Properties & Channels

Drug Interactions

Incompatible Herbs

Toxic or Endangered

Latin Name Notes

Chinese Herb-Drug Interactions

Chinese herbs that may interact or interfere with Western pharmaceutical drugs.

Herb-Drug interactions are added to the website slowly, and this list represents only a fraction of the possbile Herb-Drug interactions that may occur when combining Chinese and Western medicine. If you are prescribing or using Chinese herbs, do NOT use this list as a complete or definitive reference for determining the safety of combining medicines.

• Bai Hua She (Agkistrodon, Bungarus)
  Latin: Agkistrodon Seu Bungarus
  Properties: Sweet, Salty, Warm, Toxic
  Channels: LIV, SP
  
• Ban Bian Lian (Chinese Lobelia, Lobelia)
  Latin: Herba Lobeliae Chinensis Gum Radice
  Properties: Sweet, Neutral
  Channels: HT, LU, SI
  
• Cang Zhu (Black Atractylodes Rhizone)
  Latin: Rhizoma Atractylodis
  Properties: Spicy, Bitter, Warm, Aromatic
  Channels: SP, ST
  
• Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed, Plantain Seed)
  Latin: Semen Plantaginis
  Properties: Sweet, Cold
  Channels: KI, BL, LIV, LU
  
• Chi Shi Zhi (Halloysite, Kaolin)
  Latin: Hallyositum Rubrum
  Properties: Sweet, Sour, Astringent, Warm
  Channels: ST, LI. (SP)
  
• Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage Root)
  Latin: Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong
  Properties: Spicy, Warm
  Channels: LIV, GB, PER
  
• Da Ji (Japanese Thistle, Cirsium)
  Latin: Herba Cirsii Japonici
  Properties: Sweet, Cool
  Channels: LIV, SP, HT
  
• Dan Shen (Salvia Root)
  Latin: Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae
  Properties: Bitter, Slightly Cold
  Channels: HT, PER, LIV
  
• Dang Gui (Chinese Angelica Root)
  Latin: Radix Angelicae Sinensis
  Properties: Sweet, Spicy, Bitter, Warm
  Channels: HT, LIV, SP
  
• Dong Kui Zi (Musk Mallow Seeds, Abutilon Seeds)
  Latin: Semen Malvae
  Properties: Sweet, Cold
  Channels: BL, LI, SI
  
• Fu Ling Pi (Poria Skin)
  Latin: Sclerotii Poriae Cocos
  Properties: Sweet, Bland, Neutral
  Channels: HT, SP, LU
  
• Fu Shen (Poria Spirit)
  Latin: Scierotium Pararadicis Poriae Cocos
  Properties: Sweet, Bland, Neutral
  Channels: HT, SP, LU
  
• Gan Cao (Licorice Root)
  Latin: Radix Glycyrrhizae
  Properties: Sweet, Neutral
  Channels: All 12 (Primarily the LU, HT, SP, ST)
  
• Guang Fang Ji (Aristolochia Root, Stephania)
  Latin: Radix Aristolochiae Fangchi
  Properties: Bitter, Spicy, Cold, Toxic
  Channels: BL, SP, KI
  
• Han Fang Ji (Stephania Root)
  Latin: Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae
  Properties: Bitter, Spicy, Cold
  Channels: BL, SP, KI
  
• Han Lian Cao (Eclipta)
  Latin: Herba Ecliptae Prostratae
  Properties: Sweet, Sour, Cool
  Channels: KI, LIV
  
• Hei Zhi Ma (Black Sesame Seeds)
  Latin: black Semen Sesame Indici
  Properties: Sweet, Neutral
  Channels: KI, LIV
  
• Hong Hua (Safflower Flower)
  Latin: Flos Carthami Tinctorii
  Properties: Spicy, Warm
  Channels: HT, LIV
  
• Hou Po (Magnolia Bark)
  Latin: Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis
  Properties: Bitter, Spicy, Warm, Aromatic
  Channels: LI, LU, SP, ST
  
• Huang Qi (Astragalus)
  Latin: Radix Astragali Membranacei
  Properties: Sweet, Slightly Warm
  Channels: LU, SP
  
