Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine: Keep It Handy for Minor Ailments

Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine: Keep It Handy for Minor Ailments

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a treasure of China. Experienced TCM practitioners can use it to tackle various ailments, and we can also apply it in dietary therapy to nourish our bodies~

Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine: Keep It Handy for Minor Ailments

Top Properties of Chinese Medicinal Herbs

Clearing Heat and Detoxifying: Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle);

Transforming Dampness with Aroma: Huo Xiang (Agastache);

Promoting Urination and Draining Dampness: Fu Ling (Poria);

Opening the Orifices with Aroma: She Xiang (Musk);

Clearing Heat: Shi Gao (Gypsum);

Draining Fire: Huang Lian (Coptis);

Descending Qi: Chen Xiang (Agarwood);

Generating Fluids: Shi Hu (Dendrobium);

Transforming Phlegm: Ban Xia (Pinellia);

Calming the Liver: Ling Yang Jiao (Antelope Horn);

Cooling and Spicy: Bo He (Mint);

Stopping Pain: Yuan Hu (Corydalis);

Stopping Bleeding: San Qi (Notoginseng);

Tonifying Yang: Lu Rong (Deer Antler Velvet);

Tonifying Yin: Nu Zhen Zi (Ligustrum);

Purging: Da Huang (Rhubarb);

Cooling Blood: Xi Jiao (Rhinoceros Horn);

Regulating Qi: Zhi Shi (Bitter Orange);

Soothing the Liver: Yu Jin (Curcuma);

Invigorating Blood: Dan Shen (Salvia);

Tonifying Qi: Ren Shen (Ginseng);

Tonifying Blood: Dang Gui (Angelica);

Tonifying the Spleen: Shan Yao (Chinese Yam);

Digestive Aid: Shen Qu (Fermented Wheat);

Clearing Phlegm: Bei Mu (Fritillaria);

Reducing Jaundice: Yin Chen (Virgate Wormwood);

Expelling Wind: Du Huo (Angelica Pubescens);

Calming the Spirit: Jujube Seed (Ziziphus);

Warming the Interior: Fu Zi (Aconite).

Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine: Keep It Handy for Minor Ailments

Good Herbs for Women’s Lifelong Beauty

Dang Gui: A sacred herb for nourishing blood, ensuring women’s lifelong safety.

Hong Hua: A flower that invigorates blood and beautifies women.

Yi Mu Cao: The beauty therapist of Empress Wu Zetian.

Xue Lian Hua: A flower from the ice mountain that nurtures youthful beauty.

Ai Cao: A natural health “comforter”.

Aloe Vera: The secret of Cleopatra’s beauty.

Bai Ji: The whitening fairy among herbs.

Ge Gen: The “women’s ginseng” that clears heat and generates fluids.

Bai Shao: A confidante for nourishing yin and blood in women.

Xing Ren: Nourishes the skin, keeping it youthful and radiant.

Yu Zan Hua: Nourishes blood and removes spots, making one as beautiful as a flower.

Protecting Our Innate Essence

He Shou Wu: Warming and tonifying kidney yang, allowing one to live for 500 years with flowing black hair.

Gou Qi Zi: The ancient elixir for seasonal health.

Dong Chong Xia Cao: A dual-tonifying herb that is rare in the world.

San Qi: The “gold that cannot be exchanged” for reviving the dead.

Qian Shi: A water fairy loyal to the spleen and kidneys.

Nu Zhen Zi: Tonifies the liver and kidneys, achieving perfect harmony.

Du Zhong: The top herb for regulating blood pressure.

Tu Si Zi: Gentle nourishment that starts in the womb.

Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine: Keep It Handy for Minor Ailments

The Source of Health from Acquired Essence

Bai Fu Ling: Strengthens the spleen and tonifies the center, allowing even Empress Cixi to regain youth.

Shan Yao: A divine food that nourishes our acquired essence.

Fan Mu Guo: The “longevity fruit” that ensures your gastrointestinal peace.

Chen Pi: The most common herb for strengthening the spleen.

Huo Xiang: Assists the spleen and stomach, allowing you to eat as you please.

Ding Xiang: A fragrant remedy for warming the stomach.

Common Ailments Without Seeking Help

Ban Lan Gen: A classic remedy for colds.

Jie Geng: A cough remedy that makes the great chef smile.

Lo Han Guo: A sweet fruit that can lower blood sugar.

Tao Ren: Best at invigorating blood, removing stasis, and promoting bowel movements.

Zi Su: Dispels cold and warms the stomach, essential when eating seafood.

Nangua Zi: Eating a handful daily keeps prostate issues at bay.

Bin Lang: A top herb for digestion and resolving accumulation.

Zhu Yu: The best choice for external use to lower blood pressure.

Dong Sang Ye: A wonderful remedy for night sweats and spontaneous sweating.

