Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses a mortar and pestle to grind, crush, and blend herbs for teas, pastes, pills, and decoctions. Here are 50 of the most popular herbal recipes and uses:

1. Herbal Teas & Decoctions (汤剂, Tang Ji)

These are brewed by boiling herbs in water to extract their medicinal properties.

1. Ba Zhen Tang (Eight Treasures Decoction, 八珍汤) – Tonifies blood and Qi with ginseng, angelica root, and poria.

2. Liu Wei Di Huang Tang (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Decoction, 六味地黄汤) – Kidney Yin tonic with rehmannia, cornelian cherry, and Chinese yam.

3. Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan (Golden Cabinet Kidney Qi Pills, 金匮肾气丸) – Kidney Yang tonic with cinnamon bark and aconite.

4. Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer, 逍遥散) – Regulates liver Qi with bupleurum, peony root, and licorice.

5. Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction, 归脾汤) – Boosts blood and Qi, often used for anemia or insomnia.

6. Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction, 四物汤) – Blood-nourishing formula with angelica, peony, ligusticum, and rehmannia.

7. Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentiana Liver Drain Decoction, 龙胆泻肝汤) – Clears liver fire, used for migraines and red eyes.

8. Ban Xia Hou Po Tang (Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction, 半夏厚朴汤) – Treats throat obstruction ("plum pit Qi").

9. Zuo Gui Wan (Left Restoring Kidney Pill, 左归丸) – Nourishes kidney Yin, often for night sweats.

10. You Gui Wan (Right Restoring Kidney Pill, 右归丸) – Warms kidney Yang with cinnamon and aconite.

2. Herbal Pastes & Ointments (膏方, Gao Fang)

Ground herbs mixed with honey, sesame oil, or vinegar to make pastes.

11. Yunnan Baiyao (云南白药) – Famous wound-healing powder for injuries.

12. Huang Lian Gao (黄连膏) – Antibacterial ointment with coptis root.

13. Zi Cao Gao (紫草膏) – Purple gromwell salve for burns and eczema.

14. Ma Ying Long Hemorrhoid Ointment (马应龙痔疮膏) – Soothing ointment for hemorrhoids.

15. Fu Zi Li Zhong Gao (附子理中膏) – Warming paste for digestive issues.

16. Sheng Ma Gao (升麻膏) – Paste for skin rashes and sunburns.

17. Er Cha Gao (儿茶膏) – Astringent paste for sores and ulcers.

18. San Huang Gao (三黄膏) – Anti-inflammatory salve with rhubarb, coptis, and phellodendron.

19. Jin Huang Gao (金黄膏) – Turmeric-based paste for swelling and infections.

20. Dang Gui Gao (当归膏) – Angelica root paste for blood circulation.

3. Herbal Powders (散剂, San Ji)

Ground herbs for direct consumption, capsules, or mixing into water.

21. Bai Zi Yang Xin San (柏子养心散) – Calms the mind, often used for anxiety.

22. Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi San (香砂六君子散) – Digestive aid for bloating.

23. Wu Wei Zi San (五味子散) – Schisandra berry powder for lung health.

24. Shi Quan Da Bu San (十全大补散) – General tonic for energy and strength.

25. Chuan Bei Mu Powder (川贝母粉) – Fritillaria bulb for chronic coughs.

26. Ping Wei San (平胃散) – Drains dampness for stomach issues.

27. Zhi Bai Di Huang San (知柏地黄散) – Clears heat, used for menopause symptoms.

28. Ge Gen San (葛根散) – Kudzu root powder for colds and neck tension.

29. Bu Zhong Yi Qi San (补中益气散) – Raises Qi, good for fatigue.

30. Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (参苓白术散) – Strengthens digestion and stops diarrhea.

4. Pills & Boluses (丸剂, Wan Ji)

Ground herbs mixed with honey or water to form small pills.

31. An Shen Bu Xin Wan (安神补心丸) – Calms the heart and mind.

32. Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (天王补心丹) – Nourishes heart blood for insomnia.

33. Xiao Feng Wan (消风丸) – Treats skin itching and eczema.

34. Chai Hu Shu Gan Wan (柴胡疏肝丸) – Soothes liver Qi stagnation.

35. Shou Wu Wan (首乌丸) – Polygonum multiflorum formula for hair growth.

36. Zhen Zhu An Chuang Wan (珍珠暗疮丸) – Pearl powder for acne.

37. Shen Nong Bai Ren Wan (神农百仁丸) – Longevity tonic.

38. Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan (独活寄生丸) – Treats arthritis and joint pain.

39. Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan (五子衍宗丸) – Male fertility tonic.

40. Er Chen Wan (二陈丸) – Dissolves phlegm, used for chronic cough.

5. Topical & External Applications (外用方, Wai Yong Fang)

Ground herbs applied externally for healing.

41. Ginger Compress (姜敷) – Crushed ginger applied for pain relief.

42. Moxa Powder (艾粉) – Dried mugwort ground for moxibustion therapy.

43. Coptis Root Paste (黄连糊) – For mouth ulcers and infections.

44. Bai Bu Powder (百部粉) – Treats lice and scabies.

45. She Chuang Zi Paste (蛇床子膏) – Treats fungal infections.

46. Crushed Honeysuckle (金银花糊) – Applied for heat rashes.

47. Cinnamon & Clove Poultice (肉桂丁香敷贴) – Warms and relieves muscle aches.

48. Salt & Sichuan Pepper Foot Soak (盐花椒泡脚) – Warms the body and relieves pain.

49. Crushed Lotus Seed Paste (莲子膏) – Applied for skin hydration.

50. Realgar & Sulfur Powder (雄黄硫磺粉) – Used in TCM insect repellents.