Table 4 Most commonly used medicinal plants

Biu Biu Liang

Plumbago indica L.

Fire, wind and water

Whole herb used for arthritis/joint pain, abnormal menstruation, menstrual colic, cough, asthma, weakness, impotence.

Soup obtained from whole herb deposited in alcohol or after decoction to be taken orally.

24 (12.0)

Hao Ming

Curcuma longa L.

Water, earth and wind

Rhizome used for arthralgia, traumatic injury, distending pain of chest and abdomen, amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, swollen sores and furuncle, insect bites.

Soup or juice of Rhizome obtained after decoction or juicing to be taken orally.

20 (10.0)

Pi Nuai

Piper nigrum L.

Fire

Fruit used for abdominal pain, toothache, cough, asthma, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Fruit made into powder or soup obtained from decoction to be taken orally.

19 (9.5)

Wen Shang Hai

Arundina graminifolia (D. Don) Hochr.

Water

Bulb and whole herb used for the deficiency of Qi and blood due to postpartum, poisoning of food, epilepsy, damp-heat jaundice.

Soup of bulb and whole herb obtained from decoction to be taken orally.

17 (8.5)

Guan Di

Vitex trifolia L.

Wind and water

Fruit and leaf used for dizziness, poor vision, hemiplegia, red swelling and pain of joints, spasm and pain of extremities, muscle and bone pain.

Soup of fruit or leaf after decoction to be taken orally.

17 (8.5)

Han Hao Nan

Acorus calamus L. var. verus L.

Wind, water and earth

Rhizome used for abdominal pain and diarrhea, abdominal distension, nausea and vomiting, dizziness and headache, insomnia and dreamful sleep, asthma.

Soup of rhizome obtained from decoction to be taken orally.

16 (8.0)

Jing Lang

Nigella glandulifera Freyn et Sint.

Wind and water

Seed used for dizziness, headache, insomnia and dreamful sleep, postpartum bleeding, anemia, hypogalactia, menoxenia, menstrual colic, amenorrhea, epilepsia, muscle and joint pain, stomachache.

Chewed seed to be taken orally or smashed seeds to be sniffed.

15 (7.5)

Mi Huo Wa

Tacca chantrieri Andre’

Fire, water and wind

Rhizome and leaf used for mumps, submaxillary lymph nodes soreness, galactophore soreness, sore throat, cough, phlegm much, abdominal pain and unknown toxin.

Soup of rhizome or leaf obtained from decoction to be taken orally.

15 (7.5)

Guo Long Liang

Cassia fistula L.

Wind and water

Fruit, root, stem, bark and leaf used for oppilation, dysuresia, urinary stones, frequent and scanty urination with continuous dripping, sore throat due to heat-wind evils, orolingual furuncles, tumor, headache, dizziness.

Fruit to be chewed and taken orally. Soup of root, stem, bark and leaf obtained from decoction to be taken orally.

14 (7.0)

Huang Giu

Eclipta prostrata (L.)L.

Water

Whole herb used for dysentery, abdominal pain, febrile convulsion, skin and external diseases.

Juice extracted from whole herb to be taken internally or applied externally.

13 (6.5)

Zhu Zha Ling

Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr.

Water

Vine used for insufficiency of Qi and blood, general debility and lassitude, palpitation, pain of limbs and joints due to wind-dampness evils, blood stasis and swelling due to traumatic injury.

Vine to be deposited in alcohol or made into powder and the alcohol or powder to be taken orally.

13 (6.5)

He Tao Leng

Spatholobus suberectus Dunn.

Water, earth and wind

Vine used for dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain, and anemia and to reduce rheumatic pain and joint aches.

Soup of vine obtained from decoction to be taken orally.

12 (6.0)

Bu Luei

Zingiber purpureum Rosc. or Zingiber corallinum Hance.

Earth

Rhizome used for abdominal pain, abdominal distension due to food retention, nausea and vomiting, hepatosplenomegaly, arthralgia due to wind-heat.

Soup of rhizome obtained from decoction or powder of rhizome to be taken orally.

12 (6.0)

Ya La Meng

Cassia obtusifolia L.

Water

Whole herb used for insomnia and dreamful sleep, cramps, jaundice, malaria, hepatitis.

Soup of whole herb obtained from decoction to be taken orally.

12 (6.0)

Hiam Leng

Mahonia bealei (Fort.) Carr.

Earth and water

Stem used for jaundice, abdominal distension, heat and pain, dry mouth and throat, diarrhea, orolingual sore, irritability, menorrhagia.

Soup of stem obtained from decoction to be taken orally or applied externally.

11 (5.5)