• Jin Qian Cao (Lysimachia)
  Latin: Herba Desmodii Styrachifolii
  Properties: Sweet, Bland, Neutral
  Channels: BL, GB, KI, LIV
  
• Luo Han Guo (Momordica Fruit)
  Latin: Fructus Momordicae Grosvenori
  Properties: Sweet, Cool (Neutral)
  Channels: LU, LI (SP)
  
• Ma Huang (Ephedra Stem)
  Latin: Herba Ephedrae
  Properties: Spicy, Slightly Bitter, Warm
  Channels: LU, BL
  
• Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber)
  Latin: Tuber Ophiopogonis Japonici
  Properties: Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Slightly Cold
  Channels: SP, ST, HT (LU)
  
• Mu Tong (Akebia Caulis)
  Latin: Caulis Akebiae
  Properties: Bitter, Cool
  Channels: BL, HT, SI
  
• Nan Sha Shen (Adenophora Root, Four Leaf Lady Bell Root)
  Latin: Radix Adenophorae
  Properties: Sweet, Cool, Slightly Bitter
  Channels: LU, ST
  
• Nu Zhen Zi (Privet Fruit, Ligustrum)
  Latin: Fructus Ligustri Lucidi
  Properties: Bitter, Sweet, Cool (Neutral)
  Channels: KI, LIV
  
• Po Xiao ()
  Latin: Sal Glauberis
  Properties: Salty, Bitter, Cold
  Channels: LU, ST, LI.
  
• Qu Mai (Aerial Parts of Fringed Pink or Chinese Pink Dianthus)
  Latin: Herba Dianthi
  Properties: Bitter, Cold
  Channels: BL, HT, SI
  
• Ren Shen (Ginseng Root)
  Latin: Radix Ginseng
  Properties: Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Slightly Warm
  Channels: LU, SP
  
• Sha Ren (Cardamon (Grains of Paradise Fruit))
  Latin: Fructus Amomi
  Properties: Spicy, Warm, Aromatic
  Channels: SP, ST
  
• Shan Yao (Chinese Yam Rhizome, Dioscorea)
  Latin: Radix Dioscoreae Oppositae
  Properties: Sweet, Neutral
  Channels: KI, LU, SP
  
• Shi Gao (Gypsum)
  Latin: Gypsum Fibrosum
  Properties: Sweet, Spicy, Very Cold
  Channels: LU, ST
  
• Shui Zhi (Leech)
  Latin: Hirudo seu Whitmania
  Properties: Salty, Bitter, Neutral, Slightly Toxic
  Channels: LIV, BL
  
• Tao Ren (Peach Kernel)
  Latin: Semen Pruni Persicae
  Properties: Bitter, Sweet, Neutral
  Channels: HT, LI, LIV, ST
  
• Tong Cao (Rice Paper Pith, Tetrapanax)
  Latin: Medulla Tetrapanacis Papyriferi
  Properties: Sweet, Bland, Slightly Cold
  Channels: LU, ST
  
• Xuan Shen (Ningpo Figwort Root)
  Latin: Radix Scrophulariae Ningpoensis
  Properties: Salty, Sweet, Bitter, Cold
  Channels: KI, LU, ST
  
• Yin Chen Hao (Yinchenhao Shoots and Leaves, Capillaris)
  Latin: Herba Artemisiae Yinchenhao
  Properties: Bitter, Spicy, Cool
  Channels: LIV, SP, GB, ST
  
• Yu Mi Xu (Cornsilk)
  Latin: Stylus Zeae Mays
  Properties: Sweet, Neutral
  Channels: BL, GB, LIV
  
• Yuan Ming Fen ()
  Latin: Matrii Sulfas Exsiccatus
  Properties: Salty, Bitter, Cold
  Channels: LU, ST, LI.
  
• Ze Xie (Water Plantain Rhizome, Alisma)
  Latin: Rhizoma Alismatis
  Properties: Sweet, Bland, Cold
  Channels: KI, BL
  
• Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome)
  Latin: Rhizoma Anemarrhenae Aspheloidis
  Properties: Bitter, Cold
  Channels: LU, ST, KI
  
• Zhu Ling (Polyporus Sclerotium)
  Latin: Sclerotium Polypori Umbellati
  Properties: Sweet, Bland, Slightly Cool
  Channels: SP, KI, BL