The herbs and teas with their effect according to the TCM
Herbs
Licorice Root (Gan Cao)
Today, licorice root is still one of the most important herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. In addition to being used as a flavoring agent, licorice has traditionally been used to soothe coughs and sore throats, protect the digestive and urinary tracts, and treat a variety of conditions ranging from diabetes to tuberculosis.
The two main components of licorice root are glychrrhizin and flavonoids. Glycyrrhizin has an anti-inflammatory and antiviral effect and inhibits the breakdown of cortisol. The flavonoids of licorice are powerful antioxidants; they protect the liver cells and help the cells of the digestive tract to heal. Test-tube research has shown that licorice flavonoids kill Heliobacter pylori, the bacterium responsible for most stomach ulcers and inflammations.
Caution: Licorice can cause high blood pressure if consumed in excess. People with high blood pressure should avoid excessive use of licorice.
Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua)
Chrysanthemum flowers make a light, refreshing and spicy brew that is delicious as a tea on its own or mixed with other teas. A classic combination is to add a few flowers to your aged PuErh tea. to make tea. The clear and floral sweetness goes perfectly with the richness of bass notes of the dark, aged tea.
In traditional Chinese medicine, chrysanthemum has pungent, sweet, bitter and slightly cold properties and is associated with the lung and liver meridians. The three main functions are to pacify the liver, release toxins, expel wind and purify heat. They are also known for their calming effect and to reduce red eyes and reduce inflammation.
Chrysanthemum has a calming effect and is often recommended to reduce fever and cold symptoms, red eyes and inflammation at an early stage.
Chrysanthemums are packed with nutrients and the benefits are many. It has strong antioxidant properties due to the presence of vitamin C. It can help manage anxiety, reduce the risk of cancer, improve heart health and slow down premature skin aging .
In addition, the vitamin A content promotes vision and the presence of beta-carotene (an antioxidant) can prevent the risk of premature osteoporosis (weakening of the bones). However, if you experience any side effects, stop taking it and consult your doctor.
Benefits:
- Best for regulating liver Yang and improving eyesight
- Nourishes the heart and kidneys
- Regulates blood pressure and cholesterol
Commonly used for:
Dizziness, blurred vision, sore eyes
Suitable for:
- People who work long hours and often experience headaches or exhaustion from too much screen use
- People who suffer from dizziness, swollen red eyes, sore throat or high blood pressure
Not suitable for:
- People who currently have the flu, have a cold or have weak digestion (e.g. pregnant women, the elderly or young children)
- Persons who experience allergic reactions (e.g. skin rash) when eating chrysanthemum
Peppermint (Bo He)
In traditional Chinese medicine, mint is considered pungent, aromatic and cool. It is associated with the lung and liver meridians, and is used to dispel wind heat, clean the head and eyes, clear rashes, and clear stagnation of liver qi.
Peppermint leaves are high in vitamin C to help boost the immune system. They also relieve nausea, bloating and cramps.
Taken orally, mint is used to treat diarrhea and painful periods, promote perspiration and dissipate body heat. It is also used as a nervous system stimulant. In addition, the German Commission E has approved the internal use of mint oil for various ailments, including flatulence, gastrointestinal and gallbladder diseases, and upper respiratory tract catarrh, and external use for myalgia and neuralgia.
Mint oil contains dozens of chemicals, acids and compounds, including leucine, menthol and aspartic acid. Together, these substances are responsible for many of the healing properties of mint. Studies have shown that mint can inhibit bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus albus and streptococcus, and viruses such as herpes simplex and vaccinia. Other research shows that it facilitates the flow of mucus into the trachea and may improve the absorption rate of salicylic acid (the main ingredient in aspirin).
Jujube (Da Zao)
A sweet red fruit that is 'warm' in nature and a tonic herb usually used to help with qi deficiency.
In traditional Chinese medicine jujube has a tonic effect, and is used to tonize spleen and stomach qi. Jujube is considered a Chinese medicinal herb that calms the mind and relieves mental tension.
