Astringents to stabilise and bind (gu se)

These herbs bind, retain and restrain the leakage of precious substances such as qi, blood, jing (essence) and jin ye (thick and thin fluids) from being discharged abnormally. Most are sour in taste and may affect different leakages, such as sweating, diarrhoea, excessive urination and genital discharges. Some also stop coughing and bleeding, particularly uterine bleeding. Since they bind and restrain, they will also prevent the release of any pathogens within the body and should be avoided when these are present.

Common examples include shan zhu yu (cornus fruit, Cornus officinalis); wu wei zi (schisandra, Schisandra chinensis) and rou dou kou (nutmeg, Myristica fragrans).