor  
straps, bandages, and truth

Defend her gender  
or defend her family  
it was his choice to make

## Yu Jin

### Curcuma Tuber  
鬱金 (Ukon)  
Radix Curcumae

##### Bitter, Spicy, Cold  
HRT, LIV, LU

• Invigorates the blood, break up stasis, and helps heal chronic sores

• Promotes movement of Qi

• Clears heat and cools the blood

• Benefits the gallbladder and reduces jaundice

Only "false saffron"  
makes the sun rise underground  
at a price for all

who can admire a king  
hiding in a palanquin?

The yellow of piss  
is the same as brass and gold  
which one do you wear?

## Yue Ji Hua

### China Tea Rose, Moon-season Rose  
Flos Rosae Chinensis

##### Sweet, Warm  
LIV

• Invigorates blood and regulates menses

• Reduces swelling and regulates Qi

The streetlight goes out  
we find our way to the roses  
by Luna's lantern

Pink roses blushing to red  
the smell of crushed grass

How I long to go back  
but I could never go back  
even if I was there

## Ze Lan

### Bugleweed  
Herba Lycopi

##### Bitter, Spicy, Slightly Warm  
LIV, SP

• Promotes the movement of blood, dispels stasis and promotes menstruation

• Promotes urination and disperses swelling

This morning I dreamed  
ocean views on mountain tops  
the smell of warm rugs

Sitting in the bungalow  
sunlight and the smell of wood

I never want to leave  
Bugs and spiders deter me  
from returning home

## Zi Ran Tong

### Pyrite  
Pyritum

##### Spicy, Neutral  
LIV

• Dispels blood stasis, relieves pain, and promotes healing of bones and sinews

Iron or arum  
when I see it on my hand  
it is worth the same

Appraiser looks at my ring  
I once felt so ashamed

A modern artifact  
it is not the first lifetime  
I have worn this ring

# Herbs That Nourish the Heart and Calm the Spirit
## Bai Zi Ren

### Biota Seed, Arborvitae Seed  
Semen Thujae

##### Sweet, Neutral  
HRT, KI, LI

• Nourishes heart blood, calms the spirit

• Moisten the intestines and unblocks the bowel from blood and Yin deficiency

• Clears night-sweats due to Yin deficiency

Tree shades my window  
My screen looks much sharper  
hiding from the sun

I escape a world of fantasy  
into a world of fantasy

I sometimes regret   
I almost never regret  
I don't regret

## He Huan Pi

### Silktree, Mimosa Tree, Albizzia Bark  
Cortex Albiziae

##### Sweet, Neutral  
HRT, LIV, LU

• Calms the spirit and relieves constrained emotions

• Focuses the mind and draws in happiness

• Invigorates the blood, alleviates pain, and joins the sinews and bones

• Regulates Qi, relieves pain, dissipates swelling and abscesses

_My favorite herb  
does exactly what it's told  
_gathering happiness

 _He Huan Hua and He Huan Pi_ _  
_"Panax Emotionalis" _

can no one find you?  
I rarely saw your name  
being called for_

## Suan Zao Ren

### Spiny Zizyphus, Sour Jujube Seed  
酸棗仁 (Sansonin)  
Semen Zizyphi Spinosae

##### Sweet, Sour, Neutral  
GB, HRT, LIV, SP

• Nourishes the heart Yin, tonifies liver blood, quiets the spirit

• Prevents spontaneous sweating and night-sweats.

A stuffed big horn  
no bigger than a kitten  
guards me from the night

of all my stuffed animals  
he never stopped being real

Now he watches me  
as he has always watched me  
from the top of my book stack

## Ye Jiao Teng

### Fleeceflower caulis  
Caulis Polygoni Multiflori

##### Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Neutral  
HRT, LIV

• Calms the spirit and nourishes the heart Yin and blood

• Unblocks the channels and disperses wind damp

• Alleviates itching and astringes sweat

Only my body  
with no regard for my heart  
outgrew my sweater

Every loop and hook for me  
About 6 sizes to small

Found a solution  
to the heartbreak of growing  
Now, I ask for scarves

## Yuan Zhi

### Chinese Senega, Thin-Leaf Milkwort Root  
遠志 (Onji)  
Radix Polygalae

##### Acrid, Spicy, Slightly Warm  
HRT, LU

• Calms the spirit, quiets the heart, and clears the path between the kidney and heart

• Expels phlegm from the lungs, clears the orifices, and stops cough

• Reduces abscesses and dissipate swellings

Wrapped in a blanket  
lullaby and croopy cough  
Held, eyes to the stars

Everything big was so small  
Everything small was so big

Deep in a fever   
I made it to the front door  
before someone stopped me

# Herbs That Open Orifices
## Bing Pian

### Borneo Camphor  
Borneolum

##### Acrid, Bitter, Slightly Cool,  
HRT, LU, SP

• Aromatically opens orifices, revives the spirit, and unblocks closed disorders

• Clears heat, relieves pain, dissipates nodules, and alleviates itching

• Clears heat, drains fire, resolves toxicity, and brightens the eyes

I had a friend   
who almost renamed "The Pearl"  
as "The Peppermint"

He took the forage from the cows  
and fed it to aristocrats

A man of the mint  
who was known for his green  
I sip on him now

## Niu Huang

### Cattle Bezoar  
牛黄 (Goo)  
Calculus Bovis

##### Bitter, Cool  
HRT, LIV

• Clears the heart, opens the orifices, awakens the spirit, and vaporizes phlegm

• Clears the liver, relieves toxicity, extinguishes wind, and stops tremors

• Drains heat and relieves fire toxicity

Mistaken relief  
The burden of bezoar  
is best when removed

They are smarter than we think  
We would paint their fences white

Manager's burden  
made easier by the staff  
they took on the Ark

## She Xiang

### Deer Musk  
麝香 (Jako)  
Secretio Mochus

##### Spicy, Warm, Aromatic, Toxic during pregnancy  
HRT, SP, LIV

• Strongly opens the orifices, revives the spirit, unblocks closed disorders

• Invigorates the blood, dissipates clumps, reduces swelling, alleviates pain, and opens the channels

There was a country   
whose citizens I could smell  
Argentine leather

No one else could smell it  
except a halfling like me

Earth and detergent  
animal and Italy  
and longing,,, longing 

## Shi Chang Pu

### Sweetflag Rhizome  
Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii / Graminei

##### Acrid, Bitter, Warm, Aromatic  
HRT, ST

• Opens the orifices, vaporizes phlegm, quiets the spirit, removes filth, and disperses wind

• Harmonize the middle Jiao, transform turbid damp, mobilizes the spleen and awakens the movement of QI

• Promotes blood flow, reduces swelling, and alleviates wind damp cold

• Benefits the throat and the voice

Knowledge cannot cure  
a gutful of parasites  
only wisdom can

Plants come from dirt and water  
but dirt and water are not plants

Maybe that is true  
But wisdom can pull the two   
out of the one

## Su He Xiang

### Rose Maloes, Turkish Sweetgum resin  
Levant Styrax

##### Sweet, Spicy, Warm  
HRT, SP

• Opens the orifices and penetrates through turbidity and phlegm

• Relieves pain in the chest and abdomen, opens up stagnation, and clears away turbidity

On my first visit  
I saw the room with my nose  
and knew it to be home

My eyes were the last to see  
that the windows were misplaced

Moving van driver  
My wife, in a truckers cap  
changes our address

# Herbs That Release the Exterior Wind Cold
## Bai Zhi

### White Angelica Root  
白芷 (Byakushi)  
Radix Angelicae Dahuricae

##### Spicy, Warm  
LU, SP, ST

• Expels wind cold, alleviates discharge, and dries dampness

• Opens nasal passages, clears sinus congestion, and alleviates pain

I avoid your clan   
Members of your family  
are truly toxic

Seated in the dining room  
I can't tell doctors from death

White umbrella nurse   
let's pretend you didn't grow  
in your parent's house

## Cong Bai

### Spring Green Onion  
Bulbus Allii

##### Spicy, Warm  
LU, ST

• Releases exterior and induces sweating

• Disperses cold and unblocks Yang

• Kills parasites, relieves toxins, and disperses clumps

Beaver is a fish  
if you eat it on Friday  
Says the Franciscan

Underneath the handkerchief  
Ortolan hides from god

The monk from Thailand   
Snips the greens into his soup  
Ignoring the roots

## Fang Feng

### Laserwort, Siler, Wind-Protector Root  
防風 (Bofu)  
Radix Saposhnikoviae / Ledebouriellae

##### Acrid, Sweet, Slightly Warm  
Bl, LI, LU, SP

• Releases exterior and expels external wind

• Helps other herbs expel wind damp, alleviates pain, and relieve spasms

• Harmonizes spleen and liver arguments

The wall's architect  
Divided the hot springs  
but left thoughtful gaps

no one can directly look  
even though we all want to

I cannot resist  
Peeking through the windscreen gap  
I see an eye!

