Chuanxiong

by LadyTong | Feb 27, 2012 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Ingredient Name: Chuanxiong, Szechuan lovage, lovage

Traditional Chinese Name: 川芎 (Chuānxiōng)

What is this?

A fundamental herb in Chinese medicine
This herb belongs to the carrot family, is native to East Asia and is a perennial herb with massive fist-like rhizomes
The rhizome itself is irregular shaped and brown in color
You can find this root available as dried, powdered, sliced, tablets, capsules and even root oil

How do I prepare it?

Soak in warm water for 10 minutes and rinse before usage

Where can I buy this?

Some wet marts will have this in the herbal shops
Chinese medicine shops will definitely have this as well (and it does come in various sizes, shapes and forms)

What is the cost?

This is not an expensive herb
It is commonly sold together with other ingredients (for the tea, drink or Chinese medicine you want to make)

Any benefits?

Chuanxiong helps with the circulation of the qi
It aids in expelling wind from the body
It is antibacterial, antiviral and can act as an anti-inflammatory agent
One of the valuable properties of this plant is it pain killing ability
It is commonly used to improve blood circulation (such as irregular menstruation or amenorrhea)
Chuanxiong is also good for reducing abdominal pain, head pains, head aches, pain due to injuries

Any precautions?

Take caution when serving to children (use in moderation as with all Chinese medicine)
It is recommended that pregnant women also avoid this herb (but conversely is used in postpartum treatment to eliminate excess blood)
If you’ve got a naturally warm body, use with caution as sometimes “warm” ingredients or soups will make you heated
Be sure to purchase from a reputable source

Additional Information

Store in a dry and cool place (up to 6 months)

Fried Licorice Root

by LadyTong | Feb 13, 2012 | Uncategorized | 1 comment

Ingredient Name: Mizhi Licorice root, Fried Licorice (Liquorice), Sweet root, Chinese Licorice, Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Traditional Chinese Name: 灸甘草 (jiǔ gān cǎo)

What is this?

This is a variation of the Licorice root, but is prepared with honey and fried
The root of the licorice plant which is extracted and dried
Common Chinese herbal ingredient and often found in Chinese medicines
Mainly grown in China (Eastern & Northern parts)
Slightly sweet in flavor
The fried version is said to be more effective on the stomach and relieving diarrhea

How do I prepare it?

Rinse in warm water prior to use

Where can I buy this?

This is available in most Asian supermarkets
Also available in Chinese herbals stores

What is the cost

10 g cost around $2-3 HKD
Extremely affordable

Any benefits?

Used to aid cough, sore throat, asthma and remove phlegm
Helps in detoxifying the body
Helps relieve diarrhea
When it is fried, it is considered warm

Any precautions?

People with heart disease or high blood pressure should be cautious about using licorice

References

The dried original version is the Licorice root

Atractylodes or Bai Zhu

by LadyTong | Feb 12, 2012 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Ingredient Name: Atractylodes, atractylodes lancea, bai zhu, dong zhu, xia zhu

Traditional Chinese Name: 白朮 (bai zhu)

What is this?

This is the rhizome of a plant in the genus that is similar to that of the daisy
The rhizome is dried and the stems and roots are cut from it
The atractylode is a common Chinese herb and is bitter and warm in characteristics
It is used to treat dampness (ideal for the Spring), reduce sweating, promotes digestion and acts on the spleen and stomach
It is primarily used in Chinese medicines more than soups (used in teas)
Good condition bai zhu is slightly sticky to texture and moist

How do I prepare it?

Soak in warm water for 10 minutes and rinse before usage

Where can I buy this?

Some wet marts will have this in the herbal shops
Chinese medicine shops will definitely have this as well (and it does come in various sizes)

What is the cost?

This is not an expensive herb
It is commonly sold together with other ingredients (for the tea you want to make)

Any benefits?

It is used to treat dampness (ideal for the Spring), reduce sweating, promotes digestion and acts on the spleen and stomach
It is slightly warm, but does also remove heatiness (by carrying some heat out of the body through elimination of dampness)
It improves the overall immune system
Atractylodes is also anti bacterial and helps lower blood sugar levels

Any precautions?

Take caution when serving to children (use in moderation as with all Chinese medicine)
If you’ve got a naturally warm body, use with caution as sometimes “warm” ingredients or soups will make you heated
Be sure to purchase from a reputable source

Additional Information

Store in a dry and cool place (up to 6 months)

Chrysanthemum (Dried)

by LadyTong | Feb 16, 2010 | Ingredients | 0 comments

Chrysanthemum (Dried)

Ingredient Name:

Chrysanthemums, Mums, Chrysanths

Traditional Chinese Name:

菊花 (jú huā)

This ingredient is cooling and bitter sweet.

I’m a huge fan of this dried herb! You can find it commonly used in Chinese restaurants as a tea which you can order, at supermarkets as bulk, at Asian herbal shops, and even in some western herbal tea blends. When seeped, it turns the liquid into a bright clear yellow. You can actually eat the flowers if you’d like, but they do disintegrate quite a bit and can be difficult to drink with all that stuff floating around 🙂

The chrysanthemum flower is widely known as a cooling ingredient in both Chinese food and Traditional Chinese Medicine. If you’ve got lots of “hot air” (yeet hay) or feeling very heaty, this is the go to herbal drink. It’s actually very common in Hong Kong to find chrysanthemum bottled or boxed drinks.

This is a perennial flower plant that has many variations (different colours such as white, pinks, yellows) in various shapes and sizes. It was first cultivated in China for herbal properties and is used in teas, drinks, desserts and various other Chinese dishes. It is often purchased dried for consumption and has a very distinct taste and scent.

How do I prepare it?

You can rinse in warm water first as sometimes there are bugs floating around, but not too long as not to seep out the flavours.No other preparation needed.

What is the cost?

The price will range from a few dollars to tens of dollars depending on the size, make, and brand of the dried flowers
There are smaller full buds, which tend to be more expensive, or the shredded bloomed ones, which are cheaper
In general, one tub of 60 g of dried loose flowers can cost around $8 CAD

Any benefits?

This ingredient is considered cooling and great to remove and eliminate excess heat and heat from the body
It is particularly targeted to the liver (eyes) and lungs
It’s often used to help with fever, colds, and headaches
It tends to have a cleansing effect by clearing heat and drying dampness in the body
This goes will with honey (added in after you’ve boiled or steeped the tea)

Any precautions?

It is cooling, so be careful if you’re cold, feeling cold, or have excess yin
Not suggested as part of postpartum or confinement consumption as it’s cooling

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