Article 22: An Overview of Liver-Soothing and Yang-Subduing Herbs (Mother-of-Pearl, White Peony Root, Oyster Shell, Apocynum Venetum, Tribulus Terrestris, Prunella Vulgaris) and Tonifying Herbs

II. Liver-soothing and Yang-subduing drugs

The main function of liver-calming and yang-subduing drugs is to suppress liver yang. They are suitable for patients with hyperactive liver yang, characterized by symptoms such as headache, dizziness, irritability, tinnitus, hearing loss, dry throat and mouth, insomnia, forgetfulness, red tongue with little saliva, and a wiry and forceful pulse. Most liver-calming and yang-subduing drugs have antihypertensive and sedative effects; some also have anti-ulcer, anticoagulant, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, and anti-aging effects.

Mother-of-pearl

This product is the shell of the Triangular Sail Mussel, the Crested Crown Mussel, or the Pearl Oyster (Pearl Oyster) of the Pearl family.

[Properties and Flavors] Salty, cold.

[Functions] ① Calms the liver and subdues yang, used to treat dizziness, headache, tinnitus, palpitations, irritability and insomnia caused by hyperactivity of liver yang; ② Clears the liver and improves vision, used to treat blurred vision due to liver deficiency or red and photophobia due to liver heat; ③ Neutralizes acid, used to treat excessive stomach acid; ④ Astringent, used externally to treat burns.

[Pharmacological effects] Anti-ulcer, antioxidant, vision-improving, anti-allergic, liver-protecting, central nervous system depressant, anti-aging, anti-tumor.

[Modern Applications] Hypertension, arteriosclerosis, neurasthenia, intellectual disability in children, viral hepatitis, pertussis, cataracts, oral ulcers, and gingival bleeding caused by gingival disease.

[Usage] For oral administration, take 15-30 grams, crush and decoct first. For external use, apply appropriate amount.

[Caution]Use with caution if you have a cold stomach.

White peony root

This product is the root of Paeonia lactiflora, a plant of the Ranunculaceae family, after the outer skin has been removed.

[Properties and Flavors] Bitter, sour, slightly cold.

[Functions] ① Nourishes blood and astringes yin, used to treat various symptoms of blood deficiency, irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia, disharmony between ying and wei, and spontaneous sweating due to superficial deficiency; ② Soothes the liver, relieves spasms and stops pain, used to treat liver yin deficiency, liver qi stagnation, hypochondriac pain, abdominal cramps and pain in the hands and feet; ③ Nourishes yin and calms the liver, used to treat headaches and dizziness caused by liver yin deficiency and liver yang hyperactivity.

[Pharmacological Actions] Sedative, anticonvulsant, antipyretic, analgesic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, immunomodulatory, vasodilator, hypotensive, anti-myocardial ischemia, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-anemia, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, hepatoprotective, detoxifying, antitumor, antimutagenic, antioxidant, anti-hypoxia, and improves learning and memory abilities.

[Modern Applications] Trigeminal neuralgia, gastrocnemius muscle spasm, facial muscle spasm, chronic gastritis, habitual constipation, infantile diarrhea, acute pancreatitis, hepatitis B, immune dysfunction, bronchial asthma, epilepsy, impotence, menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea, vaginal bleeding, gingival bleeding, bone hyperplasia.

[Usage] Decocted and taken orally, 5-15 grams, with larger doses up to 15-30 grams. For nourishing blood and softening the liver, it is best to stir-fry; for calming the liver and astringing yin, it is best to use raw.

[Caution]Use with caution in cases of deficiency-cold syndrome. Contraindicated with Veratrum nigrum.

Oyster

This product is the shell of the oyster species Crassula ovata, Crassula longifolia, Crassula dalianensis, or Crassula denticulata.

[Properties and Flavors] Salty, astringent, slightly cold.

[Functions] ① Calms the liver and suppresses yang, used to treat headaches and dizziness caused by hyperactivity of liver yang; ② Sedative and calms the mind, used to treat restlessness, palpitations and insomnia; ③ Astringent and consolidating, used to treat spontaneous sweating, night sweats, seminal emission, leukorrhea and metrorrhagia; ④ Softens hardness and dissipates nodules, used to treat scrofula and phlegm nodules; ⑤ Neutralizes acid, used to treat stomach pain and acid reflux.

[Pharmacological effects] Immune enhancement, sedation, local anesthesia, anti-ulcer, anti-poliovirus, anticoagulant, antithrombotic, radiosensitizing, antitumor.

[Modern Applications] Night sweats due to pulmonary tuberculosis, peptic ulcers, hyperacidity, allergic purpura, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, neurosis, mental illness, febrile diseases, late stage of acute infectious diseases, lymphadenitis, lymph node tuberculosis, thyroid diseases, chickenpox, uterine prolapse, and flat warts.

[Usage] Decocted for oral administration, 15-30 grams, crushed and decocted first. For calming the liver, soothing the nerves, and softening hard masses, use raw; for astringing and neutralizing acid, use calcined.

[Caution]Use with caution if you have low stomach acid or indigestion.

Apocynum venetum

This product is the leaf of Apocynum venetum, a plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, bitter, slightly cold.

[Functions] ① Calms the liver and soothes the mind, used to treat headaches, dizziness, palpitations and insomnia caused by hyperactivity of liver yang; ② Relieves cough and asthma, used to treat cough and asthma and prevent colds; ③ Promotes diuresis and reduces swelling, used to treat edema and difficulty urinating.

