Schizonepeta

The herb Schizonepeta is the above-ground part of ''Schizonepeta tenuifolia'' Briq., grown chiefly in the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Jiangxi, collected in autumn, or early winter, dried in shade, and used unprepared or stir-baked to charcoal.

Its uses include:

# For affection by exopathogenic wind-cold shown as aversion to , fever, headache and anhidrosis, it is often used with ledebouriella root and notopterygium root, as in Anti-phlogistic Powder of Schizonepeta and Ledebouriella .
# For exterior syndrome due to pathogenic wind-heat with symptoms and signs of fever, headache, bloodshot eyes, and sore throat, often in combination with Honeysuckle flower, Forsythia fruit, Peppermint, Platycodon Root and other herbs, as in Powder of Lonicera and Forsythia .
# For German measles, pruritus, and measles without adequate eruption, it is often used with peppermint, cicada slough, arctium fruit, etc. For various suppurative infections on the body surface at their initial stages accompanied with exterior syndrome, it is often used together with ledebouriella root, Honeysuckle flower, Forsythia fruit and other herbs.
# For hematemesis, epistaxis, hemafecia, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, carbonized schizonepeta is used in combination with other hemostatics.

Schisandra chinensis

Schisandra chinensis is a deciduous woody vine hardy to and is dioecious, meaning individual plants are either male or female, thus both male and female plants must be grown if seeds are desired. It is very tolerant to shade. Its Chinese name comes from the fact that its berries possess all five basic flavors: salty, sweet, sour, pungent , and bitter. Sometimes it is more specifically called ''běi wǔ wèi zi'' to distinguish it from another traditionally medicinal schisandraceous plant ''Kadsura japonica'' that grows only in subtropical areas.

Its are used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is considered one of the . They are most often used in dried form, and boiled to make a tea. Medicinally it is used as a tonic and restorative adaptogen with notable clinically documented liver protecting effects. The primary hepatoprotective and immuno-modulating constituents are the lignans schizandrin, deoxyschizandrin, gomisins, and pregomisin, which are found in the seeds of the fruit. It should not be used by pregnant women.

In China, a is made from the berries.

In the berries are known as ''omija'' , and the tea made from the berries is called ''omija cha'' . In , they are called ''gomishi''.

In 1998, Russia released a postage stamp depicting ''S. chinensis''.

Use in traditional Chinese medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine, ''Schisandra chinensis'' is believed to:

#Astringe Lung Qi and nourish the Kidneys
#Restrain the essence and stop Diarrhea--astringe Kidneys
#Arrest excessive sweating from Yin or Yang deficiency
#Calm the Spirit by tonification of Heart and Kidney
#Generate body fluids and alleviate thirst

''Wu wei zi'' is believed to enter the Lung, Heart and Kidney meridians and its properties are considered to be sour and warm. The typical dose is between 1.5 and 9 grams.

Contraindications include: Internal Excess Heat with External Syndrome, early stage cough, rash, rubella, or peptic ulcer, epileptic seizure, hypertension, and intercranial pressure.

Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza , also known as Red sage, Chinese sage, tan shen, or dan shen, is a shade-growing flowering plant in the genus ''Salvia'', highly valued for its roots in traditional Chinese medicine .

Uses

In traditional Chinese medicine, danshen has been used to prevent and treat heart conditions and strokes. Results from animal and human studies support these uses of danshen to some extent because danshen is known to decrease the blood's ability to clot in at least two ways. First, it limits the stickiness of blood components known as platelets. It also decreases the production of fibrin--threads of protein that trap blood cells to form clots. Both these effects help to improve blood circulation. In addition, chemicals in danshen may relax and widen blood vessels, especially those around the heart. In animal studies, chemicals in danshen may also have protected the inner linings of arteries from damage. Some other research suggests that danshen potentially may increase the force of heartbeats and slow the heart rate slightly. All these effects potentially could improve heart function and help to restore functioning after a stroke, but they need more study before danshen can be recommended.

In animal studies, danshen has appeared to interfere with the development of liver fibrosis--the formation of scar-like fibers in the liver. Because the non-functioning fibers crowd out active liver tissue, liver function decreases gradually as the amount of fibrous tissue increases. Having chronic hepatitis and habitually drinking large amounts of alcoholic beverages are the major causes of liver fibrosis, which could also result from exposure to chemicals or certain drugs. Danshen may also increase blood flow into the liver, so the length of time that potentially damaging substances stay in the liver may be reduced, also reducing the possible injury they may cause. Results from a few animal studies show that it may also protect kidney tissues from damage caused by diabetes. In China, danshen has also been studied for treating acute pancreatitis, painful and possibly dangerous inflammation of the pancreas. All of danshen's possible organ-protective actions need further study.

Recently, initial results from laboratory studies show that danshen may have some activity against human cancer cells and HIV . Danshen may stop the spread of several different cancer cells types by interrupting the cell division process and also by causing cancer cells to disintegrate. For HIV, chemicals in danshen may block the effectiveness of an enzyme, HIV-1 integrase, that the virus needs to replicate. Neither of these potential uses of danshen has been tested in humans.