## Gao Ben

### Chinese Lovage, Lugusticum Root  
Rhizoma Ligustici

##### Spicy, Warm  
BL, LIV

• Expels wind cold in the head

• Dispels wind and dampness

It's almost mythic  
head to Root and Root to head  
Chinese Lovage Root

Going to the gym today  
Sculpting muscles with gazes

I touch with my eyes  
long before I can listen   
with my fingertips

## Gui Zhi

### Cassia, Cinnamon Twig  
桂枝 (Keishi)  
Ramulus Cinnamomi

##### Spicy, Sweet, Warm  
BL, HRT, LU

• Releases the exterior, assists Yang, adjusts the Ying and Wei, and releases the muscle layer

• Assists heart Yang, resolves blood stagnation and warms the channels

• Clears edema and accumulation of cold phlegm, unblocks Yang Qi in the chest

Of all his spices  
the tea shaman treasured this  
Cinnamon twigs

The potency remaining   
from the day he plucked them

I can smell the warmth   
deep in the damp of Portland  
underneath the bridge

## Jing Jie

### Japanese Catnip  
荊芥 (Keigai)  
Herba Schizonepetae

##### Spicy, Slightly Warm, Aromatic  
LIV, LU

• Expels wind and releases the exterior

• Resolve itching and vents rashes

• Dispels wind and relieves muscle spasms

His name was Dickens   
we found him in Christmas snow  
living in a foot print

The cold was so deep in him  
that he slept in the furnace

years later, sneaking in  
a cat with a hole in its side  
Our reputation

## Ma Huang

### Whorehouse Tea, Chinese Joint Fir, Mormon Tea  
麻黄 (Mao)  
Herbae Ephedrae

##### Slightly Bitter, Spicy, Warm  
BL, LU

• Induce sweating to release the exterior

• Disperse and guides lung qi

• Promote urination and reduces edema

• Warms and disperses pathogenic cold

_Apothecary  
Treats righteous and religions  
with the same herbals

Disease pays for no women  
and it does not stop for church

Joy and memories   
Gas station to pharmacy  
Ma Huang_ _and I_

## Qiang Huo

### Notopterygium Root  
羗活 (Kyokatsu)  
Radix et Rhizoma Notopterygii

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm, Aromatic  
BL, KI

• Release exterior, removes obstructions, and disperse cold, wind, and damp from the joints

• Guides herbs into the Governing Vessel and Tai Yang channels

The pen doesn't guide  
the senator's voting hand  
Wife's perfume lingers

It is within the bedroom  
that secrets and oaths are made

From the gallery  
she is making sure his pen  
stays loyal to her

## Sheng Jiang

### Fresh Ginger Root  
生姜 (Shokyo)  
Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens

##### Spicy, Slightly Warm  
LU, SP, ST

• Release the exterior, promotes perspirations, and drives out the cold

• Warms the middle Jiao and harmonizes the stomach

• Alleviates coughing and warms lung

• Reduces the toxicity of other herbs

Sitting on her heels   
A pile of yellow roots  
Both beaming with pride

Ginger sold from the dirt road  
tells its journey in flavor

Under fluorescents  
it's ginger only in name  
Everything else, sold 

## Xi Xin

### Manchurian Wild Ginger  
細辛 (Saishin)  
Herba cum Radix Asari

##### Spicy, Warm, Slightly Toxic  
KI, HRT, LU

• Helps other herbs release exterior cold

• Dispels wind and internal cold and relieves pain

• Transforms phlegm, warms the lungs, and unblocks nasal congestion

• Helps with oral injuries and toothache

One in the morning  
the one-legged man   
under the streetlight

We spilt some oranges  
he tells me of his life

I give him a pack  
filled with blankets, hope, and soap  
and wishes and dreams

## Xiang Ru

##### Aromatic Madder  
Herba Mosiae

##### Spicy, Slightly Warm, Aromatic  
LU, ST

• Induces sweating, releases the exterior and, expels summer heat

• Transforms dampness and harmonizes the spleen and stomach

• Promotes urination and reduces swelling

In our underwear  
hiding from the mid-day sun  
eating Otter-Pops

Outside the grass is growing  
nature will outlast us all

When the sun goes down  
we take to the cul-de-sac  
to soak up the night

## Xin Yi Hua

### Magnolia Flower Bud  
Flos Magnoliae

##### Spicy, Warm  
LU, ST

• Expels wind cold and unblocks the sinuses

Snipping candle tips  
the earthy candelabra  
goes from white to brown

The Daoists say it adds ten years  
I get richer by stealing

Thirty flower buds  
Thirty candles on my cake  
Illuminated

## Zi Su Ye

### Perilla Leaf  
紫蘇葉 (Shisoyo)  
Folium Perillae

##### Spicy, Warm, Aromatic  
LU, SP

• Release the exterior and disperse cold

• Resolve qi stagnation in spleen and stomach, open chest, and calms nausea

• Calm restless fetus and helps morning sickness

Between the needles  
from the thistles and junkies  
the wild plum tree

filling plastic grocery bags  
Drawing looks from passers by

Wild eye wonder  
why would no one else join me   
in the purple rain

# Herbs That Release Exterior Wind Heat
## Bo He

### Field Mint  
薄荷 (Hakka)  
Herba Menthae Haplocalycis

##### Spicy, Cool, Aromatic  
LIV, LU

• Expels wind heat and cools the head

• Vents rashes and expels turbid filth

• Resolves liver Qi Stagnation

Near the riverbank  
growing fast, but without charm  
tasteless river mint

The mud took one of my shoes  
and I took ten of its plants

Refine and distill  
Into an ounce of oil  
I condense summer

## Chai Hu

### Hare's Ear, Bupleurum Root  
柴胡 (Saiko)  
Radix Bupleuri

##### Bitter, Spicy, Cool  
GB, LIV, PC

• Clears Shao Yang disorders, disperses wind heat and reduces fever

• Relieves liver qi stagnation and clears emotional pain

• Raises Yang Qi in gallbladder, spleen, and stomach deficiency patterns

Two arguing men   
an old lady steps between  
The hand of Buddha

After a night of drinking  
everything is flammable

A spider web forms  
Two bears fighting on a bus  
Head strike the windshield 

## Chan Tui

### Cicada molting  
蝉退 (Zentai)  
Periostracum Cicadae

##### Salty, Sweet, Cool  
LU, LIV

• Disperses wind and clears heat

• Strongly relieves itching and vents rashes

• Clears eyes and removes superficial visual obstructions

• Stops spasms and extinguishes liver wind

What we leave behind  
In our parents basements  
Photos and moltings?

Stashed in a wood speaker  
angry rambling and ------

In a box somewhere   
Is my keychain collection  
and hope, endless hope

## Dan Dou Chi

### Prepared Fermented Soybean  
Semen Sojae Preparatum

##### Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Cold  
LU, ST

• Releases both exterior hot or cold (depending on how it is prepared)

• Eliminates irritability, restlessness, insomnia, and harmonizes the middle Jiao

• Clears fire, settles Qi, and eliminates damp heat

At the front counter  
a customer brings me a gift  
of fermented beans

Blind myself from co-workers  
whose eyes sparkle with judgment

For just a moment  
we both ignore social norms  
and I accept it

## Fu Ping

### Duckweed  
Herba Spirodelae

##### Spicy, Cool  
BL, LU

• Clears exterior heat, induces sweating, and promotes urination

• Unblocks the muscle layer and vents rashes

_Winged inkblots diving  
black and white became green  
duckweed in the pond

_ I wait for him to surface  
Anxious, in nature's flawed way

Car crosses the bridge  
Radio blares like Thisby   
Panic from a Prius 

## Ge Gen

### Kudzu Root  
葛根 (Kakkon)  
Radix Puerariae

##### Sweet, Spicy, Cool  
SP, ST

• Releases upper muscles, clears heat, and discharges exterior conditions

• Nourishes the fluids and alleviates thirst, and alleviates diarrhea

Giving and giving  
Stopping panic, choking panic   
Giving and giving

Excess becomes deficient  
Binding becomes strangling

When mud starts to creep  
and all one has is kindness,  
talk to the devil

## Ju Hua

### Chrysanthemum flower  
菊花 (Kikuja)  
Flos Chrysanthemi

##### Sweet, Bitter, Cool  
LIV, LU

• Disperses wind and clears heat

• Clears liver and the eyes

• Calms liver Yang and extinguishes wind

• Promotes the movement of heart Qi, detoxifies and stimulates the blood

Growing in planters  
Mums at the light rail stop  
I pluck it with my teeth

Before the sun rises  
I look to brighten my eyes

Later I find out  
what I ate was not what I thought  
but what I needed

## Man Jing Zi

### Vitex, Chaste Tree Fruit  
蔓荊子 (Mankeishi)  
Fructus Viticis

##### Bitter, Cool  
BL, LIV, ST

• Disperses wind and clears heat

• Clears wind heat in the liver channel

• Drains dampness, expels wind, and relieves pain

A moment, alone  
A monk thinks of younger days  
fingers his prayer beads

nearby, a dish is served  
"Buddha jumps over the wall"

he gets on his knees  
What erodes him when held in  
erodes him when let out

## Mu Zei

### Horse-Tail, Shave Grass  
Herba Equiseti Hiemalis

##### Bitter, Sweet, Neutral  
LIV, LU

• Disperses wind heat and eliminates superficial visual obstruction

• Clears heat and stops bleeding

Doctor's once told me  
That four seeds destroy synapse  
god, I hope they're right

A gift of herbs meant to heal  
Powerless before chemistry

Science poisons me   
and there is no antidote  
Knowledge's venom 

## Niu Bang Zi

### Arctium, Great Burdock Fruit  
牛蒡子 (Goboshi)  
Fructus Arctii

##### Bitter, Spicy, Cool  
LU, ST

• Disperses wind heat and benefits throat

• Relieves toxicity and encourages rashes

• Moistens the intestines and clears wind heat toxins

Red plastic baskets  
Colliding in the produce  
Apples and pears watch

The gaijin and obasan   
exchanging bows and smiles

she points at "aperu"  
"ReIngou dezu kA?"  
"Ah! Jozu dess!"

