Chinese medicine consists of predominately herbs including roots, flowers, vegetables, seeds, trees, and fruits, and some minerals. Fruits, flowers, and vegetables used in Chinese medicine include apricot, areca, asparagus, cornus, dandelion, dates, gardenia, garlic, ginger, green citrus, hawthorn, lily, longan berries, lotus, lycii berries, orange, peony, pepper, raddish, tribulus, and yam. In her book, Healing with Chinese Herbs (Easter Dragon, 1999), Lesley Tierra gives 118 common Chinese herbs, some of them are listed below as examples (from Tierra's book):
Acanthopanax (Wu Jia Pi)
Made of root bark (a close relative to Siberian ginseng), it "treats aging problems and delays in children's motor functions. It is popular to make wine."
Achyranthes (Niu Xi)
Made of root, it "treats menstrual pain, amenorrhea, pain in the lower back and keens, painful urination ... sore threats, nosebleeds, bloody vomit, toothaches, leeding gums, dissiness, headaches, and blurred vision."
Alismatis (Ze Xie)
Made of water plantain rhizome, it "treats urinary difficulty, edema, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, diabetes, nephritis, cystitis, and kidney stones. It is a useful diuretic for the wask and elderly."
Alpinia (Yi Zhi Ren)
Made of fruit of black cardamom, it "treats urinary incontinence, frequent and copious urination, dribbling of urine, diarrhea, abdominal pain, excessive salivation, and vomiting."
American Ginseng (Xi Yang Shen)
Made of root, it "counteracts chronic, low-grade fevers, weakness, post-fever irritability and thirst, wheezing, expectoration of blood, and loss of voice."
Angelica (Bai Zhi)
Made of root, it "treats migraine and lesser headaches, nasal congestion, pain above the eyes, sores and carbuncles in the early stages of development and vaginal discharge."
Biota (Bai Zi Ren)
Made of seeds, it "treats insomnia; irritability; forgetfulness; palpitations accompanied by anxiety; constipation in the elderly, debilitated, and postpartum women; and night sweats."
Bupleurum (Chai Hu)
Made of root of hare's ear, it "treats colds, alternating chills and fever, malarial fever, vomiting, hepatitis, cirrhosis and other liver disorders, dizziness, irregular menstruation, premenstrual syndrome, depression, and organ prolapse."
Burdock (Niu Bang Zi)
Made of seeds, it "treats swollen, red, sore throats; fever; coughing; pneumonia; bronchitis; hung congestion; measles (in its early stages); skin lesions; boils; juvenile chicken pox; and smallpox."
Carthamus (Hong Hua)
Made of safflower flower, it "treats delayed menses, poor blood circulation, blood clots, lower abdominal pains, amenorrhea, postpartum dizziness, and abdominal masses. It also stops bleeding and pain from wounds, and the incomplete expression of rashes and measles."
Cimicifuga (Sheng Ma)
Made of rhizome of Chinese black cohosh, it "may alleviate colds, flu, early stages of measles, sore teeth, painful gums, ulcerated lips, canker sores, swollen and painful throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, and prolapse caused by lack of energy."
Cistanches (Rou Cong Rong)
Made of fleshy stem of the broomrape, it "treats impotence; spermatorrhea; urinary incontinence; posturinary dripping; cold-induced pains in the lower back and knees; and constipation from dryness; especially in the elderly and those with weakness or anemia."
Coix (Yi Yi Ren)
Made of barley seeds, it "treats edema, urinary difficulty, swelling of the legs, diarrhea, skin eruptions accompanied by pus, and chronic spasms. It also increases joint mobility."
Coltsfoot (Kuan Dong Hua)
Made of flower, it "treats coughing and wheezing, bronchitis, shortness of breath, and hoarseness."
Coptis (Huang Lian)
Made of rhizome, it "can alleviate high fever; irritability; disorientation; delirium; painful; red eyes; a sore throat; boils; carbuncles; abscesses; vomiting; acid regurgitation; insomnia; nosebleeds; bloody urine, stools, or vomit; and bad breath. It also clears damp heat."
Corydalis (Yan Hu Suo)
Made of rhizome, it "treats menstrual, chest, and abdominal pain; pain caused by traumatic injury; hernia pain; and migraines." This is "the most effective herbs for the treatment of pain."
Curcuma (Yu Jin)
Made of turmeric tuber, it "treats pain resulting from traumatic injury; chest, abdominal, side, or menstrual pain; liver congestion; anxiety; agitation; seizures; mental disturbance and confusion; jaundice; and hepatitis."
Cuscuta (Tu Si Zi)
Made of Chinese dodder seeds, it "may alleviate impotence; nocturnal emissions; premature ejaculation; tinnitus; frequent urination; sore back muscles; vaginal discharge; dizziness; blurred vision; the appearance of spots in the field of vision. It also strengthens tendons and bones."
