Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines: Efficacy and Food Safety Guide – From Pearl for Brightening Eyes and Ligusticum for Promoting Blood Circulation to Aloe Vera Poisoning Warnings and Chrysanthemum Medicinal Cuisine

What are the effects of pearls? How to use them? This product is a pearl formed by bivalve oysters such as the triangular sail mussel or the pleated crown mussel under stimulation. It is automatically removed from the shell, washed, and dried. The pearl is spherical, oblong, oval, or rod-shaped, with a diameter of 1.5–8 mm. The surface is off-white, light pink, light yellowish-green, or light blue, translucent, smooth or slightly uneven, with a unique colored luster. It is hard, and the broken surface has layered patterns. It is odorless and tasteless. This product tastes sweet and salty, is cold in nature, and enters the heart and liver meridians. It can calm the mind and relieve fright, improve eyesight and clear away corneal opacities, detoxify and promote tissue regeneration. It is used for palpitations, insomnia, infantile convulsions, epilepsy, corneal opacity, and slow-healing sores. Dosage in traditional Chinese medicine: 0.1–0.3 g, mostly used in pills and powders; appropriate amount for external use.

What are the effects and usage of Vaccaria segetalis? This product is the dried, mature seed of Vaccaria segetalis, a plant in the Caryophyllaceae family. The plant is harvested in summer when the fruit is ripe but before the pericarp splits open. It is then sun-dried, the seeds are threshed, impurities are removed, and it is sun-dried again. The seed is spherical, about 2mm in diameter. The surface is black, with a few reddish-brown seeds, slightly glossy, with fine granular protrusions and a longitudinal groove on one side. It is hard, with white endosperm, a curved embryo forming a ring, and two cotyledons. It is odorless and has a slightly astringent and bitter taste. This product is bitter in taste, neutral in nature, and enters the liver and stomach meridians. It can invigorate blood circulation, regulate menstruation, promote lactation, and reduce swelling. It is used for insufficient lactation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and mastitis. Dosage: 4.5–9g. Use with caution in pregnant women.

What are the effects of sea buckthorn? How to use it? This product is a traditional Chinese medicine used by the Mongolian and Tibetan people. It is the dried, mature fruit of the sea buckthorn plant (Hippophae rhamnoides). It is harvested in autumn and winter when the fruit is ripe or frozen solid. Impurities are removed, and it is dried or steamed and then dried. The fruit is spherical or flattened-spherical, sometimes several adhering together, with a single fruit diameter of 5-8 mm. The surface is orange-yellow or brownish-red, wrinkled, with a remnant style at the apex and a short fruit stalk or fruit stalk scar at the base. The pulp is oily and soft. The seeds are obliquely ovate, about 4 mm long and 2 mm wide; the surface is brown and glossy, with a longitudinal groove in the middle; the seed coat is relatively hard, and the kernel is milky white and oily. It has a slight odor and a sour and astringent taste. This product is sour and astringent, and warm in nature. It can relieve cough and phlegm, promote digestion, and invigorate blood circulation. It is used for cough with excessive phlegm, indigestion, abdominal pain due to food stagnation, traumatic swelling and bruising, and amenorrhea due to blood stasis. Dosage: 3-9 g.

What are the effects of Isatis root? How to use it? This product is the dried root of Isatis indigotica, a plant in the Brassicaceae family. It is harvested in autumn, cleaned of dirt and sand, and sun-dried. The root is cylindrical, slightly twisted, 10-20cm long and 0.5-1cm in diameter. The surface is pale grayish-yellow or pale brownish-yellow, with longitudinal wrinkles and transverse lenticels, and branch roots or branch root scars. Dark green, whorled leaf stalk remnants and dense wart-like protrusions are visible. It is solid, slightly soft in texture, with a yellowish-white cortex and yellow xylem in cross-section. It has a faint odor and a slightly sweet taste followed by bitterness. This product is bitter and cold in nature. It enters the Heart and Stomach meridians. It can clear heat and detoxify, cool the blood and soothe the throat. It is used for febrile diseases with rashes, mumps, sore throat, erysipelas, epidemic parotitis, and carbuncles. Dosage in traditional Chinese medicine: 9-15g.

