Herbal knowledge and the cultures that passed it on

Asia · Herb · № 726

Fortune's boneset (pei lan)

Eupatorium fortunei

Traditionally attributed effects: transforms dampness in the middle and relieves summer heat.

Asia · Herb · № 684

Chinese violet (zi hua di ding)

Viola yedoensis (syn. V. philippica)

Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat and 'toxin' in abscesses, boils, sore throat and inflamed eyes.

Asia · Herb · № 641

Chinese dodder (tu si zi)

Cuscuta chinensis

Traditionally attributed effects: a remedy for male infertility and urinary complaints; a tonic that strengthens bones and tendons, soothes lower back pain and balances the female reproductive system.

Asia · Herb · № 683

Chinese pulsatilla (bai tou weng)

Pulsatilla chinensis

Traditionally attributed effects: for hot, bloody dysentery, amoebae and vaginal trichomonas.

Asia · Herb · № 790

Diverse wormwood (liu ji nu)

Artemisia anomala

Traditionally attributed effects: lets the blood flow, promotes menstruation and relieves pain from injury.

Asia · Herb · № 738

Chinese mugwort (ai ye)

Artemisia argyi

Traditionally attributed effects: warms the meridians and uterus, stops bleeding from cold and relieves pain; the herb of moxa.

Asia · Herb · № 714

Chinese clematis root (wei ling xian)

Clematis chinensis

Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind and dampness and moves the qi in pain anywhere in the body.

Asia · Food · № 636

Jujube (red date)

Ziziphus jujuba

Traditionally attributed effects: sweet and strengthening in fatigue, anaemia and low energy; builds strength and blood and softens herbal dishes.

Asia · Herb · № 125

Chinese ephedra (ma huang)

Ephedra sinica

Contains ephedrine, which widens the airways and stimulates the nervous system and heart. It is the origin of modern ephedrine and pseudoephedrine medicines. As a supplement it has proved dangerous.

Asia · Herb · № 120

Dong quai (dang gui)

Angelica sinensis

In Chinese medicine one of the most important herbs to 'nourish the blood', especially for menstrual complaints. Western studies found no clear effect on menopausal symptoms.

Asia · Herb · № 681

Korean ash bark (qin pi)

Fraxinus chinensis subsp. rhynchophylla

Traditionally attributed effects: for diarrhoea and dysentery from damp heat, red eyes and cough with heat.

Asia · Herb · № 643

Chinese raspberry (fu pen zi)

Rubus chingii

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidneys and liver; for poor vision, frequent urination and impotence.

Asia · Herb · № 679

Chinese gentian (long dan cao)

Gentiana scabra

Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat and fire from liver and gallbladder.

Asia · Herb · № 304

Chinese goldthread (huang lian)

Coptis chinensis

Traditionally attributed effects: promotes bile, antibacterial, pain-relieving, calming, anti-inflammatory.

Asia · Herb · № 663

Chinese wild ginger (xi xin)

Asarum sieboldii (en A. heterotropoides)

Traditionally attributed effects: warms in wind-cold, relieves pain from cold and loosens cold phlegm in the lungs.

Asia · Herb · № 740

Corydalis (yan hu suo)

Corydalis yanhusuo

Traditionally attributed effects: moves blood and qi and is an important pain-relieving herb.

Asia · Herb · № 729

Chinese cardamom (sha ren)

Amomum villosum (en A. kravanh)

Traditionally attributed effects: warms the spleen, transforms dampness, calms a restless foetus and prevents tonics from lying heavy on the stomach.

Asia · Food · № 802

Chinese chestnut

Castanea mollissima

Traditionally attributed effects: dried, peeled chestnuts give sweet soups such as the eight-treasure soup their sweetness; in Chinese food therapy they strengthen spleen and kidneys.

Asia · Herb · № 660

Chinese lovage root (gao ben)

Ligusticum sinense

Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-cold and relieves above all headache at the crown, toothache and rheumatic pain.

Asia · Herb · № 708

Chinese lobelia (ban bian lian)

Lobelia chinensis

Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic and detoxifying in oedema, inflamed ulcers and snakebites.

Asia · Herb · № 137

Chinese rhubarb

Rheum palmatum

The root (da huang) contains anthraquinones, making it a strong laxative. In small amounts its tannins have the opposite, binding effect. Its mechanism is well understood.

Asia · Herb · № 138

Red sage root (dan shen)

Salvia miltiorrhiza

The red root is used in Chinese medicine to 'promote blood circulation', especially for heart and vascular complaints. There are many studies in China, often of limited quality.

Asia · Herb · № 768

Polygala root (yuan zhi)

Polygala tenuifolia

Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind and clears phlegm from 'the openings of the heart' and from the lungs.

Asia · Herb · № 703

Gold coin grass (jin qian cao)

Lysimachia christinae (ook Desmodium styracifolium)

Traditionally attributed effects: helps pass kidney and gallstones and drains damp heat from the liver.

Asia · Herb · № 741

Chinese bugleweed (ze lan)

Lycopus lucidus

Traditionally attributed effects: moves the blood and regulates menstruation; diuretic.

Asia · Food · № 635

Chinese yam (shan yao)

Dioscorea polystachya (syn. D. opposita)

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs, helps regulate the hormone system in women and is said to lower blood sugar.

Asia · Herb · № 665

Chinese black cohosh (sheng ma)

Actaea cimicifuga (syn. Cimicifuga foetida)

Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat, helps rashes come out and lifts the energy in prolapse.

South America · Herb · № 926

Chiricaspi

Brunfelsia grandiflora

A shrub of the nightshade family up to three metres tall, with fragrant flowers that fade from purple to white. Contains scopoletin, among others, and compounds that cause convulsions in animals. Gives a feeling of cold and tingling, and in larger amounts dizziness and paralysis.

Asia · Herb · № 124

Chrysanthemum (ju hua)

Chrysanthemum × morifolium

The flowers (ju hua) are used in Chinese medicine as a 'cooling' remedy for colds with fever, headaches and tired, red eyes. Clinical evidence is limited.

Asia · Herb · № 755

Cibotium (gou ji)

Cibotium barometz

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, bones and tendons in a stiff, painful lower back and knees.

Asia · Mineral · № 797

Cinnabar (zhu sha)

Cinnabaris (kwiksulfide)

Traditionally attributed effects: was used to calm the mind and stop convulsions; contains mercury.

Asia · Herb · № 760

Cistanche (rou cong rong)

Cistanche deserticola

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, moistens the bowel and warms the uterus.

Europe · Herb · № 85

Lemon balm

Melissa officinalis

Traditionally used for restlessness, sleep problems and a nervous stomach; externally for cold sores. Small studies suggest a mild calming effect, but evidence is limited.

Asia · Herb · № 777

Cnidium seed (she chuang zi)

Cnidium monnieri

Traditionally attributed effects: externally for itching and fungus around the genitals; internally a kidney yang tonic.

Asia · Herb · № 639

Codonopsis (dang shen)

Codonopsis pilosula

Traditionally attributed effects: reduces fatigue, supports the production of blood cells and strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs.

North America · Mineral · № 364

Colloidal silver

Silver particles in water. There is no evidence that colloidal silver treats infections, HIV or other diseases; it can, however, cause argyria, a permanent blue-grey discoloration of the skin and organs.