Kuan Dong Hua: The first choice for patients with chronic cough and lung cold.

Luo Di Sheng Gen: A sacred herb for treating injuries in the Dai ethnic group.

Shi Chang Pu: A blessing for patients with coronary heart disease.

Da Ji: A good remedy for stopping bleeding, whether used externally or internally.

Juan Bai: A herb that reduces inflammation and stops bleeding.

Xian He Cao: Quickly restores physical strength.

Pu Huang: Pollen that can lower blood lipids.

Methods for Calming the Mind and Nurturing the Spirit

Tian Ma: The guardian that keeps intelligent people from confusion throughout their lives.

Suan Zao Ren: Banishes insomnia, bringing sweet dreams for a lifetime.

Hong Zao: Nourishes blood and calms the spirit, can be eaten as a snack daily.

Huang Hua Cai: Nourishes the brain and clears the heart, bringing joy and forgetfulness of worries.

Gui Yuan: Nourishes blood, calms the spirit, and strengthens the body, with countless benefits.

Lian Hua: Clears the heart and nourishes the spirit, solidifying essence and strengthening bones.

Yuan Zhi: An effective remedy for treating palpitations, forgetfulness, and insomnia with many dreams.

Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine: Keep It Handy for Minor Ailments

Herbal Detox Made Easy

Jin Yin Hua: With it, even the hottest summer feels cool.

Pu Gong Ying: Use it for any unknown swelling or toxins.

Yu Xing Cao: Anti-inflammatory and detoxifying, a small herb with great effects.

Jue Ming Zi: The earliest used ophthalmic herb in history.

Pi Pa Ye: A common remedy for clearing lung heat.

Zhi Zi: Excellent at resolving heat toxins throughout the body.

Xia Ku Cao: The top herb for clearing heat and draining fire, especially for lymphatic tuberculosis.

Zi Hua Di Ding: A key herb for detoxifying and resolving abscesses.

Mu Dan Pi: A wonderful herb for cooling blood, a divine flower among herbs.

Feng Xian Hua: An external remedy for clearing heat and detoxifying, known as the “daughter flower”.

Huang Lian: Clears damp-heat from the five organs, the bitterest herb in the world.

Delicious Vegetarian Dishes on the Table

Yin Er: The best food for nourishing the lungs and moistening yin.

Bai He: Nourishes the five organs, delicious in any preparation.

Jie Cai: A top vegetable for patients with “three highs” (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol).

Bo He: An aromatic therapy for soothing the throat.

Hui Xiang: A remedy for chronic gastritis.

Bai Guo: The best for treating cough and asthma.

Che Qian Cao: The best dietary therapy for prostatitis.

Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine: Keep It Handy for Minor Ailments

Digestive Herbs

Digestive herbs include Hawthorn, Qu, and Mai, which help with food accumulation.

Hawthorn aids in digesting meat accumulation and treats chest and abdominal pain.

Mai helps digest rice accumulation, relieves breast engorgement, and alleviates liver qi stagnation.

Laifu helps with food accumulation and regulates qi, suitable for bloating and phlegm.

Neijin helps dissolve accumulations and stones, effective for various food accumulations and incontinence.

Calming Herbs

Heavy calming herbs include Zhu Sha, Ci, Amber, Dragon Bone, and Dragon Tooth.

Nourishing the heart and calming the spirit are Bai Jiao Ren, Yuan Zhi, and He Huan Hua.

Zhu Sha detoxifies and calms the heart, treating palpitations and insomnia.

Ci calms the heart and liver, brightens the eyes, and settles phlegm.

Dragon Bone calms the spirit and treats dizziness.

Suan Zao Ren nourishes the heart and benefits the liver, treating blood deficiency and insomnia.

Yuan Zhi opens the heart and resolves phlegm, effective for forgetfulness and epilepsy.

Detoxifying, Insecticidal, Moistening, and Itching-Relieving Herbs

Bai Fan, She Chuang Zi, and Sulfur are effective for detoxification.

Xiong Huang detoxifies and kills intestinal worms, treating eczema and snake bites.

Sulfur relieves itching and treats scabies, taken internally to enhance yang and relieve constipation.

Phlegm-Resolving, Cough-Relieving, and Asthma-Relieving Herbs

Phlegm-resolving herbs include Ban Xia, Xing Ren, and Bai Fu Zi.

Ban Xia resolves phlegm and treats nausea and dizziness.

Jie Geng helps resolve phlegm and promotes lung health.

Chuan Bei resolves phlegm and moistens the lungs, effective for dry phlegm and cough.

Note: While folk remedies may have miraculous effects, it is essential to consider individual differences and communicate with a doctor promptly to avoid delaying treatment!

Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine: Keep It Handy for Minor Ailments

Source: Internet

Editor: Chen Xiang Qin

Initial Review: Yang Fen

Final Review: Zeng Yong Heng

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