7 herbs in the Shen Study library belong to the Aromatic, transform damp category: Cāng Zhú, Hòu Pò, Huò Xiāng, Shā Rén, Bái Dòu Kòu, Cǎo Dòu Kòu and Cǎo Guǒ.
Aromatic, transform damp herbs are mostly warm or hot and acrid, and most enter the Stomach and Spleen channels.
| Herb | Nature | Main action |
|---|---|---|
| Cāng Zhú Black atractylodes rhizome | Warm | Dries Damp, strengthens Spleen |
| Hòu Pò Magnolia bark | Warm | Dries Damp, moves qi, relieves fullness |
| Huò Xiāng Patchouli herb | Warm | Aromatically transforms turbid Damp |
| Shā Rén Amomum fruit | Warm | Transforms Damp, opens appetite |
| Bái Dòu Kòu White cardamom fruit | Warm | Transforms Damp, moves qi |
| Cǎo Dòu Kòu Katsumada galangal seed | Warm | Dries Damp, moves qi |
| Cǎo Guǒ Tsaoko fruit | Warm | Dries Damp, warms Middle Jiao |
Other herb categories
- Release exterior (Cold)
- Release exterior (Heat)
- Clear heat
- Drain downward
- Warm interior
- Regulate qi
- Invigorate blood
- Resolve phlegm
- Tonify qi
- Tonify blood
- Tonify yin
- Tonify yang
- Calm shen
- Stabilise & bind
- Expel wind-damp
- Drain damp
- Stop bleeding
- Relieve food stagnation
- Expel parasites
- Anchor Yang / extinguish Wind
- Open orifices
- Topical use
Learn the Aromatic, transform damp herbs
Shen Study quizzes you on each herb and shows the pattern its category shares, so you memorise less.
Try the 5-question herb quiz