Herb Encyclopedia
Your comprehensive guide to 106+ medicinal herbs. Discover traditional uses, modern research, dosage guidelines, and safety information.
Showing 5 of 106 herbs
Ginger Root
Zingiber officinale
Pinyin: Shēng Jiāng
Ginger is a tropical plant with tall stems and white-yellow flowers, grown for its aromatic, spicy rhizome. It is one of the most widely used medicinal and culinary herbs in the world. In Chinese medicine, ginger (Sheng Jiang) is considered an essential herb - it appears in more formulas than any other except licorice. Both fresh ginger (Sheng Jiang) and dried ginger (Gan Jiang) are used, with different properties.
Fennel Seed
Foeniculum vulgare
Pinyin: Xiǎo Huí Xiāng
Fennel is a flavorful culinary and medicinal herb with a licorice-like taste. It has been used since ancient times by the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians for both food and medicine. Fennel seed is best known as a digestive aid that relieves gas, bloating, and intestinal spasms. It is also used as a galactagogue (promotes breast milk) and for respiratory conditions.
Licorice Root
Glycyrrhiza uralensis / glabra
Pinyin: Gān Cǎo
Licorice is a perennial legume with purple flowers and long, sweet roots. It is the most widely used herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, appearing in more formulas than any other herb. Known as the "Great Harmonizer," it harmonizes the actions of other herbs in a formula, moderates harsh tastes, and enters all 12 meridians. Glycyrrhizin, the primary sweet compound, is 30-50 times sweeter than sugar.
Slippery Elm
Ulmus rubra
Pinyin: Hóng Yú Shù Pí
Slippery elm is a tree native to eastern North America whose inner bark has been used as medicine and food by Native Americans for centuries. The bark becomes very slippery and mucilaginous when mixed with water, which gives it its soothing and protective properties. Slippery elm is valued for its ability to soothe irritated mucous membranes throughout the digestive, respiratory, and urinary systems.
Turmeric
Curcuma longa
Pinyin: Jiāng Huáng
Turmeric is a tropical perennial plant related to ginger, with large leaves and white-pink flowers. The bright orange-yellow rhizome is used both as a spice (key ingredient in curry) and as a medicine. Turmeric has been used for over 4,000 years in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Curcumin, the primary active compound, is one of the most extensively studied natural substances for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.