Chinese Herbal Medicine: The 18 Therapeutic Categories (中草藥十八分類)
Chinese herbal medicine (中草藥, Zhong Cao Yao) is the pharmacological arm of Chinese Medicine. Herbs are classified by their actions (功效), thermal nature (四氣 — hot/warm/cool/cold), taste (五味), channel affinity (歸經), and therapeutic category. The 18 classical categories organize all herbal substances by primary therapeutic function.
Core Therapeutic Categories
1. Release the Exterior (解表): Herbs that release Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat from the surface — Ma Huang (麻黃), Gui Zhi (桂枝), Bai Zhi (白芷). 2. Clear Heat (清熱): Herbs that clear interior heat, Fire, or Toxin — Huang Lian (黃連), Huang Bai (黃柏), Zhi Mu (知母). 3. Drain Fire (瀉火): Specifically targets organ Fire patterns. 4. Clear Heat and Cool Blood (清熱涼血): Sheng Di Huang (生地黃), Mu Dan Pi (牡丹皮). 5. Clear Deficiency Heat (清虛熱): Addresses Yin deficiency heat — Qing Hao (青蒿). 6. Drain Dampness (利水滲濕): Promotes urination, drains Dampness — Fu Ling (茯苓), Ze Xie (澤瀉). 7. Warm the Interior (溫裡): Treats interior Cold patterns — Gan Jiang (乾薑), Rou Gui (肉桂). 8. Regulate Qi (理氣): Moves Qi stagnation — Chen Pi (陳皮), Zhi Shi (枳實). 9. Invigorate Blood (活血祛瘀): Moves Blood stasis — Dan Shen (丹參), Chuan Xiong (川芎). 10. Stop Bleeding (止血): San Qi (三七), Ai Ye (艾葉). 11. Transform Phlegm (化痰): Ban Xia (半夏), Chen Pi (陳皮). 12. Calm the Spirit (安神): Suan Zao Ren (酸棗仁), Yuan Zhi (遠志). 13. Tonify Qi (補氣): Ren Shen (人參), Huang Qi (黃耆), Bai Zhu (白術). 14. Tonify Blood (補血): Dang Gui (當歸), Shu Di Huang (熟地黃). 15. Tonify Yin (補陰): Mai Men Dong (麥門冬), Gou Qi Zi (枸杞子). 16. Tonify Yang (補陽): Du Zhong (杜仲), Yin Yang Huo (淫羊藿). 17. Stabilize and Bind (收澀): Prevents leakage of Qi, Blood, or fluids. 18. Treat External Applications (外用): Topical medicines.