What Chinese herbs used to heal pulmonary tuberculosis

The basic pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis mainly lies in excessive fire clue to yin deficiency. In the case of prolonged duration of disease, it may cause deficiency of qi and yin, even deficiency of yin and yang in severe cases. The pathogenesis at the stage of recovery mainly exists in asthenia of the lung and kidney.

1. Syndrome differentiation and treatment
(1) Pulmonary yin deficiency
It manifests dry cough or expectoration of a bit of white and sticky sputum, short and urgent cough, occasional occurrence of blood-tinged sputum, feverish palms and soles after noon, dry mouth and throat, or occasional dull pain of the chest, tiredness, hypodynamia, thin fur, red lingual margin and tip, thready and rapid pulse. It is advisable to nourish yin and moisten the lung. The prescription used is the modified Yuehua Pill. In the case of thoracic pain, add Guangyujin (Radix Curcumae). Learn more respiratory system diseases, click to read Chronic Bronchitis in TCM. 

(2) Deficiency of qi and yin
It manifests cough without force, short breath, low voice, expectoration of white, clear and thin sputum, hectic fever, aversion to cold, spontaneous sweating, insufficient food intake, loose stool, mental fatigue, hypodynamia, pale complexion, flushing of zygomatic region, dry mouth, smooth and pale tongue without fur and with scanty fluid, or oral erosion, thready and rapid or feeble, large and weak pulse. It is advisable to supplement qi and nourish yin.?The prescription used is the modified Baozhen Decoction. In the case of consumptive fever, spontaneous sweating and aversion to wind, add Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi), Chinese dates (Fructus Ziziphi Jujubae), Bietaogan, Fuxiaomai (Fructus Tritici Levis) and Biejia (Carapax Trionycis). Learn more respiratory system diseases, click to read Causes of Chronic Bronchitis in TCM.

(3) Deficiency of yin and yang
It manifests cough with hoarse voice, consumptive fever, hectic fever due to yin deficiency, spontaneous sweating, night sweat, weak physique, cold body, aversion to cold, cold limbs, asthma, short breath, insufficient food intake, seminal emission, red and smooth tongue with scanty fluid, or pale and enlarged tongue with dental marks, indistinct and thready pulse. It is advisable to strengthen essence and blood, warm and tonify the spleen and kidney. The prescription used is Baozhen Decoction with additional Ziheche (Placenta Hominis), Guibanjiao, Lujiaojiao (Colla Comus Cervi), Dongchongxiacao (Cordyceps) and Zishiying (Fluoritum). Learn more respiratory system diseases, click to read Symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis in TCM. 

2. Rehabilitation methods
(1) Recreation therapy
The musical therapy: In the case of depression and pessimism, select the musical prescriptions of "expressing the emotions and removing depression" and "inspiring the enthusiasm and arousing the feeling"; in the case of impetuosity, select the musical prescriptions of "tranquilizing the mind" and "inhibiting impetuosity and checking anger". The singing therapy. It has good therapeutic effects on grief and melancholy impairing the lung as well as prolonged qi stagnation.

(2) Physical training
Select the traditional sports events like Taijiquan, Taiji sword and eight-section brocade at the resolving stage. Learn more respiratory system diseases, click to read TCM Diagnosis for Chronic Bronchitis.

(3) Acumox and massage
Acurnox: Select Chize (LU 5), Feishu (BL 13), Gaohuang (BL 38) and Zusanli (ST 36). In the case of anorexia, add Pishu (BL 20) and Zhongwan (CV 12); in the case of hectic fever, add Dazhui (GV 14) and Taixi (KI 3); in the case of night sweat, add Yinxi (HT 6) and Fuliu (KI 7); in the case of hemoptysis, add Yuji (LU 10) and Kongzui (LU 6); in the case of vexation and insomnia, add Shenmen (HT 7); in the case of cough, add Taiyuan (LU 9) ; in the case of seminal emission, add Zhishi (BL 47), Guanyuan (CU 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6); in the case of amenorrhea, add Xuehai (SP 10) and Pishu (BL 20). Apply the therapy once a day and retain the needles for twenty minutes. Click to learn Allergic Purpura in TCM.

Acupoint injection: Select Jiehexie (3.5 cun lateral to Dazhui), Zhongfu (LU 1), Feishu (BL 13), Dazhui (GV 14), Gaohuang (BL 38), Quchi (LI 11) and Zusanli (ST 36). Each time, inject 100 mg of vitamin B1 into two or three acupoints of the above acupoints once a day. Use all the above acupoints alternately. Ten times constitute one course of treatment. Click to learn Causes of Allergic Purpura in TCM.