Rehmannia

Rehmannia is a genus of six species of flowering plants in the order Lamiales, to China.

The genus was included in the family Scrophulariaceae or Gesneriaceae in some older classifications. The current placement of the genus is uncertain; it belongs to neither Scrophulariaceae s.s. nor Plantaginaceae s.l. , nor does it seem to belong with any of the other major clades of Lamiales. Molecular studies suggest that its closest relatives are the genera '''' and ''Mazus'' , which have been included in Phrymaceae .

Sometimes known as Chinese Foxglove due to its superficial resemblance to the genus ''Digitalis'', the species of ''Rehmannia'' are perennial herbs. The plants have large flowers and are grown as ornamental garden plants in Europe and North America, and are used medicinally in Asia. Known as dìhuáng or gān dìhuáng in , ''R. glutinosa'' is used as a medicinal herb for a variety of ailments such as anemia, dizziness and constipation. ''Rehmannia'' contains the vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as other useful compounds.

The name "Rehmannia" has also been given to a genus of Jurassic ammonites belonging to the Reineckeidae family.

Selected species

*''Rehmannia chingii''
*''Rehmannia elata''
*''Rehmannia glutinosa''
*''Rehmannia henryi''
*''Rehmannia piasezkii''
*''Rehmannia solanifolia''

Prunella (plant)

Prunella is a genus of seven species of herbaceous plants in the family Lamiaceae, also known as self-heals or "allheal" for their use in herbal medicine. Most are native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but ''Prunella vulgaris'' is Holarctic in distribution, occurring in North America as well, and is a common lawn weed.

Self-heals are low-growing plants, and thrive in moist wasteland and grass, spreading rapidly to cover the ground. They are members of the mint family and have the square stem common to mints.

The common name "self-heal" derives from the use of some species to treat a range of minor disorders. It is reported to have an antiseptic and antibacterial effect, and to be particularly good in cases of food poisoning. In the Pacific Northwest, its juice was used by the and the Quileute on boils. They also used the whole plant to treat cuts and inflammations. Ointments can be made by fixing the plant with grease. Dried ''Prunella'' is used to make a herbal drink to help restore the body to a natural state after eating too many fried foods. It is also used in the treatment of high blood pressure.

While most of the traditional uses are of unknown efficacy, ''Prunella vulgaris'' has been shown to be an antioxidant, immune stimulant, viral replication inhibitor and an anti-inflammatory agent.

The mildly bitter leaves are also good as salad greens.

''Prunella'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including ''''.

Self-heal can be grown from seed, or divide clumps in spring or autumn.

Polygonum multiflorum

''Polygonum multiflorum'', better known as Chinese knotweed or Flowery knotweed, is a widely used . It is said to the body, and is also commonly known as fo-ti, fo-ti-teng, ho shou wu, or he shou wu . He Shouwu, a Chinese man who is reputed to have lived until the age of 132, is the first consumer of this herb to be reported.

The Chinese patent medicine called Shou Wu Chih has ''Polygonum multiflorum'' as one of its primary ingredients.

As a herb specimen, it is a quickly spreading vine that will cover anything rapidly. There are delicate flowers that appear in the fall.

Medicinal use

In traditional Chinese medicine , ''P. multiflorum'' is believed to:

* the kidneys
* Balance a fragile ''yin''.
* Treat weak bones and premature graying of hair
* Protect the skin against UVB damage

When taken internally, ''P. multiflorum'' also has a laxative effect.

''P. multiflorum'' contains stilbene glycosides similar to resveratrol and with superior antioxidant activity.

Resveratrol is extracted from ''P. multiflorum'''s close relative, Japanese knotweed . Resveratrol has been suggested to extend lifespan by a variety of mechanisms.

Phellodendron amurense

Phellodendron amurense is a species of tree in the family Rutaceae. It is one of the used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it has the name ''huáng bǎi'' .

Japanese Honeysuckle

The Japanese Honeysuckle is a species of honeysuckle native to eastern Asia including Japan, Korea, northern and eastern China, and Taiwan, which is a major invasive species in North America. It is a twining vine able to climb up to 10 m high or more in trees, with opposite, simple oval 3–8 cm long and 2–3 cm broad. The flowers are double-tongued, opening white and fading to yellow, and sweetly scented. The fruit is a globose dark blue berry 5–8 mm diameter containing numerous seeds.

Cultivation and uses

This species is sold by American nurseries, often as the cultivar 'Hall's Prolific' . It is an effective groundcover, and has pleasant, strong-smelling flowers. It can be cultivated by seed, , or layering. In addition, it will spread itself via shoots if given enough space to grow.

Japanese Honeysuckle has become naturalized in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand and much of the United States, including Hawaii, as well as a number of and islands.

