Wild buckwheat is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb made from the dried rhizome of the plant, not the seeds of edible sweet or tartary buckwheat. This article explains its appearance, medicinal part, traditional uses, modern research, differences from similar herbs, common preparations, and key safety considerations.
Brucea fruit is a high-risk traditional Chinese medicinal material derived from mature fruits. It is characterized by small ovoid drupes, dark brown to black shells, net-like surface patterns, and oily kernels. This article explains how to identify it, which parts are used medicinally, traditional perspectives, common preparations, and important toxicity-related precautions.
Buddha’s hand is the mature fruit of a citrus plant in the rue family. This article explains how to identify it, which parts are used medicinally, how traditional Chinese medicine understands it, how it differs from finger citron and aged citrus peel, and what to know about common formulas and precautions.
What is citron? It generally comes from the mature fruits of Citrus medica or xiangyuan, which are dried and sliced for use. This article introduces its appearance, medicinal parts, traditional understanding, differences from fingered citron and zhiqiao, as well as common formula types such as Citron Pill and Citron Powder, helping overseas Chinese readers build a basic understanding.
What is rose flower? Medicinal rose flower generally refers to the flowers or flower buds of the rose plant, recognized by their purplish-red petals, urn-shaped receptacle, and rich fragrance. This article explains its appearance, medicinal parts, traditional Chinese medicine perspectives, differences from Chinese rose and plum blossoms, common formulas, and usage precautions.
What is plum blossom? Medicinal plum blossom usually refers to the flower buds or newly opened flowers of the plum tree, with green-calyx plum blossom being a common commercial name. This article explains its appearance, medicinal parts, traditional Chinese medicine perspectives, common formulas, and usage precautions.
What is sandalwood? It usually comes from the dried heartwood of the sandalwood tree after the sapwood has been removed. It is used as both a traditional Chinese medicinal material and an ingredient in fragrances and incense. This article explains its appearance, medicinal part, traditional uses, common formulas, and precautions.
Ju Hong traditionally refers to the outer layer of citrus fruit peel after the white inner layer has been removed, usually appearing as orange-red or reddish-brown thin slices. This article explains its appearance, medicinal parts, traditional Chinese medicine concepts, differences from Chen Pi and Hua Ju Hong, common formulas, and precautions.
Jiang Xiang is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb made primarily from the dried heartwood of the trunk and roots of the Jiang Xiang sandalwood tree. This article explains its appearance, aroma, medicinal parts, and traditional uses, distinguishes it from sandalwood and Sappan wood, and introduces common formulas containing Jiang Xiang along with important usage considerations.
Hua Ju Hong is a traditional Chinese medicinal material derived from the outer peel of immature or nearly mature Huazhou pomelo fruit. Recognized by its dense surface hairs and distinct pomelo fragrance, it is discussed here in terms of appearance, medicinal parts, traditional uses, differences from Ju Hong and Chen Pi, common preparations, and precautions.
Da Fu Pi is the dried fruit peel of the mature areca nut, not the same medicinal part as areca nut seeds. This article explains its appearance, traditional Chinese medicine concepts, differences from similar herbs, common formulas, and important usage precautions.
Lu Feng Fang is an animal-derived Chinese herbal medicine made from the nests of wasps in the Vespidae family, not edible honeycomb. This article explains its appearance, medicinal parts, traditional understanding, modern research, differences from beeswax and honeycomb, common formulas, and important safety considerations.
Sophora fruit is the mature fruit of the legume species Sophora japonica. It has bead-like pods that range from yellow-green to brown. This article explains how to identify it, which parts are used medicinally, its traditional applications, related formulas, and how it differs from Sophora flowers and cassia seeds.
Chinese gallnut is not an ordinary plant fruit, but an insect gall formed when Chinese gall aphids parasitize plants such as Chinese sumac. This article explains its appearance, medicinal parts, traditional Chinese medicine perspectives, modern research, differences from similar materials, and common formulas.
The lotus receptacle is the mature flower receptacle of the lotus plant and forms the main structure of the familiar lotus pod. This article explains how to identify it, its medicinal parts, lotus receptacle charcoal, traditional Chinese medicine perspectives, related formulas, and precautions, while distinguishing it from lotus seed shells, lotus plumule, and lotus leaves.