It is also used as a harmonizing herb in herbal formulas to make ingredients taste and function better.
Red dates (jujube) also contain a lot of vitamins A, B1, B2, proteins, calcium, phosphorus, iron and magnesium.
Do not use during
Although Chinese red dates have many health benefits, they are considered very sweet and tonic in Chinese medicine, so they may be not suitable to consume for some body types and during certain illnesses. If you experience any of the following symptoms, it may be best to avoid Chinese red dates or limit the amount you eat:
- constipation
- stinky stools
- bloated stomach
- body heat or fever
- red face
- bad breath
- cough with yellow mucus
- worms
- dental disease including gum and tooth pain or infection
- mouth ulcers
If in doubt, contact your Chinese physician.
Benefits:
- Tones the digestive system and stimulates Qi
- Nourishes the blood and relieves anxiety
Commonly used for:
- Weak digestion, loss of appetite, weakness from diarrhea, pale complexion, mood swings, insomnia
Suitable for:
Most individuals; Especially for individuals who are deficient in Qi and blood (symptoms include lethargy, dizziness, pale lips and complexion, heat palpitations, insomnia), including most ladies
Not suitable for:
People with diabetes or hyperuricaemia (consume in moderation)
Goji Berries (Gou Qi Zi)
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, goji berries are plants that belong to the category of "Tonic Herbs for Yin Deficiency". Tonic herbs are used for patterns of Deficiency, when one of the 'Four Treasures' is missing (Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang). Yin tonics have a heavy, moist character. They nourish the Kidneys and the Liver or moisten the Lungs and the Stomach. Extreme Yin deficiency often translates into 'burnout', unfortunately becoming more common in people today.
In addition, goji berries are plants that are neutral in nature. This means that goji berries typically have no influence on the balance in your body. Balance between Yin and Yang is an important health concept in TCM.
Goji berries also taste sweet. Sweet ingredients like goji berries tend to slow down acute reactions and detoxify the body. They also have a tonic effect as they replenish Qi and Blood.
Gou Ji berries are rich in nutrients and contain vitamins C, B1, B2 and other vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids and nutrients such as isoleucine, tryptophan, zinc, iron, copper, calcium, germanium, selenium, phosphorus, B6 and vitamin E. Gou Ji is considered one of the world's most powerful anti-aging foods.
Advantages:
- Strengthens the liver and kidneys, targeting Yin or blood-deficient symptoms, especially improving eye health
- Improves general health with regular intake
Commonly used for:
Aching hips and knees, dizziness, impaired vision or hearing, pale or dark yellow complexion
Mandarin Peel (Chen Pi)
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the tangerine peel has a sharp, bitter taste and a warm quality. It acts on the Spleen, Stomach and Lung meridians, and has three primary functions in Traditional Chinese Medicine:
- It circulates the Spleen and Stomach Qi and strengthens the Spleen.
- It reduces the severity of nausea and vomiting.
- It can be used along with pinellia and poria to help clot mucus, reduce cough, and relieve chest and diaphragm discomfort.
In Western medicine, citrus peel is said to have several beneficial properties. In different times it was used as an expectorant, tonic, antiemetic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
Advantages:
- Boosts digestion by regulating the flow of Qi
- Reduces mucus
Commonly used for:
Excessive bloating, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, cough with thick mucus
Suitable for:
Most individuals; Especially persons with digestive problems, such as loss of appetite and coughing with large amounts of thick mucus
Not suitable for:
Individuals experiencing symptoms such as dry mouth, dry stools, or fever
Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang)
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, this herb has a pungent taste and hot properties and spans the meridians of the spleen, stomach, heart and lungs. Vital functions include warming the spleen and stomach to expel cold, restore yang and promote circulation, and warm the lungs to dissolve retained fluids.