Japanese Honeysuckle is classified as a noxious weed in Illinois and Virginia. It can be controlled by cutting or burning the plant to root level and repeating at two-week intervals until nutrient reserves in the roots are depleted. It can also be controlled through annual applications of glyphosate, or through grubbing if high labor and soil destruction are not of concern. Cutting the Honeysuckle to within 5–10 cm of the ground and then applying glyphosate has proved to be doubly effective, provided that the mixture is rather concentrated and is applied immediately after making the cut.

Chinese Medicine

The Japanese Honeysuckle flower is of high medicinal value in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called rěn dōng téng or jīn yín huā . It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and is used to dispel heat and remove toxins, including carbuncles, fevers, influenza and ulcers. It is, however, of cold and nature, and should not be taken by anyone with a weak and "cold" digestive system. In Korean, it is called ''geumeunhwa''. The dried leaves are also used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Isatis tinctoria

Woad is the common name of the flowering plant Isatis tinctoria in the family Brassicaceae. It is commonly called dyer's woad, and sometimes incorrectly listed as Isatis indigotica . It is occasionally known as Asp of Jerusalem. Woad is also the name of a blue dye produced from the plant. Woad is , to rhyme with road.

Woad is native to the steppe and desert zones of the Caucasus, Central Asia to eastern Siberia and Western Asia , but is now found in southeastern and some parts of Central Europe as well. It has been cultivated throughout Europe, especially in Western and southern Europe, since ancient times.

History of woad cultivation

In Europe, woad was the only source for blue dye available until the end of the sixteenth century when trade routes began bringing from the far east.

The first archaeological finds of woad seeds date to the Neolithic and have been found in the French cave of l'Audoste, Bouches du Rhone . In the Iron Age settlement of the Heuneburg, Germany, impressions of the seeds have been found on pottery. The Hallstatt burials of Hochdorf and Hohmichele contained textiles dyed with woad.

Julius Caesar tells us that the Britanni used to mark their bodies with ''vitrum''; this has often been assumed to mean that they painted or tattooed themselves with woad. However ''vitrum'' does not translate to "woad", but probably more likely refers to a type of blue-green glass which was common at the time. The Picts may have gotten their name from their practice of going into battle naked except for body paint or tattoos. However, more recent research has cast serious doubt on the assumption that woad was the material the Picts used for body decoration. Contemporary experiments with woad have proven that it does not work well at all as either a body paint or tattoo pigment. Highly astringent, when used for tattooing or placed in wounds woad produces quite a bit of scar tissue and, once healed, no blue is left behind. The common use of dung as an ingredient in traditional woad dye preparations also make it unlikely to have been suitable for application to wounds. "... a recess of the Diet held in 1577 prohibited the use of 'the newly-invented, deceitful, eating and corrosive dye called the devil's dye.' This prohibition was repeated in 1594 and again in 1603."
With the development of a chemical process to synthesize the pigment, both the woad and natural indigo industries collapsed in the first years of the twentieth century. The last commercial harvest of woad until recent times occurred in 1932, in Lincolnshire, Britain.

In Germany, there are attempts to use woad to protect wood against decay without dangerous chemicals. Production is also increasing again in the UK for use in inks, particularly for inkjet printers, and dyes, as woad is biodegradable and safe in the environment, unlike many synthetic inks. ''Isatis tinctoria'' is viewed as an invasive species in parts of the United States.

Woad and health

Recently, scientists have discovered woad might be used to prevent cancer, having more than 20 times the amount of glucobrassicin contained in broccoli. Young leaves when damaged can produce more glucobrassicin, up to 65 times as much.

Indigowoad Root is a traditional Chinese medicine herb that comes from the roots of woad, but often incorrectly listed under the synonymic name, ''Isatis indigotica''. It is also known as Radix Isatidis. The herb is cultivated in various regions of northern China, namely Hebei, Beijing, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jiangsu, and Gansu. The roots are harvested during the autumn and dried. The dried root is then processed into granules, which are most commonly consumed dissolved in hot water or tea. The product is very popular throughout China, and used to remove toxic heat, soothe sore throat and to treat influenza, measles, mumps, syphilis, or scarlet fever. It is also used for pharyngitis, laryngitis, erysipelas, and carbuncle, and to prevent hepatitis A, epidemic meningitis, cancer and inflammation. Possible minor side effects include allergic reactions and dizziness; only large dosages or long term usage can be toxic to the kidneys. These treatments have not generally been evaluated clinically.

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*
* Balfour-Paul,Jenny ''Indigo''. London, British Museum
*
* - Woad anticancer properties, New Scientist.
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* - excerpt from paper by H. O. Clarke and Rex Wailes in Transactions of the Newcomen Society, 1935-36 Vol 16.
* - Use of Woad in Body Art
*
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*

Gac

Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng., commonly known as gac , is a fruit found throughout the region from Southern China to Northeastern Australia. It is also known as Baby Jackfruit, Spiny Bitter Gourd, Sweet Gourd, or Cochinchin Gourd. It has been traditionally used as both food and medicine in the regions in which it grows.



