Chinese Medicinal Herbs |
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Generally, Chinese definition of Herb encompasses plants or parts of plants such as roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, resin, root bark or inner bark. It ranges from plant with no woody stem above ground to shrub and tree which have medicinal properties. Some of these medicinal herbs are also used for culinary purposes.
Below is a list of herbs used by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioners. This list of herbs are commonly found around South China, Hainan Island, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South East Asia.
Each herb is listed with the Botanical name in Latin; Common name if available; Habitat; Preparation describing the useful parts, the optimal time for collection, and simple ways of preparation. Unless the use of fresh plant is specified, all descriptions refer to dried herb.; Characteristics are explained according to Chinese traditional medicine varying from cold, hot, warm, to cool, and tastes varying from sour, bitter, sweet, acrid to salty.; and Indications highlighting the diseases curable with the herb described.
The Prescriptions of the herbs are intentional omitted as only a few Chinese medicinal herbs are used singly, while most are used in combination with other herbs. In addition dosage dispensed has to take into account differences in body weight, age, severity of illness, etc. Readers are requested to refer to a qualified health practitioner to have effective treatment.
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