Hey David, so I've been going through a lot of materia medica sheets lately and I'm noticing as a category for a lot of bitter remedies I keep seeing "regulates the Qi." (Gentian, Catnip, Vitex, Fennel, etc.) Can you describe this one a bit for me? From my limited TCM understanding, it seems like it's the Liver that governs and regulates the Qi throughout the body, yes? Would regulating Qi be indicated for Liver Qi Stagnation, or just general Qi stagnation? I guess I'm trying to determine how this might translate into western terminology a bit more. I'm noticing a pattern amongst these remedies in that most of them seem to be carminative/aromatic (I guess with the exception of Gentian being SO bitter). Can you help me understand this property a little more? Thank you again good sir!

In TCM, herbs that regulate the qi facilitate the proper movement of qi, preventing and treating qi stagnation or rebellious qi, herbs that regulate qi are aromatic, often warm (there are exceptions), acrid and/or bitter. They promote movement, disperse and drain downward, They work with the spleen, liver and lung (many are also expectorants - orange peel, ginger, etc). Stagnant spleen and stomach qi causes dyspepsia, belching, flatulence, bloating, SIBO, etc.