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Codonopsis, Dang Shen PRO

ByAdam Tate

Codonopsis, Dang Shen 党参 Dang Shen (TCM) Codonopsis tangshenCurtis’s Botanical Magazine, 1906 Codonopsis pilosa(Photo by Kenraiz) (Wikimedia) Bunches of Codonopsis Dang Shen at the Chengdu Medicine Market (Adam, 2009) Codonopsis Dang Shen pieces as typically available in the West (Adam, 2023) Botanical name: Codonopsis pilosula, C. tangshen; many local species are used including C. tibulosa,…

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Rhodiola, Rose root, Hong Jing Tian PRO

ByAdam Tate

Rhodiola, Rose root RosewortHong Jing Tian  红景天  (TCM)Sro lo dmar po   སྲོ་ལོ་དམར་པོ  (Tibet) Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578 New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563 Seboth & Graf, Die Alpenpflanzen nach der Natur gemalt, 1839 Botanical name: Rhodiola rosea (syn. Sedum roseum, S. rhodiola)In Tibetan Medicine, R. algida, R. crenulata (syn. R euryphylla), R. quadrifida (syn. Sedum quadrifolium, Chamaerhodiola…

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Vinca Pevinca, Periwinkle PRO

ByAdam Tate

Vinca Pevinca, Periwinkle Alexandria, Laureola, Lactago, Daphnitis, Clematis Daphnoides, Chamedaphne, Hippoglossum Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530 V, majorEnglish Botany, Sowerby, 1799 (Photo by Cslucas) (Wikimedia) Botanical name: Vinca major (Greater); V. minor (Lesser) Parts used: Herb Temperature & Taste: Warm, dry Classification: 3N. Vulnerary Uses: 1. Calms the Mind, Moves the Blood, Stops Wind:-Dizziness,…

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Akebia Fructus, Ba Yue Zha PRO

ByAdam Tate

Akebia Fructus, Ba Yue Zha 八月札 Chocolate VineBa Yue Zha (Fruit), Yu Zhi Zi (Seed) (TCM) Akebia quinataLindley, J., Edwards’s Botanical Register (1829-1847) Botanical name: Akebia spp.  1. A. quinata  2. A. trifoliata  3. A. trifoliata var. australis Parts used: Fruit Temperature & Taste: Neutral. Bitter Classification: J. Regulates Qi Uses: 1. Moves Liver Qi,…

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Melicope, Thin Evodia, San Ya Ku

ByAdam Tate

Melicope, Thin Evodia, San Ya Ku 三丫苦 Thin Evodia, CorkwoodSan Ya Ku, San Cha Ku, Bai Yun Xiang (TCM) Photo by 阿橋 HQ (Wikimedia) Botanical name: Melicope pteleifolia (syn. Evodia lepta, Euodia lepta, Ilex lepta) Parts used: Root, Leaf Temperature & Taste: Cold, dry. Bitter Classification: Uses: 1. Clears Wind-Heat, Resists Toxin:–Cold, Influenza–Rhinitis–Throat swelling and…

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Cynanchum atratum, Bai Wei PRO

ByAdam Tate

Cynanchum atratum, Bai Wei 白微 Blackened Swallow-wortBai Wei (TCM) Botanical name: Cynanchum atratum, C. versicolorLocal varieties used include C. inamoenum, C. paniculatum, C. amplexicaule Parts used: Root Temperature & Taste: Cold, neutral in respect of dryness/moisture. Bitter, Salty Classification: B. Clears Deficient Heat Uses: 1. Clears Heat, Cools the Blood:-low-grade Fever; Chronic Fever, Yin-deficient Fever,…

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Haliotis, Abalone, Shi Jue Ming 石决明

ByAdam Tate

Haliotis, Abalone, Shi Jue Ming 石决明 Abalone shellShi Jue Ming (TCM) Fischbuch, Gessner, Forrer, 1563 Manual of Conchology, Tryon, 1890 Abalone as a delicacy (Adam, 2017) Zoological name: Haliotis spp. Parts used: ShellIn modern TCM, small shells from farmed abalones are commonly used. These have very little outer crust on the shell so may be…

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Astroites, Star Stone

ByAdam Tate

Astroites, Star Stone Witch StonesAstrion, Asterites, Astroites, Astrochites, Astroitis (Star stone), Lapis Stellae magis (stone of many stars), Stellaris lapis, Stellæ lapis, Lapis Stellatus (starry stone), Astroitis verum (True star stone), Stellaria Astroitidis (Star star)These stones are fossilized limestone skeleton of ancient motherpores or marine polyperos (colonial Corals) Hortus sanitatis, 1491 Museum Wormianum, 1655 Metallotheca…

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Ficus, Fig PRO

ByAdam Tate

Ficus, Fig Dried Figs were traditionally called CariceAnjeer (Unani) Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491 Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578 Flora von Deutschland, Kohler, 1886 Dried Fig slices added to flower teas in China (Adam, 2017) Botanical name: Ficus caricaRelated species are used similarly in various systems. Parts used: Fruit, most commonly in their dried form Temperature & Taste:…

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Tabanus, Gad Fly, Meng Chong

ByAdam Tate

Tabanus, Gad Fly, Meng Chong 虻虫 Tabanus, Horse Fly Meng Chong (TCM) Tabanus mandarinus Tabanus chrysurus Blood Sucking Insects of Formosa, Shiraki & Hakushi, 1918 Entomological name: Tabanus spp.A number of species supply the market, the main ones being:  1. T. bivittatus   2. T. mandarinus   3. T. kiangsuensis   4. T. pleskei  5….

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Symplocos folium, Zhu mkhan PRO

ByAdam Tate

Symplocos Folium, Zhu mkhan ཞུ་མཁན Sapphireberry, Asciatic SweetleafLodhra Pattika (Ayurveda)Zhu mkhan  ཞུ་མཁན  (Tibet)Ladh Pathani (Unani) Symplocos paniculataBotanical Register, 1823 Symplocos paniculata(Photo by Kristine Paulus) (Wikimedia) Botanical name: Symplocos paniculata (syn. S. crataegoides, S. chinensis, Prunus paniculata, P. mairei, Palura chinensis) Parts used: Leaf Temperature & Taste: Cool, dry. Bitter Uses: 1. Clears Heat from the…

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Homalomena, Qian Nian Jian PRO

ByAdam Tate

Homalomena, Qian Nian Jian 千年健 Qian Nian Jian (TCM) Homalomena occultaThe botanical cabinet (Loddiges) (1827) Homalomena aromaticaCurtis’s Botanical Magazine, vol. 49 (1822) Botanical name: Homalomena occulta (syn. Calla occulta, Zantedeschia occulta)H. aromatica (syn. H. kelungensis) is used in neighbouring countries (incl. Bangladesh), and has similar appearance and uses. Parts used: Rhizome Temperature & Taste: Warm,…

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