Because it has a relatively short harvest season , making it less abundant than other foods, gac is typically served at ceremonial or festive occasions in Vietnam, such as T?t and weddings. It is most commonly prepared as a dish called ''x?i g?c'', in which the aril and seeds of the fruit are cooked in glutinous rice, imparting both their color and flavor. More recently, the fruit has begun to be marketed outside of Asia in the form of juice dietary supplements because of its allegedly high content.

Gac grows on dioecious vines and is usually collected from fence climbers or from wild plants. The vines can be commonly seen growing on lattices at the entrances to rural homes or in gardens. It only fruits once a year, and is found seasonally in local markets. The fruit itself becomes a dark orange color upon ripening, and is typically round or oblong, maturing to a size of about 13 cm in length and 10 cm in diameter. Its exterior skin is covered in small spines while its dark red interior consists of clusters of fleshy pulp and seeds.

Medicinal and Nutritional Uses

Other than the use of its fruit and leaves for special Vietnamese culinary dishes, gac is also used for its medicinal and nutritional properties. In Vietnam, the seed membranes are used to aid in the relief of dry eyes, as well as to promote healthy vision. Similarly, in Traditional Chinese medicine the seeds of gac, known as ''mubiezi'' , are employed for a variety of internal and external purposes. Recent attention is also beginning to be attracted in the because of chemical analysis of the fruit suggesting that it has high concentrations of several important phytonutrients.

Gac has been shown to be especially high in lycopene content. Relative to mass, it contains up to 70 times the amount of lycopene found in . It has also been found to contain up to 10 times the amount of of carrots or . Additionally, the carotenoids present in gac are bound to long-chain fatty acids, resulting in what is claimed to be a more form. There has also been recent research that suggests that gac contains a protein that may inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells.

Ephedra (genus)

Ephedra is a genus of gymnosperm shrubs, the only genus in the family Ephedraceae and order Ephedrales. These plants occur in dry climates over a wide area mainly in the northern hemisphere, across southern Europe, north Africa, southwest and central Asia, southwestern North America, and, in the southern hemisphere, in South America south to Patagonia. They are also called Joint-pine, Jointfir, or Mormon-tea. The name is 麻黄, ''má huáng'', which means "yellow hemp". Ephedra is also sometimes called sea grape , although that is also a common name for ''Coccoloba uvifera''.

Medical uses

Plants of the ''Ephedra'' genus, including '''' and others, have traditionally been used by indigenous people for a variety of medicinal purposes, including treatment of asthma, hay fever, and the common cold. They have also been proposed as a candidate for the Soma plant of Indo-Iranian religion. The alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are active constituents of ''E. sinica'' and other members of the genus. These compounds are with stimulant and decongestant qualities and are related chemically to the amphetamines. ''Ephedra nevandensis'' contains ephedrine in its roots, stems and branches. ''Ephedra distachya'' contains up to 3% ephedrine in the entire plant. ''Ephedra sinica'' contains approximately 2.2% ephedrine.

Species

*''Ephedra alata'' Decne
*''Ephedra altissima'' Desf.
*''Ephedra americana'' Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.
*''Ephedra antisyphilitica'' Berl. ex C.A.Meyer - Clapweed, Erect Ephedra
*''Ephedra aspera'' Engelm. ex S.Wats. - Boundary Ephedra, Pitamoreal
*''Ephedra californica'' S.Wats. - California Ephedra, California Jointfir
*''Ephedra campylopoda'' C. A. Mey.
*''Ephedra chilensis'' C. Presl
*''Ephedra ciliata'' Fisch. ex C. A. Mey.
*''Ephedra coryi'' E.L.Reed - Cory's Ephedra
*''Ephedra cutleri'' Peebles - Navajo Ephedra, Cutler's Ephedra, Cutler Mormon-tea, Cutler's Jointfir
*''Ephedra distachya'' L. - Joint-pine, Jointfir
**''Ephedra distachya'' L. subsp. ''distachya''
**''Ephedra distachya'' subsp. ''helvetica'' Aschers. & Graebn.
**''Ephedra distachya'' L. subsp. ''monostachya'' Riedl
*''Ephedra equisetina'' Bunge - Ma huang
*''Ephedra fasciculata'' A.Nels. - Arizona Ephedra, Arizona Jointfir, Desert Mormon-tea
*''Ephedra fedtschenkoae'' Pauls.
*''Ephedra foliata'' Boiss. ex C.A.Mey.
*''Ephedra fragilis'' Desf.
**''Ephedra fragilis'' subsp. ''campylopoda'' Aschers. & Graebn.
*''Ephedra frustillata'' Miers - Patagonian Ephedra
*''Ephedra funerea'' Coville & Morton - Death Valley Ephedra, Death Valley Jointfir
*''Ephedra gerardiana'' Wallich ex C.A.Meyer - Gerard's Jointfir, Shan Ling Ma Huang
*''Ephedra holoptera'' Riedl
*''Ephedra intermedia'' Schrenk ex C.A.Meyer
*''Ephedra lepidosperma'' C.Y.Cheng
*''Ephedra likiangensis'' Florin
*''Ephedra lomatolepis'' Shrenk
*''Ephedra macedonica'' Kos.
*''Ephedra major'' Host
**''Ephedra major'' subsp. ''procera'' Fischer & C.A.Meyer
*''Ephedra minuta'' Florin
*''Ephedra monosperma'' C.A.Meyer
*''Ephedra multiflora'' Phil. ex Stapf
*''Ephedra nevadensis'' S.Wats. - Nevada Ephedra, Nevada Jointfir, Nevada Mormon-tea
*''Ephedra pachyclada'' Boiss.
*''Ephedra pedunculata'' Engelm. ex S.Wats. - Vine Ephedra, Vine Jointfir
*''Ephedra procera'' Fisch. & C. A. Mey.
*''Ephedra przewalskii'' Stapf
**''Ephedra przewalskii'' var. ''kaschgarica'' C.Y.Cheng
*''Ephedra regeliana'' Florin - Xi Zi Ma Huang
*''Ephedra saxatilis'' Royle ex Florin
*''Ephedra sinica'' Stapf - Cao Ma Huang, Chinese ephedra
*''Ephedra strobilacea'' Bunge
*''Ephedra torreyana'' S.Wats. - Torrey's Ephedra, Torrey's Jointfir, Torrey's Mormon-tea, Ca?utillo
*''Ephedra trifurca'' Torrey ex S.Wats. - Longleaf Ephedra, Longleaf Jointfir, Longleaf Mormon-tea, Popotilla, Teposote
*''Ephedra viridis'' Coville - Green Ephedra, Green Mormon-tea

