Ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine

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For Indians, lands beyond the Himalayas were always an enigma. Till the beginning of 20th century, parts of Tibet were still unexplored. While, a couple of Chinese pilgrims did travel through India between 4th and 7th centuries, there is no such Indian account of Chinese society. Further, almost all foreign invasions into India were from Central Asia, and none from China and Tibet. Thus, there was a minimal contact through travellers, traders or invaders. British trading interests in 19th century, reversed this isolation. Their craving for Tea, led to opium cultivation in India and sinister trade-wars with China. This slowly opened up China, and it took many decades, for both Indian herbs and Chinese medicinal ingredients to knock on each other doors. As a result, ingredients in Chinese traditional medicine are unique.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a modern name. It is a mix of various systems such as philosophy, Tai-Chi, herbal medicine, accupuncture and a variety of other practices. List of plant and animal compounds used in Chinese Medicine is long. While there are countless recipes, there are more than 500 common items used in them. Further, ingredients often overlap with traditional Tibetan, Mongolian, and Siberian systems of healing.

Traditional ingredients: Ginko and Ginseng

Ginko, and Ginseng are two top selling ingredients across the world. Ginko Biloba is a revered tree in China, Japan and Korea. We use Its dried leaves or extract to enhance memory. Other uses include Asthma, Bronchitis, and to improve circulation. Priests in Japan planted Ginko trees in Japanese temples. Ginko is a universal healer, quite similar to Neem in Indian traditional medicine. Today Ginko is a commonest herbal supplement used across the world.

Ginseng is a root of Panax plants. There are various forms of Ginseng based on its originating plant species. We use Ginseng as a tonic for a variety of chronic diseases. While, traditionalists suggest its use to enhance memory, improve fertility, and to reduce symptoms of menopause, modern medicine disputes these claims. Like Ginko, Ginseng is also promoted by herbalists as a universal healer for a variety of diverse conditions.

Bamboo leaves and Licorice

Bamboo is a grass. In modern houses we often use miniature bamboo plants as a good-luck charm. In Chinese medicine, bamboo (or Zhu in Chinese) leaves are a remedy for fever and inflammation. Chinese herbalists believe that Bamboo-leaf tea helps to dissipate heat.

Many food industries use Lecorice for flavour. On the other hand, Chinese herbalists commonly used Licorice as a binding agent in traditional medicine. It is part of medicines, used to treat gastrointestinal problems, respiratory infections, cough, bronchitis, arthritis, and skin conditions.

Insect, fungi, flower, and a fruit

Traditional Chinese Medicine, also uses various insects as a medicine. These include beetles, bugs, cockroaches, termites and ants. Another component Cordyceps sinensis is a fungus, used both in Chinese and Tibetan medicine. Its traditional use is to increase vigour and vitality. More recently we have also discovered this plant product top have anti-cancer properties.

Chrysanthemum tea is a popular drink in China, Japan, and Korea. It is a multi-purpose tonic, for brain, heart, gut as well as for skin. Monk fruit or Luohan guo is sweet, and is a common Chinese remedy for cough and sore throat. Monks ctarted growing this melon, hence this name. Today some manufacturers also use its extract as an artificial sweetner.

Other widely grown plants used in Chinese medicine

Chinese herbalists adopted some widely available plants as a medicine. Among these is Menyanthes trifoliata, or Bogbean. While, it widely grows across temperate swamps in Europe and North America, Chinese herbalists use it to calm and induce sleep.

There are five other such plants, that featured in 1980 medicinal plant series from Soviet Union. All of these plants (Maral root, Sternb rhizome, False Lupin, Larkspur and Wild Rose) grow in Siberia. Rhaponticum carthamoides or maral root, is available across Siberia and Mongolia, used to improve strength and muscle mass. In Chinese medicine use of this herb is to improve sexual function. Bergenia ciliata is widely used in folk medicine for its antitussive, antiulcer, and antioxidant effects. It is used in Chinese medicine for Kidney stones. Mongolian and Tibetan medicine uses Thermopsis lanceolata or tapered false Lupin to treat fever and heal wounds.

Larkspur or Lark’s heel is used in both Siberian, and Chinese medicine. It helps to relieve abdominal pain and colic. Root of prickly wild rose, is used as a cough remedy and in treatment of snow blindness. It is a rich source of vitamins C and A.

From China to Central Asia

Some plants from Central Asia also have a place in Chinese medicine. Some of these are featured in a 2022 postage-stamp set from Kyrgyzstan.

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is able to relieve almost all symptoms caused by allergies. It helps relieve itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and nasal inflammation. It is also grown as an acquatic plant, as a fish-food and a tonic.

Dandelion is a plant with yellow flowers and white-spores. In Traditional Chinese Medicine dandelion is referred to as ”Pu Gong Ying’. Its traditional use was to relieve fevers, and to treat liver ailments. Today dandolean tea is promoted to be an antioxident.

Red clover or Trifolium pratense has its use in Chinese medicine for regulation of menopausal symptoms, inflammed bowel, and heart ailments. We also call it Hsun Tsao, and use it as a tea for cold and flu like illnesses.

Above ingredients have shaped traditional systems of healing. Today we as we evaluate each of these plants for their active ingredients, we may find some of them to be without much of use and some others as real medicines. None-the-less all of these have percolated in health and wellness world. While we continue to debate their utility and also their potential adverse effects, Let’s watch out this space for more herbs and ingredients used in Chinese medicine. We will continue to search for them in postage stamps.