Sea-buckthorn berries  

The herders and shepherds of Inner Mongolia autonomous region have long used sea-buckthorn as fodder for their cattle and lambs. This real super food has an extremely high vitamin C content, about 15 times that of an orange by weight and is packed with vitamin E, dietary minerals and omega-7, a fatty acid that helps build healthy hair, skin and nails.

It is rich in carotenoids, amino acids, polyphenols and flavonols. Sea-buckthorn is available in concentrates, juices, and powder form as supplements.

Cordyceps  

his is the caterpillar fungus, a parasitic symbiosis that has produced one of the most expensive traditional Chinese tonics, literally worth more than its weight in gold.

The moth caterpillar is attacked by fungus, which slowly takes over the insect body and develops into a mushroom the following spring.

It is found primarily on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as well as in the northern parts of Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces.

Traditional Chinese medical practitioners swear by its immunity-enhancing properties and it is often prescribed to "strengthen the qi", the energy force in the body. Current price for cordyceps is about 200 yuan ($32) per gram, or 200,000 yuan per kilogram. For information about Deficiency of Spleen Energy, continue to read Deficiency of Spleen Energy Pills.

Cordycep flowers  

This is neither cordyceps nor flower. It is a mushroom, developed and cultivated after research isolated the main ingredient in cordyceps that is believed to be beneficial to health - cordycepin. The bright orange-yellow mushrooms are sold as a fresh tonic supplement for soups, stews and stir-fries. It is certainly a much more affordable alternative to the worm-fungus, and tastes better, too. Maca root (Peruvian ginseng)

This is a relatively new tonic sold in China after being successfully propagated in the highlands near Lijiang, Yunnan province. This small, turnip-like root was first cultivated in the high plains of central Peru in the Andes, and was used as a staple food much like rice or wheat.

Modern research has shown that maca contains natural substances that stimulate the pituitary and hypothalamus. Maca roots are thus beneficial to the endocrine system, and also contain calcium, potassium, iron, silica and many other trace minerals. Mainly sold dried and available online.

Wolfberries  

Wolfberry, known as goji berries in the West, is another super food whose orange-red fruits have been used since ancient times in China as a general tonic, to protect the liver, improve vision, strengthen weak legs and promote longevity.

Wolfberry fruits, fresh or dried, contain 11 essential minerals, 22 trace minerals, seven vitamins and 18 amino acids, such as calcium, potassium, iron, zinc and vitamin C. The fruits are fragile, so wolfberries are sold dried. They are easily rehydrated and do not lose any nutrients through the dehydration process. For information about Pancreatitis, continue to read Pancreatitis Capsules.

Article source: chinadaily