Chinese Herb Name Translations
Lauren Laks, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, is a graduate of the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco.
Traditional Chinese herb names have been compiled over thousands of years beginning with the famous Shen Nong (神农), mythical father of agriculture and author of the earliest major writings on Chinese herbalism contained in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (神农本草经).
Originally the book covered 365 substances, including plants, minerals and animals. Subsequent generations of Chinese doctors and herbalists have added their input to the Chinese pharmacopia, bringing the number of medicinal substances into the thousands.
Li Shi Zhen (李时珍), considered one of the greatest doctors and herbalists in the history of Chinese medicine, wrote the Grand Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu (本草纲目) during the Ming Dynasty, which remains the most comprehensive collection of work on Chinese herbalism. All together there are 53 volumes covering close to 1,900 distinct herbs (374 of which that were not previously recorded), around 11,000 prescriptions (8,000 of which that were not previously known), and around 1,100 hand-drawn illustrations. Each entry is categorized by its various names, appearance, odor, nature, use/preparation, growing region, function, and effects, with extensive commentary on misinterpretations by previous physicians. Li was said to have spent nearly 30 years compiling the information, having read and studied over 800 other medical texts which are cited in the bibliography!
Needless to say, Chinese herb names have a long and rich history. Just as Chinese characters have evolved, so have Chinese naming conventions. For each herb there are layers of meaning behind each character. Some herbs are named by color (i.e. huang lian) and others by type or appearance (i.e. root, leaf, vine, flower, etc.). Some are named after certain regions (i.e. Sichuan), others by the local folklore surrounding its use or discovery (i.e. he shou wu). Herbs that were brought to China from other areas of Asia, Europe or Africa may also be identified as foreign (i.e. hu jiao). Many are simply proper names reflecting the genus and species of the plant (i.e. pu gong ying). Whatever the translation, a lot of information can be gleaned about the herb based on its name, which can then be used for future recall when memorizing Chinese herbs.
The following is a helpful chart for TCM students, herbalists and practitioners that want a quick reference for the direct translation of Chinese herb names. This list reflects around 360 herbs, many of which are commonly used in practice or should be known in order to study and learn traditional formulas (方剂). They are organized by the pinyin name (most often used in TCM), its literal translation into English (open to interpretation), the simplified characters, and its common name translated to English. Some entries are left blank because the character meaning was difficult to locate, and others may be inaccurate because there are multiple possible meanings. They are organized by functional categories per the Materia Medica.
Release the Exterior – Acrid, Warm (15)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Ma Huang • “Hemp Yellow” • 麻黃 • EPHEDRA
Gui Zhi • “Cassia/Cinnamon Branches” • 桂枝 • CINNAMON
Zi Su Ye •“Purple Thyme Leaf” • 紫苏叶 • PERILLA LEAF
Zi Su Geng (*Reg. Qi) • “Purple Thyme Stem” • 紫苏梗 • PERILLA STEM
Jing Jie • “Thorns Mustard” • 荊芥 • SCHIZONEPETA
Fang Feng • “Prevent Wind” • 防风 • SAPOSHNIKOVIA
Qiang Huo • “Qiang-surname Live/Exist” • 羌活 • NOTOPTERYGIUM