## Sang Ye

### White Mulberry Leaf  
桑葉 (Soyo)  
Folium Mori

##### Bitter, Sweet, Cold  
LIV, LU

• Clears lung heat and moistens dryness

• Cools liver and clears the eyes

• Cools the blood, disperses wind heat, and stops bleeding

Carry some tissues  
It's a gift we all will need  
but we never want

A symbol of weaknesses  
that we could all do without

I wipe my nose  
and everything falls apart  
Blood, snot, and tears

## Sheng Ma

### Black Cohosh  
升麻 (Shoma)  
Rhizoma Cimicifugae

##### Spicy, Sweet, Slightly Cold  
LI, LU, SP, ST

• Releases the exterior and vents early measles

• Clears heat and relieves toxicity

• Raises Yang, boosts heart Yin, and lifts spleen Qi sinking

• Helps guide other herbs upwards

A clean bill of health  
for herself, and no one else  
Crisis averted

Everyone has accidents  
but she won't be one of them

So liberating  
To finally be in control  
of Destiny's horse 

# Herbs That Relieve   
Coughing and Wheezing

## Bai Bu

### Stemona Root  
Radix Stemonae

##### Bitter, Sweet, Slightly Warm  
LU

• Moistens the lungs and stops cough

• Expels parasites and kills bugs

Reading Kerouak  
A bug crawls across my foot  
I hesitate ---

This wouldn't be the first book  
that impressed a bug

We laugh at the pun  
It continues on its way  
And its eaten by the cat

## Kuan Dong Hua

### Tussilago, Coltsfoot Flower  
款冬花 (Kantoka)  
Flos Farfarae

##### Spicy, Warm  
LU

• Moistens the lungs, transforms phlegm, stops cough, and redirects qi downward

On my teacher's desk  
stickers, hand sanitizer   
photos of her kids

She remembered my first work  
"Construction-Paper-Watermelon"

She mentions my name  
I'm filled with the same pride   
I had when I was seven 

## Ma Dou Ling

### Dutchman's Pipe Fruit  
Fructus Aristolochiae

##### Bitter, Slightly Cold  
LI, LU

• Clears the lungs, transforms phlegm, and stops coughing and wheezing

• Clears and drains large intestine heat and reduces swelling and pain

A Marlboro man  
to American Spirit   
Lung cancer branding

For the good times and bad times  
two lighter strikes and a puff

An honest question:  
Are the lost moments as good   
as the ones smoked?

## Meng Shi

### Mica, Chlorite  
Lapis Chloriti

##### Salty, Sweet, Neutral  
LI, LU, ST

• Directs qi downward and reduces phlegm

• Calms the liver and suppresses convulsions

Jewelry becomes cheap  
only when we decide  
that it should be cheap

A pewter charm from the fair  
as precious as my wedding band

There once was a clan  
who hid rubies in their skin  
for divine blessings

## Mu Hu Die / Gui Zhi Hua

### Oroxylum Seeds  
Semen Oroxyli

##### Bland, Sweet, Cool  
LIV, LU

• Moistens the lungs and clears and the voice

• Comforts the liver and regulates Qi

• Promotes healing of damp heat ulcers in the skin

Once while being mugged  
and once as a soloist  
Two times terrified

No amount of applauding   
could cure me of stage fright

And yet I went out   
Belting bravery over fear  
Clad in Fagan's rag

## Pi Pa Ye

### Loquat Leaf  
枇杷葉 (Biwayo)  
Folium Eriobotryae

##### Bitter, Neutral  
LU, ST

• Transforms phlegm, clears lung heat, and guides lung Qi down

• Harmonizes the stomach, clears stomach heat, and guides stomach Qi down

Who were you drawn for  
Cartoon on the couch syrup  
Parent or child

Making light of vicious croup  
Reminding "This too shall pass"

Stressful week passes  
Having drinks with a mascot  
Codeine cocktail

## Sang Bai Pi

### White Mulberry Root Bark  
桑白皮 (sohakuhi)  
Cortex Mori

##### Sweet, Cold  
LU

• Drains lung heat and stops coughing and wheezing

• Promotes urination and reduces edema

I trip on a root   
And then spent the next hour  
tripping on the root

It was a nice day, I assume  
My phone flying, then cracking

The song birds singing  
and all I can think about  
are my mp3s

## Su Zi

### Perilla Fruit  
Fructus Perillae

##### Spicy, Warm  
LI, LU

• Stops coughing and wheezing, dissolves phlegm, and guides the Qi downward

• Moistens the intestines and unblock the bowel

Panicked, he called me  
"I caught IT... in my zipper"  
and I need your help!

Yunnan's White Medicine  
and needle-nose pliers

Bleeding and screaming  
Then Bai Yao and blowing air  
An awkward first date

## Ting Li Zi

### Wood Whitlow Grass, Tingli Seed  
Semen Lepidii / Descurainiae

##### Spicy, Bitter, Very Cold  
BL, LU

• Drains lung heat, reduces phlegm, and calms wheezing

• Churns the water and reduces edema

I once knew a girl  
who stung those closest to her  
whose name meant honey

Others would disapprove   
when, twice stung, I would swat

"Can you blame a bee  
with honeycomb in her heart?  
It's in her nature"

## Xing Ren

### Bitter Apricot kernel  
杏仁 (Kyonin)  
Semen Armeniacae

##### Bitter, Slightly Warm, Slightly Toxic  
LI, LU

• Stops cough and calms wheezing

• Moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels.

I knew another:  
As sweet as an apricot  
with a bitter core

Tossed the fruit and cracked the shell  
I reveled in its bitterness

Treasure surrounding  
Sitting amongst the shells  
A shit-eating grin

## Zi Wan

### Purple Aster Root  
Radix Asteris

##### Bitter, Spicy, Slightly Warm  
LU

• Relieves cough and expels phlegm

Empty looking house  
An ancient hands us apples  
Our parents don't trust

We are taught to believe  
that strangers are dangerous

For 13 years  
we take her apple slices   
Every Halloween

# Herbs That Relieve Food Stagnation
## Gu Ya / Su Ya

### Millet or Rice sprouts  
Fructus Setariae Germinatus  
Fructus Oryzae Germinatus

##### Sweet, Warm  
SP, ST

• Reduces food stagnation, strengthens the stomach, and harmonizes the center

• Strengthens the Spleen and encourages the appetite

The first time I bought  
a 20 lb bag of rice  
I was my proudest

What child would buy that much?  
Independent men buy rice

I burnt the first pot  
and the second was bitter  
Both tasted the best

## Ji Nei Jin

### Chicken Gizzard lining  
Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae Galli

##### Sweet, Neutral  
BL, SI, SP, ST

• Strongly reduces food stagnation and strengthen the transport function of the spleen

• Secures the Jing and stops enuresis

• Transforms hardness and dissolves stones

They have no morals   
Nor qualms with ending a life  
Towering emus

Ones head got stuck in a fence  
And ripped off in a panic

Throat, a booming drum  
Its eggs, giant drops of jade  
God's sense of humor

## Lai Fu Zi

### Radish Seed  
Semen Raphani

##### Spicy, Sweet, Neutral  
LU, SP, ST

• Reduces food stagnation, transforms accumulations, promotes digestion, and reduces distention

• Descends lung qi and reduces phlegm

All summer we pulled  
radish after radish up  
from our square of dirt

They tasted like sunshine  
and tingled like a sunburn

I've never tasted  
another quite like those ones  
we grew without growing

## Mai Ya

### Malt, Barley Sprouts  
Fructus Hordei Germinatus

##### Sweet, Neutral  
LIV, SP, ST

• Reduces food stagnation, improves digestion, and strengthens the stomach

• Smoothes the flow of liver Qi

The lawnmower man  
left a stand of false nettles  
by the Aspen tree

He eats his home-packed lunch  
near the fruits of his mercy

His sharp purple hope.  
The remainder of the yard  
trimmed to an inch

## Shan Zha

### Mountain Hawthorn Fruit  
山楂子 (Sanzashi)  
Fructus Crataegi

##### Sour, Sweet, Slightly Warm  
LIV, SP, ST

• Reduces and moves food stagnation and accumulations out

• Transforms blood stasis, dissipates clumps, and invigorates the blood.

• Stops diarrhea

I eat a haw disk  
and hope to gain the beauty  
of the spokesmodel

With fox nuts and gou qi zi  
Dispensary trail mix

When did I give up  
buckets of reality   
for pre-packed promises

## Shen Qu

### Massa Fermentata, Medicated Leaven  
Massa Medicata Fermentata

##### Spicy, Sweet, Warm  
SP, ST

• Reduces food stagnation, moves Qi, strengthens the stomach, and promotes digestion

Take everything good  
and press it into a brick

Massa fermenta  
It was a tangle of things  
Now, It's its own medicine

Massa fermenta  
I asked what it was made of  
"Massa fermenta"

# Herbs That Stabilize and Bind
## Bai Guo

### Ginko Nut  
Semen Ginkgonis Bilobae

##### Astringent, Bitter, Sweet, Neutral, Slightly Toxic  
LU

• Nourish the lungs and stop wheezing

• Eliminate dampness, stop discharges, and stabilizes the lower Jiao

Amongst the gold  
treasure for squirrel and scholar  
A pearl of sweet wood

Someone said it was toxic  
Knowledge can feel that way

A rock striking wood  
What I thought was enlightenment  
makes my dentist rich

## Chi Shi Zhi

### Red Halloysite, Red Kaolin  
Halloysitum Rubrum

##### Astringent, Sour, Sweet, Warm  
LI, SP, ST

• Holds the intestines, stops cold diarrhea

• Contain the blood and stop bleeding

• Promotes healing of wounds and generates flesh

Eating spicy food  
Consequences today  
Also tomorrow

A child with a pop-gun  
A mild habanero

All over the world  
We chase poison with poison  
Life's celebration

## Chun Pi

### Tree of Heaven Bark  
Cortex Ailanthi

##### Astringent, Bitter, Cold  
LI, ST

• Clears heat, dries dampness, astringes the intestines, and stops leakage in the lower Jiao

