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TCM Treasures - Chrysanthemum
By Zhang Qian |
June 9, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SIMPLIFIED Chinese: 菊花 Pinyin: jú huā
THE chrysanthemum - ju hua in Chinese - was highly regarded by ancient Chinese scholars as a symbol of nobility and integrity, and long prized by ordinary people for its medicinal properties.
A legend goes that a widow who raised her son alone developed eye problems due to weaving work and bouts of tears.
The boy dreamed a fairy guided him to a valley where chrysanthemums grew in abundance. She said that only a white chrysanthemum that bloomed on the 9th day of the 9th month in the traditional lunar calendar would heal his mother.
The boy found the plant and took it home. He picked one flower each day to make a decoction. After seven doses, his mother miraculously regained her eyesight. When the plant was destroyed in a struggle with the family's landlord, who was trying to steal it, the fairy reappeared and told the boy the secret of breeding chrysanthemums.
The chrysanthemum is a "cold" herb in traditional Chinese medicine, that helps dispel pathogenic heat, helps the liver, improves eyesight and aids detoxification. It is often prescribed for heat-related ailments, such as sore throats, acne, ulcers and headaches. It can also be used to improve eyesight and treat high blood pressure and liver problems.
Not all varieties of chrysanthemums are suitable for medical use.
Prescriptions & Usage:
Chrysanthemum pillow
Fill a pillow with dry chrysanthemum flowers and sleep with it.
Benefits: Helps relieve high blood pressure, dizziness, sleeplessness and strained eyes.
Chrysanthemum knee pad
Fill gauze bags with dry chrysanthemum and mugwort powder. Wear as knee pads.
Benefits: Relieves inflammation in the joints.
Chrysanthemum, white fungus and lotus seeds soup
Soak 30g white fungus for two hours.
Cook the white fungus and 30g lotus seeds for two hours with water. Add a few pieces of chrysanthemum flowers and stir.
Add sugar to sweeten.
Benefits: Helps the lungs, boosts energy and benefits the heart.
THE chrysanthemum - ju hua in Chinese - was highly regarded by ancient Chinese scholars as a symbol of nobility and integrity, and long prized by ordinary people for its medicinal properties.
A legend goes that a widow who raised her son alone developed eye problems due to weaving work and bouts of tears.
The boy dreamed a fairy guided him to a valley where chrysanthemums grew in abundance. She said that only a white chrysanthemum that bloomed on the 9th day of the 9th month in the traditional lunar calendar would heal his mother.
The boy found the plant and took it home. He picked one flower each day to make a decoction. After seven doses, his mother miraculously regained her eyesight. When the plant was destroyed in a struggle with the family's landlord, who was trying to steal it, the fairy reappeared and told the boy the secret of breeding chrysanthemums.
The chrysanthemum is a "cold" herb in traditional Chinese medicine, that helps dispel pathogenic heat, helps the liver, improves eyesight and aids detoxification. It is often prescribed for heat-related ailments, such as sore throats, acne, ulcers and headaches. It can also be used to improve eyesight and treat high blood pressure and liver problems.
Not all varieties of chrysanthemums are suitable for medical use.
Prescriptions & Usage:
Chrysanthemum pillow
Fill a pillow with dry chrysanthemum flowers and sleep with it.
Benefits: Helps relieve high blood pressure, dizziness, sleeplessness and strained eyes.
Chrysanthemum knee pad
Fill gauze bags with dry chrysanthemum and mugwort powder. Wear as knee pads.
Benefits: Relieves inflammation in the joints.
Chrysanthemum, white fungus and lotus seeds soup
Soak 30g white fungus for two hours.
Cook the white fungus and 30g lotus seeds for two hours with water. Add a few pieces of chrysanthemum flowers and stir.
Add sugar to sweeten.
Benefits: Helps the lungs, boosts energy and benefits the heart.
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