Studies have shown that ginger relieves sore throats and aches and pains caused by colds and flu. High doses of ginger (10-20 grams per day) have been shown to significantly reduce pain in migraine and rheumatoid arthritis.
Rose Buds (Méiguī Huālěi)
According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, rose has sweet, slightly bitter and warm properties, and is associated with the Liver and Spleen meridians. Its functions are to regulate qi and reduce stagnation, remove blood stagnation, nourish the skin, and improve digestion.
Rose treats, among other things, a distended stomach, epigastric pain, pain caused by external injuries, and irregular menstruation.
Advantages:
- Regulate the flow of Qi, alleviating problems with Qi stagnation
- Improve the complexion
Commonly used for:
Irritability or stress, abdominal bloating or pain, vomiting, irregular periods, painful breast swelling
Suitable for:
Most individuals
Not suitable for:
- Ladies who tend to experience heavy periods - Avoid consumption during menstruation
- People experiencing constipation - Consume in moderation
Honeysuckle flowers (Jin Yin Hua)
In traditional Chinese medicine, honeysuckle flower has sweet and cold properties, and is associated with the Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine meridians. It is used to dissipate heat and remove toxins. In general, honeysuckle is used to treat a variety of conditions ranging from fever, ulcers, inflammation and sore throat to skin infections. It is also used (in combination with coptis and pulsatilla) to treat diarrhea caused by by toxic heat. Honeysuckle flower can be used both internally and externally.
This is one of those delicious tisanes to have in your closet for when you have a cold or flu. It has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect and expels toxins in Chinese Medicine theory. It is often prescribed to people suffering from cold with fever, headache and sore throat, but can also be used to help cool people suffering from excessive heat and stress.
Advantages:
- Dispels wind heat
- Cools and moderates circulation
- Detoxifies the body and reduces painful red swelling
Commonly used for:
Cold, fever, sore throat, headache, heat rash, blood in stool, skin infections
Suitable for:
Most individuals; Especially persons who show symptoms such as sore throat, fever, ulcers.
Not suitable for:
- Persons experiencing symptoms such as loose stools, lethargy and abdominal cramps or pain that worsens with ingestion of cold food.
- Persons with pale skin, lethargy, shortness of breath. Also skin infections where thin/clear liquid is released when emptying
Chinese Hawthorn Berry (Shan Zha)
The leaves, berries and flowers of the hawthorn are used medicinally. These contain bioflavonoids, which have several cardiovascular benefits, including reduction of hypertension, increased blood flow to the coronary arteries and improved contraction of the heart muscle.
May lower blood fats
Some studies indicate that hawthorn extract can improve fat levels in the blood. Cholesterol and triglycerides are two types of fats that are always present in your blood . At normal levels, they are perfectly healthy and play a very important role in hormone production and the transport of nutrients throughout your body.
Unbalanced levels of fat in the blood, especially high triglycerides and low HDL (good cholesterol) cholesterol, play a role in atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in your arteries (19Trusted Source). If the plaque continues to build up, it can completely block a blood vessel, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
Used to aid digestion
Hawthorn berry has been used for centuries as a digestive aid. It can shorten the transit time of food in your digestive system. Plus, its fiber content is a prebiotic and can help relieve constipation.
Used to treat heart failure
Hawthorn berry is beneficial for people with heart failure, as has been shown to improve heart function and reduce symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue.
Advantages:
- Helps digestion
- Promotes Qi flow and prevents pain caused by Qi stagnation/blockage
- Reduces bad cholesterol and fat
Commonly used for:
Indigestion, painful stomach bloating, diarrhea, sharp abdominal pain or chest pain, abdominal pain during menstruation or irregular periods, hyperlipidemia
Suitable for:
Individuals who suffer from indigestion or cardiovascular probe
Not suitable for:
- Elderly or children with a weak or underdeveloped digestive system
- Persons suffering from stomach problems
- Pregnant ladies
Cassia Seeds (Jue Ming Zi)
In traditional Chinese medicine, cassia seeds have a sweet, bitter and salty taste are slightly cold in nature, and are associated with the meridians Liver, Kidney and Large Intestine.
