I was never exposed to Chinese herbs in medical school -- which is no surprise. In recent years I have been learning more about a number of Chinese herbs, and I must say I am very impressed. It is amazing that so many effective Chinese herbs have not yet been studied in any detail by Western medicine, even though Chinese doctors and healers have known about them for thousands of years. More Americans are turning to traditional Chinese medicine after failing to find relief from conventional treatments. Such patients typically have sought out Chinese herbal remedies at the urging of friends or family; now many are doing so on the advice of doctors at prestigious medical institutions, which over the past decade have been cautiously integrating the 5,000-year-old practice.
I will add more Chinese herbs with time and describe them in more detail. I am eager to learn more about the amazing knowledge Chinese doctors have accumulated over the past thousands of years regarding these Chinese herbs.
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A partial list of Chinese herbs
Adenophora Chinese
herb, I am not sure what this herb is used for.
Albizzia julibrissin
(Mimosa), traditionally known in China as the "herb of happiness," is one of the most valued Chinese botanicals
for supporting a healthy mood during periods of occasional anxiety and stress.
Angelica pubescens root -- Du Huo --
Astragalus
complanatus -- Flatstem Milkvetch seed -- Sha Yuan Zi -- this is the
seed of the astragalus plant as opposed to the root.
Astragalus
membranaceus root -- Huang Qi -- The genus astragalus is a large group of
more than 2,000 species distributed worldwide, and is commonly known as
milk-vetch root. Currently, much of the research on
Astragalus
is focused
on its immune-stimulating polysaccharides and other active ingredients
useful in immune deficiency conditions.
Astragalus mongholicus -- is part of the Astragalus
genus and related to Astragalus membranaceus. In China Astragalus
mongholicus is used for the same purposes as Astragalus membranaceus and
may be mixed with it.
Atractylodes macrocephala -- Bai Zhu -- Baizhu -- root ------ Atractylodes lancea -- Cang Zhu --
Bamboo leaf extract
Bupleurum Chinense
-- Chai Hu --
Cardamom-- Bai Dou Kou --
Cassia seed - Cassia
Obtusifolia -- Jue Ming Zi --
Chaste berry - Chasteberry -- Vitex Rotundifolia --Vitex trifolia -- Man
Jing Zi. See also
Chaste-Berry
supplement information.
Chrysanthemum indicum - Ye Ju Hua -- (Ye means wild), the flower is
smaller than Moriflorum species.
Chrysanthemum moriflorum -- Ju Hua -- (mori means mulberry)
Cistanche deserticola -- Cistanche Salsa --
Rou Cong Rong -- Roucongrong
-- side effect includes blurred vision.
Ciwujia Chinese herb
Codonopsis
pilosula -- Clang Sheng - Dangshen -- Dang Shen -- protects certain immune cells from
radiation therapy damage during cancer therapy, has ulcer-preventive
activity.
Codonopsis herbal tonic
improves mind function when used in combination with ginkgo biloba.
Cnidium monnieri
Chinese herb --
Coptis chinensis rhizome -- Golden Thread -- Huang Lian --
Rhizoma Coptidis - has a high concentration of
berberine.
Cordyceps chinensis
- this mushroom is quite popular and sold as an extract. See
Cordyceps
mushroom extract supplement information.
Cornus
Officinalis -- Asiatic Cornelian Cherry Fruit -- Corni
Fructus -- Asiatic Dogwood -- Shan Zhu Yu
Corydalis yanhusuo
Cuscuta --
Dodder seed --
Semen Cuscutae -- Tu Si Zi --
Cynomorium songaricum
-- Suo Yang.
Cynomorium grows at high altitude, mainly in Inner Mongolia and Tibet. In
Saudi Arabia, cynomorium is called tarthuth. It even grows in parts of the
Sahara desert.
Deer Antler Velvet
is a potent sexual enhancer and sold as
Deer-Antler-Velvet
supplement for aphrodisiac properties.
Dendrobium
Chinese herb
Cordyceps -- Cordyceps
Sinensis --
Dong Quai also
spelled Dong Gui -- Angelica sinensis -- see
Dong Quai
supplement for sale.
Dioscorea -- Shun Yao --
Diosgenin is a steroidal saponin,
which is extracted from the root of
Wild Yam, dioscorea.