• Kills parasites and scabies

Climbing to heaven  
Take a break in the branches  
And chew on the Bark

We are given five senses  
To delight God with stories

First one I will tell:  
The story of finding you  
and losing myself

## Fu Pen Zi

### Chinese Raspberry Fruit  
Fructus Rubi

##### Astringent, Sweet, Neutral  
KI, LIV

• Tonifies and stabilizes the kidney Qi, binds the Jing, and restrains urine

• Tonifies Yang and improves vision

Here a "noxious weed"  
In the East, the prince of fruit  
Chinese Raspberry

A tyrant who conquers the land  
A leader that gives to all

Tamed by plastic  
You become a figurehead  
living in exile

## Fu Xiao Mai

### Wheat Berry  
Fructus Tritici Levis

##### Sweet, Slightly Salty, Cool  
HRT

• Stops excessive sweating from deficiency

• Nourish the heart and calms the spirit

On the Kansas plain  
Blue-white sky and khaki land  
Winter wheat harvest

The sound of silence  
The sound of wheatstraw

My heart goes fallow  
Stupid habits and vices  
Tilled into soil

## Hai Piao Xiao

### Cuttlefish Bone  
Endoconcha Sepiae

##### Astringent, Salty, Slightly Warm  
KI, LIV, ST

• Retains Jing due to kidney deficiency

• Harmonizes the stomach, controls acidity, resolves dampness, and promotes healing

It's not bitter  
That keeps me away from you  
It's the stink

What fetid mass grows in you  
Leaves slicks of odor on me

I'm not popular  
But hanging around with you  
I see their noses turn

## He Zi

### Myrobalan Fruit  
訶子 (Kashi)  
Fructus Chebulae

##### Astringent, Bitter, Sour, Neutral  
LI, LU, ST

• Binds and astringes the intestines

• Contains lung Qi leakage, stops cough, wheezing, and loss of voice

Segment by segment  
Juicy cell by juicy cell  
I eat the orange

An intimate food affair  
I consume it forever

Strange eyes and words  
No one appreciates  
the effort of Life

## Jin Ying Zi

### Cherokee Rose Hip  
Fructus Rosae Laevigatae

##### Sour, Neutral  
BL, KI, LI

• Stabilize the kidneys, retains Jing, and astringes urine

• Binds the intestines and stops diarrhea

A woman who crosses  
the prairie's barbed fences  
wearing rose petals

She draws no property lines  
and commits no trespassing

Painful to forage  
Yet the thought of uprooting  
is much more painful

## Lian Zi

### Lotus Seed  
蓮子 (Renshi)  
Semen Nelumbinis

##### Astringent, Sweet, Neutral  
HRT, KI, SP

• Tonifies the spleen and stops diarrhea

• Tonifies the kidneys and stabilize Jing

• Nourish the heart, calms the spirit, and flushes irritability

Growing from the mud  
in the pure lotus wisdom  
lies a simple food

The true gift of the dharma  
is the gift of giving

At the Great Lecture  
he showed us all a flower  
and we all ate the seeds

## Ma Huang Gen

### Ephedra Root  
Radix Ephedrae

##### Sweet, Neutral  
LU

• Stops sweat due to deficiency

• Known to reverse effects of Ma Huang

A plant with 2 names  
Apprentice Stem, Master's Root  
spirit and knowledge

One found in truck stops  
The other in textbooks

We all start somewhere  
and after reaching upwards  
end where we begin

## Nuo Dao Gen Xu

### Glutinous Rice Root  
Radix Oryzae Glutinosae

##### Sweet, Neutral  
KI, LI, LU

• Stops sweating caused by deficiency and increases saliva

• Clears deficient Yin fevers

Kimono in public  
The most judgmental glances  
Come from the mirror

A star thinks it's the brightest  
amongst its billion brothers

Accessorizing:  
Confidence would look the best  
but it doesn't fit

## Qian Shi

### Foxnut  
Semen Euryales

##### Astringent, Sweet, Neutral  
KI, SP

• Strengthen spleen and stop diarrhea.

• Stabilize kidneys and retains kidney Jing

• Expels dampness and stops discharge

Happy birthday fox!  
You came into my world  
30 years ago

I left you nuts and saké  
underneath the hemlock

Follow me around  
and show me pretty things  
under the sun

## Rou Dou Kou

### Nutmeg  
Semen Myristicae

##### Spicy, Warm  
LU, SP, ST

• Dries the intestines and stops chronic diarrhea

• Warms the middle Jiao, moves Qi, and alleviates abdominal pain

In selling my home  
I spray the scent of nutmeg  
Seeding memories

I never wanted to leave  
I never wanted to stay

A couple comes in   
Pregnant with child  
Pregnant with hope

## Shan Zhu Yu

### Cornelian Cherry Fruit  
山茱萸 (Sanshuyu)  
Fructus Corni

##### Sour, Slightly Warm  
KI, LIV

• Stabilize the kidneys and retain the Jing and fluids

• Tonifies the liver and kidney Yin and kidney Yag

• Stabilize menses, stops excessive sweating, and supports devastated Yang and Qi

_Out of lunch money  
A fresh bag of Shan Zhu Yu_ _  
weighs a little light_

Restocking the medicine  
Curing my aching stomach

My palm holds a meal  
7 assorted dry nuts  
5 or 6 red fruits

## Wu Bei Zi

### Chinese Sumac gallnut  
五倍子 (Gobaishi)  
Galla Chinensis

##### Sour, Salty, Cold  
KI, LI, LU

• Contain leakage of lung Qi and stops coughing

• Astringes the intestines, restrains leakage, and stops diarrhea

• Absorbs moisture, reduces swelling, and relieves fire toxicity topically

In an Irish pub  
a trio in the basement  
swirls around in smoke

Faces amongst the leather  
lit by embers and cell phones

A port and a pen  
The last time I touched those  
was when I was 12

## Wu Mei

### Mume Fruit  
Fructus Mume

##### Astringent, Sour, Warm  
LI, LIV, LU, SP

• Inhibits the leakage of lung Qi, and stops sweating and coughs

• Generates fluids, alleviates thirst, and astringes the intestines

• Expels roundworm, and stops bleeding

Big man in purple  
Tosses the troublemakers  
with only his eyes

"Sir," in a baritone voice  
The drunkard becomes sober

Yellow downward light  
The snow drawing white angles  
Sentry in a suit

## Wu Wei Zi

### Five-Flavor Berry, Schisandra Fruit  
Fructus Schisandrae

##### Sour, Sweet, Warm  
HRT, KI, LU

• Constrains leakage of lung qi and enriches kidney Yin

• Tonifies the kidneys, binds the essence, and stops diarrhea

• Inhibits sweating and generates fluids

• Quiets the spirit, calms the heart, and clears irritability

Red cup of nectar  
floating from sunny to cold  
Social butterfly

From Yeats to Pokemon  
a collection of knowledge

The end of the night  
A jug of filtered water  
and a Netflix binge

# Herbs That Stop Bleeding
## Ai Ye

### Mugwort, Argyi Wormwood Leaf  
艾葉 (Gaiyo)  
Folium Artemisiae Argyi

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm  
KI, LIV, SP

• Warms the womb, stops bleeding, and pacifies the fetus

• Disperses cold and alleviates pain

• Dries dampness and stops itching

In a foil wad  
Smoldering white and green  
Bundle of mugwort

Smoking behind the high school  
we cough on an ashy high

None of us feel much  
but we dream of the future  
in Technicolor

## Bai Ji

### Bletilla Root  
Rhizoma Bletillae

##### Astringent, Bitter, Sweet, Slightly Cold  
LU, ST, LIV

• Stops bleeding from the lungs and stomach

• Reduces swelling and generates flesh topically

Red on my knuckles  
I hope we can be friends  
when he stops bleeding

Drop to the floor and lock eyes  
We laugh, crimson spittle flies

Onlooker's chagrin  
Embarrassed at their bloodlust  
Unsure shuffling

## Bai Mao Gen

### White Grass Root  
Rhizoma Imperatae

##### Sweet, Cold  
LU, SI, ST

• Cools blood and stops bleeding

• Clears heat and promotes urination

• Clears heat from the stomach and lungs

Mowing in patterns  
for angels and airliners  
to appreciate

In the summer, cut the grass  
In the winter, shovel snow

Sitting in the art  
Listen to dry wild straw  
Listen to flakes

## Ce Bai Ye

### Arborvitae Leaf Tips  
柏葉 (Sokuhakuyo)  
Cacumen Biotae

##### Astringent, Bitter, Slightly Cold  
LI, LIV, LU

• Cools blood and stops bleeding

• Stops cough, expels phlegm, and soothes asthma

• Clears damp heat and wind dampness

• Promote healing of burns topically

The hair club for men;  
"We are all embarrassed  
by what nature did"

Nothing makes one look as old  
as trying to look too young

Brass nails and lasers  
The pain of embarrassment  
Seems not as painful

## Da Ji

### Japanese Thistle  
Herba Sive Radix Cirsii Japonici

##### Sweet, Cool  
HRT, LIV, SP

• Cools the blood and stops bleeding

• Reduces swelling, generates flesh, and moves blood stasis

• Improves the gallbladder and reduces jaundice

The coffee shop wasp  
asks me how to say phrases  
like "let's run away"

