Wei Ling Xian is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb whose roots and rhizomes are used medicinally. This article covers its botanical sources, identification, medicinal parts, differences from Qin Jiao and Du Huo, common channel-unblocking formulas, and precautions for use.
Qin Jiao comes from the dried roots of several Gentianaceae plants and is a commonly used medicinal herb for dispelling wind-dampness and reducing deficiency heat. This article begins with what Qin Jiao is, then introduces its root characteristics, identification methods, differences from Long Dan Cao, common formulas, and precautions for use, helping readers build a clear understanding.
In current Chinese medicine standards, Fangji usually refers to the dried root of Fenfangji (Stephania tetrandra). This article introduces identification tips, the root as the medicinal part, differences from Guangfangji and Mufangji, common Fangji-containing formulas, and aristolochic acid risks and precautions to help readers build basic safety awareness.
Chinese medicinal Mu Gua is not the same as the fruit papaya. It comes from the nearly ripe fruit of Chaenomeles speciosa (flowering quince), used after longitudinal slicing and drying. This article helps readers build a basic understanding of its appearance, medicinal part, differences from papaya and hawthorn, traditional understanding, common formulas, and precautions.
Can Sha comes from the dried feces of silkworm larvae and is often used in traditional regulating approaches such as dispelling wind and dampness and harmonizing the stomach and resolving turbidity. This article introduces the appearance identification of Can Sha, its medicinal part, differences from Wulingzhi, common formulas, and precautions for use.
What is Hai Feng Teng? Many people easily confuse Hai Feng Teng with Qing Feng Teng and Luo Shi Teng. This article helps readers build a basic understanding from the source of the dried Feng Teng stems, its flattened cylindrical appearance, yellowish-white wood cross-section, common formulas for dispelling wind and freeing the channels, and precautions.
Qing Feng Teng is a commonly used vine-stem Chinese medicinal material derived from the dried stems of Sinomenium acutum or Sinomenium acutum var. cinereum. Overseas readers often feel confused about its appearance, medicinal part, and differences from Hai Feng Teng and Luo Shi Teng. This article summarizes identification, traditional understanding, modern research boundaries, and precautions to help build foundational knowledge.
Chinese chive seed is not the everyday chive leaf but the dried mature seed of Chinese chives. This article covers its visual identification, medicinal part, traditional Chinese medicine understanding, differences from flatstem milkvetch seed and onion seed, common formulas, and precautions to help overseas readers build a foundational understanding.
Yizhi Ren comes from the ripe fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla, a plant in the ginger family. This article introduces its appearance identification points, medicinal parts, differences from Sha Ren and Bai Dou Kou, and common formulas containing Yizhi Ren, helping overseas Chinese readers understand this common warming spleen and securing medicinal.
Seahorse refers to the dried whole bodies of various species in the Syngnathidae family. It has a horse-like head, a curved trunk, and a coiled tail. This article introduces its identification features, medicinal parts, traditional uses, common formulas, and legal sourcing considerations, helping overseas readers understand seahorse rationally.
Fenugreek comes from the mature seeds of the legume plant Trigonella foenum-graecum, not from a gourd. This article introduces the seed identification features, medicinal part, traditional use of warming the kidneys and dispelling cold, differences from fennel seed and Chinese chive seed, as well as common formulas containing fenugreek and precautions for use.
Walnut kernel is not peach kernel. This article covers appearance identification, medicinal part, traditional Chinese medicine understanding, differences from peach kernel and hemp seed, common formula directions containing walnut kernel, and precautions such as nut allergy, oil oxidation, and diarrhea. It is suitable for overseas Chinese readers who want to understand the basics of walnut kernel.
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.
