Chinese Medicines: The Mysteries and Values of Rare Herbal Medicines
Traditional Chinese medicine, as the medical treasure of the Chinese nation for thousands of years, has gathered the wisdom and experience of countless ancestors. In the treasure house of traditional Chinese medicine, there is a category of medicinal materials that are called “precious traditional Chinese medicines” because of their rarity, significant curative effect or unique growth environment. Today, let’s explore the mysteries of these precious Chinese medicines.
1. Rare Herbal Medicines: Exploring the Secrets of Precious Traditional Chinese Medicines
The reason why rare herbs are valuable is often inseparable from factors such as their growth environment, difficulty in picking, and scarcity of resources. For example, ginseng, Ganoderma lucidum, Cordyceps sinensis, etc. are all precious Chinese medicinal materials that everyone is familiar with. Some of them grow in deep mountains and old forests, while others require specific climate and soil conditions to survive, so they are difficult to collect and expensive.
Ginseng is known as the “King of Herbs” and has the effects of invigorating vitality, rejuvenating pulses and strengthening the lungs, and tonifying the spleen and lungs. Wild ginseng is highly praised for its long growth life and significant medicinal effects. Ganoderma lucidum is like a “jelly grass”. It is rich in a variety of active ingredients and has anti-tumor, immune regulation, anti-aging and other effects. Cordyceps sinensis is a special organism. It is actually a complex formed by the Cordyceps fungus parasitizing the body of bat moth larvae. It has the functions of nourishing the kidneys and lungs, stopping bleeding and reducing phlegm.
2. Inheritance from Ancient to Modern Times: Types and Characteristics of Precious Chinese Medicinal Materials
In addition to the above-mentioned medicinal materials, the family of precious traditional Chinese medicines also includes velvet antler, donkey-hide gelatin, musk, bezoar, etc. Each of these herbs has its own unique features and medicinal value.
Deer antler is the unossified but hairy young horn of a stag. It is rich in a variety of amino acids, trace elements and other nutrients. It has the effects of nourishing kidney yang, replenishing essence and blood, and strengthening muscles and bones. Donkey-hide gelatin is a gelatin block made from donkey skin that has been soaked and dehaired. It is known as the “blood-enhancing holy medicine” and has a significant effect in treating blood deficiency and chlorosis, dizziness and palpitations, muscle weakness and other symptoms. Musk and bezoar are two kinds of animal medicinal materials. They have the effects of resuscitating the mind, promoting blood circulation and promoting menstruation, clearing heat and detoxifying, extinguishing wind and relieving spasm.
3. Priceless: A breakdown of the “treasures” in the field of traditional Chinese medicine
In the world of traditional Chinese medicine, there are also some medicinal materials that are known as “treasures” because of their extremely high medicinal value and scarcity. Such as saffron, seahorse, bird’s nest, etc.
Saffron is a perennial flower of the Iridaceae family and a common spice. It has the effects of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis, cooling blood and detoxifying, relieving depression and calming the nerves. Because the filaments are rich in many active ingredients and difficult to pick, they are expensive. Seahorse is a small marine creature that has the functions of tonifying the kidneys and strengthening yang, relaxing muscles and activating collaterals, reducing inflammation and relieving pain. Bird’s nest is a nest made of the saliva secreted by swiftlets and other digestive substances. It is rich in a variety of amino acids and trace elements, and has the functions of nourishing yin, moistening dryness, and replenishing qi.
In daily life, we can reasonably choose these precious Chinese medicinal materials for maintenance according to our own constitution and needs under the guidance of doctors. However, it should be noted that precious traditional Chinese medicines are not a panacea, and their use must also follow the principles of syndrome differentiation and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine. At the same time, since these medicinal materials are expensive and resources are limited, we should cherish them and make rational use of them when using them.
