Maoshan, a place known for its association with Taoist priests, is the famous mountain where the Daoist masters Ge Hong and Tao Hongjing practiced alchemy and cultivation.Since ancient times, the Dao and medicine have been inseparable; in the eyes of TCM practitioners, Maoshan is also the birthplace of high-quality Cang Zhu (Atractylodes).During the Southern Dynasties, Tao Hongjing secluded himself in Maoshan to practice alchemy and once gifted friends with decoctions and steamed dishes made from Maoshan Cang Zhu.
Cang Zhu has always been regarded in TCM as an excellent herb for strengthening the spleen, drying dampness, dispelling wind, and alleviating pain.Just as Tu Youyou discovered that artemisinin is an excellent antimalarial, modern pharmacological studies have also revealed that Cang Zhu is the king of treating night blindness.Cang Zhu is the king of treating night blindnessModern pharmacological research indicates that the chemical components of Cang Zhu include volatile oils primarily composed of cangzhuol (cangzhu alcohol) and cangzhuketon (cangzhu ketone), as well as carotene and vitamin B.The carotene abundant in Cang Zhu can be converted into vitamin A in the human intestine with the help of bile salts, thus being applied in the treatment of night blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency, showing excellent results.Night blindness can be classified based on its causes, whether it is due to nutritional deficiency, other diseases, or congenital hereditary factors.The key to treating and improving this condition lies in nourishing the retinal rod cells with vitamin A.The fundamental cause of night blindness is the lack of raw materials for synthesizing rhodopsin in retinal rod cells or the degeneration of the rod cells themselves.The causes of night blindness are as follows:Temporary night blindnessoccurs due to a lack of vitamin A in the diet or due to certain digestive diseases affecting the absorption of vitamin A, leading to the inability of retinal rod cells to synthesize rhodopsin. This type of night blindness is temporary; simply increasing the intake of pig liver, carrots, and cod liver oil can quickly replenish vitamin A deficiency, resulting in recovery.Acquired night blindnessis often caused by malnutrition of retinal rod cells or degeneration of the cells themselves. It is commonly seen in diffuse choroiditis and extensive choroidal ischemic atrophy; this type of night blindness gradually improves with effective treatment and recovery from the underlying disease.
Congenital night blindnessis a hereditary eye disease, such as retinitis pigmentosa, where the rod cells are underdeveloped and lose the ability to synthesize rhodopsin, resulting in night blindness.
Preparing Medicine with Cang Zhu1. Take 500 grams of Cang Zhu, place it in a clay pot, add water, and simmer to extract a concentrated juice. After filtering the juice, add more water and boil until the residue is tasteless. Discard the residue, combine the extracted juices, and simmer slowly until some water evaporates, concentrating it into a thin paste. Add honey, and take 1 tablespoon mixed with warm water on an empty stomach twice daily for 2-3 weeks to see results.2. Use 30 grams of Cang Zhu, 15 grams each of Shi Jue Ming (Stone Calamus) and Ye Ming Sha (Night Bright Sand), and about 500 milliliters of water, simmer to 200 milliliters, and consume with about 50 grams of pig liver, twice daily, 3-4 times a week; generally, results can be seen in 1-2 weeks.3. Use 30 grams of Cang Zhu, 200 grams of fresh pig liver sliced, and 1 bowl of millet. Soak the millet in 3 bowls of water for 30 minutes, then use the soaking water to boil the pig liver and Cang Zhu until only 1 bowl of water remains. Consume the pig liver and drink the soup before bed. For mild cases, 2 doses may show results; for severe cases, 14-15 doses may be needed.
