Arisaema bulb contains 28.05% starch so that it can be used to make alcohol and paste material. However, it is not edible since it is poisonous. As a time-honored Chinese herb, it is frequently used to treat Bell’s palsy, hemiplegia, convulsions in children, tetanus, epilepsy, carbuncle, snake bites, and the like.
Since ancient time, its health benefits have been acknowledged and of course it was used as more than just a cough medicine. The “Compendium of Materia Medica” says that the preserved asparagus in alcohol is also an anti-aging beauty product that can tonify the Five Zang-organs.
The medicinal uses of gastrodia elata are characterized by calming liver wind agitation by suppressing hyperactive liver and calming hyperactivity of liver-yang by tranquilizing liver and yang. However, other herbs like Cat’s Claw and Antelope Horns are also capable of what it does.
As a commonly used traditional Chinese herbal medicine, actually its medicinal uses can date back to Compendium of Materia Medica, written by he famous physician Li Shizhen in Ming Dynasty. Then it is mainly used in the treatment of gynecological diseases.
The most valued healing properties of peach seed in TCM are its effect of promoting blood circulation. Given the fact of backward medical technology in ancient times, dietary therapy or herbs was one of the few available ways that could count on once people suffered from stagnant movement of Qi and blood.
Sandalwood as medicine and worship tool has a long history, which was recorded in the ancient Sanskrit classics and Chinese medicinal books. Sandalwood essential oil was used in religious rituals long time ago.
Compared to the efficacy of tonifying the qi and generating yin fluids in Ren Shen (panax ginseng), Dang Shen (Codonopsis), and Xi Yang Shen (American ginseng), prince ginseng’s tonic properties is far weaker.
Cynomorium herb was first recorded in Ben Cao Yan Yi Bu Yi (Additions to the Dilations on the Materia Medica). In terms of medicinal uses, it resembles to Rou Cong Rong (Cistanche), or even to the legendary Ganoderma.
Jujube Seed works on menopausal syndrome and liver-kidney deficiency induced symptoms, including restless sleep, facial flushing, feverishness in palms and soles, dizziness, tinnitus, abnormal vaginal discharge, enuresis, urinary frequency and so on.
Perilla oil is distilled from the whole pant while perilla seed oil is from its seeds. Long-term consumption of this oil can greatly help the treatment of coronary heart disease and high cholesterol.
Caesalpinia sappan is a small evergreen tree, with a few small thorns and bipinnate leaves. It blooms from June to September each year. Yellow flowers have 5 petals and form panicles. Wooden pod is red-brown, no cracking.
Sometimes storax can be an excellent ingredient in incense making recipes or an important aromatic fixative in the art of making perfumes. However, it plays a more important role as a medicine.