Gallery

Seeds

Dioscorea opposita

Dioscorea opposita is a type of that may be eaten raw.

It is known as either ''nagaimo'' or ''yamaimo'' in , depending on root shape. In Chinese it is known as ''huái shān'' , ''shān yào'' , or ''huái shān yào'' . In Korea it is called ''ma'' .

''Dioscorea opposita'' is an exception to the rule that yams must be cooked before consumption . In Japanese cuisine, it is eaten raw and grated, after only a relatively minimal preparation: the whole tubers are briefly soaked in a vinegar-water solution, to neutralize irritant oxalate crystals found in their skin. The raw vegetable is starchy and bland, mucilaginous when grated, and may be eaten plain as a side dish, or added to noodles.

''Dioscorea opposita'' is used in the Japanese cold noodle dish ''tororo udon/soba''. The grated ''nagaimo'' is known as ''tororo'' . In ''tororo udon/soba'', the ''tororo'' is mixed with other ingredients that typically include ''tsuyu'' broth , wasabi, and green onions. ''Jinenjo'' is related variety of Japanese yam that is used as an ingredient in ''soba'' noodles.

Personal lubricant

The jelly-like substance made from grating the yam, ''tororojiru'' , is often served in, or alongside, a number of other dishes. Interestingly, perhaps, this was widely used in the Edo period as a personal lubricant for sexual activities, and it was thus considered improper for it to be eaten by a woman. This aversion also derives from the loud slurping sound one makes when eating it, which is considered to be un-ladylike.

Medical uses

The tuber is also used in traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese herbology.

Codonopsis pilosula

Codonopsis pilosula , also known as dang shen or poor man's ginseng, is a species of flowering plant native to Northeast Asia and Korea and usually found growing around streambanks and forest openings under the shade of trees. The plant is shrubby and dense and has a tendency to climb, producing heart shaped leaves, light green five pointed bell shaped flowers with prominent yellow or light purple veins. The plant can grow up to 8-10 in height with roots 1-3 thick.

Uses

The roots of ''C. pilosula'' are used in traditional Chinese medicine to lower blood pressure, increase red and white blood cell count, cure appetite loss, strengthen the immune system, and replenish ''qi''. The roots are harvested from the plant during the third or fourth year of growth and dried prior to sale.

The root is also used as a gentler and more economical substitute for ''Panax ginseng''.

Varieties

* ''Codonopsis pilosula'' var. handeliana -
* ''Codonopsis pilosula'' var. modesta -
* ''Codonopsis pilosula'' var. volubilis -

Codonopsis

Codonopsis is a genus of flowering plant within the family Campanulaceae. It is allied to ''Campanumoea'' and ''Leptocodon'', and some authors suggest that ''Codonopsis'' should include these genera. Without them, ''Codonopsis'' includes 55 species endemic to eastern Asia.

In the horticultural trade, ''Codonopsis'' species are referred to as bonnet bellflowers.

'''' is an important medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine. ''C. lanceolata'' is used as a food in Korean cuisine.