Ephedra - Ma Huang
was used in weight loss products until about 2004 when the FDA decided to
make it illegal to be included in weight loss products.
Eucommia Chinese
herb
Fo Ti -
Polygonum multiflorum --
Fleeceflower --
He Shou Wu -- Ho
Shoo Wu - Shouwu -- This
Fo-Ti herb is also found in a hair growth product
called Shen Min
which may have liver toxicity.
Ginkgo Biloba -- Bai guo --
one of the most well studied Chinese herbs. This Chinese herb is often
sold in
Ginkgo-Biloba 40 mg supplement dosage and
Ginkgo-60mg supplement dosage.
Ginseng --
Panax Ginseng -- Ren Shen -- Renshen -- one of the best known
Chinese herbs.
Ginseng is used by most people to increase energy. There
are quite a number of different ginseng species, and literally tens of
thousands of different products. Certain ginseng varieties are helpful for
individuals who are fatigued and have low body temperature. However, if
the same ginseng is given to an individual with high body temperature,
particularly in a high dose, it could make that person uncomfortable,
restless or hyperactive.
Gynostemma pentaphyllum -
Horny goat weed -- Epidmedium sagittatum -- Epimedium brevicorum --
Yinyanghou. A potent Chinese herbal aphrodisiac and a popular sex
enhancing herb. See
Horny-Goat-Weed extract supplement to purchase this natural sex enhancer.
Jiaogulan is a plant
that grows wild in China, as well as many other countries throughout Asia.
Jujube -- Ziziphus Jujuba -- Suan
Zao Ren --
Indigo plant --
Isatis Indigotica -- Qing Dai --
Licorice -- Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis -- Gan Cao --
In China,
Licorice
is used for stomach ulcers, dry cough and to detoxify
other herbs and drugs.
Ligustrum
- Fructus Ligustri Lucidi - Nu Zhen Zi
Longan Fruit -
Euphoria fruit - Long Yan Rou
Lotus Seeds -- Lian Zi --
Morinda officinalis roots have been used in China since ancient times.
In Chinese medicine, morinda is known as "Bajitian"
Motherwort
Chinese herb
Oroxylum indicum -- Mu Hu Die --
Peony -- Chinese Peony
-- Paeonia lactiflora
Poria cocos -- Fu
Ling --
Prunella
vulgaris -- Self-Heal Fruit-Spike -- Xia Ku Cao --
Rehmannia --
Chinese Foxglove -- Dihuang or Di Huang--
Shudihuang --
Rehmannia supplement is available for
sale.
Reishi is also known as
Ganoderma lucidum
- Lingzhi - or Ling Zhi. Purchase
Reishi
supplement at this internet vitamin store.
Salvia miltiorrhiza --
Danshen -- used in
cardiovascular condtions
Sarsaparilla - Smilax glabra --
Sarsaparilla supplements are available
for sale.
Shitake Mushrooms --
Skullcap -- Scutellaria lateriflora --
Scullcap --
Schizandra berry (Schizandra chinensis) --
also spelled
Schisandra -- Shisandra -- Wuweizi --
Schisandra extract supplements are
popular.
White Peony Root
Chinese herb
--
Wolfberry -- Lycium barbarum berries --
Lycii Chinensis -- Gou Qi Zi -- Goukizi -
Goji supplements have become very popular
along with dried goji berries and goji berry juice.
See herb for a full list of herb topics
See Ayurvedic herbs and also another interesting group of medicinal plants, Amazon herbs.
Chinese Herbs terminology
Huo -- flower
Radix -- root
Semen -- seed
Tonic Chinese Herbs
Many Chinese herbs are described as tonics, meaning they increase
energy levels. Some Russian herbs are described as adaptogens, perhaps
meaning that they increase energy or allow a better adaptation to stress.
I prefer describing herbs by what they actually do. For instance, whether
they increase energy, mood, motivation, alertness, etc.
Chinese herbs reduce pain
from menstrual cramp
A study with 3,500 women in several countries supports the use of
Chinese herbs in offering relief from menstrual. In many cases, the
Chinese herbs worked better than drugs or acupuncture. Researchers
prescribed women herbal medicines to treat their menstrual cramp symptoms.