Its main functions are to remove heat, improve vision, and relax the bowels. Traditionally it has been used to treat blurred vision and bloodshot eyes. Some practitioners use cassia seed as a laxative to treat constipation.
There is also evidence that it helps lower blood pressure. Cassia seed is often used as part of a larger formula, and is mixed with herbs such as lyceum, rehmannia and dioscorea.
Cassia seed (or Semen Cassiae) is a widely used Chinese medicinal herb. It is mainly used to clear up heat in the body and is often prescribed for people with bloodshot, irritated, swollen or watery eyes. Its cooling effect means it can be helpful for sleep and sometimes < strong>it is used to help with constipation.
Longan
Longan contains several vitamins and minerals, including iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, and high amounts of vitamins A and C.
In traditional Chinese medicine, longan is considered to have a sweet taste and warm energy, and is associated with the heart and spleen meridians. It is used to relieve rapid heartbeat, insomnia, forgetfulness and anxiety associated with blood and qi deficiency. Combined with other herbs such as ganoderma and spirit poria, longan promotes tranquility and calms the mind. It also increases physical endurance.
Advantages:
- Nourishes the heart and spleen
- Nourishes blood and Qi in the body
- Helps calm and calm the mind
Commonly used for:
Qi and blood deficiency, characterized by palpitations, forgetfulness, insomnia, pale yellow complexion
Not suitable for:
- Individuals experiencing fluid symptoms including abdominal bloating or pain, indigestion, feeling of heaviness
- Persons suffering from symptoms of heat or mucus
Tea
Pu Erh tea
Pu Erh tea is one of the oldest types of tea in the world. It has been used as a medicinal tea in China for hundreds of years and surrounding countries. The tea is made from a blend of green and black tea from the Qingmao tea plant.
Because the tea goes through a different fermentation process than black and green tea, the tea gets a typical earthy taste and striking reddish color. The < strong>caffeine content in this tea is much lower than in regular coffee, green and black tea. The tea is particularly known for its positive effect on weight loss, but the tea appears to have many other health benefits as well.
Traditional Chinese medicine is Pu'er tea known to lower blood fat (cholesterol), this is the most outstanding property of the pu'er tea. erh variety, especially relative to all other cha varieties.
Benefits of Pu'er tea
Cholesterol
In addition to the amount of fat, drinking the tea can also lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood. This is due to the presence of saponins, which can bind cholesterol. Having a lower cholesterol significantly lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, saponins can stimulate the immune system, reducing the risk of infections with, for example, bacteria or fungi.
Antioxidants
The tea contains a concentration of antioxidants. Antioxidants help the body prevent and fight unwanted chemical reactions that can lead to a range of conditions including cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer and damage to the nervous system.
Other behaviors
It is also assumed that the Pu erh tea stimulates the digestive system, promotes intestinal function, reduces the feeling of hunger, supports the moisture balance and can purify the blood.< /strong>
Oolong Tea
Oolong is very rich in anti-inflammatory tea polyphenols, theaflavins, thearubigins, and EGCG. These polyphenols are antioxidants and are the nutrients that protect our cells from damage caused by aging, our lifestyle and the environment. However, research shows that the nutrients in oolong tea have stronger antioxidant and antimutagenic effects than green or black varieties.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Oolong tea is often used in treatments such as:
- Weight loss
- Bodybuilding
- Reduce cholesterol and blood pressure
- Prevention against diabetes
- Preventing and treating arteriosclerosis as well as the resulting coronary artery disease.
- Anti-inflammatory
- Improves teeth and skin health
Studies suggest that oolong tea may help boost metabolism, burn fat and aid digestion.
Sencha Tea
Tea is known to provide medicinal and health benefits, and sencha green tea is no exception. Sencha green tea is full of antioxidants that fight free radicals, and is known to reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, and even boost your immune system. And with a good dose of caffeine< /strong> it also boosts your mood.