I'm only a substitute  
The words are for her teacher

She takes all the words;  
Tossing withered embryos  
at potent expats

## Di Yu

### Burnet-Bloodwort Root  
Radix Sanguisorbae

##### Bitter, Sour, Slightly Cold  
LI, LIV, ST

• Cools the blood and stops bleeding

• Clears heat, astringes the fluids, and generates flesh

In the back closet  
Cheap pants and lost clothing  
for poorer students

Instantly my heart drops-  
Aware of battles not fought

Hormones gone jaded  
But just for an instant  
I become human

## Huai Hua Mi

### Japanese Pagoda Tree Bud  
Flos Sophorae Immaturus

##### Bitter, Cool  
LI, LIV

• Cools the blood and stops bleeding

• Cools the liver and clears the head

Amateur birdhouse  
Perfect in its disrepair  
Nobody moves in

Windstorm; it falls off its post   
Crack like an egg, nest inside

A little bigger  
Rebuilt in the same style  
but without the leaks

## Jiang Xiang

### Scented Rosewood  
Lignum Acronychiae

##### Spicy, Sweet, Warm  
LIV, SP, ST

• Disperses blood stasis and stops bleeding

• Invigorates the blood, promotes the movement of Qi, and softens pain

Nothing heals faster  
Than a bandage placed by mom  
And sealed with a kiss

No opiate can compare  
Loving eyes and a smile

Splinters to concussions  
All injuries felt the same  
when I ran to her

## Ou Jie

### Lotus Rhizome Node  
Nodus Nelumbo Nuciferae

##### Astringent, Sweet, Neutral  
LIV, LU, ST

• Stops bleeding, breaks up blood stasis, and astringes leakage

• Clears heat from the blood

How many chapters  
and how many memories  
fill your library?

Did you read all of these books  
or are they just for looks

Great halls of records  
Held up by fleshy synapses  
designed to fail

## Pu Huang

### Cattail Pollen  
Pollen Typhae

##### Spicy, Sweet, Neutral  
HRT, LIV, SP

• Stops bleeding, invigorates the blood, dispels blood stasis, and promotes urination

Lances in the marsh  
Child warriors pluck them  
and fight while laughing

An explosion of cotton  
the bout is decided

We battled at dusk  
Any other time of day   
seemed inappropriate

## Qian Cao Gen

### Heart-Leaf Madder Root  
Radix Rubiae

##### Bitter, Cold  
HRT, LIV

• Cools the blood and the liver, transforms phlegm, and stops bleeding

• Invigorates blood to dispel blood stasis

• Disperses wind dampness, unblocks the channels

On the football field  
you wrapped me in a blanket  
and stared at the stars

It was nearly 10pm  
The curfew of youth was due

Always in my trunk  
I carry a time machine:  
A quilted blanket

## San Qi / Tian Qi

### Notoginseng, Three-Seven Root  
Radix Pseudoginseng

##### Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Warm  
LIV, ST

• Stops bleeding and transforms blood stasis

• Alleviate pain, reduce swelling from injury, stops bleeding, and invigorates the blood

Energy not energy  
Cans of enthusiasm  
Piled in the trash

They say those drinks will kill me  
Horse doesn't die from the whip

On Monday morning  
there's no need to check my mood  
Three half-empty mugs

## Xian He Cao

### Furry Agrimony  
Herba Agrimoniae

##### Bitter, Neutral  
LIV, LU, SP

• Astringes and stops bleeding, reduces swelling, and eliminates pus

• Kills parasites, and alleviates diarrhea and dysentery.

• Tonifies the Qi an blood

With no one around  
nostalgic stories with friends  
I'm watching re-runs

Homer and I share a beer  
while our respective Marges groan

Holding memories;  
I'm not reading the chapter  
I'm leaving bookmarks

## Zi Zhu

### Beauty-berry Leaf  
Folium Calicarpae Formosanae

##### Astringent, Bitter, Cool  
LIV, LU, ST

• Stops bleeding, resolves toxicity, and treats burns and sores

Presenting my work  
All I am thinking about  
are my mis-matched socks

I believe in my research  
but not my fashion senses

I come back to life   
From behind the podium  
no one sees my socks

## Zong Lu Pi

### Chinese Palm Fiber  
Fibra Stipulae Trachycarpi

##### Bitter, Neutral  
LI, LIV, LU

• Binds leakage and stops bleeding

Twining newspaper  
into colorful garlands  
of unread words

Advertisers and authors  
celebrating my birthday

Thrown into a bin  
Back to the recycling  
we all came from

# Herbs That Tonifies Blood
## Bai Shao Yao

### White Peony Root  
Radix Paeoniae Alba

##### Bitter, Sour, Cool  
LIV, SP

• Nourishes the blood and regulates menstrual problems

• Calms liver Yang and wind, alleviates pain, and alleviates liver Qi issues

• Preserves Yin and adjusts Ying and Wei levels

Slices from the white  
Delicately on my tongue  
Cooling my liver

On the wall of miracles  
Stood out, a bump in the air

Aspect of a nurse  
Calm voiced bedside angel  
Simple Root slices

## Dang Gui

### Chinese Angelica Root  
当帰 (Toki)  
Radix Angelicae Sinensis

##### Bitter, Sweet, Pungent, Warm  
HRT, LIV, SP

• Tonifies the blood and regulates menstruation

• Invigorates and harmonizes the blood, disperses cold, and stops stasis pain

• Moistens dry intestines and loosens the bowels

• Reduces swellings, expels pus, and generates flesh

Eyes, thrusting at me  
She asks me to save something  
Papers thrust at me

There are still those who believe  
before the world dries them out

From souls to soldiers  
Without a cash donation  
nothing is saved?

## E Jiao

### Donkey-Hide Gelatin  
阿膠 (Akyo)  
Gelatinum Corii Asini

##### Sweet, Neutral  
KI, LIV, LU

• Tonifies and nourishes the blood, and stops bleeding

• Nourish the Yin and moisten the lungs and large intestine

Bricks like Latinum  
A foul tasting medicine  
stacked like bullion

Both have their roots in stories  
Legendary currency

_E Jiao_ _and raw eggs  
Morning after the concert  
I pay my debt twice_

## Gou Qi Zi

### Chinese Wolfberry, Matrimony Vine, Lycium Fruit  
枸杞子 (Kukoshi)  
Fructus Lycii

##### Sweet, Neutral  
KI, LIV, LU

• Nourishes and tonifies liver and kidney Yin and blood

• Benefits Jing and brightens the eyes

• Enriches Yin and moistens the lungs

My friends know you as   
"A medicated raisin  
that benefits all"

For one with so many names  
that is the greatest title

No hidden meaning  
Just the truth in plain language  
Anyone could grasp

## He Shou Wu

### Mr. He's Black Hair, Flowery Knotweed Root  
何首烏 (Kashu)  
Radix Polygoni Multiflori Preparata

##### Astringent, Bitter, Sweet, Slightly Warm  
KI, LIV

• Tonifies liver and kidney, nourishes blood, and boosts the Jing

• Relieves toxic fire and expels wind from the skin

• Moistens intestines and unblock the bowel

Each hair that fell out  
A transgression reminder  
With vanity pain

From below a reminder  
But from above, a promise

Angels pluck away  
Until I look less manly  
and more like a monk

## Long Yan Rou

### Dragon's Eye, Longan Fruit  
竜眼肉 (Ryuganniku)  
Arillus Longan

##### Sweet, Warm  
HRT, SP

• Tonifies the heart and spleen, nourishes blood, and calms the spirit

The Eye of Taurus  
Watches over laborers  
of body and soul

Smokey "Dragon Eye" Longan  
works calmly without stressing

There are much worse fates  
than to suffer the hardship  
of good works given to us

## Shu Di Huang

### Prepared Chinese Foxglove Root  
Radix Rehmanniae Preparata

##### Sweet, Slightly Warm  
HRT, KI, LIV

• Tonifies and nourishes the blood, the liver, and kidney Yin

• Strongly nourishes the Yin, Jing, and blood, fills the marrow, and stops lower Jiao wasting

Mashed and cooked  
improves marrow and the brain  
looking like what it treats

Only the Most Inspired  
would leave us such careful clues

In the north and south  
from the far east to the west  
Like cures Like

## Sang Shen

### Mulberry Fruit  
Fructus Mori

##### Sweet, Cold  
HRT, KI, LIV

• Tonifies blood and enriches Yin

• Lubricates the intestines and generates fluids

At the bodega  
A box of mulberry fruit  
A can of Vimto

Sitting in the parking lot  
Mixing unknown with unknown

In a German car  
J-pop and Turkish candy  
Enjoying the sun

# Herbs That Tonifies Qi
## Bai Zhu

### White Atractylodis Rhizome  
白芷 (Byakushi)  
Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae

##### Bitter, Sweet, Warm  
SP, ST

• Tonifies the spleen and augments qi

• Stabilizes the exterior and stops sweating

• Dries dampness and retains moisture

Pairing cheese and tea  
We taste one and then another  
Do plum and hay mix?

Two masters of the tongue  
Paint portraits of sheep and hills

The tea maker sells   
Half the flavor for the mouth   
and half for the ears

## Da Zao

### Jujube Berry  
大棗 (Taiso)  
Fructus Jujube

##### Sweet, Warm  
SP, ST

• Tonifies spleen and stomach Qi

• Nourishes the blood and calms the spirit

• Softens the negative effects of other herbs

Hold it, sweetly.  
Refrain from biting too deep  
or you'll find, the pit

I shove it all in my mouth  
and let my teeth sort it out

Sweetness bound to stone  
Flesh bound to the skeleton  
Green bound to the Earth

## Dang Shen

### Codonopsis Root  
Radix Codonopsis

##### Sweet Neutral  
LU, SP

• Tonifies the middle Jiao and augments the QI

• Tonifies the lungs

• Nourishes the body and generates fluids

• Often used with herbs that release the exterior when patient has significant qi deficiency.

