Databases of traditional Chinese medicine, herbs, acupuncture, qigong, prevention and longevity.
Scientific name:
Cynanchum stauntonii (Decne.) Schltr.ex Levl. or C. glaucescens (Decne.) Hand.-Mazz.
Family:
Asclepiadaceae
Parts used:
Root and rhizome
Actions:
Expectorant
TCM effects:
Descends the adverse-rising Qi (energy)
Eliminates phlegm
Opens the inhibited lung-Qi (energy)
Relieves cough
Uses:
Dyspnea
Productive cough
Wheezing
Dosages:
Decoction 3-9 g
Classical Chinese Herbal Recipes for Healing Flu, Common Cold, and Infectious Diseases
(Journal of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture, Volume 2, Number 3, 2009)
ISSN: 1946-1909
PharmTao.com (Editor)
Herbal recipes in Chinese medicine that can be used for healing influenza, common cold, and other infectious diseases are collected here. These recipes have been used for hundreds of years, proved by billions of people, and confirmed by scientific studies. These natural herbal recipes can relieve stuffy noses, reduce fever, stop coughing, relieve headaches and body pain, calm the mind, and improve digestion. Scientific studies have found that they have antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects.
Ingredients of the recipes are explained with Chinese medicine theories. Modifications for personalized treatment and preparation methods are described. Many of the recipes are useful for healing infections of the upper respiratory tract, asthma, bronchitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia, mumps, encephalitis, meningitis, parotitis, scarlet fever, and measles. Some are effective for the treatment of stomach flu, acute gastroenteritis, rheumatoid arthritis, pancreatitis, lower back pain, conjunctivitis, neuralgia, and muscle pain. Many of the recipes are also helpful for relieving skin diseases including hives, itching, and eczema.
These recipes are selected from classical Chinese medicine books including Treatise on Febrile Diseases written by the “Saint of Medicine†Zhongjing Zhang in the 2nd century, and Difficult Medical Problems written by a famous physician Yuansu Zhang in the 12th century. According to Chinese medicine theories, these recipes can relieve the exterior syndromes, and help remove exogenous pathogenic factors including wind, cold, or heat.
Scientific name:
Ginkgo biloba L.
Family:
Ginkgoaceae
Parts used:
Seeds (removed off the outer spermoderm)
Actions:
Neutral nitrogen-free component: may cause convulsion and paralysis of medulla oblongata in mice
TCM effects:
Astringes the lung and relieves dyspnea
Clears away turbid substance and decreases frequency of micturition
Uses:
Cough
Dyspnea
Leukorrhagia
Nocturnal emission
Frequent micturition
White and turbid urine
Dosages:
Decoction 6-9 g
Contraindication:
Crude seed or large dosage may cause poisoning.
Should be decocted for a long time.
