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CARB-TCMPA TCM Herbalist study materials
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CARB-TCMPA TCM Herbalist practice questions

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Question 1TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

Which set of qualities is most characteristic of Yin?

  1. A forceful, rapid pulse during high fever
  2. Restlessness, a loud voice, and a red face
  3. Heat, agitation, and outward movement
  4. Cold, stillness, and inward movement Correct answer.

Explanation

Yin describes the qualities of cold, stillness, interiority, descending movement, darkness, and substance, so it is associated with rest, moisture, and the body's material constituents. Yang is the opposite pole, marked by heat, activity, exteriority, and upward or outward movement. Clinicians use this contrast to classify signs: a cold, quiet, interior presentation belongs to Yin, while a hot, restless, superficial one belongs to Yang.

Question 2TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

According to five-element theory, which element controls (ke) Metal?

  1. Fire Correct answer.
  2. Earth
  3. Water
  4. Wood

Explanation

The controlling sequence runs Wood controls Earth, Earth controls Water, Water controls Fire, Fire controls Metal, and Metal controls Wood. Fire is therefore the element that restrains Metal, traditionally illustrated by fire melting metal. The controlling cycle keeps each element in check, preventing any single phase from dominating.

Question 3TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

Which pairing correctly matches a Zang organ with its paired Fu organ?

  1. Heart and Stomach
  2. Lung and Gallbladder
  3. Spleen and Stomach Correct answer.
  4. Liver and Small Intestine

Explanation

The Zang-Fu pairs follow the interior-exterior (biao-li) relationship: Heart with Small Intestine, Lung with Large Intestine, Spleen with Stomach, Liver with Gallbladder, Kidney with Bladder, and Pericardium with San Jiao. The Spleen and Stomach form a pair because both govern the reception and transformation of food and fluids. This pairing is used clinically, since a disorder of one organ often affects its partner.

Question 4TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient reports heaviness of the limbs and head, sticky stool, a greasy tongue coating, and a lingering illness that has persisted for weeks. Which pathogenic factor best fits this picture?

  1. Cold, marked by contraction and sharp pain
  2. Dryness, marked by chapped skin and thirst
  3. Wind, marked by sudden onset and migration
  4. Dampness, marked by greasiness Correct answer.

Explanation

Dampness is heavy, turbid, sticky, and lingering, so it typically produces sensations of heaviness, sticky stools, and a greasy tongue coating, and it tends to settle in the lower jiao. Its stubborn, slow-to-resolve character distinguishes it from wind, cold, and dryness. Removing dampness therefore requires transforming and draining, often over a longer course of treatment.

Question 5TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient has acute aversion to cold, mild fever, body aches, absence of sweating, and a floating tight pulse. Using the eight principles, which description best fits this presentation?

  1. Exterior cold Correct answer.
  2. Interior heat with fluid exhaustion
  3. Half-exterior and half-interior pattern
  4. Interior deficiency of qi and blood

Explanation

A floating pulse places the disorder at the exterior, while aversion to cold, body aches, and absence of sweating point to cold pathogen contracting the surface. Together these signs describe wind-cold invading the exterior, a classic exterior cold pattern treated by releasing the exterior and dispersing cold. Interior patterns, by contrast, show a deep pulse and signs confined to the organs.

Question 6TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient's tongue is purple and somewhat dark, and the sublingual veins are distended. Which pattern does this most strongly suggest?

  1. Spleen qi deficiency
  2. Blood heat consuming the vessels
  3. Yin deficiency with empty heat
  4. Blood stasis Correct answer.

Explanation

A purple or darkish tongue together with engorged sublingual veins is a hallmark of blood stasis, because obstructed flow allows the tongue vessels to become congested. Blood heat would instead show a red or crimson tongue, sometimes with bleeding or red points. Spleen qi deficiency typically gives a pale tongue with tooth marks, and yin deficiency gives a red, dry, peeled tongue.

Question 7TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

Which pulse quality feels smooth, as if beads were rolling under the fingers, and commonly indicates phlegm-damp, food retention, or pregnancy?