Gao Ben • “_____ Root/Stem” • __本 • LIGUSTICUM ROOT
Bai Zhi • “White Angelica” • 白芷 • ANGELICA ROOT
Xi Xin • “Tiny/Thin Bitter/Acrid” • 细辛 • CHINESE WILD GINGER / ASARUM
Sheng Jiang • “Fresh Ginger” • 生姜 • FRESH GINGER
Cong Bai • “Scallions White” • 葱白 • GREEN ONION
Xiang Ru • “Fragrant _____” • 香__ • AROMATIC MADDER / MOSLA
Cang Er Zi • “Blue/Green Ear Seed/Fruit” • 苍耳子 • COCKLEBURR FRUIT
Xin Yi Hua • “Bitter Barbarian/Foreign Flower” • 辛夷花 • MAGNOLIA FLOWER
Release the Exterior – Acrid, Cool (12)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Bo He • “Field Mint” • 薄荷 • FIELD MINT
Niu Bang Zi • “Ox Burdock Fruit” • 牛蒡子 • BURDOCK FRUIT
Chan Tui • “Cicada Shedding” • 蟬蛻 • CICADA MOLTING
Sang Ye • “Mulberry Leaf” • 桑叶 • WHITE MULBERRY LEAF
Ju Hua • “Chrysanthemum Flower” • 菊花 • CHRYSANTHEMUM
Man Jing Zi • “Creeping/Vine Thorns Fruit” • 蔓荊子 • VITEX FRUIT
Dan Dou Chi • “Bland Bean Fermented” • 淡豆豉 • PREPARED SOYBEAN
Fu Ping • “Floating Duckweed” • 浮萍 • SPIRODELA
Mu Zei • “Tree/Wood Thief” • 木贼 • SHAVE GRASS / EQUISETUM
Ge Gen • “Edible-Bean Root” • 葛根 • KUDZU ROOT
Chai Hu • “Firewood Wildly or Barbarian Kindling” • 柴胡 • BUPLEURUM
Sheng Ma • “Arising Hemp” • 升麻 • BLACK COHOSH
Clear Heat, Drain Fire (11)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Shi Gao • “Plaster or Rock/Stone Paste/Ointment” • 石膏 • GYPSUM
Zhi Mu • “Know Mother” • 知母 • ANEMARRHENA RHIZOME
Zhi Zi • “Gardenia Fruit” • 栀子 • GARDENIA / CAPE JASMINE FRUIT
Dan Zhu Ye • “Bland Bamboo Leaf” • 淡竹叶 • LOPHATHERUM STEM & LEAVES
Xia Ku Cao • “Summer Withered Grass/Herb” • 夏枯草 • PRUNELLA / SELFHEAL SPIKE
Lu Gen • “Reed Root” • 芦根 • REED RHIZOME
Tian Hua Fen • “Heavenly Flower Powder” • 天花粉 • TRICHOSANTHES ROOT
Jue Ming Zi • “Decide Bright-Clear Seed” or “Unhampered Clarity Seeds” • 決明子 • CASSIA SEEDS
Qing Xiang Zi • “Green-Blue-Black Celosia Seed” • 青葙子 • CELOSIA SEEDS
Mi Meng Hua • “Dense/Thick Cover Flower” • 密蒙花 • BUDDLEIA FLOWER BUD
Gu Jing Cao • “Grain Essence Grass/Herb” • 谷精草 • PIPEWORT SCAPUS & INFLORESCENCE
Clear Heat, Cool Blood (10)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Shui Niu Jiao • “Water Ox Horn” • 水牛角 • WATER BUFFALO HORN
Sheng Di Huang • “Unprepared Earth Yellow” • 生地黃 • REHMANNIA ROOT
Xuan Shen • “Dark Root” • 玄参 • SCROPHULARIA
Mu Dan Pi • “Male Vermillion Skin” • 牡丹皮 • MOUTAN / TREE PEONY ROOT BARK
Zi Cao • “Purple Herb” • 紫草 • LITHOSPERMUM
Di Gu Pi (*Clear Def. Heat) • “Earth Bone Bark” • 地骨皮 • LYCIUM / WOLFBERRY BARK
Bai Wei (*Clear Def. Heat)• “White Fern” • 白薇 • SWALLOWWORT ROOT
Yin Chai Hu (*Clear Def. Heat)• “Silver Barbarian/Foreign Kindling • 银柴胡 • STELLARIA ROOT
Chi Shao (*Reg. Bld) • “Red Peony” • 赤芍 • RED PEONY ROOT
Xi Jiao (*Obs. Sub.) • “Rhinoceros Horn” • 犀角 • RHINOCEROS HORN
Clear Heat, Dry Damp (8)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Huang Qin • “Yellow Salt-Marsh-Plant” • 黃芩 • SCUTELLARIA / BAICAL SKULLCAP ROOT
Huang Lian • “Yellow Links” • 黃连 • COPTIS RHIZOME
Huang Bai • “Yellow Fir” • 黃柏 • PHELLODENDRON BARK
Long Dan Cao • “Dragon Gallbladder Herb” • 龍胆草 • GENTIAN ROOT
Ku Shen • “Bitter Root” • 苦参 • SOPHORA ROOT
Qin Pi • Qin-surname Bark” • 秦皮 • KOREAN ASH BARK
Hu Huang Lian (*Clear Def. Heat)• “Barbarian/Foreign Yellow Links” • 胡黃连 • PICRORHIZA RHIZOME
Bai Xian Pi (*Clear Heat, Resolve Tox.) • “White Fresh Bark” • 白鲜皮 • DICTAMNUS / DITTANY ROOT BARK
Clear Heat, Resolve Toxicity (27)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Jin Yin Hua • “Gold Silver Flower” • 金银花 • HONEYSUCKLE / LONICERA FLOWER
Ren Dong Teng • “Winter Resisting Vine” or “Endure Winter Rattan/Cane” • 忍冬藤 • HONEYSUCKLE / LONICERA VINE
Lian Qiao • “Forsythia” or “Links Outstanding” • 连翘 • FORSYTHIA FRUIT
