115 Herbs common to Western & TCM

115 Herbs common to Western & Chinese Medicine Traditions

The following list is important to support the similarity of Materia Medica used in the Western and Chinese Traditions. A large number of the most important medicines are common to both systems, while each system also has its own peculiar and unique medicines. However, by recognising the Materia Medica common to both systems, we can see some of the most important medicines used in Traditional Medicine. Importantly, in many cases the use in both East and West is very similar, again supporting early sharing of information.
Many of the classical animal and mineral remedies are common to both systems, and in addition, many of the listed medicines have been used in the Western Tradition for centuries before use in TCM.

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Herbal Medicines

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NOTE: In the Table, ‘(E)’ denotes a closely related herb that is deemed Equivalent.
1. Angelica shares properties more similar to Angelica Bai Zhi, but shares some tonic properties of Dang Gui.
2. White Dittany is synonymous with Dictamnus Bai Xian Pi of TCM
3. Siler Montane is closely related to Saposhnikovia Fang Feng, which was previously classed as a species of
Siler. The latter makes a reasonable substitute for Siler Montane of Western formulas.

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Animal and Mineral Medicines

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See also

Chinese Materia Medica
Chinese Medicines used in the West before TCM
Chinese Names for Western, Indian and Tibetan Herbs
38 Obsolete Western Medicines with Chinese Equivalents