17 CHINESE HEALING HERBS & ROOTS

Photo by Hilary Hahn via Unsplash

Living in Singapore, I’ve access to lots of lovely adaptogens and Chinese herbs & spices. Many of these magic roots have health-giving properties, provide nutrition, are anti-bacterial, and live up to their century’s old reputations as ancient remedies. In the book ‘Chinese, Herbs, Spices and More’ by Terry Tan, there is a wealth of wellness knowledge tucked into a tiny little book. Cordyceps to Lemongrass, Gingko to Reishi Mushroom, Job’s Tears to Solomon’s Seal, Liquorice to Longan, Chrysanthemum to Wolfberry and Angelica to Astragalus - this teeny guide is jam-packed with useful titbits on the plants, rhizomes, seeds, fruits, barks, nuts and roots often seen on a TCM apothecary. 

Here’s 17 Chinese healing herbs & roots, summarized (with my comments) from the book:

1.     Astragalus Root (huang qi)

This stimulates the immune system, helps poor circulation, warms the qi, improves the blood and stops over-perspiring.

2.      Chinese Angelica (dang gui)

The uses go back to antiquity. It was used to ward off poisons and epidemic diseases. In herbalism it nourishes the blood and different parts of the root are used.

3.     Chinese Date (hong zao)

This wrinkly fruit is used in sweet and herbal teas & tonics. It is also very nice in hot soups. It is often taken to restore vigour and vitality.

4.      Chinese Wolfberry (gou qi zi)

This enriches yin and lubricates the lungs. Wolfberries (or Goji in the West) help vision. You can add them to teas and soups.

5.      Chrysanthemum Flower (ju hua)

This flower is an alternative to using chamomile petals or Earl Grey leaves. And tea ofcourse and all things to do with the art of it’s brewing first came from China. The Chrysanthemum blossom is the best flower bloom for overall health, an old belief says that you can live for 100 years!

6.      Tangerine Peel (chen pi)

This is a therapeutic citrus herb. It is sour, bitter, pungent. It can be used as both an antiseptic and an anti-depressant. It is often prescribed as an Energy Tonic.

7.       Solomon’s Seal (yu zhu)

This creeping root is full of knots and twists. It is used in infusions medicinally as it is healing and restorative.

8.       Reishi Mushroom (ling zhi)

This is a fungus herbal mainstay having been used for over 4,000 years in China. It borders on the mystical and legendary in it’s reverence. The Chinese name means ‘herb of spiritual potency’ and it was used by Emperors and Sages alike. This god of longevity is a polypore mushroom - it releases spores through it’s pores. It is a panacea for many problems.

Photo by Igor Miske on Unsplash

9.      Pennywort (known as gotu kola in Singapore)

This is a grandmother’s remedy. It has uses which are culinary, medicinal and believed to be longevity-aiding. It is used in herbal brews and is a powerhouse leaf. A treasure trove for healing. [Pennywort in its European guise also features in the Treadwells Plant Magic book.]

10   Myrrh (mo yao)

Myrrh resin is the herbalist’s cleaning agent. It is anti-fungal, antiseptic, it counters poisons, it soothes, it detoxifies and has a lovely fragrance (all of its own, not just combined with Frankincense)

11   Liquorice (gan cao)

This is an anti-viral and anti-bacterial. It supports qi. It is sweet tasting and a herb which influences the action of 12 major body channels in Chinese herbalism. It helps bring balances as well as restoring vitality and general wellbeing.

12  Lemongrass (feng mao)

Lemongrass cools and is used as an anti-microbial cure. It’s used in aromatherapy (I use it in a lot of oil burners and baths, not just for uncrossing) and it gets rid of unpleasantness. In Hoodoo rootwork - as well as for its culinary and medicinal purpose - it’s used in magic to Cut & Clear.

13  Ginseng (ren shen)

This is a universal panacea. It is restorative. The wild root is of most prized value (and high cost). It invigorates, encourages healing and it is also used (hurrah!) in nourishing anti-aging wrinkle creams! Not sure if I’m ready to swap out for my Oil of Olay night cream, rose argan and Pixi retinol regime yet but worth a try?

14  Ginger (jiang)

This rhizome is the underground stem of a herbaceous perennial plant. Ginger is the oldest known spice on Earth. It was first taken to the US and Europe in the 16^th Century, but it has been used for thousands of years longer before that. It’s also lovely in aromatherapy and gives pain relief healing.

15  Garlic (suan)

Prized for millennia, this versatile, curative kitchen classic is a powerhouse of healing properties. It is anti-inflammatory, an anti-biotic, an expectorant and is anti-microbial. The Sulphur gives it its distinctive odour. Garlic helps with circulation and wards off colds. The Ancient Egyptians used garlic back as far as 1500 BC. In the First World War it was used on wounds to stop infection. It relieves tiredness, helps circulation and the blood. Spiritual folk like me also think it wards off evil – ask any Catholic or watch any vampire movie!

16  Cumin (zi ran)

This Middle Eastern beauty was used as long ago as in the time of the Pharaohs – to mummify their dead Kings. Later in Greece then Rome of the ancient world, cumin was applied in cosmetics as well as medicines. It is used as a good source of iron for our bodies to make haemoglobin.

17 Cordyceps (dong chong xia cao)

Literally translated this means ‘Winter Worm Summer Grass’. It changes its form! In Winter it is a worm. In Spring in undergoes a metamorphosis so that in Summer it has become a leaf and then in Autumn it falls as a twig, only to begin the cycle all over again. Cordyceps brings Yin Yang balance. It brings harmony, promotes rejuvenation, and restores life force. It is a great help to our physical wellbeing as this mirrors the little wonder’s own self-restoration ability every cycle.

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If you are interested in adaptogens, plant-sourced alchemists Moonjuice has some lovely recipes and products (super-herbs and mushrooms Ashwagandha, Cordyceps and Reishi for example feature in their 'Dusts'). 

Here is to our collective immune strength, longevity, health and wellbeing. We live in chaotic (aka 'interesting') times, we must be resilient enough to deal with all that life, the 2020s and the universe throws at us. Managing stress hormones with plant-based powerhouse supplements like these can help.

Photo of Fortune Cookies by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash

"May you live in interesting times."