Chicory Root

Chicory Root

chicory root

Chinese Name: 菊苣根

Thermal Nature: Cooling

Flavor: Bitter (Slight)

Organ Meridian: Stomach

Properties: Relieves inflammation, strengthens the stomach, improves digestion

Best Use For: Relieving gout symptoms (as it can reduce the uric acid in the blood), reducing inflammation in the body

Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 6g

Dietary Caution: None

Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Dampness and heat body constitution

Turmeric (Jiang Huang)

Turmeric

Turmeric

Also Known As: Jiang Huang

Chinese Name: 姜黄

Thermal Nature: Warm

Flavor: Bitter, sweet, pungent

Organ Meridian: Liver, spleen

Properties: Promote Qi flow, relieve pain

Best Use For: Relieving chest pain, swelling pain due to fall, amenorrhea, rheumatic shoulder and arm pain

Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 9g

Dietary Caution: People with blood deficiency should limit the consumption of turmeric

Suitable For: Balanced body constitution

Rose

Rose

rose

Also Known As: Rose Rugosa

Chinese Name: 玫瑰花

Thermal Nature: Warm

Flavor: Bitter, sweet

Organ Meridian: Spleen, liver

Properties: Harmonize liver Qi, stop bleeding and relieve pain, promote blood circulation

Best Use For: Harmonizing liver and stomach Qi, relieving menstruation irregularity

Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 6g

Dietary Caution: People with Yin deficiency should reduce intake of rose

Suitable For: Blood stasis body constitution

Fingered Citron

Fingered Citron

fingered citron

Also Known As: Citrus Medica

Chinese Name: 佛手

Thermal Nature: Warm

Flavor: Bitter, pungent, sour

Organ Meridian: Spleen, lung, liver, stomach

Properties: Harmonize liver and stomach Qi, dissolves phlegm

Best Use For: Relieving stagnant Qi in the liver and stomach

Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 10g

Dietary Caution: People with Yin deficiency should reduce their intake of fingered citron

Suitable For: All types of body constitution

Tangerine Peel

Tangerine Peel

tangerine peel

Also Known As: Citrus Reticulata

Chinese Name: 陈皮

Thermal Nature: Warm

Flavor: Bitter, pungent

Organ Meridian: Spleen, lung

Properties: Strengthen the spleen and harmonize Qi flow in the stomach and spleen, dissolves phlegm

Best Use For: Highly effective for people who experience bloated stomach especially after eating dairy or foods that obstruct Qi flow in the stomach. Click here to read more about its benefits and usage.

Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 10g

Dietary Caution: People with Qi or Yin deficiency should reduce the intake of tangerine peel

Suitable For: All types of body constitution

Dandelions

Dandelions

Dandelion

Also Known As: Taraxacum Mongolicum

Chinese Name: 蒲公英

Thermal Nature: Cold

Flavor: Sweet, bitter

Organ Meridian: Liver, stomach

Properties: Cools the body and helps with detoxification, relieves swells and eases water retention in the body

Best Use For: Detoxifying, removing toxins in the liver

Serving Per Day For One Person: 10 to 15g

Dietary Caution: People with weak spleen should avoid consuming dandelions alone

Suitable For: All types of body constitution

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

Also Known As: Chrysanthemum Morifolium

Chinese Name: 菊花

Thermal Nature: Cold (Slight)

Flavor: Sweet, bitter

Organ Meridian: Lung, liver

Properties: Expel heat, relieve headache due to cold, relieve pain around the eye area

Best Use For: Treating heat-type flu. There are various kinds of chrysanthemum, please refer here for more details on the differences.

Serving Per Day For One Person: 5 to 10g

Dietary Caution: People with weak spleen should avoid consuming chrysanthemum alone

Suitable For: All types of body constitution

American Ginseng

American Ginseng

American Ginseng

Also Known As: Panax Quinquefolium

Chinese Name: 西洋参

Thermal Nature: Cooling

Flavor: Sweet, bitter (slight)

Organ Meridian: Heart, lung, kidney

Properties: Boost Qi, nourish Yin, cools the body

Best Use For: People with Qi and Yin deficiency, boosting energy levels for people who are recovering from illness

Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 6g

Dietary Caution: People with flu symptoms should avoid consuming ginseng for the time being. Never consume American Ginseng with Hellebore as they have clashing effects on each other.

Suitable For: Yin deficiency body constitution, Qi deficiency body constitution

Ci Wu Jia

Ci Wu Jia

ci wu jia

Also Known As: Acanthopanax Senticosus

Chinese Name: 刺五加

Thermal Nature: Warm

Flavor: Sweet, bitter (slight)

Organ Meridian: Spleen, lung, kidney, heart

Properties: Boost Qi and strengthen the spleen, strengthen kidney and calm the mind

Best Use For: Ciwujia is used for treating weakness (Qi deficiency) in both the spleen and lungs or kidney and lungs. It is also used to treat insomnia caused by Qi deficiency in the heart and spleen. Nowadays, it is more commonly used to treat deficiencies in the kidney.

Serving Per Day For One Person: 9 to 20g

Dietary caution: People with Yin deficiency body constitution should avoid consuming ci wu jia

Suitable For: Qi deficiency body constitution

Hong Jing Tian

Hong Jing Tian

Hong jing tian

Also Known As: Rhodiola Crenulata

Chinese Name: 红景天

Thermal Nature: Neutral

Flavor: Sweet, bitter

Organ Meridian: Spleen, lung, heart

Properties: Boost Qi and promotes blood flow, relieves cough

Best Use For: Very potent herb to strengthen the lungs and protect it against inflammation and virus, suitable for people who want to improve their immunity against cold and flu

Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 6g

Dietary Caution: Not known

Suitable For: Qi deficiency body constitution