Ear acupuncture: Select Fei (MA- IC 1), Zhen (MA), Jiaogan (MA-AH 7), Shenmen (MA-TF 1) and Pingchuan (MA).

Massage: Massage limbs at the stationary phase. It is also advisable to practice self-massage on the chest. The method is as follows: Rub the palms against each until they get warm. Then, put the palms on the prothorax and massage it gently for twenty times along the muscles between bones with the ten fingers. Mainly massage Danzhong (CV 17) and Yunmen (LU 2).

Besides, it is advisable to press and knead the auricle, digitally press Fei (MA-IC 1), Jiaogan (MA- AH 7), Zhen (MA) and Shenmen (MA-TF 1), apply Wangbuliuxingzi (Semen Vaecariae) on auricular acupoints as well. Click to learn Chinese medicine Treatment for Allergic Purpura.

(4) Dietary therapy
In the case of pulmonary yin deficiency, select Gruel of Baihe (Bulbus Lilii), Gruel of Yuzhu (Rhizoma Polyyonati Odorati) and Autumnal Pear Paste; in the case of deficiency of qi and yin, select Soup of Edible Bird's Nest, Thick Soup of Yin’er (Tremella) and powder of human placenta (3g each time, three times a day). Learn more respiratory system diseases, click to read Chinese medicine Treatment for Chronic Bronchitis.

Besides, dry an otter's liver over a slow fire and grind it into fine powder. Take 3 g of the powder each time with rice soup, twice a day. Or dry several eels over a slow fire and grind them into fine powder. Take 5 g of the powder each time, twice a day. The course of treatment is not limited.

(5) External treatment with drugs
Grind 15g of Wulingzhi (Faeces Trogopterorum), 15g of Baijiezi (Semen Sinapis Albae) and 6g of Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) into powder. Then, mix the powder with 15g of garlic paste and pound the two ingredients evenly. Next, add a bit of vinegar to the above ingredients. At this time, spread the prepared paste on a piece of gauze. Finally, apply the drug with the gauze on the region which is 1.5 cun lateral to the cervical vertebrae and Jiaji of the lumbar vertebrae for about one to two hours. Remove it when burning heat sensation appears on the skin. Apply the drug once every seven days and two months make up one course. Learn more respiratory system diseases, click to read TCM Treatment Evaluation for Chronic Bronchitis.

Siegesbeckia, a TCM medicine for eliminating wind damp

What is siegesbeckia(Xi Xian Cao)? It is a genus of Asteraceae and owns a few annual plants. When it is used as medicine, it actually means the dried aerial part of Siegesbeckia orientalis L., Siegesbeckia pubescens Makino, or Siegesbeckia glabrescens Makino. In China they are primarily produced in Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangsu. The best reaping time is summer and autumn before and during the blossom. Before used raw or steamed with Shaoxing wine, the impurities should be remove and they should be dried. And the high-quality one is with many leaves, thick gray-green stem, buds, and no roots and impurities.

Siegesbeckia orientalis is an annual herb, up to 1 meter or more. The upper part of branches, especially the inflorescence branches, is covered with purple-brown, capitate, and long-handle trichomes and white, long pubescence. Leaves are opposite and blade is thin, short-haired both sides, and with white long pubescence along the veins. Capitulum is 2 to 3 cm in diameter, many, and arranged in corymbose. Achene is about 3.5mm. Flowering times is from August to October and the fruiting time from September to December. Habitats are wood edge, forest, wilderness, and roadside.

Siegesbeckia benefits
It is native to Southeast Asia and adapts to hot, humid environments. So, medicinally what is siegesbeckia used for? Actually its medicinal history can be dated back to the Tang Dynasty, about 1,000 years ago. Then it was formally recorded in Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Compiled Materia Medica) as a medicine mainly for eliminating wind-damp. And long before a few hundreds of years, the sap secreted by siegesbeckia leaves has been used by the ancient Chinese people to treat rheumatism. In recent years, it was found with an active ingredient that has aspirin-like structure. Currently, its calming and soothing effect are being used by the field of beauty.

Clinically siegesbeckia plant and Chou Wu Tong (Folium Clerodendri Trichotomi) are capable of treating rheumatism, rubella, Eczema, Urticaria, and pruritus. As a result, they are commonly used in pair to treat many ailments. However, they have their own advantage respectively. Siegesbeckia is still good at treating physical challenges like paralysis that commonly occur after stroke since it can get rid of wind-damp between the bones and muscles; Folium Clerodendri Trichotomi also treats dizziness and headache since it tranquilizes liver Yang.