Species

*''Codonopsis affinis'' - 大叶党参
*''Codonopsis alpina'' - 高山党参
*''Codonopsis argentea'' - 银背叶党参
*''Codonopsis benthamii''
*''Codonopsis bhutanica''
*''Codonopsis bicolor'' - 二色党参
*''Codonopsis bulleyana'' - 管钟党参
*''Codonopsis canescens'' - 灰毛党参
*''Codonopsis cardiophylla'' - 光叶党参
*''Codonopsis chimiliensis'' - 滇湎党参
*''Codonopsis chlorocodon'' - 绿钟党参
*''Codonopsis clematidea'' - 新疆党参
*''Codonopsis convolvulacea'' - 鸡蛋参
**''Codonopsis convolvulacea'' var. efilamentosa - 心叶珠子参
**''Codonopsis convolvulacea'' var. forrestii - 珠子参
**''Codonopsis convolvulacea'' var. hirsuta - 毛叶鸡蛋参
**''Codonopsis convolvulacea'' var. limprichtii - 直立鸡蛋参
**''Codonopsis convolvulacea'' var. pinifolia - 松叶鸡蛋参
**''Codonopsis convolvulacea'' var. vinciflora - 薄叶鸡蛋参
*''Codonopsis cordifolioidea'' - 心叶党参
*''Codonopsis deltoidea'' - 三角叶党参
*''Codonopsis dicentrifolia'' - 珠峰党参
*''Codonopsis farreri'' - 秃叶党参
*''Codonopsis foetens'' - 臭党参
*''Codonopsis forrestii''
*''Codonopsis gombalana'' - 贡山党参
*''Codonopsis gracilis''
*''Codonopsis grey-wilsonii''
*''Codonopsis henryi'' - 川鄂党参
*''Codonopsis javanica''
*''Codonopsis kawakamii'' - 台湾党参
*''Codonopsis lanceolata'' - 羊乳
*''Codonopsis lancifolia''
*''Codonopsis levicalyx'' - 光萼党参
**''Codonopsis levicalyx'' var. hirsuticalyx - 线党参
*''Codonopsis longifolia'' - 长叶党参
*''Codonopsis macrocalyx'' - 大萼党参
*''Codonopsis meleagris'' - 珠鸡斑党参
*''Codonopsis micrantha'' - 小花党参
*''Codonopsis mollis''
*''Codonopsis nepalensis''
*''Codonopsis nervosa'' - 脉花党参
*''Codonopsis nervosa'' var. macrantha - 大花党参
*''Codonopsis obtusa''
*''Codonopsis ovata''
*''Codonopsis pilosula'' - 党参
**''Codonopsis pilosula'' - var. handeliana 闪毛党参
**''Codonopsis pilosula'' var. modesta - 素花党参
**''Codonopsis pilosula'' var. volubilis - 缠绕党参
*''Codonopsis pinifolia''
*''Codonopsis purpurea'' - 紫花党参
*''Codonopsis rosulata'' - 莲座状党参
*''Codonopsis rotundifolia''
*''Codonopsis subglobosa'' - 球花党参
*''Codonopsis subscaposa'' - 抽葶党参
*''Codonopsis subsimplex'' - 藏南党参
*''Codonopsis tangshen'' - 川党参
*''Codonopsis thalictrifolia'' - 唐松草党参
**''Codonopsis thalictrifolia'' var. mollis - 长花党参
*''Codonopsis tsinglingensis'' - 秦岭党参
*''Codonopsis tubulosa'' - 管花党参
*''Codonopsis ussuriensis'' - 雀斑党参
*''Codonopsis vinciflora''
*''Codonopsis viridiflora'' - 绿花党参
*''Codonopsis viridis''
*''Codonopsis volubilis''
*''Codonopsis xizangensis'' - 西藏党参

Cistanche

Cistanche is a worldwide genus of holoparasitic desert plants in the family Orobanchaceae. They lack chlorophyll and obtain nutrients and water from the host plants whose roots they parasitize.

Uses

Along with other members of the genus, ''Cistanche deserticola'' is the primary source of the Chinese herbal medicine cistanche . The main sources of cistanche are ''Cistanche salsa'' and ''C. deserticola'', although it may also be obtained from ''Cistanche tubulosa'', ''Cistanche sinensis'', and ''Cistanche ambigua''. The drug, known in Chinese as ''suosuo dayun'', is collected in spring before sprouting, by slicing the stems of the plant. ''C. deserticola'' has been placed on CITES Appendix 2, a list of endangered species not banned from trade but requiring monitoring. With increased consumption of cistanche, the population of the species has decreased and its area of distribution has shrunk. Aside from over-collection or indiscriminate collection, an important factor in the diminished supply of cistanche is a loss of the saxaul host, ''Haloxylon ammodendron'', which is widely used for firewood.

Cistanche has been used as a medicine for about 1800 years and is recorded in the ''Shennong Bencao Jing'' and ''Bencao Gangmu'' as a tonic. In modern-day Chinese herbalism, cistanche is used for the treatment of male impotence, seminal emission, general lassitude of the loins and knees, constipation and infertility. Most of these claims have never been evaluated through clinical testing, and some have not been supported in controlled medical studies

The pharmaceutically active ingredients of cistanche include acteoside, echinacoside, and cistanoside.