Cyperus (Xiang Fu)
Made of rhizome of sedge plant, it "reliefs pain in the ribs and chest, upper abdominal distension, menstrual disorder, painful or irregular menstruation, depression, moodiness, menstrual cramps, indigestion, gas, and nausea."
Dang Gui (Dang Gui)
Made of angelica root, it "strengthens the blood and regulates menses." It "treats anemia; constipation due to anemia; all gynecological problems; palpitations; abdominal pain; dry skin; and skin eruptions."
Dendrobium (Shi Hu)
Made of above ground portion, it "alleviates a parched mouth, severe thirst, dry heaves, mouth sores, weakness resulting from prolonged fever, and poor eyesight. It also strengthens the lower back."
Eclipta (Han Lain Cao)
Made of entirety of the plant, it "treats dizziness; blurred vision; vertigo; premature graying of the hair; bloody vomit, expectoration, stools, or urine; uterine bleeding; nosebleeds; and tinnitus."
Ephedra (Ma Huang)
Made of parts that grow above ground, it "treats colds accompanied by chills, slight fevers, headaches, absence of sweating, asthmatic wheezing, and rheumatic complaints accompanied by water retention."
Fritillary (Zhe Bei Mu)
Made of bulb, it "treats bronchitis; bronchial asthma; coughs accompanied by thick, yellow phlegm; hard lymphatic lumps; breast lumps and swelling; and thyroid tumors.
Gambir (Gou Teng)
Made of stems and thorns of hook vine, it "can alleviate tremors, spasms, seizures, headaches, irritability, redness of eyes, dizziness, hypertension, fever, and convulsions."
Gastrodia (Tian Ma)
Made of rhizome, it "treats spasms, tremors, headaches, tetany, hemiplegia, and numbness of the lower back and extremities."
Gentian (Long Dan Cao)
Made of Chinese gentian root, it "treats red, swollen, and sore throats, eyes, and ears. It also treats sudden deafness, jaundice, genital pain or swelling, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, and infantile convulsions."
Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Made of root, it "treats all deficiency diseases with the following symptomology: chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, profuse sweating , lethargy, lack of appetite, chest and abdominal distension, chronic diarrhea, prolapse of the stomach, uterus, or rectum, palpitations accompanied by anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness, and restlessness. It aids convalescence, and alleviates debility and weakness in the elderly."
Hawthorn (Shan Zha)
Made of fruit, it "reduces indigestion, gas, food congestion, abdominal distension, stomach or chest pain, diarrhea, hernia, dysentery, hypertension, coronary-artery disease, and elevated serum cholesterol."
He Shou Wu (He Shou Wu)
Made of root, it "treats dizziness, blurred vision, premature graying of hair, premature aging, lower-back pain and weakness, goiters and other neck lumps, and chronic malaria accompanied by deficient energy and blood."
Hoelen (Fu Ling)
Made of sclerotium of the fungus, it "can alleviate difficult urination, edema, diarrhea, loss of appetite, palpitations, insomnia, and forgetfulness."
Houttuynia (Yu Xing Cao)
Made of leaves, it "treats pneumonia, bronchitis, or coughing accompanied by thick, yellow-green mucus; abscesses; boils and sores accompanied by pus; and painful urination."
Jsatis (Ban Lan Gen)
Made of woad root (a broad-spectrum antibiotic), it "treats viral infections, fevers, inflammations, mumps, throat pain and swelling, jaundice, acute laryngitis, hepatitis, and scabies."
Licorice (Gan Cao)
Made of root, it "may eliminate shortness of breath, weakness, loose stools, energy or blood deficiencies, palpitations, coughing, wheezing, heat or cold in the lungs, carbuncles, sores, sore throats, painful spasms in the abdomen or legs, and stomach and duodenal ulcers. It also detoxifies poisons."
Ligusticum (Chuan Xiong)
Made of the root of Szechwan lovage, it "treats menstrual disorders and pain, pain resulting from difficult labor, headaches, dizziness, and skin problems."
Lindera (Wu Yao)
Made of root, it "alleviates chest, side, and abdominal pain resulting from coldness, stifling sensations in the chest, frequent urination, and urinary incontinence caused by coldness."
Loquat (Pi Pa Ye)
Made of leaf, it "treats coughing accompanied by yellow phlegm, nausea, vomiting caused by heat, hiccups, and belching."
Mint (Bo He)
Made of leaves, it "treats fevers, headaches, coughing, sore throats, sinus congestion, earaches, the early stages of rashes and skin eruptions, such as measles, reddened eyes and eye inflammations, and indigestion."
Morinda (Ba Ji Tian)
Made of root, it "treats impotence, infertility, premature ejaculation, frequent urination, urinary incontinence, irregular menstruation, cold, painful lower backs and legs, muscular atrophy, broken bones, and ligament problems. It also strengthens tendons and bones."
Morus (Sang Bai Pi)
Made of mulberry-root bark, it "treats coughing and wheezing accompanied by thick, yellow phlegm; bronchitis; asthma; swelling of the face and extremities; fever; thirst; difficult urination; and hypertension."