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Sweet autumn clematis, a TCM herb for rheumatic disease

What is sweet autumn clematis(Wei Ling Xian)?
Clematis terniflora, a member in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, is native to Asia. Although deemed as an invasive species in a few areas, this vigorous woody vine has been cultivated in parts of North America mainly for landscaping purpose. Its pinnately compound leaves are opposite. White flowers usually open in September and attract many bees because of its sweet fragrance. By the way, it is commonly known as leatherleaf clematis too in some locations.

In China its dried root, namely Radix Clematidi in Pharmaceutical Latin, has long been used as a wind-damp expelling drug. Besides of clematis terniflora, many other species in the same genus are also considered with the same medicinal uses. They include Clematis chinensis Osbeck, Clematis hexapetala Pall., Clematis manshurica Rupr., C. meyeniana Walp., C. florida Thunb., C. uncinata Champ ex Benth., C. lasiandra Maxim., C. finetiana Levl. et Vant., and so on. Among them, the c. chinensis, mainly produced in Jiangsu, Anhui, and Zhejiang, is the most widely used species. Its root is normally dug out in fall. Next, the dirt should be removed before it is dried in the sun. Medicinally it is used cut and raw.

Clematis terniflora health benefits
Rheumatism is a common disease that will bring the sufferers nothing but pain. As one of main ingredients in Chinese herbal medicine for rheumatic disease, it works fast and efficiently. So, how was it found with this amazing healing power? In fact, this is a legend every generation tells the next. In ancient times, there was a person who couldn’t walk for more than 10 years because of suffering from rheumatism. He had been visited by many good doctors and none of them could help. His family was being forced to carry him to the street to try his luck. Fortunately, a monk came across and told him that there was an herb that could be the cure. It turned out that a few days after the medication this person was able to walk again. Now you may have already known what herb was used above. Ever since then it is widely used medicinally.

From the point of view of TCM, it is good at treating Bi syndrome, which refers to the main clinical sign of rheumatic fever, Rheumatoid Arthritis, reactive arthritis, fibrositis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Gout, Osteoarthritis, etc. The reason it works in the treatment of migratory arthralgia and wandering limb, joint pain is that it is cursorial in nature and with stronger ability of activating meridians to stop pain.

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Nervous tension, anxiety treated with TCM sandalwood

What is sandalwood(Santalum Album, Tan Xiang)?
It refers to the woody heartwood of Santalum album L., which is a member in the family Santalaceae. Other common names of this herb are Chandana, Sandal Tree, Yellow Saunders, Lignum Santali Albi, Chandan, White Sandalwood, sandal wood, Tanxiang, Sanderswood, Bai Tan, Yellow Sandalwood, and White Saunders, more. It is mainly produced in India, Australia, and Indonesia. In China it is distributed in Hainan, Guangdong, Yunnan and Taiwan. The preferable harvesting season is summer. After the harvest, it needs to remove the sapwood and chip or cut into extremely thin slices with a special knife. Medicinally it is usually used raw.

Sandalwood benefits
It highly aromatic heartwood can be used to make artifacts and medicine. In temples it is burned directly or in the form of incense sticks to worship Buddha. As mentioned above, Santalum Album is a semi-parasitic plant, which grows very slowly and usually takes decades of years to grow to full size. That makes it one of the slowest growing trees but the mature trees can be up to 10 meters. This tree is so delicate that its seedlings survive only when parasiting on plants of phoenix tree, ormosia hosiei, Acacia rachii, and the like. As a result, the production of sandalwood is very limited. For that reason, since ancient time it has long been the rare, expensive wood and gift from nature. Today synthetic fragrances and perfumes dominate the world. But compared to this valuable natural spice, they are actually nothing.

Sandalwood as medicine and worship tool has a long history, which was recorded in the ancient Sanskrit classics and Chinese medicinal books. Sandalwood essential oil was used in religious rituals long time ago. It is said that ancient Egyptians imported sandalwood for a variety of purposes, including medicine, antisepsis, worship in religious ceremonies, and carving art. Actually many statues of the Buddha were directed carved with sandalwood wood. Ayurveda, a traditional medicine system from the Indian subcontinent, points out that it owns tonic, astringent, and antipyretic properties. And sandalwood paste was and is used to treat skin inflammation, abscesses and tumors. Similarly, this is also an important herb in traditional Chinese medicine. Today it is still widely used in treatment of various symptoms, such as biliary disease, cystitis, gonorrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. What’s more, it especially works wonders for chapped skin, housewives’ eczema, dark spots on skin and face, insect bites, and the like. This herb has so many health benefits, but the top 5 are as follows:

1) Psychological effectiveness. Smelling scent with a sandalwood diffuser is a good way for relaxing since it can soothe nervous tension and anxiety. In addition, it receives a positive response from many users who often find themselves in the state of being obsessed and want to improve it;

2) Physiological effects. It is extremely helpful to the genitourinary system. It can improve cystitis. When used to massage the kidney area, it is able to clear blood and reduce inflammation; its aphrodisiac properties can improve sexual problems, such as frigidity and Impotence; it make patients who suffer from mucosal inflammation feel comfortable and sleep better. It can stimulate the immune system to prevent bacterial infection; it has a preventive action on allergic skin, benefits dry Eczema and aging dry skin, makes the skin softer, and improves itchy or inflamed skin; the use of sandalwood incense or other products can help sleep.

3) Cosmetic effect. Pure sandalwood oil is suitable for aging, dry skin. It can promote skin metabolism, speed up the growth and renewal of skin cell, accelerate the healing of wounds and scars, and help repair damaged skin cells. In addition, it also has good antibacterial effect, which can improve skin conditions like irritation and itch and thereby get rid of Acne. So, you can improve your skin by homemade sandalwood mask.

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TCM Panax notoginseng, one of the best herbs for blood stasis

What is Tienchi ginseng(Panax Notoginseng, San Qi)?
When particularly used as a medicine, it refers to the dried root of Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen (PNG). Along with ginseng, this is a species belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae. Because of its amazing medicinal uses on checking bleeding, people have given it quite a few different names, such as Tianqi, pseudoginseng root, Sanqi, Nepal ginseng, Sanchi, three-seven root, Himalayan ginseng, mountain paint, Radix Notoginseng, and more. In China it is mainly produced in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces. It is usually dug out in late summer early autumn before the bloom time or in winter after the seeds mature. Based on the different collecting seasons, it can also be divided into "Chun Qi" (Spring Seven) and "Dong Qi" (winter seven). Before used to treat medical problems, it still needs to remove dirt, clean, and dry in the sun. And it is normally used raw or ground.

Panax notoginseng is a perennial herb. Bamboo-root-like rhizome is short, crosswise, and with 2 or more than 2 fleshy roots that is cylindrical, about 2 to 4cm long, and about 1cm in diameter, and with longitudinal wrinkles when dried. Solitary stem is about 40cm in height, glabrous, with vertical stripes and base with persistent scales. 4 palmately compound leaves forming one whorl at the top of stem. Single umbel is acrogenous, about 3.5cm in diameter, and with 20 to 50 flowers; peduncle is about 12cm in length, hairless, and with vertical stripes; pedicels is slender, hairless, and about 1cm long; bracts are unconspicuous; flowers are yellow-green; cuppy calyx, male calyx being top-shaped, is with edge that has 5 triangular teeth; petals are 5; stamens are 5; ovary is with 2 rooms; styles are 2 (but the pistillode in male flowers is 1), free, and anaclastic. No fruits are found. Habitats are confined to a narrow zone that is near latitude 23.5° and 1,500 to 1800 meters above sea level in southwest China. The wild species are rare and now most of them are cultivated.

Tienchi ginseng benefits 
As a native produce to Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, it is one of the earliest medicinal and edible plants. Since ancient times it has been recognized as one of the best herbs to promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain. Thanks for that amazing healing properties, it enjoys a high reputation and people used to call it "more precious than gold" and "miraculous grass from Southland."

It is more than just a hemostatic herb. As a matter of fact, it also generates and invigorates blood. In the past it was once considered such a priceless drug that no one was willing to exchange it even for gold. Today it becomes one of favorite tonic. Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi (Supplements to Compendium of Materia Medica), a famous medical work written in Qing Dynasty, had ever given a good review on this herb, "Panax ginseng is the No.1 pick on tonifying Qi while Panax notoginseng is the second-to-none choice on enriching the blood. Because of the same flavor and healing properties, it is thus called Tienchi ginseng, which is the most precious one in all Chinese herbs."

And here is the fact you probably don’t know – Yunnan Baiyao and Pien Tze Huang, the most popular medicines used in surgery and traumatology departments, are based on the ingredient notoginseng. Therefore, it is widely used for a range of different diseases, such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hyphema, cerebral thrombosis, Hyperlipidemia, sequelae of concussion, prostatic hypertrophy, bed sores, severe hepatitis, Coronary Heart Disease, lung disease, keloids, postoperative adhesions, Hemorrhoids, and more.