Atractylodes

Atractylodes is a genus in the plant family Asteraceae.

Species

''Atractylodes macrocephala'' Koidz., medicinally known as Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae , is an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Astragalus propinquus

*"''Astragalus membranaceus'' Bunge
*''Astragalus membranaceus'' Bunge var. ''mongholicus'' P.K.Hsiao
*''Astragalus propinquus'' Schischkin var. ''glabra'' Vydr.
*''Phaca membranacea'' Fisch." is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is one of the used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is a perennial plant and it is not listed as being threatened. In western herbal medicine, ''Astragalus'' is primarily considered a tonic for enhancing metabolism and digestion and is consumed as a tea or soup made from the roots of the plant, often in combination with other medicinal herbs. It is also traditionally used to strengthen the immune system and in the healing of wounds and injuries.

''A. propinquus'' has been asserted to be a tonic that can improve the functioning of the lungs, adrenal glands and the gastrointestinal tract, increase metabolism, , promote healing and reduce fatigue.

There is a report in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology that ''Astragalus membranaceus'' can show "immunomodulating and immunorestorative effects." It has been shown to increase the production of interferon and to activate immune cells such as macrophages.

Related species

The natural gum tragacanth, which is used in pharmaceuticals and textiles, is obtained from ''Astragalus tragacanthus''. It has been termed as a renal adaptogen.

Astragalus

Astragalus is a large genus of about 2,000 species of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include milk-vetch , locoweed and goat's-thorn . Some pale-flowered es are similar in appearance, but vetches are more vine-like.

Host for insects

''Astragalus'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the following case-bearers of the genus ''Coleophora'': ''C. astragalella'' , ''C. cartilaginella'' , ''C. colutella'', ''C. euryaula'' , ''C. gallipennella'' , ''C. hippodromica'' , ''C. onobrychiella'' , ''C. polonicella'' and ''C. vicinella''.

Medicinal use

''Astragalus propinquus'' has a history of use as an herbal medicine, and the biotechnology firms Geron Corporation and TA Sciences have been working on deriving a telomerase activator from it.

Ornamental use

Several species, including ''A. alpinus'' , ''A. hypoglottis'' and ''A. lotoides'', are grown as ornamental plants in gardens.

Selected species

* ''Astragalus adsurgens'' - Standing milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus agrestis'' - Field milk vetch, Purple milk-vetch, Cock's-head
* ''Astragalus alopecuroides''
* ''Astragalus alpinus'' - Alpine milk vetch
* ''Astragalus angustifolius''
* ''Astragalus annularis''
* ''Astragalus arenarius''
* ''Astragalus aristatus''
* ''Astragalus atropilosulus''
* ''Astragalus azizi''
* ''Astragalus baionensis''
* ''Astragalus barrii'' - Barr's milk vetch
* ''Astragalus bibullatus'' - Limestone-glade milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus bisulcatus'' - Two-groove milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus boeticus''
* ''Astragalus canadensis'' - Canadian milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus centralpinus''
* ''Astragalus christianus''
* ''Astragalus cicer'' - Wild Lentil, Chickpea milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus coccineus'' - Scarlet milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus crassicarpus'' - Ground-plum, Buffalo Plum
* ''Astragalus danicus''
* ''Astragalus debequaeus'' - Debeque milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus depressus''
* ''Astragalus echinus''
* ''Astragalus eriocarpus''
* ''Astragalus exscapus''
* ''Astragalus frigidus'' - American milk-vetch, Arctic milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus galegiformis''
* ''Astragalus gilviflorus'' - Plains milk-vetch, Plains orophaca
* ''Astragalus glycyphyllos'' - Wild Liquorice, Licorice milk-vetch

* ''Astragalus gummifer''
* ''Astragalus hypoglottis'' - Field milk-vetch, Purple milk-vetch, Cock's-head
*''Astragalus illyricus'' Illirian milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus lemmonii'' - Lemmon's milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus lentiginosus'' - Freckled milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus leontinus''
* ''Astragalus lusitanicus''
* ''Astragalus lotoides''
* ''Astragalus massiliensis''
* ''Astragalus membranaceus'' - bei qi, huang qi, ogi, hwanggi, milk vetch
* ''Astragalus missouriensis'' - Missouri milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus monspessulanus''
* ''Astragalus naturitensis'' - Naturita milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus newberryi'' - Newberry's milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus norvegicus''
* ''Astragalus nuttallii'' - Nuttall's milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus onobrychis''
* ''Astragalus penduliflorus''
* ''Astragalus propinquus'' - Huang qi
* ''Astragalus purshii'' - Pursh's milk-vetch, Woolly-pod milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus sclerocarpus'' - Sicklepod milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus sempervirens''
* ''Astragalus shinanensis''
* ''Astragalus shiroumaensis''
* ''Astragalus sirinicus''
* ''Astragalus spatulatus'' - Tufted milk-vetch, Draba milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus tennesseensis'' - Tennessee milk vetch
* ''Astragalus trichopodus'' - Santa Barbara milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus tridactylus'' - Foothill milk-vetch
* ''Astragalus tragacanthus''
* ''Astragalus vogelii''
* ''Astragalus whitneyi'' - Balloon-pod milk-vetch

