Peppermint

Peppermint

peppermint

Also Known As: Mentha Haplocalyx

Chinese Name: 薄荷

Thermal Nature: Cooling

Flavor: Pungent

Organ Meridian: Lung, liver

Properties: Expel heat, relieve headache due to cold, harmonize liver energy

Best Use For: Treating heat-type flu, has excellent properties in promoting sweating (which helps to get rid of body heatiness)

Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 6g

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

Suitable For: All types of body constitution

Cordyceps

Cordyceps

cordyceps

Also Known As: Cordyceps Sinensis

Chinese Name: 冬虫夏草

Thermal Nature: Neutral

Flavor: Sweet

Organ Meridian: Lung, kidney

Properties: Strengthens kidneys and lungs, stops bleeding, dissolves phlegm

Best Use For: Relieving knee and waist pain due to deficiency in the kidneys, relieving persistent coughing due to lung deficiency

Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 9g

Dietary Caution: People with flu symptoms (fever, sore throat, running nose, etc) should avoid consuming cordyceps

Suitable For: Yang deficiency body constitution

Solomon’s Seal

Solomon's Seal

Solomon's Seal

Also Known As: Polygonatum Odoratum

Chinese Name: 玉竹

Thermal Nature: Cold

Flavor: Sweet

Organ Meridian: Lung, stomach

Properties: Nourish Yin, relieve cough, quench thirst

Best Use For: Treating Yin deficiency in the lungs, relieving dry cough, relieving Yin deficiency in the stomach (dry mouth, poor appetite, etc)

Serving Per Day For One Person: 6 to 12g

Dietary Caution: People with bloated stomach should minimize consumption of solomon’s seal alone

Suitable For: Yin deficiency 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

Ling Zhi

Ling Zhi

Lingzhi

Also Known As: Reishi, Ganoderma Lucidum

Chinese Name: 灵芝

Thermal Nature: Neutral

Flavor: Sweet

Organ Meridian: Heart, lung, liver, kidney

Properties: Boost Qi, calm the mind, relieve cough

Best Use For: Relieving insomnia, relieving cough due to Qi deficiency in the lungs, improving appetite 

Serving Per Day For One Person: 6 to 12g

Dietary Caution: People with flu symptoms should avoid consuming ling zhi

Suitable For: Qi deficiency body constitution

Gan Cao

Gan Cao

Gancao

Also Known As: Glycyrrhiza Uralensis

Chinese Name: 甘草

Thermal Nature: Neutral

Flavor: Sweet

Organ Meridian: Heart, lung, spleen, stomach

Properties: Boosts Qi and strengthens the spleen, cools the body and helps with detoxification, dissolves phlegm and stops coughing, relieves pain and harmonizes other herbs

Best Use For: Gancao is commonly used in Chinese medicine and herbal soups as its sweet taste can be accepted by most people. Alone, it can be used for strengthening the spleen and boosting Qi for the heart. It can also be used to relieve cough due to phlegm. 

Serving Per Day For One Person: 2 to 10g

Dietary Caution: Avoid consuming gan cao above the recommended dosage as it will lead to water retention in the body. It has a clashing effect with seaweed, so avoid consuming them together. 

Suitable For: 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

Jiao Gu Lan

Jiao Gu Lan

Jiao gu lan

Name: Gynoacemma Pentaphllum

Chinese Name: 绞股蓝

Thermal Nature: Cold

Flavor: Sweet, bitter

Organ Meridian: Spleen, lung

Properties: Strengthen the spleen and boost energy, dissolves phlegm and stops coughing, cools the body and helps with detoxification

Best Use For: Jiao gu lan is an excellent herb and food to relieve cough that arise due to weakness in the lungs. It is also used for strengthening the spleen. During the Covid-19 period, jiao gu lan is a very common herb used to relieve covid symptoms because it has detoxifying and strong cooling properties. 

Serving Per Day For One Person: 10 to 15g

Dietary Caution: People with weak spleen should avoid consuming jiao gu lan alone as it is very cooling for the body

Huang Qi

Huang Qi

Huangqi

Name: Astragalus Membranaceus

Chinese Name: 黄芪

Thermal Nature: Warm

Flavor: Sweet

Organ Meridian: Spleen, lung

Properties: Strengthen Qi, stop excessive sweating, reduce swelling, nourish the blood

Best Use For: Huang qi can help to strengthen the body’s immunity and strengthen the lungs at the same time. It is also very commonly used for people with Qi and blood deficiency. 

Serving Per Day For One Person: 9 to 15g

Dietary Caution: Avoid consuming bai zhu if you have Yin deficiency body constitution or if you are experiencing flu symptoms 

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