Red satin curtains  
over white venetian blinds  
filtering sunrise

Wrapped in the dough of my bed  
my room becomes an oven

After the sunset  
In rows across my bedspread  
slats of moonlight fall

## Gan Cao

### Licorice Root  
甘草 (Kanzo)  
Radix Glycyrrhizae

##### Sweet, Neutral  
HRT, LU, SP ST

• Tonifies the spleen and augments Qi

• Remedies Qi and blood deficiency with irregular pulse

• Moistens the lungs, stops phlegm, and resolves cough

• Clears heat and toxic fire

• Alleviates pain and stops spasms

• Harmonizes other herbs and is an antidote for poisoning

Honey-frying roots  
Never more an alchemist  
than over that wok

_Turning metal into gold  
Adding the "shi" to Gan Cao_ __

_Golden aroma  
Every 2_nd _Saturday  
Badge of my office_

## Huang Jing

### King Solomon Seal Rhizome  
黄精 (Osei)  
Rhizoma Polygonati

##### Sweet, Neutral  
LU, SP

• Tonifies the spleen Qi and stomach Yin

• Moistens the lungs and generates lung Yin

• Tonifies the kidneys, strengthen Jing, and relieves wasting

Solomon's keyring;  
Doodles in the Bible margins  
A bundle of roots

What Devil could not be tamed  
By a man who loves plants and art

His source of power?  
That he loved the creator   
more than creation

## Huang Qi

### Astragalus, Milk-Vetch Root  
黄耆 (Ogi)  
Radix Astragali

##### Sweet, Slightly Warm  
LU, SP

• Tonifies spleen Qi and blood

• Strengthens the spleen, and raises Yang Qi of spleen and stomach

• Tonifies the Wei Qi, stabilizes the exterior, and tonifies the lungs

• Tonifies Qi and blood due to loss of blood

• Promotes discharge of pus, expels urine, drains edema, and generates flesh

_For a chill in the spring  
Huang Qi_ _over Ren Shen_ _  
Heat over fire_

Don't stoke the fireplace  
a blanket will do

When cold to the bone  
warm yourself by the fire  
but don't linger there

## Ren Shen

### Ginseng Root  
人参 (ninjin)  
Radix Panax Ginseng

##### Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Slightly Warm  
LU, SP

• Very, strongly tonifies Yuan Qi,

• Tonifies spleen, stomach, and lung Qi

• Generates fluids and stops thirst

• Tonifies the heart Qi and calms the spirit

Never-ending  
Gnidne-reven  
Reincarnation

Endless dentist appointment  
Endless reasons to smile

Living forever   
Does not sounds nearly as fun as  
Living forever

## Shan Yao

### Mountain Yam Rhizome  
山薬 (Sanyak)  
Rhizoma Dioscoreae

##### Sweet, Neutral  
KI, LU, SP

• Tonifies the spleen and stomach Yin

• Tonifies the lung Qi and Yin

• Strengthens the kidney Yin and Jing

Sweet potato fries  
Will you be a remedy   
in 2,000 years?

Innovation to folk cure  
Folk cure to innovation

"Science found it works!"  
Was it really discovered,  
or rediscovered

## Tai Zi Shen

### Prince Ginseng, Pseudostellaria Root  
Radix Pseudostellariae

##### Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Neurtal  
LU, SP

• Strengthen the spleen and tonifies Qi

• Tonifies lung Qi and stops spontaneous sweating

• Generates fluids

The tiny ruler  
drooling over his scepter  
playing with his foot

How could someone so helpless  
be so helpful to my heart

Looking at scrapbooks  
Remembering royalty   
is always royal

# Herbs That Tonify Yang
## Ba Ji Tian

### Morinda Root  
Radix Morindae Officinalis

##### Spicy, Sweet, Slightly Warm  
KI

• Tonifies kidneys, reinforces sinews and bones and strengthens Yang

• Expel wind damp cold

Scrubbing out a gash  
with an old potato brush  
into a mop sink

An aluminum kettle  
over kerosene burner

Blue-tinted snapshots.  
This is how I remember   
the old man at work

## Bu Gu Zhi

### Scurf Pea, Psoraliae Fruit  
Fructus Psoraliae

##### Bitter, Spicy, Hot  
KI, SP

• Tonifies the kidneys, strengthens Yang, and stabilizes Jing

• Tonifies and strengthen spleen yang and stops diarrhea

• Aids the kidneys to grasp lung Qi

On the field by I2  
In the tractor by 14  
Awake by 7

Quiet kids from the country  
Cannot till the 405

In a 9 to 5  
Their bank account grows zeros  
That are worth nothing

## Dong Chong Xia Cao

### Chinese Caterpillar Fungus  
冬虫夏草 (Tochukaso)  
Cordyceps

##### Sweet, Warm  
LU, KI

• Strengthens the kidneys, fortifies Jing, and tonifies Yang

• Nourish lung Yin, transform phlegm, stop cough, and arrests bleeding

• Tonifies Yin and Yang

Quick growth and then death  
Executives and fungus  
have this in common

Both of them steering their host  
from the dark into the red

There is no malice   
Only the biology  
of greed

## Du Zhong

### Eucommia Bark  
杜仲 (Tochu)  
Cortex Eucommiae

##### Sweet, Slightly Spicy, Warm  
KI, LIV

• Tonifies the liver and kidneys and strengthen sinews and bones

• Promotes smooth flow of qi and blood and lowers blood pressure

• Tonifies kidney Yang and eases dizziness

Beneath the armor  
defenses for the vain eyes  
A layer of silk

Bravery has its limits  
in the socialites eyes

Brocades and chain mail  
Suiting up for battle   
On my way to school

## Ge Jie

### Toad-Headed Lizard  
蛤蚧 (Gokai)  
Gecko

##### Salty, Neutral, Slightly Toxic  
LU, KI

• Strengthen kidneys, tonifies lungs, and relieves cough

• Tonifies Jing and blood, controls and stabilizes kidney Qi, and stabilizes Ming Men fire

Sits perfectly still  
Perfecting Buddha Nature  
For 12 million years

Yet when death or hunger loom  
the lower brain takes over

Mara's flys buzzing  
A pink bolt of lightning  
Satori supper

## Gou Ji

### Chain Fern, Scythian Lamb Rhizome  
Rhizoma Cibotii

##### Bitter, Sweet, Warm  
KI, LIV

• Tonifies liver and kidneys and strengthens sinews and bones

• Expels wind, damp, and cold

• Warms and stabilizes the Kidneys and prevents leakage

Lamb is a "warm" food  
But does that come from its meat  
Or from its nature

Its nature is to give heat  
From its wool, flesh, and spirit

I sometimes feel guilt  
for taking such offerings  
that can't be returned

## Gu Sui Bu

### Boneknit Root  
Rhizoma Drynariae

##### Bitter, Warm  
KI, LIV

• Tonifies kidney Yang, strengthens the sinews and bones, and benefits the ears

• Mends injury to sinews and bones

• Stimulates growth of hair and activates the blood

Twix prairie and sky  
the cowboy's two medicines  
Boneknit and whiskey

A cast made of resistance  
and a boot made of leather

The boss is looking  
at a resume of scars  
written on his flesh

## Hu Tao Ren

### Walnut  
Semen Juglandis

##### Sweet, Warm  
KI, LI, LU

• Tonifies Kidneys, restores the Jing, and strengthens weak back and knees

• Astringes and warms the lungs, resolves cold phlegm, helps the kidney grasp lung Qi, and stops chronic cough and wheezing

• Moisten intestines and unblocks the bowels

"Barbarian nut"  
Swinging hammers through the walls  
Surging in and out

The stale flavor of peace  
Fat and pale like a peach Pit

We welcome defeat;  
The hoard, bringing hot chaos  
The hoard, bringing life

## Lu Jiao Jiao

### Deer Antler Glue  
Gelatinum Cornu Cervi

##### Salty, Sweet, Warm  
KID, LIV

• Tonifies kidney Yang and Jing

• Stops bleeding and treats Yin sores

The armor of war  
Bloody rust gone, shining clean  
At the mall's knife shop

Plastic curiosity  
For cubical warriors

No one will buy it  
But everyone will touch it  
Shop owner chagrin

## Lu Rong

### Dear Antler Velvet  
鹿茸 (Rokujo)  
Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum

##### Salty, Sweet, Warm  
KI, LIV

• Tonifies kidneys and strengthen Yang

• Tonifies the governing vessel, augments Jing and blood, and strengthens sinews and bones

• Regulates the conception vessel and stabilizes the Dai Mai

• Tonifies and nourishes Qi and blood and heals Yin type sores

Wearing dad's sweater  
I'm amazed how it fits me  
and how warm it is

I see him in the first row  
Eyes on me, grey stripes on black

At the discount store  
I see a stack of fathers  
with an acrylic smell

## Rou Cong Rong

### Desert-Living Cistanche  
(Nikujuyo) 肉蓯容  
Herba Cistanches

##### Salty, Sweet, Warm  
KI, LI

• Tonifies kidneys, strengthen yang, and improves the condition of marrow and Jing

• Moistens the intestines and helps pass stool

Standing and blooming  
with mindless vitality  
Don Juan in the sand

"You must toss away logic"  
and the logic of logic"

Reason is the lie  
that steals magic from flowers  
and poison from death

## Sha Yuan Zi

### Astragalus Seed – flattened  
Semen Astragali Complanati

##### Sweet, Warm  
KI, LI

• Tonifies kidney yang, strengthen liver blood, and secures failing Jing

Even exhausted  
Restless bouncing energy  
springs from my godson

Chasing phantoms with flashlights  
and booboos with bandages

The hot and glowing   
will decay and stabilize  
against my wishes

## Suo Yang

### Lock- _Yang_ Stem  
Herba Cynomorii

##### Sweet, Warm  
KI, LI, LIV

• Tonifies kidney Yang

• Nourish blood, tonifies Jing and liver Yin, and strengthen sinews and marrow

• Moisten intestines and opens the bowel

Every Saturday  
I reaffirm my manhood  
with beer and pretzels

Our chalice; the firepit  
and our hymnal; an iPhone

Though the truth be told  
I don't like the taste of beer  
or pretzel gluten

## Tu Si Zi

### Chinese Dodder Seeds  
Semen Cuscutae

##### Spicy, Sweet, Neutral  
KI, LIV

• Tonifies the kidneys and liver, strengthens Yin and Yang, secures Jing, and reserves urine

• Strengthen the spleen and resolve diarrhea.

