Buckwheat is a name used in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the seeds of Fagopyrum esculentum Moench [F. sagittatum Gilib.; Polygonum fagopyrum L.], a plant belonging to the genus Fagopyrum in the Polygonaceae family. It has the therapeutic effects of strengthening the spleen and eliminating food stagnation, regulating qi and relieving intestinal obstruction, and detoxifying and promoting wound healing.It is primarily used to treat gastrointestinal stagnation, diarrhea, dysentery, intestinal colic, leukorrhea, vaginal discharge, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, herpes, erysipelas, boils and abscesses, back sores, scrofula, and burns and scalds.
Prickly Ash is a common medicinal herb used to warm the interior of the body. It consists of the dried, mature pericarp of Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc. or Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim., plants belonging to the genus Zanthoxylum in the Rutaceae family. It has the effects of warming the middle burner to relieve pain, as well as killing parasites and relieving itching. It is used to treat cold pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, vomiting and diarrhea, and abdominal pain caused by parasitic infestation; externally, it is used to treat eczema and genital itching.
Lulutong is the name of a traditional Chinese medicine derived from the dried, mature fruit clusters of Liquidambar formosana Hance, a plant of the genus Liquidambar in the Hamamelidaceae family. It is primarily produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Fujian. This product has the therapeutic effects of dispelling wind and activating the meridians, promoting diuresis, and regulating menstruation. It is primarily used to treat joint pain and stiffness, numbness and spasms, edema and distension, insufficient lactation, and amenorrhea.
Southwest Camellia, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the flower of the Southwest Red Camellia (Camellia pitardii Coh.-St.), a plant belonging to the genus Camellia in the family Theaceae.It is distributed in Hunan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. It has the effects of detoxifying and reducing inflammation, astringing to stop dysentery, promoting blood circulation to stop bleeding, and regulating menstruation. It is used for dysentery, intestinal bleeding, acute gastroenteritis, irregular menstruation, nosebleeds, hemoptysis, rheumatic pain, arthritis, rectal prolapse, and burns and scalds.
Pattern Identification serves as the foundation of TCM diagnosis. TCM practitioners use the Four Examinations to collect symptoms and signs, then identify the underlying body imbalance as a specific pattern. Treatment plans, including herbal prescriptions, are tailored to the pattern. This holistic method addresses the root imbalance instead of merely relieving separate symptoms.
Dizziness refers to a sensation of mental fogginess or lack of clarity, typically without a feeling of the world spinning; it is often associated with insufficient blood flow to the brain, sleep disorders, or chronic fatigue. The Difference Between Dizziness and Vertigo Dullness in the Head: A sensation of heaviness and dullness in the head, … Read more
The saying, “In all things, do not overdo it; excess will surely harm the body,” boils down to the concept of “moderation”—whether it’s eating, working, managing emotions, or enjoying oneself, once you go too far, both your physical and mental health are prone to problems. This saying is particularly common in traditional Chinese medicine and … Read more
“Affluent Diseases”—commonly referred to in Chinese as “wealth-related diseases”—refer to a class of chronic, noncommunicable diseases closely associated with affluent lifestyles, with the core contributing factors being excessive nutrition and insufficient physical activity. These conditions do not constitute a single disease but rather a collective term for a group of metabolic disorders. The most common … Read more
“Deficiency and Excess Syndromes” are a pair of core principles in the Eight Principles of Differential Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Simply put, a “Deficiency Syndrome” refers to a deficiency of the body’s vital energy (zhengqi) and a decline in organ function, such as qi deficiency, blood deficiency, yin deficiency, and yang deficiency; an “Excess … Read more
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, blood pressure is viewed through the lens of imbalances in qi, blood, yin, and yang: high blood pressure is often attributed to “excessive liver yang,” while low blood pressure is often attributed to “deficiency of qi and blood.” The Story of Washing the Floor With the Spring Festival approaching, my wife … Read more
The core symptom of excessive sweating is frequent, bilateral, and symmetrical profuse sweating in specific areas of the body (such as the armpits, palms, soles of the feet, and scalp) without any obvious triggers (such as high temperatures or exercise). These episodes occur at least once a week but do not occur during nighttime sleep. … Read more
Stimulating acupoints can indeed help activate the body’s self-healing abilities, a claim supported by traditional Chinese medicine theory. The core principle involves stimulating key points along the meridians through methods such as massage and moxibustion to unblock the meridians, harmonize qi and blood, and strengthen the body’s vital energy, thereby aiding the body’s self-repair. Modern … Read more
