Directing Medicines

Common to all systems is the idea that certain medicines direct the function of a formula to a specific part or organ of the Body. The following is a brief list of herbs which direct to a certain part of the Body.

Life Channel (Du Mai):	Clove; Deer horn
Head:	Warm: Betony, Cowslip, Eyebright, Rosemary, Vervain
Brain:	Cool: Poppy seed, Rose, Willow leaf, Violet, Water Lilies, Pearl, Red Coral
Senses (general):	Calamus, Peony, Nutmeg, Mace, Walnut, Rosemary, Frankincense
Eyes:	Calamus
Neck:	Eyebright, Goji
Throat:	Figwort, Self Heal
Breast:	Figwort, Sage, Licorice
Heart:	Dandelion, Immature Mandarin peel Qing Pi
Lungs:	Warm: Aloeswood, Angelica, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Mace, Valerian, Squill
Liver & Gall Bladder:	Cool: Basil seed, Borage, Rose, Violet; Red Coral, Pearl
Stomach:	Warm: Elecampane, Licorice, Orris, Raisins, Ephedra
Spleen:	Cool: Tabasheer, Lungwort, Plantain, Horehound
Kidney:	Saffron/ Calendula/ Safflower; Agrimony, Turmeric
Bladder:	Cool: Chicory, Dandelion, Endive, Fumitory, Gentian, Nightshade, Liverwort
Bowels:	Warm: Elecampane, Ginger, Galangal, Spikenard, Cumin, Mastic
Uterus:	Cool: Mint, Pomegranate peel, Quince, Sorrel, Gypsum, Calcite
Joints:	Aniseed, Agrimony, Bay leaf, Centaury, Chicory, Fumitory, Hops, Thyme, Tamarisk, Wormwood, Ash tree bark, Fern root, Caper bark, Maidenhair, Lapis Lazuli
Whole Body:	Lesser (Green) Cardamon, Asparagus root, Marshmallow root, Nettle root & seed, Celery root & seed, Parsley root & seed, Gromwell seed, Rocket seed, Rehmannia
Yang:	Agrimony, Couch grass, Knotgrass, Nettle, Yarrow
Yin:	Warm: Costus, Cumin, Caraway, Fennel, Valerian
Blood:	Cool: Agrimony, Camomile, Buckthorn Plantain, Burnet, Rhubarb
Essence:	Calamint, Feverfew, Motherwort, Mugwort, Oregano, Tansy, Peony, Amber
Spirit, Mind:	Cowslip, Rosemary, Rue, St. John’s wort, Colchicum
Phlegm Humor:	Licorice, Aconitum Fu Zi
Bile Humor:	Velvet Deer Horn; Cinnamon, Aconitum Fu Zi, Sulphur
Melancholy Humor:	Turtle Shell; Cold Seeds, Pearl, Rehmannia
Wind:	Madder, Myrrh, Saffron, Wine
	Placenta, Pearl, Cinnamon
	Pearl, Red Coral, Amber, Saffron
	Turbith, Agaric, Ginger
	Yellow Myrobalan, Rhubarb, Barberry
	Dodder, Agaric, Polypody, Senna, Black Myrobalan, Black Hellebore
	Antelope horn; Chebulic Myrobalan

In addition, Mesue (Opera, 1598) gave the following list of medicines to guide the action of Purgative medicines to the various Organs and Parts. These are guiding medicines appropriated to the parts in general and so may be used as guiding medicines for uses other than purging.

Head
Nutmeg, Peony, Stoechas, Acorus, Aloeswood, Indian Salt, Rock Salt, Balsam, Balsam wood, Balsam fruit, Anacardium, Frankincense, Myrrh, Germander, Ground Pine, Schoenathus, Squill, Spikenard, Castoreum, Gentian, Thyme, Hyssop, Pepper, Marjoram, Sagapen
Lungs
Orris, Thyme, Hyssop, Maidenhair, Squill, Ammi, Cardamon, Cabbage juice, Cock broth, Nasturtium, Almond, Hazelnut, Fox lungs, Seseli, Opopanax, Myrrh, Sagapen, Radish, Calamus aromaticus, Asphodelus, Laurus, Calamint, Savin, Violet, Birthwort, Tragacanth, Gum Arabic, Frankincense, Honey, Sugar, Mulberry, Fenugreek, Horehound, Lilium
Liver
Spikenard, Asarum, Anise, Fennel seed, Fennel juice, Chicory, Endive, Bitter Almond, Indian leaf, Carrot, Agrimony, Wormwood, Lacca, Cinnamon, Asparagus, Decoction of Chickpea, Germander, Plantain, Orris, Laurus, Schoenanthus, Camomile, Fumitory, Whey, Parsley, Polium, Squill
Spleen
Carrot, Calamint, Spikenard, Tamarix, Caper, Cyclamen, Willow bark, Rock salt, Indian salt, Orris, Acorus, Horehound, Madder, Wormwood, Agrimony, Anise, Fennel, Asparagus, Squill, Asarum, Scordium, Agnus Castus, Germander, Bitter Almond, Birthwort
Joints
Ginger, Wild Rue, Opopanax, Thapsia, Cardamon, Leek water, Cabbage juice, Acorus, Three Peppers, Scordium, Germander, Ground Pine, Thyme, Amomum, Polium