  1. Choppy, rough and uneven, like a knife scraping bamboo
  2. Slippery, smooth like rolling beads Correct answer.
  3. Thready, fine and soft but still distinct
  4. Wiry, taut and straight like a vibrating string

Explanation

The slippery pulse is defined by a smooth, rounded sensation resembling beads rolling beneath the fingers, and it reflects excess dampness or phlegm, retained food, or the increased blood volume of pregnancy. Each pulse quality carries its own meaning, so distinguishing slipperiness from wiry, thready, or choppy qualities is essential. Pulse findings are always interpreted alongside the other three examinations.

Question 8TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient has a long history of heavy menstrual bleeding with pale blood, fatigue, shortness of breath, a pale tongue, and a weak pulse. Which mechanism best explains the bleeding?

  1. Yin deficiency with empty heat stirring the blood
  2. Blood stasis obstructing the vessels and causing pain
  3. Liver fire forcing blood upward
  4. Spleen qi deficiency failing to hold blood Correct answer.

Explanation

The Spleen governs transformation and transportation and also holds blood within the vessels; when Spleen qi is deficient, blood may leak out, producing heavy pale bleeding with fatigue, shortness of breath, pallor, and a weak pulse. Qi is the commander of blood, so qi deficiency readily leads to loss of containment. Treatment therefore focuses on tonifying Spleen qi and raising the clear yang.

Question 9TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

In TCM pathogenesis, deficiency heat most directly arises from which process?

  1. Prolonged yin deficiency failing to restrain yang Correct answer.
  2. Excess yang pathogen invading the yangming channel
  3. Blood stasis generating heat in the lower jiao
  4. Qi stagnation obstructing the collaterals

Explanation

Yin and yang mutually restrain each other, so when yin is depleted over time, it can no longer anchor yang, and the relatively excessive yang manifests as deficiency heat. This is why chronic illness with night sweats, five-palm heat, a red dry tongue, and a thready rapid pulse points to yin deficiency rather than to an external pathogen. The heat is empty (xu) because it comes from depletion, so treatment nourishes yin instead of clearing excess fire.

Question 10TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient has a fever that worsens at night, mild delirium, a crimson tongue, and a thready rapid pulse, with no bleeding or skin eruptions. According to the four-level (wei-qi-ying-xue) theory of warm diseases, where is the pathogen located?

  1. Qi level, with a surging pulse and profuse sweating
  2. Ying level Correct answer.
  3. Xue level, with bleeding and macules
  4. Wei level, with aversion to cold and a floating pulse

Explanation

In four-level theory, the Ying (nutritive) level is marked by heat entering the nutritive aspect: fever worse at night, restlessness or mild delirium, a crimson tongue, and a thready rapid pulse. The absence of bleeding, macules, or a purple tongue means the pathogen has not yet reached the Xue (blood) level. Treatment at this stage clears the nutritive level and cools the blood, preventing deeper penetration.

Question 11TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

According to five-element theory, which element is associated with the Spleen and Stomach?

  1. Metal
  2. Wood
  3. Water
  4. Earth Correct answer.

Explanation

In five-element correspondences, the Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth, the central element that governs transformation and transportation. Earth is also linked with late summer, dampness, the yellow color, and the sweet flavor. This correspondence guides patterns such as Spleen qi deficiency with dampness.

Question 12TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

Which emotion is said to most directly injure the Liver when it becomes excessive or prolonged?

  1. Fear
  2. Grief
  3. Anger Correct answer.
  4. Joy

Explanation

Anger and frustration are the emotions linked to the Liver; when excessive or repressed, they cause Liver qi to stagnate or rise. Joy affects the Heart, grief affects the Lungs, and fear affects the Kidneys. This is why emotional stress with irritability often presents as Liver qi stagnation.

Question 13TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

Which meridian is the interior-exterior partner of the Hand Taiyin Lung meridian?

  1. Small Intestine meridian
  2. Heart meridian
  3. Pericardium meridian
  4. Large Intestine meridian Correct answer.

Explanation

Each yin meridian pairs with a yang meridian of the same limb and six-channel designation; the Lung is Hand Taiyin and pairs with the Hand Yangming Large Intestine. Their interior-exterior relationship explains shared symptoms such as sore throat and constipation in Lung patterns.

