Insights and Updates

Of all the hobbies I have kept throughout my life, the two that have lasted longest are reading and writing. When I was in primary school, I first finished the books in my own home—actually not many, just some Chinese classics of literature. Then I…

“Qi Xian San” (Seven Sages Powder) originates from the Guan Zhu Fang Yao Bu (citing the Waike Zuan Yao). Its composition is: Zaojiaoci (Gleditsiae Spina), Zaojiaoci (Gleditsiae Fructus), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Tianhuafen (Trichosanthis Radix), and Jinyinhua (Lonicerae Flos), each 1 liang (30g),…

Issue 5 (page 324) of the Anhui Journal of Clinical Traditional Chinese Medicine (1999) published an empirical formula for treating cirrhotic ascites. It has a certain efficacy: treating 52 patients, after 6–12 months of treatment, 14 were clinically cured, 37 improved, and 1 ineffective, for…

Whatever your brain is like, that is what your life is like. —Dick Swaab, Dutch brain scientist We Chinese have an old saying that no person is perfect; in fact, from a scientific standpoint, it should be: no brain is perfect. No one on earth…

Small formulas often have unexpectedly powerful effects. This article introduces three hemostatic formulas composed of only two herbs each. Er Cao Dan (Two-Herb Elixir; source: Zabing Yuanliu Xizhu) Composed of equal parts of Hanliancao (Ecliptae Herba) and Cheqiancao (Plantaginis Herba). Crush and squeeze out the…

Most of us habitually assume that the decisions we make reflect our free will. Is this view correct? The answer surprises many people: in fact, we hardly have any free will at all. Even a person like me, who regards himself as a liberal, does…

When I proposed marriage for the first time, I was rejected. After returning home, I lay face-down on the bed, covered my head with the quilt, and wept bitterly. My mother sat by the bed, stroking me and comforting me. She said: “My son! If…

Pipa San (Loquat Leaf Powder) originates from the Gujin Yijian (Mirror of Medical Matters, Ancient and Modern). Its composition is: Pipaye (loquat leaf, hairs removed) and Juhong (tangerine peel) each 1 liang (30g), Banxia (Pinellia, soaked in broth), Chifuling (red Poria, peeled), and Renshen (ginseng)…

Because children have weak constitutions, a weak stomach and intestines, and poor digestion, they may eat little and lack energy, develop poorly, and easily suffer vomiting and diarrhea, making it hard for them to gain weight. In TCM this belongs to spleen deficiency, and treatment…

Fuling Xingren San (Poria-Apricot Kernel Powder) originates from the Waitai Miyao (Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library). It consists of Fuling (Poria) 4 qian (12g), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen) 4 qian (12g), Jupi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 3 qian (9g), Suzi (Perillae Fructus) 3 qian (9g, crushed),…