What is mulberry? It comes from the mature fruit cluster of the mulberry plant. Fresh fruit, dried fruit, and medicinal decoction pieces are different. This article explains what mulberry looks like, its medicinal part, how it differs from glossy privet fruit and black goji berry, common formulas, and precautions.
Black sesame is the mature seed of sesame, with a black-brown seed coat and white, oily interior. In traditional Chinese medicine it is often used to nourish essence and blood and to moisten dryness and lubricate the intestines. This article covers its appearance, medicinal part, differences from black soybean and hemp seed, common formulas, and precautions, helping readers distinguish everyday food use from medicinal use.
Yitang is a traditional processed Chinese medicinal product made by saccharifying starchy ingredients such as rice and wheat; it is also called jiaoyi. This article introduces its appearance and identification, medicinal source, TCM understanding, common Jianzhong-type formulas, and precautions for use, to help readers establish a basic understanding.
Zi He Che in traditional Chinese medicine usually refers to the dried product of a healthy mother’s placenta after standardized processing. This article provides an educational reference covering its medicinal parts, appearance, traditional Chinese medicine understanding, modern risks, common formulas, and usage precautions, with emphasis on infection risks and ethical boundaries.
Deer Antler Glue is a glue block made by standardized decoction and concentration of ossified antlers from sika deer or red deer, unlike unossified deer velvet antler. This article covers its block appearance, medicinal source, differences from deer velvet antler and Deer Antler Frost, common formulas, and precautions to help readers build a basic understanding.
What is turtle shell? This article covers the source, appearance identification, and medicinal parts of the turtle carapace and plastron, their differences from softshell turtle shell and turtle shell glue, and briefly introduces traditional formulas such as Dabuyin Wan, Huqian Wan, Zuogui Wan, and Guilu Erxian Jiao, along with precautions for use.
Lu Jiao Shuang is not deer antler glue, nor is it directly sliced deer antler, but a processed product made from the bony antler pieces left after deer antler is decocted to produce deer antler glue. This article introduces its appearance and identification, medicinal source, differences from deer antler glue, common formulas, and precautions, and is suitable for overseas Chinese readers who want a systematic understanding of this medicinal material.
Deer antler is the ossified antler of sika deer or red deer, and it differs from velvet antler, deer antler glue, and deer antler frost. This article introduces the visual identification, medicinal parts, traditional understanding, common formulas, and precautions for using deer antler, providing basic information for overseas Chinese readers.
She Chuang Zi is a traditional medicinal material prepared from its ripe fruit, and its appearance is easily confused with Xiao Hui Xiang and Di Fu Zi. This article provides a basic introduction to its visual identification, medicinal part, traditional Chinese medicine understanding, formula applications, and safety precautions.
Yangqishi is an amphibole-type mineral used in traditional Chinese medicine, traditionally understood mainly for warming the kidneys and supporting yang. This article outlines its appearance, medicinal parts, common formulas, and risks related to dust and impurities, helping overseas readers gain a basic understanding.
Safflower is not the same as saffron. This article provides a clear reference for overseas Chinese medicine enthusiasts, covering how to identify safflower, its medicinal parts, traditional usage ideas, differences from saffron, common formulas, and precautions.
Motherwort comes from the dried aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus, a Lamiaceae plant, harvested before flowering or at early flowering. This article covers its key identification features, medicinal parts, traditional understanding, differences from bugleweed and selfheal, common formulas containing motherwort, and precautions such as pregnancy contraindications, providing objective educational information for overseas readers.
Ze Lan is the dried aerial part of the Lamiaceae plant Lycopus lucidus var. hirtus. It is traditionally used to invigorate blood and regulate menstruation, dispel stasis and reduce abscesses, and promote diuresis and relieve edema. This article explains the identification features of Ze Lan, its differences from Yi Mu Cao (Leonurus japonicus), the medicinal parts harvested, common formulas such as Ze Lan Tang and Ze Lan San, and precautions related to pregnancy and bleeding tendencies, providing an objective reference for herbal medicine enthusiasts.
Niu Xi is a commonly used herb in Chinese medicine, usually referring to the dried root of Huai Niu Xi. This article guides you through the key identification features of Niu Xi, its medicinal part, the similarities and differences between Huai Niu Xi and Chuan Niu Xi, and the roles of Niu Xi in classic formulas such as Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang and Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, as well as precautions for use.
Bichengqie (Litsea cubeba) is often used in traditional formulas as one of the options for warming the middle and dispersing cold. Its official source differs between regions. This article introduces its appearance and identification, medicinal part, traditional Chinese medicine understanding, comparisons, common formulas, and precautions, helping you gain a clear reference when learning about this fruit-based medicinal.