Question 14TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient develops sudden dizziness, migratory joint pain, and facial twitching after being exposed to a draft. Which pathogenic factor most likely produces these symptoms?

  1. Dryness
  2. Cold
  3. Wind Correct answer.
  4. Dampness

Explanation

Wind is yang in nature, moves rapidly, and tends to affect the upper body and surface, causing sudden, migratory, or shaking symptoms. Dampness is heavy and sticky, cold contracts, and dryness consumes fluids. The acute draft exposure with migratory pain and twitching strongly points to wind.

Question 15TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient reports chest and hypochondriac distension, frequent sighing, and irritability, with a wiry pulse. Which pattern do these findings most directly reflect?

  1. Heart blood deficiency
  2. Lung qi deficiency
  3. Liver qi stagnation Correct answer.
  4. Spleen yang deficiency

Explanation

Distension in the chest and hypochondrium, sighing, and irritability are classic signs of Liver qi stagnation, and the wiry pulse reflects a taut, constrained qi dynamic. Lung qi deficiency would show shortness of breath, Heart blood deficiency palpitations and insomnia, and Spleen yang deficiency cold limbs and loose stools.

Question 16TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

Which pulse quality is described as taut and straight, like a plucked guitar string, and is classically associated with Liver and Gallbladder disorders or pain?

  1. Wiry pulse Correct answer.
  2. Slippery pulse
  3. Rapid pulse
  4. Choppy pulse

Explanation

The wiry pulse feels taut and straight, resembling a plucked string, and classically indicates Liver and Gallbladder patterns, pain, or phlegm obstruction. A slippery pulse feels smooth and rolling, a choppy pulse is uneven and rough, and a rapid pulse exceeds five beats per breath. Pulse quality must be interpreted alongside the full pattern.

Question 17TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient has a pale, swollen tongue with teeth marks along the edges. This tongue most strongly suggests which pattern?

  1. Heart fire blazing with red tongue
  2. Spleen qi deficiency Correct answer.
  3. Stomach heat with yellow coating
  4. Liver wind stirring with tremor

Explanation

A pale, swollen tongue with teeth marks reflects Spleen qi deficiency and dampness: the Spleen fails to transform fluids, so the tongue enlarges and presses against the teeth. Heart fire would show a red tongue with a yellow coating, Liver wind would show tremor or deviation, and Stomach heat would show a yellow coating and thirst. The tongue body, not just the coating, is key here.

Question 18TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

Which organ is called the upper source of water and is primarily responsible for dispersing and descending fluids throughout the body?

  1. Spleen
  2. Lung Correct answer.
  3. Liver
  4. Kidney

Explanation

The Lungs are termed the upper source of water because they disperse fluids to the skin and descend them to the Kidneys and Bladder. The Spleen transports fluids upward, the Kidneys govern water metabolism at the root, and the Liver smooths the flow of qi. Lung qi deficiency or invasion can therefore produce edema and phlegm.

Question 19TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient with chronic irritability and hypochondriac pain develops poor appetite, abdominal distension, and loose stools. In five-element terms, which relationship best explains this progression?

  1. Metal controls Wood
  2. Earth overacts on Water and Kidney
  3. Water generates Wood
  4. Wood overacts on Earth Correct answer.

Explanation

Chronic Liver qi stagnation represents Wood; when it overacts on the Spleen and Stomach, which belong to Earth, it produces poor appetite, distension, and loose stools. This is the overacting relationship of Wood overacting on Earth, not a simple generating or controlling cycle. Clinically it is described as Liver qi invading the Spleen.

Question 20TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient has high fever, profuse sweating, intense thirst, abdominal pain that worsens with pressure, constipation, a yellow dry tongue coating, and a deep forceful rapid pulse. Which pattern is most consistent with these findings?

