Insights and Updates

Recently my wife developed various uncomfortable symptoms, probably from using fans and air conditioning too much in summer. She became averse to cold and wind, and after a whole night’s sleep still felt utterly fatigued in the morning, with aching joints, peri-shoulder pain, a stiff…

The Chinese herb Yejuhua is the dried capitulum of Chrysanthemum indicum L. (family Asteraceae), mainly produced in Guangxi, Hunan and Jiangsu. Traditional TCM holds that it is bitter and acrid in flavor and slightly cold in nature, entering the Liver and Heart meridians. It clears…

Patients or their family members often try every possible means to solve a single problem—Chinese medicine, Western medicine, health supplements, folk remedies—and the result is counterproductive. The patient’s problem is not solved, but instead a variety of serious side effects are brought about: diarrhea, hematochezia,…

Loulu is the dried root of Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC. (family Asteraceae), mainly produced in Hebei, Shandong and Shaanxi. Traditional TCM holds that Loulu is bitter in flavor and cold in nature, entering the Stomach meridian. It has the actions of clearing heat and resolving…

The fig is the fruit of Ficus carica L. (family Moraceae, genus Ficus), and is both a food and a medicinal. It is sweet in flavor and cool in nature, enters the Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine meridians. It clears heat and engenders fluids, strengthens…

Ningxue Tang is a contemporary empirical formula composed of: Xianhecao (Agrimonia pilosa) 30 g, Mohanlian (Eclipta prostrata) 30 g, Shengdihuang (raw Rehmannia) 20 g, Baimaogen (Imperata cylindrica rhizome) 15 g, Baiji (Bletilla striata) 15 g, Bailian (Ampelopsis japonica) 15 g, Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla, donkey-hide gelatin) 10 g, Cebai Tan (charred Biota…

During the hot summer season, people are most susceptible to summerheat evil and various externally contracted diseases. Patients may present with feverish body and flushed face, vexation and thirst with a desire to drink, fatigue and profuse sweating, scanty dark urine, and even debility and…

Yesterday I wrote an article introducing the effects of Centipeda minima (Ebushicao), "Centipeda minima: A Fine Herb for Treating Nasal Conditions and Allergies". Some readers asked me to further explain how to use Centipeda minima to make medicine at home for treating rhinitis and nasal…

Ebushicao is the whole herb of Centipeda minima of the Asteraceae family, also called Yuanyuangsui, Jichangcao and Diyuan sui, produced mainly in Zhejiang, Hubei, Jiangsu and Guangdong. Traditional TCM considers it pungent and warm, entering the Lung and Liver meridians. It expels wind and unblocks…

Maidong (Ophiopogon) and Tiandong (Asparagus) are both Liliaceae plants. Maidong is the dried tuber root of Ophiopogon japonicus, and Tiandong is the dried tuber root of Asparagus cochinchinensis. The tuber roots of these two related plants look similar, their medicinal natures are similar, and both…