Chinese Materia Medica ⁽⁶³⁾

The Chinese medicinal A Wei is the oleoresin secreted by umbelliferous plants such as Ferula assa-foetida, F. sinkiangensis, and F. fukanensis. The parent plants grow in sandy soils and deserts, mainly distributed in Central Asia of the former Soviet Union, Iran, and Afghanistan; they are…

Chan Tui (cicada slough) is the molted exoskeleton left after eclosion by cicadas of the family Cicadidae—Crytotympana atrata, Meimuna mongolica, Leptopsalta sp., and related species, commonly known in Chinese as "zhiliao." It mainly contains chitin and protein. It is generally collected in summer and autumn…

Jiguanhua (cockscomb flower) is a common amaranth-family plant, found in most parts of China. It resembles white amaranth but is narrower, and bears flowers in three colors—red, white and yellow. The shape of the flower is much like a rooster’s comb, hence the name cockscomb…

The Chinese herb Xuanfuhua is the capitulum of Inula japonica Thunb. or Inula britanica L. (family Asteraceae), also called Jinfu Hua, Jinqian Hua, Jinfei Hua or Xiaohuanghuazi. Traditional TCM holds that Xuanfuhua is bitter, acrid and salty in flavor and slightly warm in nature, entering…

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…

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…

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…

Jishiteng is the whole herb or root of Paederia scandens of the Rubiaceae family, also called Jishiteng (alternate spelling), Chouteng (Foul Vine) and Maohulu, named for its foul smell like chicken droppings. It is widely distributed throughout the Yangtze River basin and regions south of…

Dingxiang (Clove) is the dried flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum of the Myrtaceae family, also called Gongdingxiang (male clove), Xiongdingxiang or Dingzixiang. It has a distinctive aromatic scent that is refreshing to the heart. The near-ripe fruit of clove is also used medicinally as Mudingxiang…