  1. Shaoyin cold transformation
  2. Taiyang exterior pattern
  3. Yangming fu pattern Correct answer.
  4. Jueyin upward heat

Explanation

High fever, thirst, constipation, abdominal pain worse on pressure, and a deep forceful pulse indicate Yangming fu syndrome, where heat and stool bind in the Stomach and Large Intestine. A Taiyang exterior pattern would show chills and a floating pulse, Shaoyin cold would show cold limbs and a faint pulse, and Jueyin involves alternating heat and cold. The combination of interior heat plus constipation is decisive.

Question 21TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

In the eight-principle framework, which pair describes the location of a disorder?

  1. Deficiency and excess
  2. Exterior and interior Correct answer.
  3. Yin and yang
  4. Cold and heat

Explanation

Exterior and interior locate a disorder by depth: exterior patterns involve the body's surface, while interior patterns involve the zang-fu organs.

Question 22TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

Which function of qi refers to its ability to hold the organs in their proper positions and prevent abnormal leakage of fluids?

  1. Containing Correct answer.
  2. Defending
  3. Transforming
  4. Warming

Explanation

Containing qi holds the organs in place and prevents abnormal loss of blood, sweat, urine, and other fluids; when it fails, prolapse or leakage may occur.

Question 23TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

Which environmental pathogen most typically causes sudden high fever, profuse sweating, intense thirst, and lassitude during hot summer weather?

  1. Wind-cold
  2. Dryness
  3. Summerheat Correct answer.
  4. Damp-cold

Explanation

Summerheat is a yang pathogen that arises in hot weather, readily consumes qi and fluids, and produces high fever, sweating, thirst, and fatigue.

Question 24TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

Which Fu organ is described as the official of waterways and regulates the passage of fluids through the body?

  1. Bladder
  2. San Jiao Correct answer.
  3. Small Intestine
  4. Stomach

Explanation

The San Jiao is the Fu organ described as the official of waterways; it regulates the passage of fluids through the upper, middle, and lower body.

Question 25TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient has alternating chills and fever, a bitter taste, a dry throat, dizziness, and hypochondriac fullness with a wiry pulse. Which six-channel pattern is most likely?

  1. Taiyang pattern
  2. Yangming pattern
  3. Taiyin pattern
  4. Shaoyang pattern Correct answer.

Explanation

Shaoyang disease lies half exterior and half interior, so chills and fever alternate; bitter taste, dry throat, dizziness, hypochondriac fullness, and a wiry pulse fit this stage.

Question 26TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

Why does prolonged qi stagnation often lead to blood stasis?

  1. Qi moves the blood Correct answer.
  2. Blood nourishes the qi
  3. Qi generates the blood
  4. Blood anchors the qi

Explanation

Qi is the commander of blood: it pushes blood through the vessels. When qi stagnates for a long time, its moving force weakens and blood can stagnate.

Question 27TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient's tongue body is red with a peeled, mirror-like coating and several fissures. Which pattern does this most strongly suggest?

  1. Blood stasis
  2. Damp-heat accumulation
  3. Spleen qi deficiency
  4. Yin deficiency Correct answer.

Explanation

A red tongue with a peeled or mirror-like coating and fissures indicates yin deficiency, as depleted yin fails to produce fluids and coat the tongue.

Question 28TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

After a severe hemorrhage, a patient is pale and weak and has a pulse that feels empty in the center but firm at the edges. Which pulse quality is this?

  1. Hollow Correct answer.
  2. Wiry
  3. Slippery
  4. Flooding

Explanation

A hollow pulse feels empty in the center but firm at the edges; it classically follows significant blood loss or severe fluid depletion.

Question 29TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

Which mechanism best explains the development of edema in chronic Kidney yang deficiency?

  1. Blood fails to nourish the skin
  2. Yin fails to moisten the body
  3. Qi fails to hold the blood
  4. Yang fails to transform fluids Correct answer.

Explanation

Kidney yang warms and transforms fluids. When it is deficient, water is not transformed or excreted properly and accumulates, producing edema.

Question 30TCM Foundations, Theory, and Diagnostic Methods

A patient has dizziness, blurred vision, sore lower back, tinnitus, night sweats, and a thready rapid pulse. Which pattern is most likely?

