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CHINESE HERBS

MAINTAINING HEALTH AND PREVENTING DISEASE.

It might be useful to mention that the Chinese are not preoccupied by viruses and bacteria, the major focus in Chinese and most ‘traditional’ medicine systems is maintaining a state of homeostasis in the body in order to fight off external pathogens.

The average person in China will have at least a rudimentary knowledge of what to eat in order to stay well, a knowledge that has been passed down from an herbal tradition dating back thousands of years.

The food herbs listed below are commonly used in Chinese cuisine to maintain health.

WOLFBERRY: (Lycium Barbarum “Goji Berry”)

This sweet, red fruit has been prized in China as a longevity tonic and used by Taoist masters for thousands of years, it was referred to by Li Qing Yuen (1678-1930) as being one of the major tonics he used to maintain his life for 252 years.

Lycium fruit is pleasant to taste and can be added to cereals, porridge, pies or wines, or merely eaten as a dried fruit snack with nuts and seeds.

Chinese and Japanese studies show lycium to be supportive in the treatment of various cancers[i].

JUJUBE: (Chinese Red Date)

Another pleasant fruit used in both Chinese cuisine and medicine is the Jujube Date: commonly used as a spleen and blood tonic, a sedative and rejuvenator.

Jujube is said to clear the nine openings of the body and allow the uninterrupted flow of energy through the meridian channels.

KUDZU (Peuraria lobata)

Used by the Chinese and Japanese as food and medicine; Kudzu provides a root-starch ideal for making custards and sauces.

As a medicine Kudzu clears internal heat, especially that caused by toxins such as drugs or alcohol, it has also been found useful in treating mild addictions[ii] together with reducing stress, tension and pain.

SCHIZANDRA (Schizandra sinensis)

Another fruit used in Chinese Medicine, is known as ‘wu wei zi’ (five flavour seeds). Schizandra is one of the few herbs which effects all of the organ systems, but particularly the kidneys and lungs, making it an excellent herb to use for increasing endurance.

OPHIOPOGON: (Japanese Turf Lily)

Keen gardeners may know Ophiopogon as a good border plant, with its spiky grass-like foliage. The is mucilaginous and therefore useful in promoting the secretion of fluids.

Ophiopogon is used to treat dry throats, to replenish the lung and stomach and as a mild sedative in the treatment of fearfulness and insomnia.

I have chosen the above herbs partly because they are everyday food herbs in China.

Using herbs as foods is the Chinese way to long life, health and happiness.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

A Handbook of Chinese Healing Herbs. Daniel Reid. Simon &Schuster. 1995.

John.E.Smith B.A. (Hons.) M:URHP., Dip CH. is a Classical Herbalist and Rejuvenation Therapist. He is the Author of two books: “100 Herbs of Power” and “Food, Herbs, Health & Healing” both published by Strategic Book Publishers, New York. (Links below) www.strategicbookpublishing.com/100HerbsOfPower.html http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/FoodsHerbsHealthAndHealing.html Web Address: www.herbalkhemy.com

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[i] Observation of the Effects of LAK/IL-2 Therapy Combined with Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides in the Treatment of 75 Cancer Patients, Chunghua Chung Liu Tsu Chih. 1994 Nov.; 16(6): 428-431.

[ii] Earthforce Kudzu Trial, Bristol, England. 2001.