Some of these herbs were Chinese angelica root (danggui), Szechuan lovage
root (chuanxiong), red peony root (chishao), white peony root (baishao),
Chinese motherwort (yimucao), fennel fruit (huixiang), nut-grass rhizome (xiangfu),
liquorice root (gancao) and cinnamon bark (rougui).
Chinese Herbs and
Meridians
Chinese herbs are also described as influencing the liver meridian,
or the kidney, or the spleen, etc. Again, I prefer to describe Chinese
herbs by what they do. For instance, whether they protect the liver cells
from damage, whether they influence erectile function, or whether they
have an influence on the immune system.
Chinese Herbs for Impotence
There are dozens of Chinese herbs used for impotence including
cnidium, ginkgo, ginseng, horny goat weed, and others.
Caution with Chinese
Herbs
Some traditional Chinese herbal remedies contain arsenic, mercury,
aristolochic
acid,
or poisonous plants and may also be sourced from endangered species such
as tiger bone or rhino horn. Buy your Chinese herbs from a reputable
supplier.
Chinese Herbs History
After thousands of years of study and experimentation, Chinese
doctors have learned the amazing properties of thousands of Chinese herbs
and substances. Today, the Chinese medical pharmacy abounds with amazingly
effective herbal remedies. Yet these Chinese herbs and products are
virtually unknown in the Western world but this form of
alternative
medicine is slowly making its presence in the United States.
Traditional Chinese medicine uses more
than 6,000 species of plants, processed in different ways and prescribed
in different combinations depending on the patient's condition.
Inside a Chinese herbal shop in the Chinatown
section of many cities, you will often find wooden drawers containing such
products as dried insects, ground mollusks, dried berries, bark and corn
silk, ground turtle shells, pearl and many unusual compounds. Traditional
Chinese medicine first arrived in the United States in the 1860s, carried
across the ocean to the West Coast by Chinese immigrants recruited to
build the transcontinental railroad. But few outside Chinese American
culture paid any attention to the ancient practice, with its exotic
remedies and bitter potions. It wasn't until the 1970s, when relations
thawed between the United States and China, that mainstream medical
practitioners gave it any heed -- and then the focus was primarily on the
promise of acupuncture. Chinese medicine practitioners in most medical
institutions are either doctors or licensed acupuncturists. In 1979,
California became the first state to license acupuncturists, who also
serve as de facto licensed herbal practitioners, as they're required to
complete at least 450 hours of training in the use of Chinese herbs.
Chinese Herb research
Effects of Chinese herbs on mammalian retinal functions.
J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 1996 Fall;12(3):377-86. Related Articles, Links
Liu SX, Chiou GC.
Institute of Ocular Pharmacology, Texas A&M University College of
Medicine, College Station
Ocular ischemia and inflammation are two major factors which induce
retinal degeneration. Treatment of these diseases has been difficult,
though numerous agents have been tried. Natural products could be a good
field to venture into because various medicinal plants have been used for
centuries to treat circulation stasis, inflammation, visual disturbances,
and eyesight failure. Tetramethyl-pyrazine,
coumarin, methyl tyramine,
rescinnamine, apocynin, and
hesperetin are
some natural products isolated from Chinese herbs for improving ocular
blood flow, particularly in the choroid and retina. For ocular
inflammation, at least a dozen natural products are reviewed in this
article. Among those, matrine, tetrandrine and
osthole draw particular
attention, because they are effective mainly as interleukin-1 blockers,
but not as arachidonate blockers. As a result, these agents are potent
anti-inflammatory agents and are even more potent than the prototype
corticosteroid, prednisolone. It is hoped that all aforementioned agents
can be used to treat retinopathies resulting from ocular ischemia and/or
ocular inflammation. Scoparone, corylifolinin,
epigallocatechin-3-0-gallate, esculetin, and lespedezaflavanone A are some
natural products which can improve retinal functions measured with
electroretinogram's b-wave recovery. Further research should be carried
out to relate natural products which can improve ocular blood flow and
inflammation to retinal function and vice versa.