  1. Liver qi stagnation
  2. Heart blood deficiency
  3. Liver-Kidney yin deficiency Correct answer.
  4. Spleen qi deficiency

Explanation

Liver and Kidney yin deficiency combines lower back soreness, tinnitus, dizziness, night sweats, and a thready rapid pulse because both yin fluids are depleted.

Question 31Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb releases wind-cold from the exterior, disseminates lung qi, and calms wheezing, and is especially indicated for exterior excess with absence of sweating?

  1. Jing Jie
  2. Zi Su Ye
  3. Gui Zhi
  4. Ma Huang Correct answer.

Explanation

Ma Huang is pungent, slightly bitter, and warm; it opens the exterior, disseminates lung qi, and calms wheezing. It is the key herb when wind-cold is accompanied by exterior excess with no sweating, because its releasing action is strong. Gui Zhi also releases the exterior but is milder and warms the channels.

Question 32Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb is the principal qi tonic, sweet and slightly warm, entering the spleen and lung channels, and used for severe qi deficiency with a weak pulse and profuse sweating?

  1. Huang Qi
  2. Ren Shen Correct answer.
  3. Bai Zhu
  4. Dang Shen

Explanation

Ren Shen is the principal herb for tonifying original qi; it strongly supplements spleen and lung qi and is used for severe deficiency with a weak pulse. It also engenders fluids and calms the spirit. Huang Qi and Dang Shen are qi tonics but are milder and have different specialties.

Question 33Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb is sweet and cold, enters the stomach and lung channels, and is the key herb for yangming qi-level heat with high fever, thirst, and irritability?

  1. Lu Gen
  2. Zhi Mu
  3. Tian Hua Fen
  4. Shi Gao Correct answer.

Explanation

Shi Gao is sweet, pungent, and very cold; it clears yangming heat and drains fire, making it the key herb for high fever with thirst and irritability. It also clears lung heat. Zhi Mu and Tian Hua Fen clear heat but do not have the same strong yangming-clearing action.

Question 34Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Jiang Ban Xia is preferred over raw Ban Xia mainly because processing with ginger does which of the following?

  1. Transforms it into a herb that clears phlegm-heat and settles agitation
  2. Removes its anti-emetic action so it no longer stops vomiting
  3. Reduces toxicity and enhances its anti-emetic action Correct answer.
  4. Increases its drying power so it better treats damp phlegm

Explanation

Raw Ban Xia is toxic and irritating; processing with ginger reduces its toxicity and sharpens its ability to stop vomiting. Jiang Ban Xia is therefore used for phlegm-damp with nausea and vomiting. Processing with alum, not ginger, produces Qing Ban Xia for phlegm-heat.

Question 35Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

What is the usual decoction dosage range for Xi Xin?

  1. 9–15 g
  2. 6–12 g
  3. 3–9 g
  4. 1–3 g Correct answer.

Explanation

Xi Xin is a small-dose herb; the usual decoction range is 1–3 g. It is pungent and warm, releases the exterior, warms the lungs, and stops pain, but overdosage can cause toxicity. Larger doses are avoided because of its toxic potential.

Question 36Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb is pungent, sweet, and warm, enters the heart, lung, and bladder channels, and is combined with Bai Shao to harmonize ying and wei?

  1. Gui Zhi Correct answer.
  2. Cong Bai
  3. Sheng Jiang
  4. Ma Huang

Explanation

Gui Zhi is pungent, sweet, and warm and enters the heart, lung, and bladder channels. It releases wind-cold, warms the channels, and with Bai Shao harmonizes ying and wei in Gui Zhi Tang. Sheng Jiang and Cong Bai release the exterior but do not have this same combination role.

Question 37Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb tonifies both qi and blood, is gentler than Ren Shen, and is used for spleen-lung qi deficiency with blood deficiency or with heat?

  1. Tai Zi Shen
  2. Dang Shen Correct answer.
  3. Huang Qi
  4. Ren Shen

Explanation

Dang Shen is sweet and neutral; it tonifies spleen and lung qi and also nourishes blood, making it suitable for qi deficiency with blood deficiency. It is gentler than Ren Shen and is often chosen when deficiency is mild or accompanied by heat. Tai Zi Shen tonifies qi and nourishes yin but does not tonify blood.