Da Qing Ye • “Big Green Leaf” • 大青叶 • ISATIS LEAF
Ban Lan Gen • “Boss Blue Root” or “Plank/Board Blue/Indigo Plant Root” • 板蓝根 • ISATIS ROOT
Qing Dai • “Blue-Green Dark Eyebrow Pigment” • 青黛 • INDIGO
Pu Gong Ying • “Calamus-Sweetflag Common English-surname” • 蒲公英 • DANDELION
Zi Hua Di Ding • “Purple Flower Earth Spike” • 紫花地丁 • VIOLET / VIOLA
Bai Jiang Cao • “Spoiled Bean-Paste Herb” or “Defeated Thick-Sauce Herb” • 败酱草 • PATRINIA
Yu Xing Cao • “Fishy-Smelling Herb” • 鱼腥草 • HOUTTUYNIA
Chuan Xin Lian • “Pierce/Penetrate Heart Lotus” • 穿心莲 • ANDROGRAPHIS
Bai Hua She She Cao • “White-Patterned Snake’s Tongue Herb” • 白花蛇舌草 • HEYDYOTIS
Bai Tou Weng • “White-Headed Geezer” • 白头翁 • PULSATILLA / ANEMONE
Ya Dan Zi • “Crow Gallbladder Seed” • 鸦胆子 • BRUCEA FRUIT
Ma Chi Xian • “Horse’s Teeth Amaranth” • 马齿苋 • PURSLANE
Lu Dou • “Clear-Water or Green Bean” • 渌豆 • MUNG BEAN
Hong Teng • “Red Vine or Rattan/Cane” • 红藤 • SARGENTODOXA VINE
Tu Fu Ling • “Earth Local/China Root Poria” or “Earth Medicinal Fungus/Tuber” • 土茯苓 • SMOOTH GREENBRIER RHIZOME / SMILAX
Ma Bo • “Horse Inflation” • 马勃 • PUFFBALL FRUITING BODY
Shan Dou Gen • “Mountain Bean Root” • 山豆根 • BUSHY SOPHORA
She Gan • “Arrow Shaft” or “Shoot Invade” • 射干 • BELAMCANDA RHIZOME
Lou Lu • “Leaking Reed” • 漏芦 • RHAPONTICUM ROOT
Qing Hao • “Blue-Green Artemesia” • 青蒿 • SWEET WORMWOOD
Niu Huang (*Aromatic Open Orifices) • “Cattle Yellow” • 牛黃 • BOVINE GALLSTONE
Chang Shan (*Expel Parasites) • “Constant Mountain” • 常山 • DICHROA ROOT
Xiong Dan (*Ob. Sub.) • “Bear Gallbladder” • 熊胆 • BEAR GALLBLADDER
Drain Downward (12)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Da Huang (Purg.) • “Big Yellow” • 大黃 • RHUBARB ROOT
Mang Xiao (Purg.)• “Miscanthus (Perennial Grass) Saltpeter / Niter” • 芒硝 • SODIUM SULFATE DECAHYDRATE
Fan Xie Ye (Purg.)• “Purgative Leaf of the Foreigners” or “Foreign Laxative Leaf” • 番泻叶 • SENNA LEAF
Lu Hui (Purg.)• “Reed Flourish” • 芦荟 • DRIED ALOE VERA JUICE
Huo Ma Ren (Moist. Lax.) • “Fire Hemp Kernel” • 火麻仁 • HEMP SEEDS
Yu Li Ren (Moist. Lax.)• ”Constrained Plum Kernel” • 郁李仁 • BUSH CHERRY PIT
Qian Niu Zi (Harsh Ex.) • “Cowherd/Altair (Star) Seeds” • 牵牛子 • MORNING GLORY SEEDS
Gan Sui (Harsh Ex.)• “Sweet Process/Forthwith” • 甘遂 • KAN-SUI ROOT
(Jing) Da Ji (Harsh Ex.)• “Capital Big Lance” • 京大戟 • EUPHORBIA ROOT
Yuan Hua (Harsh Ex.)• “Lilac Flower” • 芫花 • GENKWA FLOWER
Ba Dou (Harsh Ex.)• “Clinging Bean” • 巴豆 • CROTON SEED
Shang Lu (Harsh Ex.)• “Commerce Continent” • 商陆 • POKE ROOT
Expel/Dispel Wind-Damp (19)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Du Huo • “Self-Reliant Existence” • 独活 • PUBESCENTIS ANGELICA ROOT
Wei Ling Xian • “Awesome Spiritual Immortal” • 威灵仙 • CLEMATIS ROOT
Hai Tong Pi • “Ocean Wood-Oil Tree Bark” • 海桐皮 • ERYTHRINA BARK
Mu Gua • “Wood Melon” • 木瓜 • CHINESE QUINCE FRUIT
Can Sha • “Silkworm Sand” • 蚕沙 • SILKWORM FECES
Sang Ji Sheng • “Mulberry Parasite” or “Mulberry To Live-In Grow” • 桑寄生 • MULBERRY MISTLETOE STEMS
Wu Jia Pi • “Bark of Five Additions” or “Five Add Bark” • 五加皮 • ELEUTHEROCOCCUS ROOT BARK
Hai Feng Teng • “Sea Wind Vine” • 海风藤 • KADSURA PEPPER STEM
Qian Nian Jian • “Thousand Years of Health” • 千年健 • HOMALOMENA RHIZOME
Qin Jiao • “Qin-Surname ____” • 秦艽 • LARGE GENTIAN ROOT
Sang Zhi • “Mulberry Branch” • 桑枝 • MULBERRY TWIG
Xi Xian Cao • “Sparse _____ Herb” • 稀__草 • SIEGESBECKIA
Luo Shi Teng • “Collateral Stone Vine” • 络石藤 • STAR JASMINE STEM
Bai Hua She • “White Patterned Snake” • 白花蛇 • AGKISTRODON SNAKE
Wu Shao She • “Black-Striped / Tip Snake” • 乌梢蛇 • ZAOCYS / BLACK-STRIPED SNAKE
She Tui • “Snake Shedding” • 蛇蛻 • SNAKESKIN SLOUGH
Song Jie • “Knotty Pine” or “Pine Point” • 松节 • KNOTTY PINE WOOD