What are the effects of Forsythia suspensa? How to use it? This product is the dried fruit of Forsythia suspensa, a plant of the Oleaceae family. Harvested in autumn when the fruit is still green and just beginning to ripen, impurities are removed, it is steamed, and then sun-dried; this is commonly known as "Qingqiao" (green forsythia). Harvested when the fruit is fully ripe, sun-dried, and impurities are removed; this is commonly known as "Laoqiao" (old forsythia). The fruit is oblong to ovate, slightly flattened, 1.5–2.5 cm long and 0.5–1.3 cm in diameter. The surface has irregular longitudinal wrinkles and numerous raised small spots, with a distinct longitudinal groove on each side. The apex is sharp, and the base has a small fruit stalk or has fallen off. "Qingqiao" is mostly intact, with a greenish-brown surface and fewer raised grayish-white spots; it is hard; the seeds are numerous, yellowish-green, slender, and winged on one side. "Laoqiao" splits open from the apex or into two halves, with a yellowish-brown or reddish-brown surface, and a smooth, light yellowish-brown inner surface with a longitudinal septum; it is brittle; the seeds are brown and mostly fallen off. It has a slightly fragrant odor and a bitter taste. This product is bitter and slightly cold in nature. It enters the lung, heart, and small intestine meridians. It can clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling and dissipate nodules. It is used for carbuncles, scrofula, mastitis, erysipelas, wind-heat common cold, initial stage of febrile disease, febrile disease entering the nutritive level, high fever with thirst, delirium with rashes, and urinary retention due to heat. Dosage in traditional Chinese medicine: 6–15g.

What are the effects of Ligusticum chuanxiong? How to use it? This product is the dried rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong, a plant of the Apiaceae family. It is harvested in summer when the nodes on the stem are prominently protruding and slightly purplish. After removing the soil and sand, it is sun-dried and then oven-dried, and the fibrous roots are removed. This product is an irregularly nodular, fist-shaped mass, 2-7 cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-brown, rough, and wrinkled, with numerous equally raised nodes. The apex has a concave, nearly circular stem scar, and the lower side and nodes have numerous small, nodular root scars. It is firm and not easily broken. The cross-section is yellowish-white or grayish-yellow, scattered with yellowish-brown oil cells, and the cambium has wavy ring patterns. It has a strong fragrant aroma and a bitter, pungent taste. It has a slightly numbing sensation on the tongue and a slightly sweet aftertaste. This product is pungent and warm in nature, and enters the liver, gallbladder, and pericardium meridians. It can invigorate blood circulation, promote qi circulation, dispel wind, and relieve pain. It is used for irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain due to masses, chest and rib pain, traumatic swelling and pain, headache, and rheumatic pain. Dosage for traditional Chinese medicine: 3–9g.

Can aloe vera cause poisoning? In recent years, many people have regarded aloe vera as a medicinal and beauty product, and some restaurants have even included it in their cuisine. However, aloe vera has a certain degree of toxicity, and improper use can lead to poisoning incidents. Not long ago, a beauty salon in Changsha, Hunan Province, nearly caused a fatal allergic dermatitis incident when aloe vera was used on a customer. Traditional Chinese medicine uses aloe vera to treat constipation due to heat accumulation, amenorrhea in women, infantile malnutrition with intestinal parasites, tinea, scabies, and hemorrhoids. Pharmacological analysis shows that aloe vera mainly contains aloin, which, after ingestion, exerts a stimulating laxative effect in the intestines. Among all aloin laxatives, aloe vera is the most irritating. Clinical observations show that significant abdominal pain and pelvic congestion often accompany the laxative effect. Therefore, excessive internal consumption of aloe vera can irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, causing a series of toxic reactions in the digestive tract. Excessive consumption by pregnant women can also easily lead to miscarriage. Therefore, according to traditional Chinese medicine regulations, the oral dosage of aloe vera should generally not exceed 5 grams. There are reports that the toxic dose of aloe vera is 9 to 15 grams.