Question 38Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb warms kidney yang, secures essence, and is specifically used to help the kidney grasp qi in chronic wheezing?

  1. Bu Gu Zhi Correct answer.
  2. Tu Si Zi
  3. Gou Qi Zi
  4. Du Zhong

Explanation

Bu Gu Zhi is pungent, bitter, and very warm; it warms kidney yang, secures essence, and helps the kidney grasp qi. It is therefore used for chronic wheezing due to kidney deficiency, often with other kidney tonics. Gou Qi Zi and Tu Si Zi tonify the kidney but do not specifically help grasp qi.

Question 39Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb is sweet and neutral, enters the liver and kidney channels, nourishes liver and kidney yin and essence, and is used for blurred vision, dizziness, and dry eyes?

  1. Sha Yuan Zi
  2. Gou Qi Zi Correct answer.
  3. Nu Zhen Zi
  4. Ju Hua

Explanation

Gou Qi Zi is sweet and neutral and enters the liver and kidney channels. It nourishes liver and kidney yin and essence and is a common herb for blurred vision, dizziness, and dry eyes; it also moistens the lung. Ju Hua clears liver heat and brightens the eyes but does not tonify yin.

Question 40Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

According to the eighteen incompatibilities, Wu Tou is incompatible with which herb?

  1. Ban Xia Correct answer.
  2. Ren Shen
  3. Gan Cao
  4. Huang Qi

Explanation

The eighteen incompatibilities state that Wu Tou is incompatible with Bei Mu, Gua Lou, Ban Xia, Bai Lian, and Bai Ji. Combining Wu Tou with Ban Xia risks increased toxicity and adverse reactions. Gan Cao and Ren Shen have their own incompatibility rules but are not listed against Wu Tou.

Question 41Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb is sweet and slightly cold, enters the lung and stomach channels, and is used to nourish yin, clear heat, and generate fluids in dry cough and thirst after a febrile illness?

  1. Sha Shen Correct answer.
  2. Rou Gui
  3. Cang Zhu
  4. Huang Qin

Explanation

Sha Shen is sweet and slightly cold and enters the lung and stomach channels. Its main action is to nourish yin, clear heat, and generate fluids, so it fits residual heat with yin damage after febrile disease. It is not a bitter-drying or warming herb.

Question 42Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb is sweet and slightly bitter, warm, enters the liver and stomach channels, and is especially used to stop bleeding, disperse blood stasis, and relieve pain from traumatic injury?

  1. San Qi Correct answer.
  2. Bai Ji
  3. Ai Ye
  4. Xian He Cao

Explanation

San Qi is sweet and slightly bitter, warm, and enters the liver and stomach channels. It stops bleeding while also dispersing blood stasis, so it stops bleeding without causing stagnation and is a key herb for trauma and pain. Bai Ji and Xian He Cao stop bleeding but do not have the same strong stasis-dispersing and pain-relieving action.

Question 43Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb is bitter and pungent, slightly cold, enters the liver and gallbladder channels, and is the principal herb for harmonizing Shaoyang disorders with alternating chills and fever?

  1. Chai Hu Correct answer.
  2. Ge Gen
  3. Huang Qin
  4. Qing Hao

Explanation

Chai Hu is bitter and pungent, slightly cold, and enters the liver and gallbladder channels. It is the key herb for releasing Shaoyang and harmonizing the alternating chills and fever of Shaoyang disease. It also spreads liver qi and raises yang, but its principal Shaoyang role is distinctive.

Question 44Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Huang Qi is often honey-fried rather than used raw. What is the main purpose of this processing?

  1. To increase its ability to promote urination and reduce edema
  2. To reduce its toxicity and prevent vomiting
  3. To enhance its ability to release the exterior and stop sweating
  4. To enhance its ability to tonify qi and raise yang Correct answer.