Han Fang Ji (Drain Damp) • “Han[zhong] Protect Yin-Earth (6th Heavenly Stem)” • 汉防己 • STEPHANIA ROOT
Hu Gu (Obs. Sub.) • “Tiger Bone” • 虎骨 • TIGER BONE
Aromatic Transform Damp (8)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Cang Zhu • “Dark-Blue Asteraceae” • 苍朮 • ATRACTYLODIS RHIZOME
Hou Po • “Thick Tree” • 厚朴 • MAGNOLIA BARK
Huo Xiang • “Betony/Beans Fragrant” • 藿香 • PATCHOULI / POGOSTEMON
Pei Lan • “Ornamental Orchid” • 佩兰 • EUPATORIUM
Sha Ren • “Sand Seeds” • 砂仁 • AMOMUM FRUIT / GRAINS OF PARADISE FRUIT
Bai Dou Kou • “White Cardamon” • 白荳蔻 • ROUND CARDAMON
Cao Dou Kou • “Grass Cardamon” • 草荳蔻 • KATSUMADA’S GALANGAL SEEDS
Cao Guo • “Grass Fruit” • 草果 • TSAOKO FRUIT
Drain Damp (19)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Fu Ling • “China-Root Fungus” • 茯苓 • PORIA / HOELEN
Zhu Ling • “Pig’s Fungus” • 猪苓 • POLYPORUS
Ze Xie • “Marsh Drain” • 泽泻 • ALISMA RHIZOME / WATER PLANTAIN
Yi Yi Ren • “Job’s-Tears Barley Seeds” • 薏苡仁 • COIX SEEDS / JOB’S TEARS
Che Qian Zi • “Before the Cart Seeds” • 車前子 • PLANTAGO SEEDS
Hua Shi • “Slippery Rock” • 滑石 • TALCUM POWDER
Mu Tong • “Wood Unblocking” • 木通 • AKEBIA CAULIS
Tong Cao • “Unblocking Herb” • 通草 • RICE PAPER PITH PLANT / TETRAPANAX
Deng Xin Cao • “Lamp Wick Herb” • 灯心草 • JUNCUS / RUSH PITH
Qu Mai • “Qu-Surname Grain” • 瞿麦 • DIANTHUS / FRINGED PINK
Bian Xu • “_______ Store” • __蓄 • KNOTGRASS / POLYGONUM
Shi Wei • “Stone Leather” or “Rock Reed/Rush” • 石苇 • PYRROSIA LEAF
Di Fu Zi • “Earth Skin Seeds” • 地肤子 • KOCHIA FRUIT / BROOM CYPRUS
Dong Gua Ren • “Winter Melon Seeds” • 冬瓜仁 • WINTER MELON SEED
Dong Kui Guo • “Winter Sunflower Fruit” • 冬葵果 • MALLOW FRUIT
Bi Xie • “Castor-Seed Xie-surname” • 萆解 • TOKORO / FISH POISON YAM RHIZOME
Jin Qian Cao • “Gold Money Herb” • 金钱草 • LYSMACHIA
Chi Xiao Dou • “Dark-Red Little Bean” • 赤小豆 • ADZUKI BEAN
Yin Chen Hao • “Skimmia (Evergreen Rue Family) Chen-surname Wormwood” • 茵陈蒿 • VIRGATE WORMWOOD
Warm Interior, Expel Cold (11)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
(Zhi) Fu Zi • “[Prepared] Appendage” • 制附子 • PROCESSED ACONITE ACCESSORY ROOT
Gan Jiang • “Dried Ginger” • 干姜 • DRIED GINGER RHIZOME
Rou Gui • “Flesh/Meat of Cinnamon” • 肉桂 • CINNAMON BARK
Wu Zhu Yu • “Wu-surname Dogwood” • 吴茱萸 • EVODIA FRUIT
Hua Jiao • “Sichuan Pepper” • 花椒 • SICHUAN PEPPER
Gao Liang Jiang • “Ginger from Gao Liang (in GuangdongProvince) • 高良姜 • LESSER GALANGAL RHIZOME
Ding Xiang • “Spike Fragrance” • 丁香 • CLOVE
Xiao Hui Xiang • “Little Fennel Fragrance” or “Small Return Fragrance” • 小茴香 • FENNEL FRUIT
Bi Cheng Qie • “End of Purified Eggplant” • 毕澄茄 • CUBEB FRUIT
Bi Ba • “Wicker/Bamboo Grass/Thatch” • 筚茇 • LONG PEPPER FRUIT
Hu Jiao • “Beard-Barbarian Pepper” • 胡椒 • PEPPER
Regulate Qi (16)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Chen Pi • “Aged Peel” or “Mandarin Orange” • 陈皮 • AGED TANGERINE PEEL
Ju Hong • “Tangerine Red” • 橘红 • RED TANGERINE PEEL
Ju Luo • “Tangerine Net” • 橘絡 • TANGERINE PITH
Ju He • “Tangerine Stone” • 橘核 • TANGERINE PIP / SEEDS
Qing Pi • “Green Peel” • 青皮 • UNRIPE TANGERINE PEEL
Zhi Shi • “Orange True” • 枳实 • UNRIPE BITTER ORANGE
Zhi Ke • “Orange Shell” • 枳壳 • BITTER ORANGE
Xiang Fu • “Aromatic Appendage” • 香附 • CYPERUS / NUT-GRASS RHIZOME
Mu Xiang • “Wood Fragrance” • 木香 • AUCKLANDIA / SAUSSUREA
Wu Yao • “Raven-Black Medicine” • 乌药 • LINDERA ROOT
Chen Xiang • “Sinking Fragrance” • 药香 • AQUILARIA WOOD / ALOESWOOD
Tan Xiang • “Sandalwood Fragrance” • 檀香 • SANDALWOOD
Xie Bai • “Scallion/Allium White” • 薤白 • CHINESE GARLIC / GARLIC CHIVES
Fo Shou • “Buddha’s Hand” • 佛手 • BUDDHA’S HAND / FINGER CITRON FRUIT
Chuan Lian Zi • “Sichuan Melia-genus (Deciduous Chinaberry) Seeds” • 川楝子 • TOOSENDAN FRUIT / SICHUAN PAGODA TREE / CHINABERRY
