Introduction to Medicinal Materials Cinnabar Ore Cinnabar, also known as Chensha or Dan Sha, was an important raw material for ancient alchemy. Its main component is mercury sulfide. In Chinese history, the most famous female tycoon during the Warring States...
Minium (Huangdan/Yellow Lead): Orange-yellow-red, heavy fine powder, stains fingers orange to yellow Author: Professor Chen Da-zhen Image Source:Professor Zhang Xian-zhe's"Illustrated Guide to Authentic Medicinal Materials" In our previous article, we introduced the source, processing, application, and toxicity issues...
Xinshi and its powder Author: Professor Chen Dazhen Image Source:Professor Zhang Xianzhe's《Illustrated Guide to Authentic Medicinal Materials》 After introducing cinnabar (https://whatsintcm.com/post2/) and red lead as toxic mineral-based Traditional Chinese Medicines, we will now introduce another dreaded toxic...
Lily bulb (scoop-shaped triangular body, white to light brown, slightly thicker at the base and thinner at the edges) Author: Professor Chen Da-zhen Image Source: Professor Zhang Xian-zhe's Authentic Medicinal Materials Illustrated Guide As autumn arrives and temperatures...
Huazhou Juhong (Petiolate Pomelo Peel): Hexagonal star shape, commonly known as "six-claw" Author: Professor Chen Ta-Chen Image Source: Professor Chang Hsien-Che's "Illustrated Guide to Authentic Medicinal Materials" The origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival are ancient. Wu...
【Image provided by】Professor Zhang Xian-zhe, Illustrated Guide to Authentic Medicinal Materials https://whatsintcm.com 【Author】Chen Da-zhen Slices of He Shou Wu clearly showing the cloud-brocade pattern Slices of He Shou Wu prepared with black beans - glossy and bright Slices of unprocessed...
[Image Source] Professor Chang Hsien-che "Illustrated Guide to Authentic Medicinal Herbs" https://whatsintcm.com [Author] Chen Ta-chen Licorice: peeled bark revealing flesh, with "pepper-eye" spots White Peony Root: ample starchiness, a slight stickiness when handled, distinct cambium rings Rehmannia Root (prepared by...
[Image provided by] Professor Chang Hsien-Che, "Illustrated Handbook of Authentic Medicinal Materials" [Author] Chen Ta-Chen Northern Schisandra: flattened spherical, purplish-red, moist, larger diameter, kidney-shaped seeds Southern Schisandra: smaller diameter, reddish-brown skin, pulp adheres tightly to seeds As winter arrives, the...
【Image Source】Professor Chang Hsien-che's "Authentic Medicinal Materials Illustrated Guide" 【Author】Chen Ta-chen Ningxia Goji Berry: Long, slender fruit, sweet to taste, with yellow, flattened kidney-shaped seeds. Left: Gongji is larger; Right: Jiaji. Both are oval-spindle shaped, bright red, wrinkled, with a...
Prepared Rehmannia Root: Third grade, round pellets Strip-shaped Unprocessed Rehmannia Root: Long, slightly flattened strips, twisted rod-like Prepared Rehmannia Root - Minced combination Prepared Rehmannia Root: Processed nine times by steaming Sliced Unprocessed Rehmannia Root from Huaiqing [Author] Chen Dazhen...
