Lifting, lowering, floating and sinking refer to four different directions of actions of Chinese medicinal herbs in human body when they are taken.

Varying diseases often appear to bear a tendency to move upward, downward, towards the exterior or the interior. And for the state of a disease, they are distinguished into those due to adverse ascending of pathogenic factors and those due to invasion of pathogenic factors sinking deeply into the interior and lowering down to the lower energizer. Corresponding to the above, the directions of actions of medicinal herbs on human body also have the lifting, lowering, floating and sinking distinction. While treating a disease, according to its different causes, a doctor should select corresponding medicinal herbs and make the best use of their lifting, lowering, floating or sinking actions to help dispel pathogenic factors, correct the disorder of the body''s functions and restore them to the normal.

By "lifting" of Chinese medicinal herbs we mean that the direction of Chinese herbal action is toward the upper parts. Those that possess the lifting action are indicated for a disease in a lower and deeper parts. For example, Huangqi (Radix Astragali) and Shengma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae) can raise splenic qi and are indicated for syndrome of visceroptosis with hyposplenic qi such as chronic diarrhea and lingering dysentery, prolapse of the rectum, prolapse of uterus and gastroptosis. By "lowering" of Chinese medicinal herbs we mean that they function toward the lower parts and possess the action of descending adverse qi and are indicated for the disease due to adverse ascending of pathogenic factors. 

For example, Daizheshi ( Haematitum ), Chenxiang ( Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum ) and Shijueming ( Concha Haliotidis ) can descend adverse flow of qi and fire, subdue exuberant yang of the liver and descend adverse qi of the lung and stomach and are indicated for bleeding, painful swollen gum and aphthae due to ascendancy of rebellious qi and fire; dizziness due to exuberance of liver-yang, cough and dyspnea due to abnormal rising of lung-qi, nausea and vomiting and eructation due to abnormal rising of stomach-qi. By "floating" of Chinese medicinal herbs we mean that they function toward the upper and outward parts, generally exert the effects of sweating and dispersing and are indicated for the disease in the upper and superficial parts. 

For instance, Mahuang (Herba Ephedrae ), Zisu ( Folium Perillae ), Fangfeng ( Radix Saposhnikoviae ) and Duhuo ( Radix Angelicae Pubescentis ) can dispel wind-cold and dampness from the exterior and are indicated for wind and cold exterior-syndrome, wind-damp type of Bi-syndrome, etc.. By "sinking" of Chinese medicinal herbs we mean that they function toward the lower and inward parts, have the effects of lowering the adverse flow of qi and relaxing bowels and are indicated for the disease in the lower and interior. For instance, Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei ) and Mutong ( Caulis Akebiae ) separately have the effects of relaxing the bowels and promoting diuresis and are used to treat constipation, abdominal distention and pain, and dysuria, etc..

Lifting and lowering, floating and sinking medicinal properties are the two couples whose direction of actions is opposite. Lifting and floating are similar in their actions, so are sinking and lowering. Therefore lifting and floating may be called concurrently, so may sinking and lowering. The lifting and floating medicinal herbs moving in ascending and outward directions generally exert the effects of invigorating splenic yang, relieving superficies, dispelling wind and cold, and resuscitation, etc.; the lowering and sinking medicinal herbs moving in descending and inward directions generally have the effects of clearing away heat, lowering the adverse flow of qi, purging, promoting diuresis, tranquilizing the mind, suppressing the hyperactive yang and stopping wind, and astringing, etc..

The lifting, lowering, floating and sinking of medicinal herbs are generally based upon their natures, flavors and qualities. Generally speaking, Chinese medicinal herbs pungent and sweet in flavor, warm and heat in nature are mostly lifting and floating in their actions while those bitter, sour and salty in flavor, and cold or cool in nature are mostly sinking and lowering in their actions. Chinese medicinal herbs of flowers, leaves, and branches, etc., which are light in property are mostly lifting and floating in their actions while those of fruits, seeds, and minerals, etc., which are heavy in property are mostly sinking and lowering. But there is an additional small number of Chinese medicinal herbs, for example, Houpo (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis), a bark kind, pungent, bitter and warm in its flavor and nature can lower qi and relieve dyspnea. Xuanfuhua (Flos Inulae), a flower kind, can lower qi and Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), a root kind, can move in upper direction even to the head and eyes and yet in descending direction to uterus.

Besides, the lifting, lowering, floating and sinking actions of medicinal herbs may be affected by some medicinal processing or medicinal combination. For instance, the sinking or lowering medicinal herbs can turn into the lifting or floating ones when they are stir-baked with wine; in the same way, the lifting or floating herbs will turn into the sinking or lowering ones, which enter the kidney when they are stir-baked with a salt solution, and when they are used in combination with a variety of strong sinking or lowering herbs, their lifting or floating actions are changed into obscurity.