Shi Di • “Persimmon Stem” • 柿蒂 • PERSIMMON CALYX
Relieve Food Stagnation (6)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Shan Zha • “Mountain Hawthorn/Quince” • 山楂 • HAWTHORN FRUIT
Mai Ya • “Barley Sprouts” • 麦芽 • BARLEY SPROUTS / MALT
Gu Ya • “Grain Sprouts” • 谷芽 • GRAIN SPROUTS
Shen Qu • “Spirit’s Leaven” or “Miracle Bent/Curve” • 神曲 • MEDICATED LEAVEN
Ji Nei Jin • “Chicken Inner Gold” • 鸡內金 • GIZZARD LINING
Lai Fu Zi • “Weed Quiver Seeds” • 萊箙子 • RADISH SEED
Expel Parasites (9)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Shi Jun Zi • “Respected Envoy Seed” • 使君子 • RANGOON CREEPER FRUIT
Ku Lian Pi • “Bitter Melia Bark” • 苦楝皮 • CHINABERRY / MELIA BARK
Fei Zi • “Torreya Seeds” • 榧子 • TORREYA SEEDS
He Shi • “Crane’s Louse” • 鹤虱 • CARPESIUM FRUIT
Lei Wan • “Thunder Pill” • 雷丸 • FRUITING BODY OF OMPHALIA
Wu Yi • “Overgrown Weeds” or “Fruit of Elm” • 芜荑 • STINKING ELM FRUIT PASTE
Bing Lang • “Areca Tree” • 槟榔 • BETEL NUT / AREACA
Nan Gua Zi • “Southern Melon Seeds” • 南瓜子 • PUMPKIN SEEDS & HUSKS
Da Fu Pi (* Reg. Qi) • “Big Belly Peel” • 大腹皮 • ARECA HUSK / PEEL
Stop Bleeding (12)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
San Qi • “Three Seven” • 三七 • NOTO/PSEUDOGINSENG ROOT
Pu Huang • “Calamus (Common Sweet Flag) Yellow” • 蒲黃 • CATTAIL POLLEN
Qian Cao (Gen) • “Rubia Herb (Root)” • 茜草根 • MADDER / RUBIA ROOT
Da Ji • “Large Thistle” • 大蓟 • JAPANESE / LARGE THISTLE
Di Yu • “Earth/Ground Elm” • 地榆 • SANGUISORBA ROOT
Huai (Hua) Mi • “Sophora (Locust Tree) Flower Rice” • 槐花米 • SOPHORA BUD / PAGODA TREE BUD
Ce Bai Ye • “Lateral/Slanted Fir Leaves” • 側柏葉 • ORIENTAL ARBORVITAE LEAFY TWIG
Bai Mao Gen • “White Grass Root” • 白茅根 • IMPERATA RHIZOME / WHITE GRASS
Xian He Cao • “Immortal Crane Herb” • 仙鹤草 • AGRIMONY
Bai Ji • “White Reach” • 白及 • BLETILLA RHIZOME
Ou Jie • “Lotus Root Node” • 藕节 • LOTUS RHIZOME NODE
Ai Ye • “Mugwort Leaf” • 艾叶 • MUGWORT LEAF / ARTEMESIA
Invigorate Blood (23)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Chuan Xiong • “Szechuan Herb” • 川芎 • SZECHUAN LOVAGE ROOT
Dan Shen • “Cinnabar Root/Ginseng” • 丹参 • SALVIA ROOT
Ji Xue Teng • “Chicken Blood Vine”• 鸡血籐 • SPATHOLOBUS ROOT & VINE
Yan Hu Suo • “Extended Barbarian Rope” • 延胡索 • CORYDALIS RHIZOME
Yu Jin • “Constrained Gold” or “Sweet-Smelling Gold” • 郁金 • CURCUMA TUBER
Jiang Huang • “Ginger Yellow” • 姜黃 • TURMERIC RHIZOME
Yi Mu Cao • “Benefit Mother Herb” • 益母草 • LEONURUS / CHINESE MOTHERWORT
Ze Lan • “Marsh Orchid” • 泽兰 • LYCOPOS / BUGLEWEED
Chi Shao • “Red Peony” • 赤芍 • RED PEONY ROOT
Tao Ren • “Peach Kernel” • 桃仁 • PEACH KERNEL
Hong Hua • “Red Flower” • 红花 • SAFFLOWER / CARTHAMUS
E Zhu • “Zedoary (White Tumeric) Atracylodis (Genus)” • 莪朮 • CURCUMA RHIZOME
San Leng • “Three Edges/Squared Timber” • 三棱 • SPARGANIUM / BURR REED RHIZOME
Ru Xiang • “Milk Fragrance” • 乳香 • FRANKINCENSE / MASTIC / GUM OLIBANUM
Mo Yao • “Not Medicine” or “Drown-Sink Medicine” • 没药 • MYRRH
Niu Xi • “Ox Knee” • 牛膝 • ACHYRANTHES ROOT
Wang Bu Liu Xing • “King Cannot Stay Its Movement” • 王不留行 • VACCARIA SEEDS
Zi Ran Tong • “Natural Copper” • 自然铜 • PYRITE
Su Mu • “Su[matra]-Island Wood” • 苏木 • SAPPEN WOOD
Wu Ling Zhi • “Fat of the Five Spirits” or “Five Spirit Fat” • 五灵脂 • FLYING SQUIRREL FECES / PTEROPUS
Shui Zhi • “Water Leech” • 水蛭 • LEECH
Tu Bie Chong • “Earth Soft-Shelled-Turtle Bug” • 土鳖虫 • GROUND BEETLE / EUPOLYPHAGA
Chuan Shan Zha (*Obs. Sub.) • “Penetrate Mountain Scales” • 穿山甲 • PANGOLIN SCALES
Herbs that Cool and Transform Phlegm-Heat (15)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Qian Hu • “Before Barbarians” • 前胡 • PEUCEDANUM ROOT / HOGFENNEL ROOT
Chuan Bei Mu • “Shell Mother from Sichuan” or “Sichuan Shell Mother” • 川贝母 • SICHUAN / TENDRILLED FRITILLARIA BULB