Commonly used Chinese Herbs
Although each Chinese Herbal specialist has his or her own favorite
Chinese herbs that they like to use, the following are some commonly used
Chinese herbs by many practitioners:
Astragalus (Huang Qi) -- The long root is dried and used for colds and flu as
well as fatigue and digestive disorders, like diarrhea and bloating. Astragalus
is also given to boost the immune system.
Chinese angelica (Dang Gui) -- The root of this plant is reputed to relieve
menstrual disorders, anemia, chronic abdominal and bodily pains, and chronic
constipation. It is also used to treat insomnia.
Chinese yam (Shan Yao) -- is given to reduce fatigue, treat chronic cough and
wheezing, and stabilize the leakage of fluids in urogenital conditions.
Eucommia bark (Du Zhong) -- A tree bark used in cases of aching back and knees
by nourishing the liver and kidney as well as the sinews and bones.
Fleece flower root (He Shou Wu) -- Fleece flower root is also given to treat
constipation and to clear toxins. It is commonly used to maintain both hair
color and hair growth.
Ginger (Gan Jiang, dried ginger; or Sheng Jiang, fresh ginger) -- A common root
used in its dry form to treat digestive problems, warm the body, promote
circulation and transform congested fluid in the lungs. Fresh ginger root is
reputed to reduce nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy, motion sickness
and chemotherapy. Ginger is also commonly used in Western herbology.
Ginseng (Ren Seng) -- has been used as a general tonic to strengthen body
functions, recover from illnesses or surgery, improve male infertility and
impotence, and enhance the immune system.
Licorice (Gan Cao) -- A sweet-tasting root that is reputed to treat sore throats
and coughs, muscle spasms and digestive weakness. Licorice has been used in
treatments for liver disease, respiratory ailments like allergies and bronchitis
and stomach problems like heartburn. Licorice is also commonly used in Chinese
herbal formulas to modify the harsh attributes of other herbs.
Poria (Fu Ling) -- A fungus that grows on pine tree trunks. Poria is a mild
diuretic, often used in cases of edema, urinary difficulty and diarrhea.
Chinese Herbs emails
Q. What exactly is meant by "tonifying" organs or glands, etc.?
Some Chinese herbs claim to do this. Many Chinese herbs I'm interested in
claim to be good for "toning up" the reproductive organs or "tonifying"
the nervous system and glands, and all that. I'm used to "toning" muscle
through exercise, so really what does that mean?
A. As to tonifying glands, we think this is an outdated
term that is not specific enough. We prefer to use other terms such as
antioxidant protection, prevention of tissue damage, providing appropriate
nutrient substrates for optimal organ functioning, improving circulation
to the organs, etc.
Q. I have found an interesting site where you can get access to research information on Chinese medicinal herbs and their chemical constituents with physiological functions to the extent that they are known. It is http://www.cambridgesoft.com They are currently offering a 2 week free access to Traditional Chinese Medicine. When researching Chinese herbs, i have found that pin yin names work better than English names on the cambridge site. Examples: epimedium = yin yang huo, cuscuta = Tu si zi, Jiaogulan = Jiao gu lan.
Q. Chinese medicine links the heart and small intestines
as two organs that influence one another. It is interesting, considering so many
folks with, for example, atrial fibrillation experience these episodes in
conjunction with food and other ingested substances.
A. Almost all organs are somewhat influenced by each other, for
instance the lungs influence the heart, the liver influences the heart, the
kidneys influence the heart, etc.
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Product Name Botanical name Specification
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Artemisinic acid Artemisia annua L. 95%, 98%
Common Cnidium Extract Common Cnidium Extract 10% - 98% Osthole
Dihydroartemisinic acid Artemisia annua L. 95%, 98%
Resveratrol Polygonum cuspidatum 98%
Patchouli Oil Pogostemon cablin Steam Distilled
Angelica Oil Angelica sinensis 45% Ligustilide CO2 extracted
Schisandra Fruit Oil Schisandra chinensis CO2 extracted
Seabuckthorn Oil Hippophae rhamnoides CO2 extracted
Rosemary Extract Rosmarinus officinalis 25% Carnosic acid
Pomegranate Seed Oil Punica granatum L. 70%-85% Punicic acid CO2 extracted
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Cassia Bark Oil Cinnamomum cassia CO2 extracted
Ginger Oil Zingiber officinale CO2 extracted
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