Peonies in Herbal Chinese Medicine

Peonies by Donnali

The beautiful peony blossoms are in abundance in Portland at last. I recently learned from a peony cultivator that you can cut peony trees down to the root, and they will easily grow back to full bloom within the a year. The roots run deep into the ground, and are very strong and sustaining. It's no wonder they are often used in Chinese herbal formulas!

In Chinese herbal medicine, the root of both the red (chi shao yao) and white (bai shao yao) peony are used. Peony root is an herb that is often used in women's formulas. Bai shao yao is often used in formulas to stop pain, and it nourishes the Yin in the body. Chi shao yao is also used to stop pain and it cools the blood and clears excess heat.

The sour and bitter quality of these herbs allow practitioners to use them in formulas to help with stagnation-related syndromes, such as trauma or stress. The quality of these herbs can help relieve pain symptoms such as cramping during menstrual cycles, and swelling or inflammation of tissues.

For more detailed information on these herbs, check out Subhuti Dharmananda's website at ITM online.

What Can TCM treat? Insect Bites

Photo by da100fotos

Now that the sun has been out for at least a few weeks, flowers and fruits are at their full potential for natures cycle and our own enjoyment. Part of this flowering and producing process involves insects that many of us love to hate (hate is a bit strong- more like "dislike" or even "fear"). Bees and spiders do so much for our gardens and flowers, but their potential bites or stings, though often accidental, can be painful or even life-threatening.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a lot of treatment plans for insect bites, and since I'm currently taking a dermatology class from Dr. Hong Jin, DAOM, I thought I'd share a few formulas from the class and a few that I have used myself.

Jin Huang Wan, or Golden Yellow Powder is a powder that you can mix with honey or water to make a externally- applied paste. It draws out the toxins and helps stop itching. It's also inexpensive and works better than baking soda for be stings. I can't seem to find any sites online, but the OCOM clinic carries it, as well as other herbal stores. Keep in mind that it may stain skin a nice deep yellow temporarily...

Another favorite of mine is Dan Shen Hou Xue Yin or Quell the Surface Teapills. I took these after my last bee sting, which was pretty nasty, and the swelling reduced within 6 hours of the second dose. This can also be used in cases of poison oak or ivy rashes, or even eczema flare-ups. In the text for the class, a formula is Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin, or 5-Ingredient to Eliminate Toxin formula.

Remember to check with your practitioner if you have any questions about what herbs are in these formulas. Also, if you have a severe allergic reaction to insect bites or stings, go the emrgency room immediately!

Enjoy the sun!

Herbs to Try: Gou Qi Zi

Photo By * Beezy *Gou Qi Zi (Wolfberry)

Gou Qi Zi, also known as Chinese wolfberry, goji berry, or lycium fruit, is easily available in Portland at Asian food stores, New Seasons, and even Trader Joe's has a goji berry trail mix. While there seems to be some controversy over the "best" kind of Gou Qi Zi, in my opinion (as with any herb), organic is the way to go until we are able to grow them locally. Which isn't too far away - check out what groups such as High Falls Garden are doing (more on the subject of local, organic, and sustainable Chinese herbs in a later post)!

According to the Materia Medica Gou Qi Zi is a sweet fruit that is often used in herbal formulas to nourish and warm the body, and also assist the yin in the Kidney and Lungs. This means that it's a great mild herb to help with fatigue, low sex drive, eye problems as well as a general all around nourishing herb. It's often referred to as the "longevity herb," and is thought to help those who consume it on a regular basis live a longer life.

A combination of this tasty herb with chrysanthemum flowers is a great way to clear excess heat out of the body and help your vision. So whenever those promised hot days start making their way here, put a small handful of gou qi zi and a few dried chrysanthemum flowers (Ju Hua) into a glass and let it steep in hot water for a few minutes. You can even add some ice cubes to make a refreshing iced  tea. Eat the berries when you're done- they're surprisingly sweet!