What is knotweed(Bian Xu)? Known as one of prostrate plants in the family of polygonum, knotweed is a close relative of Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum, Fallopia japonica) and He Shou Wu (Polygonum Multiflorum, Radix Polygoni Multiflori).
Dioscorea Rootrefers to the dried rhizome of Dioscorea Hypoglauca Palibin or Dioscorea Septemlobus Thumb., which are creeping perennial herbs. The slices of the former, Fen Bei Xie, are 1 to 3mm thick, ragged edges, yellowish white, fine and smooth, and powdery and irregular yellow vein pattern.
What is skullcap herb(Ban Zhi Lian)? Scullcap herb is one of perennials, 15 to 50cm high, sparsely pubescent on rachis to glabrous. Roots are rather slender. Stems are usually cespitose, thinner, square-column-shaped, and with dark purple or brownish green surface.
What is pinellia rhizome(Ban Xia)? It is a perennial herb in Araceae, 15 to 35cm high, with tuber nearly in spherical shape, and 0.5 to 3.0cm in diameter. TCM wise, the medicinal part is the tuber, namely Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae (Thunb.) Breit.
What is Ban Lan Gen (Isatis Root)? Normally it refers to the rhizome of one flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, which is also known as Isatis tinctoria, woad, dyer’s woad, and Isatis indigotica (thought as an invalid name by the majority).
What is lobelia herb (Ban Bian Lian)? There are a few different species in the world like creeping ground cover lobelia used as ornamental plant only. But other are also used as medicinals. Now we are going to focus on its medicinal properties.
What are Arborvitae seeds (Bai Zi Ren)? Arborvitaes are one of evergreens or shrubs from the Cypress Family (Cupressaceae). Statistics show that there are more than 150 types in the globe, fast-growing or slow-growing species.
What is Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala)? Also known as White Atractylodes Rhizome or Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome, it refers to the root of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., which is a perennial herb, 30 to 60 in height.
What is Bai Zhi or Angelica Root? Also known as radix angelicae dahuricae, it actually refers to the roots of Angelica dahurica var. formosana (Boiss.) Yuan et Shan and Angelica dahuricae (Fisch.) Benth. Et Hook.
Bai Xian Pi(Dictamnus Root Bark) refers to the rhizome of Dictammnus dasycarpus Turcz, which has a variety of other names such as Dictamnus albus., Fraxinella, Adiptam, Herba Dictamni Herba., Gas Plant, and Dittany.
What is Bai Wei or Swallowwort Root? The plant of Cynanchum atratum Bge is perennial herb, 40 to 70cm high, and with milky sap. The rhizome is short and with most long thin strip roots in clusters. The stems are erect, usually unbranched, and densely gray-white pubescent.
What is pulsatilla(Bai Tou Weng)? It is not a single herb, instead referring to a range of similar plants. Basically it refers to the plants of genus Pulsatilla, which is viewed as a subgenus under the genus Anemone sometimes.