Table 3

Nomenclature and classification of selected Yang and Yin tonifying herbs *

Pharmaceutical name (Chinese pinyin)
Plant part used
Latin botanical name

Yang tonifying herbs


Cortex Eucommiae (Duzhong)
Bark
Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.
Fructus Psoraleae (Buguzhi)
Fruit
Psoralea corylifolia L.
Herba Cistanches (Roucongrong)
Whole plant
Cistanche salsa (C.A. Meyer) G. Beck.
Herba Epimedii (Yinyanghuo)
Whole plant
Epimedium grandiflorum Morr.
Radix Dipsaci (Xuduan)
Root
Dipsacus japonicus Miq.
Radix Morindae (Bajitian)
Root
Morinda officinalis How
Rhizoma Cibotii (Gouji)
Rhizome
Cibotium barometz (L.) J. Sm.
Rhizoma Drynariae (Gusuibu)
Rhizome
Drynaria fortunei (Kunze) J. Sm.
Semen Cuscutae (Tusizi)
Seed
Cuscuta chinensis Lam.
Herba Cynomorii (Suoyang)
Whole plant
Cynomorium songricum Rupr.
Yin tonifying herbs


Fructus Ligustri (Nuzhenzi)
Fruit
Ligustrum lucidum Ait.
Herba Dendrobii (Shihu)
Whole plant
Dendrobium nobile Lindl.
Herba Ecliptae (Mohanlian)
Whole plant
Ecliptae prostrata L.
Radix Asparagi (Tianmendong)
Root
Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr.
Radix Ophiopogonis (Maimendong)
Root
Ophiopogon japonicus (L. f.) Ker-Gawl.
Radix Oryzae (Nuodaogenxu)
Root
Oryza sativa L.
Rhizoma Polygonati (Yuzhu)
Rhizome
Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce
Semen Prinsepiae (Ruiren)
Seed
Prinsepia uniflora Batal.
Semen Sesami (Heizhima)
Seed
Sesamum indicum L.
'Fu Zheng' herb


Ganoderma (Lingzhi)
Fruiting body
Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. Ex Fr.) Karst
Yin-Yang tonifying herb


Cordyceps (Dongchongxiacao)
Whole plant
Cordycep sinensis

*Adapted from Liang [17]

Ko and Leung Chinese Medicine 2007 2:3   doi:10.1186/1749-8546-2-3