[Pharmacological Actions] Lowers blood pressure, promotes diuresis, sedates and relieves pain, enhances immunity, anti-aging, inhibits platelet aggregation, lowers blood lipids, strengthens the heart, inhibits intestinal and uterine smooth muscle, antibacterial, and expectorant.

[Modern Applications] Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart failure, leukopenia, chronic bronchitis, upper respiratory tract infection.

[Usage] Decocted or steeped in boiling water, 3-10 grams.

[Caution] Do not take in excessive amounts or for extended periods. When used for edema, be aware of the possibility of potassium deficiency.

Tribulus

This product is the fruit of Tribulus terrestris, a plant belonging to the Zygophyllaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Pungent, bitter, slightly warm. Slightly toxic.

[Functions] ① Soothes the liver, used to treat headaches and dizziness caused by hyperactivity of liver yang; ② Soothes the liver, used to treat hypochondriac pain caused by stagnation of liver qi; ③ Dispels wind and improves vision, used to treat red, swollen and painful eyes, photophobia and excessive tearing or pterygium caused by wind-heat in the liver meridian, headaches, urticaria and itchy skin.

[Pharmacological Actions] Lowers blood pressure, diuresis, anti-atherosclerosis, tonic, anti-aging, gonadotropin-like effects, mild respiratory stimulation, central nervous system stimulation, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antibacterial, anti-vitiligo, anti-acetylcholine.

[Modern Applications] Hypertension, coronary heart disease, infantile diarrhea, mastitis, boils, vitiligo, pruritus.

[Usage] Decocted and taken orally, 6-10 grams.

[Caution]Pregnant women and those with blood deficiency and weak qi should use with caution.

Prunella vulgaris

This product is the fruit spike of *Prunella vulgaris*, a plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Pungent, bitter, cold.

[Functions] ① Clears liver fire, used to treat headaches, dizziness, red eyes, and eye pain caused by liver fire; ② Disperses stagnation, used to treat scrofula, phlegm nodules, goiter, and mastitis.

[Pharmacological Actions] Lowers blood pressure, diuresis, anti-inflammation, stimulates smooth muscle, lowers blood sugar, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-HIV and anti-herpesvirus, antitumor, hepatoprotective, enhances adrenal function, and anti-myocardial infarction.

[Modern Applications] Viral hepatitis, bacterial dysentery, pulmonary tuberculosis, pleurisy, folliculitis, hypertension, thyroid tumors, breast diseases.

[Usage] Take 10-15 grams by decoction or paste.

[Caution]This product is contraindicated for those with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold.

Medicines that can replenish the body's essential substances, enhance its functions, improve its disease resistance, and eliminate symptoms of weakness are called tonifying medicines, also known as nourishing medicines or restorative medicines. Tonifying medicines replenish vital energy and support those who are weak, and are suitable for various deficiency syndromes.

Deficiency syndromes are a general term for various weakness syndromes caused by insufficient vital energy in the body. They are mainly characterized by decreased bodily functions and decline, and can be summarized into four types: Qi deficiency, Yang deficiency, Blood deficiency, and Yin deficiency. Deficiency syndromes involve almost all diseases in modern medicine, so tonifying herbs are widely used. However, they are more commonly used for digestive system diseases (such as peptic ulcers and chronic gastroenteritis), leukopenia, anemia, weakened immune function, various infections (mainly in the chronic and late stages and those with deficiency syndrome manifestations), dysfunction of various organs, sexual dysfunction and infertility, and age-related diseases.

According to modern research, tonics mainly have the following pharmacological effects: ① Tonics can enhance or regulate the body's non-specific immune function and specific immune function, mainly manifested in increasing peripheral white blood cells, enhancing the phagocytic function of the reticuloendothelial system, enhancing or regulating cellular immune function, and enhancing or regulating humoral immune function.

② Some tonics (especially qi-tonifying herbs) can relieve spasms of the smooth muscles of the digestive tract or regulate the movement of the smooth muscles of the digestive tract. Some also have anti-ulcer, hepatoprotective, and choleretic effects. ③ Some tonics can promote the increase of white blood cells or red blood cells, enhance bone marrow hematopoietic function, and some can inhibit platelet aggregation and have anticoagulant effects.

④ Ginseng, astragalus, and codonopsis can significantly counteract memory acquisition and recall impairment in mice. Many tonics contain rich proteins, hormones, vitamins, and trace elements, which can nourish cells, promote brain development, and delay brain degeneration and atrophy, thereby improving memory and enhancing brain function.

In addition, tonics also have the effects of strengthening the heart, dilating blood vessels, improving microcirculation, lowering blood pressure, antiarrhythmia and antimyocardial ischemia. Some drugs also have the effects of scavenging free radicals, anti-aging and regulating the endocrine system.

Tonifying herbs should not be used for diseases with actual pathogenic factors, lest they "close the door to let in the enemy" and worsen the condition. However, when the pathogenic factors have not been eliminated and the body's vital energy is already weak, tonifying herbs can be appropriately added to the herbs used to expel pathogenic factors in order to "strengthen the body's resistance and expel pathogenic factors" and promote recovery.

Improper use of tonifying herbs, such as mistakenly using yang-tonifying herbs when there is yin deficiency with heat, or mistakenly using yin-tonifying herbs when there is yang deficiency with cold, can all lead to adverse consequences. Furthermore, tonifying herbs should be taken concurrently with spleen-strengthening and stomach-nourishing herbs to avoid hindering digestion and absorption and affecting the therapeutic effect.