Mouton (Mu Dan Pi)
Made of cortex of tree peony root, it "treats nosebleeds, bloody phlegm or vomit, frequent and profuse menstruation resulting from heat, amenorrhea, lumps or bruises due to traumatic injury, headaches, and eye pain."
Ophiopogon (Mai Men Dong)
Made of tuber, it "relieves dry coughing, expectoration of blood, dryness of the tongue and mouth, irritability, night fever, constipation resulting form dryness, sore throats, and mouth sores."
Orzya (Gu Ya)
Made of rice sprouts, it "treats food congestion, poor digestion (especially of starches), loss of appetite, and nausea."
Perilla (Zi Su Ye)
Made of leaf, it "treats colds, flu, nasal congestion, coughing, asthma, headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, reduced appetite, restless fetal movement, and morning sickness. It also alleviates seafood poisoning."
Phellodendron (Huang Bai)
Made of amur cork-tree bark, it "treats thick, yellow vaginal discharge; gonorrhea; foul-smelling diarrhea; dysentery; swollen and painful knees, legs, or feet; night sweats; nocturnal emission; spermatorrhea; and mouth or gum sores."
Polygala (Yuan Zhi)
Made of senega root, it "treats anxious palpitations, poor memory, mental and emotional disorientation, pent-up emotions, seizures, coughing accompanied by copious mucus, boils, abscesses, sores, and swollen and painful breasts."
Polygonati (Huang Jing)
Made of Siberian Solomon's seal rhizome, it "treats fatigue, a dry mouth, loss of appetite, dry stools, dry coughing, lower-back pain, lightheadedness, weak legs, and thirst."
Polyporus (Zhu Ling)
Made of polyporus sclerotium, it "treats difficult urination; cloudy, painful urination; kidney stones; nephritis; edema; vaginal discharge; diarrhea; and jaundice."
Pseudoginseng (San Qi)
Made of root, it "treats internal and external bleeding, vomiting, nosebleeds, bloody urine or stools, fractures, contusions, sprains, chest and abdominal pain, and menstrual pain."
Psoralea (Bu Gu Zhi)
Made of seeds, it "may eliminate impotence, premature ejaculation, leukorrhea, lower-back pain, coldness, and weakness, urinary incontinence, frequent urination, rumbling of the intestines, baldness, and psoriasis. This herb also has antifungal properties."
Pueraria (Ge Gen)
Made of kudzu-vine root, it "treats fevers, headaches, a tight neck and shoulders, dizziness, thirst, dehydration, hypertension, chronic diarrhea, measles, and other skin eruptions."
Rhubarb (Da Huang)
Made of root and rhizome, it "treats constipation, high fever, profuse sweating, abdominal distension and pain, delirium, jaundice, dysentery, painful urination, bleeding hemorrhoids, vomiting of blood, nosebleeds accompanied by constipation, abdominal masses, swollen and painful eyes, and hot skin lesions."
Saussurea (Mu Xiang)
Made of root, it "treats lack of appetite, abdominal or chest pain and distension, nausea, and vomiting."
Scallion (Cong Bai)
Made of white part, it "treats the early stages of colds and fevers, and sensations of coldness. It also induces sweating, and is a topical treatment for skin sores and abscesses."
Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi)
Made of seed, it "treats chronic coughing, wheezing resulting from weakness, diarrhea, nocturnal emissions, spermatorrhea, vaginal discharge, frequent urination, excessive sweating, night sweats, irritability, and dream-disturbed sleep."
Schizonepeta (Jing Jie)
Made of parts grown above ground, it "treats colds, flu, headaches, skin eruptions, and sore throats. When directly applied, fried schizonepeta stops bleeding."
Scute (Huang Qin)
Made of baical skullcap root, it "treats high fever; irritability; thirst; coughing accompanied by thick, yellow mucus; hot sores and swellings; jaundice; vomiting or expectoration of blood; reddened eyes; a flushed face; and hypertension."
Stephania (Han Fang Ji)
Made of root, it "treats edema; difficult urination; swollen legs; abdominal distension; intestinal gurgling; red, swollen, hot, and painful joints; and knee inflammation."
Wormwood (Qing Hao)
Made of wormwood leaves, it "treats fevers accompanied by weakness, night fevers characterized by morning coolness and lack of swear, alternating fever and chills, malaria, nosebleeds, summer flu accompanied by low fevers, headaches, dizziness, and a stuffy sensation in the chest."
Zanthoxylum (Chuan Jiao)
Made of Szechwan pepper fruit and Chinese prickly ash, it "alleviates abdominal pain and coldness, vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal parasites, and pain caused by roundworms."
Zizyphus (Suan Zao Ren)
Made of sour jujube seed, it "treats insomnia, palpitations accompanied by anxiety, irritability, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, forgetfulness, and nervous exhaustion."