Explanation

Honey-frying gives Huang Qi a sweeter, warmer, more tonifying quality. This strengthens its ability to tonify qi and raise yang, so it is preferred for spleen-lung qi deficiency, fatigue, and organ prolapse. Raw Huang Qi is more directed toward promoting urination, reducing edema, and expelling toxins.

Question 45Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Yan Hu Suo is commonly vinegar-fried in clinical practice. This processing primarily does which of the following?

  1. Converts its action from pain relief to stopping bleeding
  2. Makes it safe for use during pregnancy
  3. Reduces its ability to move qi and blood
  4. Guides it to the liver and enhances pain relief Correct answer.

Explanation

Vinegar is sour and enters the liver, so vinegar-frying guides Yan Hu Suo to the liver channel and strengthens its analgesic action. It remains a herb that moves qi and blood and is used for pain from stagnation. It does not become a bleeding-stopping herb or a pregnancy-safe herb.

Question 46Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb is sweet and neutral, enters the spleen and stomach channels, is used for food stagnation especially from rice and noodles, and also has the action of stopping lactation?

  1. Mai Ya Correct answer.
  2. Shan Zha
  3. Ji Nei Jin
  4. Shen Qu

Explanation

Mai Ya is sprouted barley; it is sweet and neutral, enters the spleen and stomach, and promotes digestion. It is especially suited to stagnation from rice and noodles and has a distinct action of reducing lactation. Shan Zha is better for meat stagnation, while Shen Qu and Ji Nei Jin have different digestive emphases.

Question 47Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb is sweet and neutral, enters the heart, spleen, and kidney channels, and is used to promote urination, strengthen the spleen, and calm the spirit?

  1. Yi Yi Ren
  2. Fu Ling Correct answer.
  3. Ze Xie
  4. Zhu Ling

Explanation

Fu Ling is sweet and neutral and enters the heart, spleen, and kidney channels. It promotes urination, strengthens the spleen, and calms the spirit, so it is used for edema, spleen deficiency with diarrhea, and palpitations or insomnia. Zhu Ling and Ze Xie are more purely diuretic, while Yi Yi Ren also clears damp-heat.

Question 48Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb is sweet and cool, enters the heart and liver channels, and is used to open the orifices, clear heat, and calm fright in warm diseases with high fever and delirium?

  1. Shi Chang Pu
  2. Niu Huang Correct answer.
  3. She Xiang
  4. Su He Xiang

Explanation

Niu Huang is sweet and cool and enters the heart and liver channels. It opens the orifices, clears heat, resolves toxicity, and calms fright, making it suitable for heat entering the pericardium with high fever and delirium. She Xiang, Shi Chang Pu, and Su He Xiang are warm or aromatic orifice-opening herbs with different secondary actions.

Question 49Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Fu Zi is a key herb for restoring yang and rescuing collapse. Which statement about its preparation and use is most accurate?

  1. It is toxic and is decocted first for 30-60 minutes Correct answer.
  2. It is safe in high doses because its toxicity is destroyed by drying
  3. It is contraindicated in all cases of cold limbs and weak pulse
  4. It should be added near the end of decoction to preserve its volatile oils

Explanation

Fu Zi contains toxic aconitine alkaloids, and prolonged boiling hydrolyzes them to less toxic derivatives. It is therefore decocted first for about 30-60 minutes until the tongue does not feel numb. It is indicated for yang collapse with cold limbs and weak pulse, not contraindicated in that pattern.

Question 50Chinese Materia Medica (Single-Herb Herbology)

Which herb is sweet and warm, enters the spleen, stomach, and lung channels, is used for spleen-stomach deficiency cold with abdominal pain and for dry cough, and is contraindicated in damp-heat or phlegm-heat?

  1. Yi Tang Correct answer.
  2. Bai Zhu
  3. Shan Yao
  4. Gan Cao

Explanation

Yi Tang is sweet and warm and enters the spleen, stomach, and lung channels. It tonifies the middle, relieves acute abdominal pain from deficiency cold, and moistens the lung to stop dry cough. Because it is sweet, warm, and cloying, it is contraindicated in damp-heat, phlegm-heat, and significant food stagnation.