How to Read a Chinese Herb Label (and Avoid Wasting Your Money)

How to Read a Chinese Herb Label (and Avoid Wasting Your Money)

Decode teapills, extract powders, and ingredient lists with confidence—no Chinese degree required.

Confused by Chinese herb packaging? Learn how to read teapill labels, understand extract ratios, and spot red flags before you buy. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to choose the right product—and avoid wasting money on the wrong one.

Ever stared at a bottle of Chinese herbs and thought,

“What does 6:1 extract mean?”
“Is Huang Qin the same as Baikal Skullcap?”
“How many of these little pills am I supposed to take?”

You’re not alone.

Reading a Chinese herb label shouldn’t feel like decoding ancient scrolls. But unfortunately, most herb packaging is filled with unfamiliar names, unclear dosing, and vague quality claims. And that’s how good people end up with weak products, misused herbs, or formulas that just don’t work.

Let’s fix that.

This article will show you exactly how to read a Chinese herb label like a pro—so you can shop smart, dose right, and get results.

know what is in your herbs and how to read the label

Section 1: The 5 Things Every Chinese Herb Label Should Tell You

Here’s what to look for every time you pick up a bottle, bag, or jar:

Label Element Why It Matters
Pinyin and English Names You need to know what herb you’re taking and how it’s referred to in both Chinese and Western contexts.
Extract Ratio (e.g. 6:1) Tells you the strength of the extract and how much raw herb it represents.
Recommended Dosage Chinese herbs have different standards than Western supplements.
Sourcing & Testing Info Look for GMP certification, lab testing, and country of origin.
Form (teapill, powder, decoction) Each form has different potency and ideal use cases.

Section 2: Understanding Herb Names – Pinyin vs. English

Here’s why one herb may have 3 different names:

  • Pinyin: The Romanized spelling of the Mandarin name (e.g., Dang Gui)

  • Botanical Latin: Used in scientific references (e.g., Angelica sinensis)

  • English Name: What most Westerners recognize (e.g., Chinese Angelica Root)

Example:

Pinyin English Name Botanical
Huang Qin Baikal Skullcap Root Scutellaria baicalensis
Bai Zhu White Atractylodes Rhizome Atractylodes macrocephala
Gan Cao Licorice Root Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Knowing these helps you:

  • Avoid buying the wrong herb

  • Research correct uses

  • Cross-check ingredients in formulas

Section 3: What Does a 6:1 Extract Ratio Mean?

Let’s decode this with an example:

6:1 Extract = 6 parts raw herb were used to make 1 part concentrated powder

  • It’s more potent than raw herb.

  • You need less powder to get the same effect as a decoction.

  • Quality varies by brand and process.

Extract Ratio Tips:

  • Higher ratio ≠ always better. A poorly extracted 10:1 is weaker than a well-made 5:1.

  • Look for brands that use GMP facilities and offer COAs (Certificates of Analysis).

  • Don’t mix extract powders in cold smoothies—they absorb better in warm water.

what do teapills look likeSection 4: How to Read Teapill Instructions 

Teapills are one of the most common—and misunderstood—forms of Chinese medicine.

Here’s what to know:

Element What to Look For
Serving Size Usually 8–12 pills per dose
Frequency 2–3 times daily is typical
Duration Most formulas are taken for 1–3 weeks at a time, depending on the issue
Cautions Pregnancy warnings, heat/cold constitution incompatibilities

⚠️ Common Mistake:
Taking 2 pills once a day and expecting results.
Chinese teapills are meant to be taken consistently and in larger quantities than Western pills.
Teapills are about the size of a pea. 

Section 5: Where It’s From (And Why That Matters)

Chinese herbs are powerful—but only when grown, harvested, and processed correctly.

Here’s what to look for on the label or product description:

  • GMP-Certified Manufacturer

  • Lab Testing for Heavy Metals, Pesticides, and Identity

  • Sourced from DaoDi Regions (traditional high-quality growing zones in China)

Red Flags:

? No sourcing info
? "Proprietary blend" without full ingredient list
? No extract ratio or dosage instructions

Indepth Article on Purity Of Products / Certificate of Analysis 

Section 6: Bonus – Label Breakdown Example

Here’s how to read this sample label:

Product Name: Calm Spirit Teapills (Gan Mai Da Zao Wan)

  • Pinyin: Gan Mai Da Zao

  • English Function: Nourishes Heart, Calms the Shen

  • Dose: 8 teapills, 3x daily

  • Extract Ratio: 5:1

  • Sourcing: GMP Certified, Tested in USA

  • Cautions: Not for cold-type depression or excessive dampness

Now you know this product is:

  • Targeted for Shen disturbance (emotional restlessness, anxiety)

  • Potent at a moderate extract strength

  • Safe and lab-tested

 Final Thoughts: Know Before You Swallow

Chinese herbs are deeply effective—but only when you understand what you're taking, how much, and why.

Here’s your new mantra:

"If the label doesn’t tell me enough, I won’t buy it."

At 1st Chinese Herbs, we make label reading easy:

  • Pinyin + English names? ✅

  • Dosage and extract strength? ✅

  • COAs and sourcing transparency? ✅

  • Educational support? ✅

No guessing. No hype. Just results.

Ready to shop Chinese herbs with clarity and confidence?

Browse our collection of lab-tested, clearly labeled, practitioner-trusted products at 1stChineseHerbs.com.
Your body will thank you—and your wallet won’t regret it.

Teapills

1. Plant‑to‑Extract / Extract Ratio Labeling

 2. Enhanced Bioavailability via Modern Formulations

  • A study on a Solid Self‑Microemulsifying Drug Delivery System (S‑SMEDDS) with Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts found 60–80 % of active constituents (e.g., tanshinones and salvianolic acids) were released within 20 minutes in vitro, showing higher oral absorption than standard suspensions pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+1pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+1.

  • Another review on piperine (from Piper longum) showed it can boost oral bioavailability of compounds like curcumin by 30–200 %, and in some cases, up to tenfold pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

 3. Pharmacokinetics & Herb–Herb/Drug Interactions

 4. Clinical Efficacy & Safety Trials

Here are several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews demonstrating efficacy and safety: