Insights and Updates

New Acute Abdomen Studies (Xin Jij Zheng Xue) includes a formula specifically for ileus and intestinal adhesions called Adhesion-Relaxing Decoction (Nianlian Songjie Tang), composed of Magnolia bark (Houpo), Aucklandia (Muxiang), Lindera root (Wuyao), stir-fried radish seed (Cha Laifuzi), red Peony (Chishao), peach kernel (Taoren), mirabilite…

Erse Blood-Supplementing Grass (bicolor sea-lavender, Limonium bicolor) is the root or whole herb of Limonium bicolor of the leadwort family (Plumbaginaceae). Its flowers come in two colors—part pink, part yellow—hence the name "two-color blood-supplementing grass." Because it flowers profusely with bright colors, it has high…

Baiying is a plant of the Solanum genus in the nightshade family. Baimao teng ("white-vine") is the whole herb of Baiying; because the stems and leaves of Baiying are covered with a layer of white hairs, its whole herb is used medicinally under the name…

Huoxue Huajian Tang (Blood-Activating Hardness-Transforming Decoction) comes from Waike Zhengzong (Orthodox External Medicine). It is composed of: Saposhnikovia (Fangfeng), red Peony (Chishao), Angelica tail (Dangguiwei), Trichosanthes root (Tianhuafen), honeysuckle (Jinyinhua), Fritillaria (Beimu), Chuanxiong, Chinese honeylocust spine (Zaojiaoci), and Platycodon (Jiegeng), each 1 qian; plus stiff…

Zaofan (black alum, ferrous sulfate) is the mineral goslarite (a sulfate mineral) or a chemically synthesized product, whose main component is ferrous sulfate heptahydrate; its aliases are green alum and blue alum. It has been used as a medicinal in China since antiquity. Traditional TCM…

The late Dr. Zhao Bingnan was the towering authority of TCM external medicine in China; before his death he served as director of dermatological and external medicine at the Beijing Hospital of Chinese Medicine. He left behind many empirical formulas, among which four are named…

Hawthorn is the ripe fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida, Crataegus pinnatifida var. major, and Crataegus cuneata of the Rosaceae family. It is both a Chinese medicinal herb and an edible fruit. Traditional TCM holds that hawthorn is sour and sweet in taste and slightly warm in…

A nasopharyngeal carcinoma patient from Sichuan whom the author treats had, some time ago, while taking the anticancer herbs the author gave him, also receive an intravenous infusion of anti-inflammatory drugs for one day; remarkably, his tumor kept shrinking by about half within a week,…

The Chinese herb shi wei (Pyrrosia leaf) is the whole plant of Pyrrosia lingua, Pyrrosia sheareri, Pyrrosia drakeana, Pyrrosia pekinensis, and Pyrrosia petiolosa of the Polypodiaceae family. It is also known as fei daojian, wugong qi, qixing jian, yizhi jian, jinxing cao, and shi lan.

The ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is an ornamental plant found throughout China. Each autumn, when its leaves turn yellow, cities gain a striking scenic sight. Wild ginkgo grows mainly in the natural forests of Tianmu Mountain, at elevations of 500–1000 m on acidic, well-drained soil. Ginkgo…