Zhe Bei Mu • “Shell Mother from Zhe[jiang]” • 浙贝母 • ZHEJIANG / THUNBERG FRITILLARIA BULB
Gua Lou • “Melon Artemesia” or “Round-Fruit Long-Fruit” • 瓜蒌 • TRICHOSANTHES FRUIT
Gua Lou Pi • “Gua Lou Peel” • 瓜蒌皮 • TRICHOSANTHES PEEL
Gua Lou Ren • “Gua Lou Seed” • 瓜蒌仁 • TRICHOSANTHES SEED
Tian Hua Fen (*Clear Heat, Drain Fire) • “Heavenly Flower Powder” • 天花粉 • TRICHOSANTHES ROOT
Tian Zhu Huang • “Heavenly Bamboo Yellow” • 天竺黄 • BAMBOO SUGAR / SILICEOUS SECRETIONS OF BAMBOO
Zhu Li • “Bamboo Drip” • 竹沥 • BAMBOO SAP (DRIED)
Zhu Ru • “Bamboo Root/Vegetables” • 竹茹 • BAMBOO SHAVINGS
Fu Hai Shi • “Floating Ocean Stone” • 浮海石 • PUMICE or CONSTAZIAE SKELETON
Hai Ge Ke (/Qiao) • “Ocean Clam Shell” • 海蛤壳 • CLAM SHELL
Kun Bu • “Elder-Brother Linen” • 昆布 • KELP
Hai Zao • “Seaweed” or “Ocean Aquatic-Grass” • 海藻 • SEAWEED / SARGASSUM
Pang Da Hai • “Fat Big Sea” • 胖大海 • STERCULIA SEED
Huang Yao Zi • “Yellow Medicine Seed” • 黃药子 • DIOSCOREA BULBIFERA TUBER
Warm Herbs that Transform Cold-Phlegm (9)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
(Zhi) Ban Xia • “Prepared Half Summer” • 制半夏 • PINELLIA RHIZOME
(Zhi) Tian Nan Xing • “Prepared Star of the Southern Heavens” or “Heavenly Southern Star” • 制天南星 • PREPARED ARISAEMA RHIZOME / JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT
Dan Nan Xing • “Gallbladder Southern Star” • 膽南星 • BILE-PREPARED ARISAEMA
(Zhi) Bai Fu Zi • “Processed White Appendage” • 制白附子 • PREPARED TYPHONIUM RHIZOME
Xuan Fu Hua • “Rotated Upturned Flower” • 旋覆花 • INULA FLOWER
Bai Qian • “White Before” • 白前 • CYNANCHUM ROOT & RHIZOME
Bai Jie Zi • “White Mustard Seed” • 白芥子 • WHITE MUSTARD SEED
Jie Geng • “Chinese Bellflower” or “Platycodon Stem” • 桔梗 • PLATYCODON ROOT / BALLOON FLOWER ROOT
Zao Jia • “Soap Pod” • 皂角 • GLEDITSIA FRUIT / CHINESE HONEYLOCUST FRUIT
Herbs that Relieve Coughing & Wheezing (10)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Xing Ren • “Apricot Seed” • 杏仁 • APRICOT SEED / KERNEL
Zi Wan • “Purple Luxuriance-of-Growth” • 紫菀 • ASTER ROOT / PURPLE ASTER
Kuan Dong Hua • “Section Winter Flower” • 款冬花 • TUSSILAGO FLOWER / COLTSFOOT
(Zi) Su Zi • “Purple Thyme Seed” • 紫苏子 • PERILLA FRUIT
Pi Pa Ye • “Loquat Leaf” • 枇杷叶 • LOQUAT LEAF / ERIOBOTRYA
Bai Bu • “Hundred Parts” • 百部 • STEMONA ROOT
Sang Bai Pi • “Mulberry White Bark” • 桑白皮 • MULBERRY ROOT BARK
Ting Li Zi • “Ting Li-Plant Seed” • 葶苈子 • DESCURAINIA / LEPIDIUM SEED
Ma Dou Ling (*Obs. Sub.) • “Bell of a Horse’s Hat” or “Horse Pouch Bell” • 馬兜鈴 • BIRTHWORT FRUIT / ARISTOLOCHIA FRUIT
Bai Guo (*Stab. & Bind) • “White Fruit” • 白果 • GINGKO NUT
Substances that Calm the Spirit (9)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Long Gu • “Dragon Bone” • 龙骨 • FOSSILIZED VERTEBRAE & BONES
Long Chi • “Dragon Teeth” • 龙齿 • FOSSILIZED TEETH
Ci Shi • “Magnetic Stone” • 磁石 • MAGNETITE
Zhu Sha (*Obs. Sub.) • “Vermillion Sand” • 朱砂 • CINNABAR
Hu Po • “Amber” • 琥珀” • AMBER
Suan Zao Ren • “Sour Date Seed” • 酸枣仁 • SOUR JUJUBE / ZIZYPHUS SEEDS
Bai Zi Ren • “Cyprus Seed” • 柏子仁 • CHINESE ARBORVITAE SEED
Yuan Zhi • “Profound Will” • 远志 • POLYGALA ROOT / CHINESE SENEGA / THINLEAF MILKWORT
He Huan Pi • “Conjoined Happiness Bark” • 合欢皮 • ALBIZZIA / SILKTREE BARK
Aromatic Substances the Open the Orifices (4)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
She Xiang • “Musk Deer Fragrance” • 麝香 • NAVEL GLAND SECRETIONS OF MUSK DEER
Su He Xiang • “Revive[-Plant] and Join Fragrance ” • 苏合香 • RESIN OF ROSE MALOES / STYRAX
Bing Pian • “Ice Slice” • 冰片 • BORNEOL
Shi Chang Pu • “Flourishing Reeds” or “Rock Calamus-Species • 石菖蒲 • GRASSLEAF SWEETFLAG RHIZOME / ACORUS
