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Paris Root, Chong Lou: A Potent Herb for Clearing Heat, Reducing Swelling, and Calming Seizures in TCM
Paris Root, also known as Chong Lou or Seven-Leaf One-Flower, is the dried rhizome of Paris polyphylla or Paris yunnanensis, a plant from the lily family. Valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for its ability to clear heat, detoxify, reduce swelling, relieve pain, and calm seizures, it has been used for centuries. Its medicinal history traces back to ancient texts, and its applications continue to expand with modern research.

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4 min read


Turmeric Root Yu Jin: A Key Herb for Blood Circulation, Mood Support, and Liver Health in TCM
Turmeric Root, known as Yu Jin in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is the dried rhizome of plants like Curcuma longa, Curcuma aromatica, or Curcuma zedoaria. Valued for its ability to promote blood circulation, relieve depression, clear the mind, and support liver health, it holds a significant place in TCM. Its uses have been documented across various historical herbal texts.

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4 min read


Schizonepeta, Jing Jie: A Versatile Herb for Relieving Colds, Itching, and Bleeding in TCM
Schizonepeta, known as Jing Jie in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is the flower spike of the Schizonepeta tenuifolia plant. This herb is widely used as a surface-relieving remedy to treat colds, skin issues, and bleeding. Its medicinal value has been recognized since ancient times, making it a key component in TCM. Schizonepeta was first mentioned in the Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica), though early texts did not clearly distinguish between the

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4 min read


Scutellaria Root, Huang Qin: A Potent Herb for Clearing Heat and Detoxifying in TCM
Scutellaria Root, also known as Huang Qin or Tiao Qin, is the dried root of the Scutellaria baicalensis plant, a cornerstone in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Renowned for its ability to clear heat, dry dampness, and detoxify, it has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. Scutellaria Root’s medicinal value was first documented in the Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica), where it was listed as a middle-grade herb.

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4 min read


Moutan Cortex Mu Dan Pi: Cooling Blood and Boosting Circulation in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Moutan Cortex Mu Dan Pi, also known as Danpi or Fen Danpi, is the dried root bark of the peony plant (Paeonia suffruticosa), a valued herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Known for its unique medicinal properties, it has been a staple in Chinese herbal remedies for centuries. Moutan Cortex has a rich history in TCM. As early as the Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica), it was classified as a middle-grade herb. Ancient texts describe it as having a

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4 min read


Magnolia Bark Hou Pu: A Time-Honored Herb for Digestion and Breathing Relief
Magnolia Bark, known as Hou Po in Chinese medicine, is a valuable herb with a history dating back thousands of years. It was first recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica) as a middle-grade herb, described as having a “bitter and warm” nature, used to treat “windstroke, colds, headaches, chills and fever, fright, blood stasis, dead muscle, and intestinal parasites.” The “three parasites” referred to worms in the digestive system.

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5 min read


Processed Pinellia: A Key Herb for Clearing Phlegm and Soothing the Stomach
Processed Pinellia, or Fa Ban Xia in Chinese medicine, is a vital herb with a history stretching back over 2,000 years. It was first mentioned in the Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica), listed as a lower-grade herb with a “pungent and neutral” nature, used to treat “cold and heat from injury, fullness in the chest, cough with rebellious qi, and excessive sweating.” This referred to raw Pinellia, which was quite strong and potentially toxic.

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6 min read


Licorice Root: A Versatile Herb for Balancing Remedies and Boosting Health
Licorice Root, known as Gan Cao in Chinese medicine, is a widely used herb often called the “elder statesman” for its ability to harmonize other medicines, strengthen the spleen, clear heat, detoxify, and ease coughs. With its neutral nature, sweet taste, and connection to all twelve meridians, it’s one of the most common herbs in Chinese formulas, earning the nickname “nine out of ten formulas include Licorice Root.”

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5 min read


Bai Shao: A Gentle Herb for Nourishing Blood and Easing Pain
White Peoney, known as Bai Shao in Chinese medicine, is a highly valued herb for nourishing blood, soothing the liver, and relieving pain. With its slightly cold nature, bitter and sour taste, and connection to the liver and spleen meridians, it’s a key remedy for women’s health issues and pain caused by liver imbalance.

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6 min read


Honeysuckle: A Cooling Herb for Detox and Cold Relief
Honeysuckle, known as Jin Yin Hua or “winter-enduring flower” in Chinese medicine, is a highly valued herb often called the “thatch of medicines” for its excellent ability to clear heat and detoxify. With its cold nature, sweet taste, and connection to the lung, stomach, and heart meridians, it’s a key remedy for treating heat-related conditions like sores and sore throats.

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5 min read


Lian Qiao: A Healing Herb for Clearing Heat and Reducing Swelling
Lian Qiao, known as Forsythia in Chinese medicine, is a powerful herb often called the “holy remedy for sores.” With its slightly cold nature, bitter taste, and connection to the lung, heart, and small intestine meridians, it excels at clearing heat, detoxifying, and reducing swelling. It’s especially effective for treating sores, skin infections, and heat-related conditions. This article explores Lian Qiao’s history, characteristics, uses, benefits, combinations with other h

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5 min read


Chrysanthemum Ju Hua: A Gentle Herb for Cooling, Eye Health, and Blood Pressure
Chrysanthemum, also known as “longevity guest” or “golden flower” in Chinese medicine, is a highly valued herb with a long history and wide use. Trusted by doctors and patients alike, it’s known for its cooling and calming effects. This article explores Chrysanthemum’s history, characteristics, uses, benefits, combinations with other herbs, comparisons to similar herbs, modern applications, and important precautions.

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5 min read


Xiang Fu: A Gentle Herb for Easing Stress and Menstrual Pain
Xiang Fu, also known as “sparrow head fragrance” in Chinese medicine, is a key herb for relieving stress and regulating menstruation. Often called the “master herb for qi disorders,” it has a neutral nature, a pungent and slightly bitter taste, and connects to the liver and triple burner meridians. It’s widely used for women’s health issues and symptoms caused by emotional or liver-related stress.

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6 min read


Dan Shen: A Powerful Herb for Boosting Blood Flow and Calming the Mind
Dan Shen, known as Dan Shen in Chinese medicine, is a highly valued herb famous for improving blood circulation and calming the mind. Often called “one herb equal to four,” it has a slightly cold nature, a bitter taste, and connects to the heart and liver meridians. It’s widely used for heart and women’s health issues. This article explores Dan Shen’s history, characteristics, uses, benefits, combinations with other herbs, comparisons to similar herbs, modern applications, an

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4 min read


Xin Yi: A Fragrant Herb for Clearing Nasal Congestion and Relieving Pain
Xin Yi, also known as “hope spring flower” in Chinese medicine, is a fragrant herb valued for its ability to clear nasal congestion and relieve pain. It has a warm nature, a pungent taste, and connects to the lung and stomach meridians. It’s commonly used to treat stuffy noses and headaches caused by colds or allergies. This article explores Xin Yi’s history, characteristics, uses, benefits, combinations with other herbs, comparisons to similar herbs, modern applications, and

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5 min read
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