• Calms the fetus in cases of habitual or threatened miscarriage.

On a green spring day  
the pharmacy turned black  
with tactical vests

They left us the Ephedra  
and the marijuana seeds

Yet tiny dodder  
was their primary target.  
Cannon for mosquito

## Xian Mao

### Curculigo , Golden Eye-Grass Rhizome  
Rhizoma Curculiginis

##### Spicy, Hot, Toxic  
KI, LIV

• Tonifies the kidneys and strengthens Yang

• Expels cold and eliminates damp from sinews and bones

_Xian Mao_ _makes a trade;  
For a longer life-maker  
he'll shorten your life._

Growing in the Blackwater  
Expelling cold, at a price

Sometimes old men think  
It is better to burn up   
than to fade away

## Xu Duan

### Himalayan Teasel Root  
Radix Dipsaci

##### Bitter, Spicy, Sweet, Slightly Warm  
KI, LIV

• Tonifies liver and kidney and strengthen sinews and bones

• Stops uterine bleeding and calms the fetus

• Promotes blood circulation, alleviates pain, and generates flesh

She always paid me.  
Even with an empty purse  
and maxed out credit

A teacher with no students  
still opens the school each day

One hopes for plenty  
Though one can aspire to  
g e n e r o s i t y

## Yi Zhi Ren

### Black Cardamon, Alpinia Fruit  
Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae

##### Spicy, Warm  
KI, SP

• Warms the kidneys, retains the Jing, and holds urine

• Warms the spleen, stops diarrhea, and stimulates the appetite

Indian buffet  
Even after a whole year  
they don't trust my taste

Their lunch, pungent and simple  
My lunch, a show for tourists

The bearded owner  
Without a word brings me chai  
I'm in, but not in

## Yin Yang Huo

### Horny Goat Weed Leaf  
淫羊藿 (Inyokaku)  
Herba Epimedii

##### Spicy, Sweet, Warm  
KI, LIV

• Tonifies the kidneys and Yang

• Expel wind damp, cold

• Strengthen Yin and Yang, anchors down liver Yang rising

Leaves bound like money  
and worth every penny  
Epimedii leaf

Grandpa Simpson's tonic secret:   
Bourbon and Horny Goat Weed

Sometimes compassion  
comes in a brown paper bag  
filled with stems and leaves

# Herbs That Tonifies Yin
## Bai He

### Tiger Lily Bulb  
百合 (Byakugo)  
Bulbus Lilii

##### Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Cool  
HRT, LU

• Moistens the lungs, nourishes Yin, clears heat, and stops coughing

• Calms the spirit, nourishes stomach Yin, and harmonizes the middle Jiao

Only one takes root   
from the garden waste gully  
The Tiger Lilly

A mouth full of stamens  
A roar full of pollen

Driven to the sun  
Clawing up the embankment  
one bloom at a time

## Bie Jia

### Chinese Soft-Shell Turtle Shell  
Carapax Amydae / Trionycis

##### Salty, Slightly Cold  
LIV, SP

• Nourish Yin and anchor Yang

• Invigorates the blood, promotes menses, and dissipates nodules

• Heavily anchors, assists, and unblocks the blood vessels

From our honeymoon  
I remember tortoises  
and pizza on cardboard

Seaweed that looked like serpents  
Tiger cowries and kava

Rickety kayak  
Busses on bridges for bikes  
Endless brittle stars

## Gui Ban

### Freshwater Turtle Shell  
Plastrum Testudinis

##### Salty, Sweet, Cold  
HRT, KI, LIV

• Nourishes Yin and anchor yang

• Resolves liver and kidney Yin deficiency

• Benefits the kidneys and strengthens bones

• Cools the blood and stops uterine bleeding due to heat

• Tonifies the blood, nourishes and calms the heart

In Geode Canyon  
What I thought was a viper  
was a turtle shell

Snapping at my plastic bait  
Papi snapping back at me

Left in the front yard  
Picked up by a neighbor dog  
and carried away

## Han Lian Cao

### Field Lotus Herb  
Herba Ecliptae

##### Sour, Sweet, Slightly Cold  
KI, LIV

• Enriches the liver and kidney Yin

• Cools blood and stops bleeding

What grows in the field  
And what grows in the mire  
Bloom with soft sweetness

Both strive to please each other  
with no concept of a mirror

But to scientists  
there's no dichotomy key  
for love and beauty

## Hei Zhi Ma

### Black Sesame Seed  
Semen Sesame Indici

##### Sweet, Neutral  
KI, LI, LIV

• Tonifies the Yin of the liver and kidney systems

• Nourish liver blood and Jing

• Moisten and lubricate the intestines

Desperate for a snack  
I mix sesame and salt  
with red vinegar

When my student loans are due  
Condiments become courses

My degree left unfinished  
Like salt, vinegar,  
and black sesames

## Luo Han Guo

### Momordica Fruit  
Fructus Momordicae

##### Sweet, Neutral  
LI, LU

• Moistens and cools the lungs, clears phlegm, dissipates nodules, and soothes cough

• Generates fluids, moistens the intestines, relieves thirst, and unblocks the bowels

Rediscovery!  
Something we've known for years  
Seen in a new light

What benefitted the throat  
Now benefits the pallet

The green light of cash  
makes a lot of remedies  
into medicine

## Mai Men Dong

### Ophiopogon tuber  
麦門冬 (Bakumondo)  
Radix Ophiopogonis

##### Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Slightly Cold  
HRT, LU, ST

• Moistens the lungs, nourishes Yin, and stops cough

• Augments stomach Yin and generates fluids

• Clears heat and eliminates irritability due to Yin deficiency

• Moistens the intestines

A crying baby  
Makes me forget my problems:  
Homeopathy

In the Universe's eye  
we are equally helpless

Crying with infants  
They convey their sympathies  
without any words

## Nu Zhen Zi

### Privet Fruit  
Fructus Ligustri Lucidi

##### Bitter, Sweet, Cool  
KI, LIV

• Enriches kidney and liver Yin

• Clears deficient heat and improves vision

My heart kept hidden  
Behind the leaf barrier  
Green preventing green

Plumes of white flowers  
Showy for showiness sake

All my false efforts  
in saponin berries  
fit for birds and fools

## Sang Ji Sheng

##### Mistletoe stems  
Herba Taxilli

##### Bitter, Sweet, Neutral  
KI, LIV

• Tonifies liver and kidney Yin, strengthen sinews and bones, and expels wind damp

• Nourish blood, benefits the skin, and calms the womb

My dear frozen friend  
How much wormwood you will need  
to thaw out your heart

Embers in artimesia  
false smoke and giraffe mailbox

Ignoring the bridge  
where carp and children swim  
we forded the Platte

## Bei Sha Shen

### Four Leaf Lady-Bell Root  
浜防風 (hamabofu)  
Radix Glehniae

##### Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Slightly Cold  
LU, ST

• Moistens the lungs, enriches lung Yin, and stops cough

• Nourish the stomach Yin and generate fluids

• Tonifies liver and kidney Yin

• Moisten the skin and exterior

On my dresser mirror  
notes taken from a movie  
On how to fall in love

Longing looks and a slow waltz  
A kiss that makes me real

Not a week later  
the folded note went missing.  
Taking notes on shame

## Shi Hu

### Stonebushel Stem  
石斛 (Sekkoku)  
Herba Dendrobii

##### Sweet, Slightly Salty, Bland, Slightly Cold  
KI, ST

• Nourishes Yin, clears heat, and generates fluids

• Clears deficient heat and nourishes Yin in the lower jiao

• Tonifies the kidneys, augments Jing, and brightens the eyes

• Strengthens the tendons and bones and strengthens the low back

For extending life  
There are few remedies  
good as gardening

Replacing weeks with flowers  
Trading stones for their essence

Back turned to the sun  
axes flying, blades plunging  
war with the barbarous Earth

## Tian Men Dong

### Shiny Asparagus Tuber  
Radix Asparagi

##### Bitter, Sweet, Very Cold  
KI, LU

• Nourishes kidney Yin, sedates fire, and clears lung heat

• Moistens the lungs, nourishes the kidneys, generates fluids, and resolves phlegm

Buried treasure found!  
Asparagus and morels   
underneath the pine

How come the grocery market  
is trusted more than the soil?