Extinguish Wind and Stop Tremors (11)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Ling Yang Jiao • “Antelope Sheep Horn” • 羚羊角 • ANTELOPE HORN
Gou Teng • “Hook Vine” • 钩藤 • UNCARIA VINE / GAMBIR
Tian Ma • “Heavenly Hemp • 天麻 • GASTRODIA RHIZOME
Dai Zhe Shi • “Red Stone from DaiCounty” or “Dai Ocher Stone” • 代赭石 • HEMATITE
Mu Li (*Calm Spirit) • “Male Oyster” or “Oyster” • 牡蛎 • OYSTER SHELL
Bai/Ci Ji Li • “Puncture-Tribulus Chenopodium-album ” • 刺蒺藜 • CALTROP FRUIT / TRIBULUS
Shi Jue Ming • “Stone Unhampered Clarity” • 石決明 • ABALONE SHELL
Di Long • “Earth Dragon” • 地龙 • EARTHWORM / LUMBRICUS
Quan Xie • “Whole Scorpion” • 全蝎 • SCORPION / BUTHUS
Wu Gong • “Centipede Scolopendra ” • 蜈蚣 • CENTIPEDE / SCOLOPENDRA
(Bai) Jiang Can • “White Mummified-Stiff[corpse] Silkworm” • 白僵蚕 • BODY OF SICK SILKWORM
Herbs that Tonify the Qi (11)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Ren Shen • “Man Root” or “Person Ginseng” • 人参 • GINSENG ROOT
Dang Shen • “Group Root-Ginseng” • 党参 • CODONOPSIS ROOT
Tai Zi Shen • “Prince Root” or “Highest Son Ginseng” • 太子参 • PSEUDOSTELLARIA ROOT
Huang Qi • “Yellow _________” • 黄___ • ASTRAGALUS ROOT/ MILK-VETCH ROOT
Bai Zhu • “White Atractylis” • 白朮 • WHITE ATRACTYLODES RHIZOME
Gan Cao • “Sweet Herb” • 甘草 • LICORICE ROOT
Da Zao • “Big Date-Jujube” • 大枣 • JUJUBE / CHINESE DATE
Shan Yao • “Mountain Herb-Medicine” • 山药 • DIOSCOREA RHIZOME / CHINESE YAM
Yi Tang • “Syrup Sugar” • 饴糖 • MALT SUGAR / MALTOSE
Xi Yang Shen (*Tonify Yin) • “Western Foreign Root-Ginseng” • 西洋参 • AMERICAN GINSENG ROOT
Bai Bian Dou • “White Flat Bean” • 白扁豆 • HYACINTH BEAN / LABLAB
Herbs that Tonify the Yang (20)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Lu Rong (Lu Jiao) • “Deer Downy/ Sprouts” • 鹿茸 • DEER VELVET
Ge Jie • “Clam Lizard” • 蛤蚧 • GECKO
Dong Chong Xia Cao • “Winter Bug Summer Herb” • 冬虫夏草 • CORDYCEPS / CHINESE CATERPILLAR FUNGUS
Rou Cong Rong • “Flesh Herb Lotus/Hibiscus” • 肉苁蓉 • CISTANCHE / FLESHY STEM OF BROOMRAPE
Suo Yang • “Lock Yang” • 锁阳 • FLESHY STEM OF CYNOMORIUM
Yin Yang Huo / Xian Ling Pi • “Licentious Goat Wort” • 淫羊藿 • AERIAL PARTS OF EPIMEDIUM
Ba Ji Tian • “Desired Lance-with-two points Heaven” • 巴戟天 • MORINDA ROOT
Hu Lu Ba • “Foreign Reed” • 胡芦巴 • FENUGREEK SEED / TRIGONELLA
He Tao Ren • “Kernal of Peach Seed” • 核桃仁 • WALNUT
Bu Gu Zhi • “Tonify Bone Resin” or “Mend Bone Fat” • 补骨脂 • PSORALEA FRUIT
Yi Zhi Ren • “Benefit Intelligence Nut” • 益智仁 • ALPINIA FRUIT / BLACK CARDAMOM
Xian Mao • “Immortal Grass/Thatch” • 仙茅 • CURCULIGO / GOLDEN EYE-GRASS RHIZOME
Du Zhong • “Prevent Middle Brother-Mediator” • 杜仲 • EUCOMMIA BARK
Gou Ji • “Dog Spine” • 狗脊 • CHAIN FERN / CIBOTIUM RHIZOME
Xu Duan • “Reconnect What is Broken” or “Continue Interrupt” • 续断 • DIPSACUS / JAPANESE TEASEL ROOT
Gu Sui Bu • “Mender of Shattered Bones” or “Bone Shattered Mend” • 骨碎补 • DRYNARIA RHIZOME
Tu Si Zi • “Dodder Silk/Thread Seeds” • 菟丝子 • CHINESE DODDER SEEDS / CUSCUTA
Sha Yuan Zi (Ji Li) • “Shayuan Seeds” or “Sand Yuan-surname Seeds” • 沙苑子 • FLATTENED MILKVETCH / ASTRAGALUS SEED
Jiu Cai Zi • “Leek Vegetable Seeds” • 韭菜子 • CHINESE LEEK SEEDS / ALLIUM SEEDS
Zi He Che • “PurpleRiver Vehicle” • 紫河车 • HUMAN PLACENTA
Herbs that Tonify the Blood (8)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Shu Di Huang • “Cooked Earth Yellow” • 熟地黃 • COOKED REHMANNIA ROOT / PREPARED CHINESE FOXGLOVE ROOT
He Shou Wu • “Crow-Black Haired [Mr.] He” • 何首乌 • FLEECEFLOWER ROOT / FLOWERY KNOTWEED ROOT
Dang Gui • “State of Return” • 当归 • CHINESE ANGELICA ROOT
Bai Shao • “White Peony” • 白芍 • WHITE PEONY ROOT
E Jiao • “Flatter Glue” • 阿胶 • DONKEY-HIDE GELATIN
Gou Qi Zi • “Aspen Medlar Seed” • 枸杞子 • LYCIUM FRUIT / MATRIMONY VINE / CHINESE WOLFBERRY
