Common Chinese Herbs
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Chinese "herbal" medicine is derived from minerals, fungus, plants, insects and animals based partly on the Ying and Yang nature of the parts used. There is in fact no clear distinction between food and medicine for every food we eat affects the balance of the Ying and Yang of our body. Of the thousands of identified medicinal plants and the hundreds that are commonly used, a handful are found in the kitchen cabinet for their tonic property as well as flavours. While the right combination and use of these herbs as medicine is a science in itself requiring years of professional training, certain ingredients are used by every Chinese cook to enhance the flavour of various dishes and balance the body's Ying and Yang.

For those not familiar with Chinese herbs, various tonic soup mix are available at most Chinese grocery stores and herbal shops.

Examples of common fruits, herbs and spices that are used in traditional Chinese medical prescriptions are Galangal, Szechuan pepper, Seaweed, Fresh and dried ginger, Peppermint, Chrysanthemum, Ginkgo seed, Lily bulb, Cinnamon bark, Cloves, Fennel fruit, Tangerine peel, Saffron, Turmeric, Liquorice, Jujube, Longan, Lotus seeds, Back plum, Nutmeg, Germinated Barley, Germinated Rice, Germinated Millet, Honey, Bush-cherry seed, Aloes, Betel nut, Pumpkin seed and Papaya.

1. Szechuan Pepper (Hua1 Jiao1/Chuan1 jiao1)
   Not a pepper but the dried pericarp of Chinese Prickly ash. Used to invogorate the vital function of the stomach by dispelling cold for the treatment of gastralgia and dyspepsia due to cold and for ascaricide.
2. Astraglus Root (Huang2 Qi2)
   Used to replenish the energy and to stop perspiration (anhidrotic) for the treatment of spontaneous perspiration, night sweat, prolapse of uterus and anus ; to dispel pus and accelerating the healing of wounds for the treatment of chronic ulcers; as a diuretic for chronic nephritis with edema and proteinuria.
3. fermented black beans (dou4 chi3)
4. Eucommia Bark (du4 zhong4)
   Used to replenish the liver and kidney and to strengthen the bones and muscles for the treatment of aching back and knees, threatened abortion and hypertension.
5. Chinese barley
6. Cassia bark - rou4gui4
   Used to warm up Yang (vital function) of the kidney for the treatment of chronic diarrhea with coldness of the limbs, oliguria and edema due to hypofunction of the kidney and to relieve pain by dispelling cold for the treatment of gastro-intestinal pain due to cold.
7. Fragrant Solomonseal Rhizome (yu4 zhu2)
   Used to replenish the vital essence and promote the secretion of body fluids for the treatment of dipsosis,dry throat, dry cough, etc. which are due to diabetes or pulmonary disease.
8. Lotus Seed (Lian2 zi3)
   Used as an astringent for the treatment of chronic diarrhea, spontaneous emission and leukorrhagia.
9. Pilose Asiabell Root (dang3 shen1)
   Used to invigorate the function of spleen and stomach and to replenish the vital energy for the treatment of palpitation, short of breath, weakness of limbs, poor appetite and loose bowel.
10. Liquorice (Gan1 Cao1)
    Used to invigorate the functions of the heart and spleen for the treatment of symptoms due to deficiency of vital energy of these viscera; as spasmolytic and antitussive for peptic ulcers and cough; as antiphlogistic for sore throat, boils and carbuncles; as antitoxicant for drug poisoning.
11. ba jiao (star anise)
12. Gingseng (ren2 shen1)
    Used to replenish the vital energy and to promote the secretion of body fluids for the reatment of shock, prostration, etc. It has been shown to possess the effects of stimulating the central nervous system, cardiotonic, antifatigue and stimulating the mechanism of blood formation.
13. Jujube/Chinese Date (da4 zao3)
    Used to replenish the vital energy of spleen and stomach for the treatment of symptoms due to deficiency of vital energy of these organs. Also used to moderate the actions of drug.
14. Rehmannia Root(di4huang2/sheng1di4)
    Used for treatment of thirst, exanthesis and bleeding due to existence of pathological heat and to nourish the vital essence for the treatment of deficiency.
    Prepared Rehmannia Root (steamed and dried) - Used to replenish the vital essence of the kidny, to nourish the blood and to regulate the menstrual flow for the treatment of chronic tidal fever, night sweat, dry mouth, lumbago, noctural emission, dizziness and palpitation, and menstrual disorder due to blood deficiency.
15. Chinese Yam - Rhizoma Dioscoreae (shan1 yao4)
    Used to invigorate the functions of spleen and stomach for the treatment of poor appetite and chronic diarrhea and to replenish the lung and kidney for dry cough, diabetes, noctural emmision and leukorrhagia.
16. Wolfberry Fruit (Gou3 qi2 zi3)
    Used to replenish the vital essence of the liver and kidney and to improve the eyesight for the treat ment of aching back and legs, impotence and nocturnal emission, vertigo and decreased eye sight.
17. Chinese Angelica Root (dang1 gui1)
    Used to nourish the blood and to invigorate the blood circulation for the treatment of menstrual disorders and as an emollient and laxative for chronic constipation of the aged and debilitated.
18. Chuanxiong Rhizome(Chuan1 xiong1)
    Used to invigorate blood circulation and promote the flow of vital energy for the treatment of abnormal menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and coronary heart diseases and to relieve pain for the treatment of headache and pain of the body due to wind and cold, and headache due to concussion of the brain.
19. Coriander Seeds
20. Pepper (Hu Jiao)
21. hong zhao (red dates)
22. Tangerine Peel (chen2 pi2)
    Used as carminative, stomachic and expectorant for the treatment of gastro-intestinal distension, vomiting, hiccup and cough with profuse phlegm.
23. Black Pepper (Hei hu jiao)
24. Huo han guo
25. Golden Euryale seeds(Qian4 shi4)
    Used as an astringent for the treatment of chronic diarrhea, spontaneous emission, urorrhea and leukorrhagia.

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