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Luoshiteng (Star Jasmine Stem) is a common vine-based medicinal material traditionally used for dispelling wind, freeing the collaterals, cooling blood, and reducing swelling, but it is easily confused with Haifengteng and Qingfengteng. This article introduces its appearance identification, medicinal part, common formulas, and precautions to help readers understand the basic characteristics and appropriate scope of use of Luoshiteng.

Lei Gong Teng (Tripterygium wilfordii) is a highly toxic woody vine in the Celastraceae family, with roots as the main medicinal part. Modern use mostly relies on legally approved standardized preparations. This article summarizes identification features, TCM understanding, common preparations, and precautions for educational reference only.

Sang Zhi is the dried young branch of the mulberry tree. It shares the same source as Sang Ye and Sang Bai Pi but has a different medicinal part. This article briefly introduces the appearance features of Sang Zhi, harvesting and slicing, differences from Gui Zhi and Sang Ji Sheng, common formulas containing Sang Zhi, and precautions for use, helping overseas Chinese readers build a basic understanding.

Chou Wu Tong is not parasol tree leaf; it comes from the young branches and leaves of Clerodendrum trichotomum. This article helps readers build a basic understanding of Chou Wu Tong through its appearance, medicinal parts, traditional Chinese medicine perspective, differences from similar herbs, common formulas, and precautions for use.

Water buffalo horn is an animal-derived medicinal material traditionally used for clearing heat, cooling the blood, resolving toxicity, and calming convulsions. This article explains how to identify it, its medicinal parts, differences from antelope horn, common formulas, and important precautions.

Quan Shen comes from the dried rhizome of a Polygonaceae plant. Its rhizomes are often curved like a clenched fist, with a purplish-brown surface and a yellowish-white or reddish-brown cross-section. This article explains how to identify Quan Shen, which part is used medicinally, how it differs from Chonglou and Bai Tou Weng, common formulas containing it, and important usage precautions.

What is Lou Lu? This article introduces its source, appearance, medicinal part, traditional uses, and common formulas, while explaining how to distinguish it from burdock root and Pulsatilla root and highlighting important precautions.

Shandougen is a commonly used bitter, cold-natured Chinese medicinal herb derived from the dried roots and rhizomes of Sophora tonkinensis. This article explains its appearance, medicinal parts, differences from Beidougen, common formulas, and toxicity risks to help readers understand this herb safely.

Xixiancao is derived from the dried aerial parts of Siegesbeckia orientalis, Siegesbeckia pubescens, or Siegesbeckia glabrescens. This article introduces its visual identification, medicinal parts, how it differs from chou wutong (Clerodendrum trichotomum) and laoguancao (cranesbill), and traditional formula directions such as Xixian Wan and Xitong Wan. It also highlights differences between raw and wine-processed forms and the risk of misidentification when wild-harvesting.

Laoguan Cao is not a single plant but a type of Chinese medicinal material derived from plants in the Geraniaceae family. Its fruit resembles a stork’s beak, hence the name. This article covers its identification, medicinal parts, differences from Xi Xian Cao and Di Jin Cao, common formulas, and precautions, offering a reference for overseas Chinese medicine enthusiasts.

Xu Chang Qing is a Chinese medicinal herb whose roots and rhizomes are used medicinally. It has a distinctive pungent aroma and is traditionally used to dispel wind, relieve pain, invigorate blood, unblock collaterals, relieve itching, and resolve toxicity. This article introduces its identification methods, medicinal parts, common formulas, and precautions, providing a helpful overview for overseas Chinese readers.

Shen Jin Cao is a common medicinal herb prepared from the dried whole plant of Shi Song. This article describes what Shen Jin Cao looks like, its medicinal parts, how it differs from Shi Song and Qian Nian Jian, and common formulas containing Shen Jin Cao as well as precautions for use.

Qian Nian Jian comes from the dried rhizome of the Araceae plant Homalomena occulta; its name does not actually mean that taking it will make you live for a thousand years. This article introduces what Qian Nian Jian looks like, what its medicinal part is, how it differs from Gu Sui Bu and Gou Ji, as well as common formula directions containing Qian Nian Jian and precautions for use.

Cicada slough is the dried outer shell shed by cicada nymphs during emergence. It commonly appears in traditional formulas for dispelling wind, relieving sore throat, and promoting rash eruption. This article introduces its appearance, medicinal part, differences from stiff silkworm and snake slough, and precautions for use.

Mu Zei is a traditional medicinal material derived from the dried aerial stem, which is slender, hollow, jointed, and rough on the surface. This article introduces its identifying features, medicinal part, differences from Ma Huang and Gu Jing Cao, and common vision-related formulas and precautions for use.