External references

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* This fact sheet from the U.S. National Institutes of Health provides basic information about astragalus--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.
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Aster tataricus

Aster tataricus is a member of the genus of flowering plants. It is one of the of Traditional Chinese medicine, where it has the name zǐwǎn . "It has an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Bacillus dysenteriae, , Pseudomonas and ."

Ardisia japonica

Ardisia japonica is a species of ''Ardisia'' native to eastern Asia, in eastern China, Japan and Korea.

It is a low-growing evergreen shrub 20–40 cm tall. The are opposite or in whorls, ovate, 4-7 cm long and 1.5-4 cm broad, with a sharply serrated margin and an acute apex. The flowers are 4–10 mm diameter, with five white to pale pink petals; they are produced in racemes in late spring. The fruit is a drupe 5-6 mm diameter, red maturing dark purple-black in early winter.

A number of cultivars have been selected for growing as ornamental plants, including 'Hakuokan' and 'Ito Fukurin' with leaves, 'Hinotsukasa', with pale cream-coloured leaves, and 'Matsu Shima' with pink stems and variegated leaves.

Large doses of the plant as medicine can be toxic to the kidneys.

Anisodus tanguticus

Anisodus tanguticus is a species of flowering plant in the family Solanaceae.

''A. tanguticus'' is one of the used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Anisodus

Anisodus is a genus of flowering plant in the family Solanaceae. It is native to China, Tibet, India, Bhutan, and Nepal.

One species, ''A. tanguticus'' , is one of the used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Species

*''Anisodus acutangulus'' C. Y. Wu & C. Chen
**''Anisodus acutangulus'' var. acutangulus
**''Anisodus acutangulus'' var. breviflorus C. Y. Wu & C. Chen
*''Anisodus carniolicoides'' D'Arcy & Z. Y. Zhang
*''Anisodus luridus''
*''Anisodus mariae'' Pascher
*''Anisodus tanguticus'' Pascher

Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis, commonly known as "dong quai" or ''"female ginseng"'' is a herb from the family Apiaceae, indigenous to China.

Medicinal uses

Chinese

Its drying root is commonly known in as Radix Angelicae Sinensis, or Chinese angelica and is widely used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat gynecological ailments, , mild anemia and high blood pressure. Chinese angelica possesses the distinction of being one of the few good non-animal sources of , along with some varieties of yeast and microalgae like spirulina.. It has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and sedative effects. The plant's phytochemicals consist of coumarins, phytosterols, polysaccharides, , and flavonoids.

It is also used as an aphrodisiac.

Korean

''A. sinensis'' is also used in traditional Korean medicine, where it is called ''danggwi'' .

Prohibition

Being a uterine tonic and hormonal regulator this herb is an effective herb for female reproductive system. It is often used in premenstrual syndrome formulas as well as menopausal formulas. However, this herb is not recommended during pregnancy due to possible hormonal, anticoagulant, and anti-platelet properties. Animal research has noted conflicting effects on the uterus, with reports of both stimulation and relaxation. Dong quai is traditionally viewed as increasing the risk of miscarriage.

Alangium

Alangium is a small genus of flowering plants. The genus is treated either in a broad view of the dogwood family Cornaceae, or as the sole member of its own family Alangiaceae. Differences from the other genera in Cornaceae include articulated pedicels, subulate bracts, bitegmic seeds and the single-seeded fruit.

The genus consists of 17 species of small trees, shrubs and lianas, and is native to western Africa, Madagascar, southern and eastern Asia , tropical Australia, the western Pacific Ocean islands, and New Caledonia.

The entire or lobed are alternate. The bisexual nectiferous flowers are arranged in axillary cymes. The flowers have 4-10 small sepals and 4-10 linear petals. There are 4-40 stamens distributed in a single cycle. The ovary is bilocular , while the fruit is drupe.

;Selected species


''Alangium'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species in the Geometroidea-Drepanoidea assemblage including the and the subfamily Cyclidiinae .

Uses

One species, ''Alangium chinense'' , is considered one of the fifty fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine.

Agastache rugosa

Agastache rugosa is a and ornamental plant in the Lamiaceae family. It is called ''huò xiāng'' in Chinese and it is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Chemical compounds found in the plant include:

*Estragole, Plant

*P-Anisaldehyde, Plant

*P-Methoxy-cinnamaldehyde, Shoot

*Pachypodol, Leaf

The plant has antibacterial, antifungal, antipyretic, aromatic, anticancer, carminative, diaphoretic, febrifuge, refrigerant, and stomachic properties, among others.