Sang Shen • “Mulberry Fruit” • 桑椹 • MULBERRY / MORUS FRUIT
Long Yan Rou • “Dragon Eye Flesh ” • 龙眼肉 • FLESH OF LONGAN FRUIT
Herbs that Tonify the Yin (12)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Sha Shen • “Sand Root” • 沙参 • GLEHNIA / ADENOPHORA ROOT
Mai Men Dong • “Luxuriant Winter” or “Grain Door Winter” • 麦门冬 • OPHIOPOGON TUBER
Tian Men Dong • “Heavenly Gate Winter” • 天门冬 • ASPARAGUS TUBER
Shi Hu • “Bushel of Stone” or “Stone Bushel” • 石斛 • DENDROBIUM
Yu Zhu • “Jade Bamboo” • 玉竹 • SCENTED SOLOMON’S SEAL RHIZOME / POLYGONATUM
Bai He • “Hundred Meetings ” • 百合 • LILY BULB
Mo Han Lian (Cao) • “Ink Dry Lotus” • 墨旱莲 • ECLIPTA
Nu Zhen Zi • “Female Chastity Seeds” • ___贞子 • LIGUSTRUM / PRIVET FRUIT
Hei Zhi Ma • “Black Purplish-Mushroom Sesame” • 黑芝麻 • BLACK SESAME SEEDS
Gui Ban • “Tortoise Plank” • 龟板 • FRESH-WATER TURTLE PLASTRON
Bie Jia • “Turtle Shell” • 鳖甲 • CHINESE SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE SHELL
Huang Jing (*Ton. Qi) • “Yellow Essence” • 黃精 • POLYGONATUM RHIZOME / SIBERIAN SOLOMON’S SEAL
Herbs that Stabilize and Bind (17)
Pinyin • Translation • Characters • Common
Shan Zhu Yu • “Mountain Cornelian-Cherry” • 山茱萸 • ASIATIC CORNELIAN CHERRY FRUIT
Wu Wei Zi • “Five-Flavored Seed” • 五味子 • SCHISANDRA FRUIT
Wu Mei • “Darkened-Black Plum” • 乌梅 • MUME FRUIT
He Zi • “Ridicule-Scold Seed” • 诃子 • CHEBULE / MYROBALAN FRUIT
Rou Dou Kou • “Fleshy Cardamom” or “Flesh Bean Reed” • 肉豆簆 • NUTMEG SEEDS / MYRISTICA
Chi Shi Zhi • “Crimson Stone Resin-Grease” • 赤石脂 • HALLOYSITE / KAOLIN
Qian Shi • “Euryale-Ferox Solid” • 芡实 • EURYALE SEEDS
Jin Ying Zi • “Golden-Metal Cherry Fruit” • 金樱子 • CHEROKEE ROSEHIP / ROSA LAEVIGATA
Fu Pen Zi • “Overturned [Bed] Pan Fruit” • 复盆子 • CHINESE RASPBERRY / RUBUS
Fu Xiao Mai • “Floating Little Wheat” • 浮小麦 • LIGHT WHEAT GRAIN
Ma Huang Gen • “Hemp Yellow Root” • 麻黃根 • EPHEDRA ROOT
Hai Piao Xiao • “Ocean Egg-Case Octopus” • 海螵蛸 • CUTTLEFISH BONE
Wu Bei Zi • “Five Multiples Seed” • 五倍子 • GALLNUT OF CHINESE SUMAC
Li Lu (*Stop Cough) • “Chenopodium-Alum Reed" • 藜芦 • VERATRUM ROOT & RHIZOME
She Chuang Zi (*Top. App.) • “Snake’s Bed Seeds” • 蛇床子 • CNIDIUM SEED
Sang Piao Xiao • “Mulberry Nest of Eggs or Egg-Case” • 桑螵蛸 • MANTIS EGG-CASE
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
Comments
Johanna on March 16, 2020:
Thank you so much, a wonderful contribution.
Christin on June 14, 2019:
Thank you heaps for this list. Have been searching for exactly this.
Will on July 20, 2018:
Holy cow is this list AMAZING! As an AOM student I have, like most people, struggled to retain the Pinyin names of the herbs from memory. Knowing the literal translation of each herb conveys meaning to it and makes it SO much easier to learn and memorize. You are truly a dedicated and amazing person. Thank you for all your hard work compiling this list!! :-)
Patrick Cunningham, LAc. on February 18, 2018:
Good article!
Maya on September 27, 2016:
This is so helpful. Thanks heaps for posting this up! Rad effort :)
Ya Xiao on April 19, 2013:
Does this exist in mineral used by Chinese Herbologists? It's inhibated by San Leng ... that's all I've been told.
sgphilgoh from Singapore on June 03, 2012:
Thank you for taking the trouble to do the compilation and for sharing.
Anna Lee on May 23, 2012:
Bai He • “Hundred Meetings ” • ?? • LILY BULB
I need to get some ?? • LILY BULB for cooking with pork. Of course, I did not know how it looked lik and when to get them. Thanks.
alee@cbunited.com
Dean on April 25, 2012:
Thank you, I am a 2nd year Acupuncture student learning herbs at school. It is difficult when you don't know Chinese, so this is very helpful. It let the Pinyin names be meaningful. Thanks Again.
