[TCM] Remembering Pin Yin Herbal names

[N.H. Oving]

George, I think the best way to tackle this problem is to learn the (meaning
of) the Chinese characters along with the pinyin. Especially when you are a
'visual learner', the characters are perfect mnemonic devices; they offer a
lot of possibilities, etymologically reliable or just invented pictorial
memory aids - in Dutch we call that 'donkey-bridges' -, to learn the herb
names along with their flavour, nature and/or action.
As for your example: 'mu xiang' means 'wood/tree - fragrance'('the fragrance
of wood').
Have fun,
Herman Oving (Dutch student of Chinese medicine)   


-----Original Message-----
From: tcm-students-bounces at gancao.net
[mailto:tcm-students-bounces at gancao.net] On Behalf Of George Mandler
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 12:03 AM
To: tcm-students at gancao.net
Subject: [TCM] Remembering Pin Yin Herbal names

Hi Folks,
I'm a 2nd year student at New England School of Acupuncture and am 
wondering if anyone has any tips for remembering the pin yin names of 
the herbs.  I'm a very visual learner and I stumble about when 
attempting to recall the pin yin.  However I have little trouble with 
the botanical names.
For example I can easily pick out an herb, hold it in my hand, know it 
is good for stagnant Qi etc. and know it is called Aucklandia, but 
can't for the life of me remember "Mu Xiang".   I might call it Xiang 
Fu or Mu something or other, but I am stumbling over the pin yin 
association.  I can look on the side of a patent formula and see the 
pharmaceutical or botanical names and know what the action is but can't 
remember the chinese name.

Any suggestions?   I've used the Zoo cards, but they really don't do it 
for me.

thanks,
george

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