Herb Encyclopedia

Pinyin: Gǒu Qǐ Zi

Goji berries are the small, red-orange berries of the Lycium barbarum shrub, which grows in the Yellow River valley of northern China. They have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2,000 years as a liver and kidney yin tonic and longevity food. The best goji berries come from Zhongning County in Ningxia, where the mineral-rich soil from the Yellow River produces especially nutritious berries. Goji berries were introduced to the West as a "superfood" in the early 2000s.

Pinyin: Hé Shǒu Wū

He Shou Wu is the tuberous root of Polygonum multiflorum, a climbing vine native to central and southern China. It is one of the most famous longevity herbs in Chinese medicine, with a legendary story of a man named Mr. He who restored his youth, black hair, and fertility by consuming the herb. The raw (unprocessed) root has different properties and uses than the prepared (steam-processed with black bean juice) form. Prepared He Shou Wu is the standard form used as a tonic.

Pinyin: Shēng Dì Huáng / Shú Dì Huáng

Rehmannia is a perennial herb with yellow-brown, fleshy tuberous roots. It is one of the most important yin tonics in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is divided into three forms: fresh (Xian Di Huang), raw/dried (Sheng Di Huang), and prepared/processed (Shu Di Huang). Each form has different properties and uses. Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) is the premier blood and essence tonic, produced by steaming the raw root with rice wine (or yellow wine) and drying it - traditionally done nine times.

Pinyin: Fēng Wáng Jiāng

Royal jelly is a thick, milky-white substance produced by worker honeybees to feed queen bees and their larvae. It is the exclusive food of the queen bee, allowing her to grow much larger and live 40 times longer than worker bees. Royal jelly has been used in traditional medicine for its rejuvenating, immune-supporting, and fertility-enhancing properties. It contains a unique combination of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.