The fear of poison  
overcomes my thriftiness  
and my hunger pangs

## Xi Yang Shen

### American Ginseng Root  
Radix Panax Quinquefolii

##### Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Cold  
HRT, KI, LU

• Enriches Qi, generates fluids, and nourishes Yin

• Nurtures lung Yin and clears fire from the lungs

• Sedates heat in the intestines and stops bleeding

Teenage heritage;  
Yellow soda and french fries  
Eaten in green rooms

Clove cigarettes and mocha  
The smell of my first car

These things, now plastic.  
Brominated oil, trans fats  
Cancer, caffeine, crusher

## Yu Zhu

### Fragrant Solomon's Seal Root  
Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati

##### Sweet, Slightly Cold  
LU, ST

• Nourish Yin, moisten lung dryness, generates fluids, and nourishes the stomach

• Stops wind and softens and moistens the sinews

The merchant witches  
selling pewter pentagrams  
on nylon cordage

Geomancy and taxes  
wax idols made in China

When equally loved  
Unicorn horn and plastic   
share the same power

# Herbs That Transform Phlegm Cold
## Bai Fu Zi

### Giant Typhonium Rhizome  
Rhizoma Typhonii Preparatum

##### Spicy, Sweet, Warm, Toxic  
LIV, SP, ST

• Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, expels wind, and stops spasms

• Relieves toxicity and dissipates nodules

• Dries dampness and stops pain

I wish for a flood  
to wash away the garbage  
on the banks of my heart

Love notes and plastic bottles  
damming my tributaries

Open up your gates  
and wash me away  
until there is just us

## Bai Jie Zi

### White Mustard Seed  
Semen Sinapis

##### Spicy, Warm  
LU

• Warms the lungs, regulates Qi, and expels phlegm

• Moves Qi, dissipates nodules, reduces swelling, alleviates pain, and unblocks the collaterals

"Perfect white mustard"  
Ingredient or puja?  
I don't remember

Grey Poupon on my hot dog  
a sacrament to summer

A secret passage  
across the neglected park  
7-11

## Bai Qian

### Willow Leaf Swallow Wort Rhizome  
Rhizoma Cynanchi Stauntonii

##### Spicy, Sweet, Slightly Warm  
LU

• Redirects lung Qi downward, expels phlegm, and stops cough

Under the Platte's bridge  
Potters have been hard at work  
Daubing mud on rails

Successive generations  
A history of pinch pots

Out pops a bird head  
An artist in residence  
belting a new tune

## Ban Xia

### Pinellia corm  
半夏 (Hange)  
Rhizoma Pinelliae Preparatum

##### Spicy, Warm, Toxic  
LU, SP, ST

• Dries dampness and transforms cold phlegm

• Anchors rebellious stomach QI and stops vomiting

• Dissipates nodules and reduces distension and stagnation

• Treats hot sores on the surface

An angry child  
instantly pacified  
by Grandma's cookie

Her legacy is written   
in a box of index cards

There's no grave cleaning  
Just the hand-rolling of dough  
and pounds of butter

## Jie Geng

### Balloon Flower Root  
桔梗 (Kikyo)  
Radix Platycodi

##### Biter, Spicy, Neutral  
LU

• Opens up and spreads lung Qi, expels phlegm, benefits the throat and voice

• Promotes discharge of pus

• Guides other herbs to the upper body

Karaoke man:  
Bohemian Rhapsody  
lures me to join in

Intoxicated by song  
Embarrassment hangover

Only the truly mad  
those few, with stars in their eyes  
can take to the stage

## Tian Nan Xing

### Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Dragon Arum corm  
天南星 (Tennansho)  
Rhizoma Arisaematis Preparatum

##### Bitter, Spicy, Warm Toxic  
LIV, LU, SP

• Dries dampness and expels phlegm

• Disperses wind phlegm in the channels and stops spasms

• Reduces swelling and alleviates pain topically

A tiny dragon  
hidden in the petal folds  
roaring with beauty

Across the deep Pacific  
Phantoms turn into preachers

A floral preacher  
upon creation's pulpit  
spitting hot fire

## Xuan Fu Hua

### Japanese Elecampane Flower  
旋覆花 (Senpukuka)  
Flos Inulae

##### Bitter, Salty, Spicy, Slightly Warm  
LIV, LU, SP, ST

• Resolves phlegm stagnation in the lungs and dries pathogenic waters

• Stops rebellious Qi in the stomach

Traveling elf-herb  
from the emerald Isles  
to the giant's teat

The icy tears of Helen   
Heal both horses and humans

Fragrant legacy  
from the dinner of Pliny  
to the chemist's desk

## Zao Jiao

### Chinese Honeylocust Fruit  
Fructus Gleditsiae

##### Spicy, Warm, Slightly Toxic  
LU, LI

• Dispels phlegm and phlegm nodules

• Opens the orifices and revives the spirit

• Dissipates clumps and reduces swellings.

Is tomorrow's health  
worth an injury today?  
Spiny Gleditsia

Both Adonis and glutton  
fall before a Cadillac

There is no gamble   
if living in the present  
in comfortable flesh

## Zao Jiao Ci

### Chinese Honey Locust thorn  
Spina Gleditsiae

##### Spicy, Warm  
LIV, LU, ST

• Draws out toxicity, discharges pus, invigorates blood, reduces abscesses and swelling

• Expels wind and kills parasites

Her scalpel fingers  
occasionally augmented  
by a dull wood thorn

Kneading knots back into rope  
and scars back into muscle

Blunted instruments  
and an unfocused doctor  
at the mall's masseuse

# Herbs That Warm the  
Interior and Expel Cold

## Chuan Jiao

### Chinese Prickly-Ash, Sichuan Peppercorn  
Pericarpium Zanthoxyli

##### Spicy, Hot, Slightly Toxic  
KI, SP, ST

• Warms the middle Jiao, disperses cold, dries dampness, and calms vomiting and diarrhea

• Kills parasites and relieves abdominal pain

Laughing and burning  
We prepare Sichuan cuisine  
over his divorce

All the Asian peppercorns  
numb the spice but not the pain

Looking to the day  
where we have so much joy  
we can piss it away

## Ding Xiang

### Clove  
丁香 (Choko)  
Flos Caryophylli

##### Spicy, Warm  
KI, SP, ST

• Warms the middle burner, directs rebellious Qi downward, and alleviates pain

• Warms the kidneys and boost Yang

A worm in my tooth  
I stop it from turning   
Chewing on clavos

The taste of fresh pumpkin pie  
masked by a numbed tongue

Woody flower bulb  
From the sultans to the dentists   
a gift to mankind

## Fu Zi

### Sichuan Aconite Root  
附子 (Bu Shi)  
Radix Aconiti Lateralis

##### Spicy, Very Hot, Toxic  
HRT, KI, SP

• Restores devastated Yang and rescues it from rebellion

• Assists heart Yang to unblock vessels, tonifies kidney and spleen Yang to augment fire

• Warms fire and assists Yang

• Disperses cold, warms the channels, and alleviates pain

Blind with schoolyard rage  
I lash out against the world  
and tackle my bully

My knuckles cut on his teeth  
Pollock painting in blood and tears

Mid-punch, white then black  
Heart pounding disappointment  
Alarm clock buzzing

## Gan Jiang

### Dried Ginger Rhizome  
乾姜 (Kankyo)  
Rhizoma Zingiberis

##### Spicy, Hot  
HRT, LU, SP, ST

• Warms the middle, insulates the lower Jiao, and expels cold

• Rescues devastated Yang and expels interior cold

• Warms the lungs and transforms thin phlegm

• Warms the channels, stops bleeding, and unblocks the pulse

On the windowsill  
behind the desktop tower  
A stalk of ginger

In a jar of stale water  
a slice of root from Kroger's

Trapped in the 'burbs  
An exotic mystery  
growing on nothing

## Gao Liang Jiang

### Lesser Galangal Rhizome  
Rhizoma Alpiniae Officinarum

##### Spicy, Hot  
SP, ST

• Warms the middle Jiao, alleviates pain, and disperses congestive Qi

I cannot resist  
a cook who calls me "my friend"  
and offers me food

If he says the lamb kebab  
I'm on vegan suspension

He asks if it is good  
knowing the only answer  
"yes, it's delicious"

## Rou Gui

### Cassia Cinnamon Bark  
Cortex Cinnamomi

##### Spicy, Sweet, Hot  
HRT, KI, LIV, SP

• Warms the kidneys, spleen, and heart, strengthens Yang and Ming Men fire

• Leads floating yang back to its source

• Disperses deep cold, warms and unblocks the channels, and alleviates pain

• Leads the fire back to its source and encourages generation of Qi and blood

Adventure for kids  
Nostalgia for parents  
Cinnamon flavor

How did a tropical Bark  
come to taste like Christmas?

How did the King's Spice  
go from being paid in blood  
to candied for nickels

## Wu Zhu Yu

### Evodia Fruit  
呉茱萸 (Goshuyu)  
Fructus Evodiae

##### Bitter, Spicy, Hot, Slightly Toxic  
LIV, SP, ST

• Warms the middle Jiao, disperses cold, relieves constrained Qi movement, and relieves pain

• Redirects stomach Qi downwards and stops vomiting

• Warms the spleen, expels damp cold, and stops diarrhea.

• Leads fire downwards from the mouth and tongue

Lacking Goshuyu,  
Pull up the skin on the spine  
In rows like ladder rungs

A lesson from Abuela  
A secret that I'm sharing

_Hidden recipes  
and Die Da Ji_ _ao formulas  
Toss them in the light_

## Xiao Hui Xiang

### Fennel Fruit  
茴香 (Uikyo)  
Fructus Foeniculi

##### Spicy, Warm  
KI, LIV, SP, ST

• Spreads liver Qi, warms the kidneys and liver, and alleviates pain

• Regulates Qi and harmonizes the stomach

A dose of fennel  
in my toothpaste and desserts  
assures ownership

The only one in my troup  
who takes bitter with cloying

_Never matching tastes_ _  
w_ _ith my home society_ _  
or the ones I love_
