All Posts tagged herbs

Green tea is a medicinal herb many people drink to improve their health and protect themselves against chronic disease. A number of pharmacological studies have shown that a unique set of catechins (polyphenolic antioxidant plant metabolites) in green tea helps the body fight disease. According to traditional Chinese medicine, tea…

Semen coicis is the dried seed of the yello-brown-shelled coix lacruma-jobi, which is harvested every autumn in Fujian, Hebei and Liaoning provinces. Used  as a herb or as food, the seed tastes sweet and is slightly cool in nature, properties that help strengthen the spleen and resolve imbalances, including dampness…

Rhodiola is a plant found at high altitudes in mountainous regions around the world. It’s used in traditional Chinese medicine to stimulate the nervous system, enhancing work and exercise performance, eliminating fatigue and preventing altitude sickness. The early Qing emperors. particularly Kangxi (1662-1722), ordered his army to take the herb…

Sinusitis usually starts with a cold due to a change in the weather, or an allergy that causes inflammation of the para-nasal sinuses. It can include a stuffy nose, nasal discharge, diminished sense of smell, headache, sore throat and pressure around the cheeks, eyes and forehead. Lily-flower magnolia, also known…

Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on hardwood trees such as oak and apple. There are two kinds of mistletoe. The one commonly used for Christmas decorations is originally from the US and the other is of European origin. The liquid extract of European mistletoe has been used as…

The lotus is a perennial aquatic plant related to the waterlily that grows in tropical Asia. Its leaves are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat bleeding and clear summer heat and dampness. Lotus leaves can be used as a medicinal herb or in food, with steamed rice and chicken…

The lotus flower has a delicate fragrance and a simple beauty that’s made it the subject of poets for centuries. The plant is also important in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Every part can be used – the seeds are highly valued and served in Chinese desserts such as moon cakes…

Dipsacus is one of the key herbs used to treat traumatic injuries. The Chinese name, xu duan, means “reconnection from broken parts”. It’s used for repairing structural tissue such as bones and ligaments, and can also help relive swelling. Bitter and acrid, dipsacus is usually used for tonifying the kidneys…

The mountain herb commonly known as Chinese yam is the dried rhizome of dioscorea opposite thunb. After collection and preparation, Chinese yam is typically used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for tonifying the spleen, stomach, lungs and kidneys. It’s especially good for spleen and stomach deficiencies by enhancing these organs’…

Solomon’s seal rhizome, also known as huang jing, or yellow essence, is a sweet herb that nourishes kidneys, moistens lungs, and reinforces chi (vital energy). It’s used to treat dry coughs caused by yin deficiency or yin-deficient heat. It’s believed to promote the generation of bone marrow, and is also…

Herbal beverages have been popular in southern china for more than 200 years. They’re believed to be ideal for people living in subtropical regions to prevent exogenous heat and dampness evils invading the body. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, when people contract heat-damp evils, they may suffer from…

Tea was considered an elixir in ancient China. The founder of herbology, Shen Nong, supposedly tasted hundreds of herbs – including poisonous ones – to distinguish those that had medicinal value. To counteract the effects of eating poisonous herbs, he is said to have eaten tea leaves. China was the…

Japanese honeysuckle (lonicera japonica) is a fast growing, woody vine that bears fragrant, two-lipped flowers and is used as a medical plant. Its flowers are known in Chinese as jin yin hua or “gold-silver flower”, referring to the silvery yellow blooms in the flower cluster. It has high medicinal value…

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinics in Hong Kong often have mirrors on the walls bearing the Chinese characters yu man xing lin. This expression derives from a story about a famous Chinese herbalist. Dong Feng, who retired to the Lu Mountains in Jiangxi province for a simple life. Being Taoist,…

Black sesame is called barbarian’s hemp in Chinese because of its similarity om appearance to the plant. Since it was brought to china in 119BC, black sesame has been highly regarded as having powerful health benefits. There’s a folktale about a Chinese woman who not only lived to a ripe…

A Chinese folktale recounts how a herbalist left home one day to make the rounds of his district – a journey that often took weeks. Meanwhile, patients kept calling at his home wanting medicine. So, his wife came up with a way to treat them. Since she knew little about…

Duzhong is the bark from the eucommia tree, which can reach heights of up to 15 metres. The trees’ survival was once threatened because their bark was often stripped to the point of killing them. Today, harvesting is limited to peeling small patches from trees more than 10 years old…

Existing and potential risks associated with some western medicines have led consumers to look at alternative remedies for pain relief. Traditional Chinese medicine has many therapies that can help. Perhaps most commonly recognised for pain relief is acupuncture, but certain herbs are also known for their pain-relieving capabilities. In TCM…

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the Chinese white pear is taken for its therapeutic and nutritional value. It has a pale yellow skin and a white, crisp and succulent flesh. In TCM practice, it’s recommended for the likes of a cough, constipation, difficulty in swallowing and urinating, and indigestion. It’s…

Advertisements for slimming products are everywhere, and more consumers are turning to them for help in their battle with the bulge. Some of these dietary supplements, or herbal drugs, contain the natural stimulant ephedra (ma huang). Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the uncontrolled sale of…