Da Hong Pao Oolong
It takes seven steps to make Da Hong Pao, including picking, wilting, cooling, making, stir-frying, kneading, and baking. The best Da Hong Pao tea leaves come from Da Hong Pao mother tea trees. Da Hong Pao mother tea trees have a thousand years of history. There are only six mother trees left on the cliff of Wuyi Mountain.
The different processing stages make Da Hong Pao a high-quality tea. While your daily cup of tea can become quite an expensive habit, Da Hong Pao's health benefits are more priceless and worth a try!
Da Hong Pao is one of the types of oolong tea that is rich in polyphenolic compounds. Polyphenol is a natural antioxidant that provides many great benefits to the human body. Plus, Da Hong Pao can help provide vitamin C and fluoride when you need it most.
Benefits: Da Hong Pao and other oolong teas can be used in TCM to clear the mind , reduce fatigue and improve digestion. Some research suggests that oolong tea may lower bad cholesterol levels.
The Amazing Health Benefits of Da Hong Pao:
Weight loss
Drinking Oolong tea for the weight loss treatment has been known for a long time. The tea can lower the levels of lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. It is trusted to promote the metabolism process in the body and inhibit the increase of neutral fat.
Improve digestion
A warm cup of Da Hong Pao is not only comforting, but it is also very helpful. Antioxidants and caffeine can help improve your metabolism, allowing your stomach to process food better and faster. Drinking Da Hong Pao helps keep your stomach healthy and give your stomach an easier time to absorb nutrients and get rid of waste products.
Improve immune system
A cup of tea does more than just comfort you when you need it, it also provides you with minerals and vitamins to help your body fight disease.
At the same time, antioxidants in Da Hong Pao help build immunity and defense against viruses or bacteria. Antioxidants also help the body fight free radicals and prevent damage at the cellular level that causes cancer.
Mental alert
Da Hong Pao contains moderate amount of caffeine allowing you to stay alert and focused throughout the day. At the same time, tea also contains L-theanine, an amino acid that can calm the mind and calm the nerves. These nutrients make tea soothing and energizing at the same time.
Preventing heart disease
Polyphenols have been studied to help lower bad cholesterol in your blood. Drinking Da Hong Pao tea regularly can keep your heart healthy and strong, and can also help prevent plaque buildup on artery walls and coronary heart disease.
By taking Da Hong Pao regularly drink, your body stays healthy. But if you have previously had a heart condition, you should ask your doctor for advice before taking any tea as Da Hong Pao has moderate caffeine content.
Keemun Black Tea (Qimen)
The name - Keemun - is an anglicized version of Qimen, a small town where tea was originally grown. The tea's unique taste made it quite famous, making it a favorite among royal families. Even today, Keemun tea is an important ingredient in English breakfast tea. This tea also stands out for being named as one of the best tasting black teas in the world.
This tea is often described as having floral and sweet notes. Certain types of Keemun have even natural cocoa undertones. The delicious Keemun tea taste has this blend won many awards of the year.
As with any tea, the flavor may vary from one region and manufacturer to another. The tea's location and growing conditions can affect the resulting flavor.
Because Keemun is a black tea, it has many of the same benefits. As such, there's a chance it can help with the following:
- Reducing the risk of heart disease
- Lowering bad cholesterol
- Prevent stroke
- Lower blood pressure
- Improve the health of the digestive system
- Reduce blood sugar levels
This helps to reduce any kind of cell or tissue damage from free radicals. As a result, it helps boost your overall health.
It should be noted that higher quality Keemun teas contain higher levels of antioxidants and healthy components.
There are also indications that this tea may play a role in liver health. In particular, it can help prevent liver damage.
It is believed that Keemun tea can also aid weight loss.
Animal studies have shown that drinking this tea can increase weight loss while reducing hunger.
It can also lower blood triglyceride levels.