What are the benefits of eating chrysanthemums in autumn? Traditional Chinese medicine believes that chrysanthemums are sweet, bitter, and cool in nature, and enter the lung, liver, and kidney meridians. Their effects include dispelling wind and clearing heat, nourishing the liver and improving eyesight, clearing heat and detoxifying, and promoting blood circulation. They can be used in recipes and as medicine. Pharmacological studies show that chrysanthemums contain volatile oils, chrysanthemin, adenine choline, and various vitamins. Clinically, they are used to treat colds, headaches, dizziness, and red, swollen eyes. They also have auxiliary effects on hypertension, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, and arteriosclerosis. Chrysanthemums have a fragrant aroma and a refreshing taste. They can be cooked into various delicious dishes, such as stir-frying, roasting, cold dishes, fillings, infusions, and teas, including chrysanthemum meat, chrysanthemum fish, chrysanthemum tofu, and chrysanthemum seafood. Chrysanthemum soup and chrysanthemum tea are commonly used chrysanthemum dishes and drinks throughout history, while chrysanthemum crystals are a popular health-promoting and cooling beverage in summer and autumn. Medicinal chrysanthemums are divided into three types: yellow chrysanthemum, white chrysanthemum (chamomile), and wild chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemum is the main ingredient, and various other auxiliary ingredients can be added to make a variety of medicinal dishes. Not only can they satisfy the palate, but they can also cure diseases and strengthen the body. (1) Chrysanthemum porridge. Remove the stems from the chrysanthemums, steam them, dry them in the sun, and cook them with japonica rice into porridge. You can add lily bulbs, Job's tears, jujubes, lotus seeds and other autumn tonics. Chrysanthemums are fragrant and light in texture. They can disperse wind-heat in the lung meridian. They are bitter and cold in nature. They can clear the fire in the liver meridian. When cooked with japonica rice into porridge, the properties of rice can help the medicinal power of chrysanthemums. It has the effects of dispersing wind-heat, clearing liver fire, brightening the eyes and lowering blood pressure. The medicinal effect is mild and long-lasting. (2) Various medicinal dishes. There is a famous "chrysanthemum banquet" in the Qing Dynasty palace. The main dishes include: chrysanthemum fish balls, chrysanthemum fried chicken slices, chrysanthemum swallow's nest, chrysanthemum sprouts mixed with shredded tripe, chrysanthemum stir-fried pork tenderloin, chrysanthemum whole chicken wings, chrysanthemum stir-fried chicken breast, etc. (3) Chrysanthemum tea. Chrysanthemum tea has a history of two thousand years as a summer and autumn beverage. Among the chrysanthemums used for tea, Hangzhou white chrysanthemum, Henan Huai chrysanthemum and Anhui Chuzhou chrysanthemum are the most famous. Take 10 grams each of chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, dendrobium and mulberry leaves, brew with boiling water and drink as tea. It has the effects of calming the liver and improving eyesight, clearing heat and dispelling wind, lowering blood pressure and unblocking the meridians, and promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. It can also lower blood lipids and blood pressure. (4) Chrysanthemum wine. Drinking chrysanthemum wine is one of the four major customs of the Double Ninth Festival. Take dried chrysanthemums, add them to white wine with rehmannia, angelica, and wolfberry and soak for 2 to 5 months. Drink an appropriate amount every day. It has the effects of clearing the eyes and head, nourishing yin and clearing heat, promoting blood circulation and qi, and anti-aging and prolonging life. It can treat dizziness, insomnia and dreaminess caused by liver yang and rheumatoid arthritis. (5) Chrysanthemum hot pot. It is a famous dish of Huaiyang cuisine. Wash fresh chrysanthemums, remove the petals, mix with various delicious seasonings, put them in the hot pot and eat them as they are cooked. It is fragrant and delicious, unique and nutritious. (6) Chrysanthemum leaves. Chrysanthemum leaves are neutral in nature and pungent in taste, while chrysanthemum seedlings are cool in nature and sweet and slightly bitter in taste. Both can be used as medicine or as vegetables. "Stir-fried chrysanthemum beans" is a folk specialty dish in early spring. (7) Chrysanthemum pillow. Using chrysanthemums with cassia seeds, angelica, magnolia, and jasmine as pillow stuffing creates a pleasant fragrance that helps one fall asleep. It also has certain therapeutic effects on colds, headaches, dizziness, various eye diseases, and high blood pressure. Chrysanthemums are cool in nature, so those with qi deficiency, stomach cold, or spleen deficiency and loose stools should avoid or use with caution.