Chronic atrophic gastritis treated with TCM portulaca oleracea

What is portulaca oleracea(Purslane, Ma Chi Xian)?
Medicinally it refers to the dried aboveground part of Portolaca oleracea L., which is a plant in the family Portulacaceae. Other names include Moss rose, Verdolaga, Herba Portulacae, Pursley, Pigweed, horse tooth amaranth, Little Hogweed, and so on. Usually it is harvested during summer and autumn.

Purslane plant is an annual herb, which can reach up to 35cm. Lower part of stem creeps and branches; upper part is slightly erect or decumbent, succulent, green or lavender, and entirely smooth and hairless. Simple leaf is alternate or nearly opposite; blade is fleshy, oblong, spatulate, or obovate, 0.6 to 2.7cm long and 0.4 to 1.1cm wide, and with rounded apex, entire margin, and broadly cuneate base that resembles horse teeth. Yellow purslane flower blooms in summer, 3 to 5 of them cluster at the top of branch. Conical capsule contains many small black flat round seeds and cracks into shape of cap from the waist. Habitats include roadside, field, gardens and other sunny places.

Portulaca oleracea health benefits
Though considered an invasive weed in some place, it is actually a pretty tasty leaf vegetable. As mentioned above, it is also an herb with many medicinal uses. According to reports, clinically purslane is a common medication for dysentery, acute gastroenteritis, diarrhea, etc. And it also has a curative effect on a variety of ulcerative dermatosis and would infections, such as mastitis, boils, Erysipelas, Cellulitis, athlete’s foot, and so on. In recent year, fresh portulaca oleracea leaf and stem are also widely used in the healing of psoriasis (1), chronic atrophic gastritis associated with intestinal metaplasia and atypical hyperplasia (2), biliary ascariasis (3), hookworm, Urinary Tract Infections, Herpes Zoster, acne, Diabetes, etc. Thanks to its skin benefits, now it is extensively used in the industries of cosmetics, skin care, and even weight loss, available in many different choices, such as portulaca oleracea supplement, tea, tablets, extract, oil, etc.

Mung beans is useful on treating acne caused by inflammation

What are mung beans(Lu Dou)? Actually it means the dried seeds of Phaseolus radiatus L., a plant in the family Leguminosae. Other names of this bean include Green gram, Mung, Greensoy, Semen Phaseoli Radiati, Moong, Golden gram, Vigna radiata, Mash bean, Monggo, Green bean, and so on. It is produced in almost all the provinces of China. It is usually collected in autumn when the seeds are ripe. After the harvest, winnow out the impurities with a dustpan, wash clean, and dry in the sun. Medicinally it needs to be smashed or powdered before the use.

Mung bean plant is an erect or slightly twining annual herb, about 60cm in height. It is covered with short brown bristles. Ternately compound leaf is alternate; length of petiole is from 9 to 12cm; leaflets are 3, and the blade is from broadly ovate to rhombic-ovate; stipules are broadly ovate and stipels are linear. Racemes are axillary and peduncle is shorter than or as nearly long as the petiole; bracts are ovate or ovate-oblong, with long bristles; flowers are green yellow; calyx is bell-shaped and with 4 teeth; vexil is kidney-shaped; stamens are 10 and diadelphous; ovary is sessile and densely covered with long bristles. Pod is cylindrical, 6 to 8cm long, about 6mm wide, black when ripe, and sparsely covered with brown bristles. Mung bean seeds are oblong and green or dark green. Flowering time is from June to July and fruit season is in August.

Mung beans benefits
Modern pharmacology of mung are reducing blood fat, lowering cholesterol, preventing allergies, inhibiting the growth and multiplication of microorganisms, suppressing tumor growth, increasing appetite, protecting liver and kidney, and so on. And here are the details of its health benefits.

1. Protein and phospholipids can excite nerves and increase appetite, which is necessary to increase the nutrition of many important organs;
2. Polysaccharide can enhance the activity of the serum lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and in turn promote the triglyceride hydrolysis in lipoprotein so that it obtains the lipid-lowering effect, which thus can prevent Coronary Heart Disease and Angina Pectoris;
3. Antimicrobial ingredients like tannin can accelerate local hemostasis and promote wound healing;
4. It is a good raw source for extracting SOD, which has very good anti-aging effect;
5. It has inhibition on staphylococci and certain virus. That’s to say, it can clear heat and detoxify, which is really useful on treating Acne caused by inflammation or endogenous heat;