Hehuanhua

合歡花

Albizzia Julibrissin Durazz

History of Use First appeared in Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica, classified as middle class.

Modern Use Clinical tests have confirmed hehuanhua has a suppressant action on the central nervous system, exhibiting sedative and hypnotic properties.

Traditional Use Sweet in taste and neutral in character, hehuanhua affects the heart and liver meridians. It is used for calming the spirit, lifting feelings of sadness and treating conditions including insomnia and depression. It also invigorates the circulation and facilitates healing, making it a key herb for treating external trauma and injuries.

Origin and Sources From either the flower bud of Albizzia Julibrissin Durazz or A. Kalkora (Roxb.) Prain, family Leguminosae.

Honey

蜂蜜

Mel

History of Use First appeared in Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica, classified as upper class. In the west, it is thought that honey has been used for at least 2700 years to treat a variety of ailments through topical application.

Modern Use Honey shows laxative, anti-tumour and detoxifying effects. It can also increase humoral immune functions. Wound gels that contain antibacterial honey and have regulatory approval for wound care are now available to help conventional medicine in the battle against drug resistant strains of the bacteria MRSA.

Traditional Use According to Chinese traditional medicine, honey is sweet and neutral in nature, entering the spleen and large intestine meridians and tonifying both associated organs, relieving pain and increasing appetite, as well as treating constipation. It also enters the lung meridian and moistens the lungs to stop coughing. Western medicine also prizes honey for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, and it has long been used both as a topical treatment for skin ailments and taken internally to relieve sore throats and coughing. The antibacterial properties of honey are the result of the combined effects of low water activity causing osmosis, the presence of hydrogen peroxide and high acidity.

Origin and Sources The honey made by bees ( Apis cerana Fabricius and A. mellifera L., family Apidae).

Horny Goat Weed

淫羊藿

Epimedium brevicornum

History of Use First appeared in Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica.

Modern Use Yinyanghuo has been used in studies to treat conditions including coronary artery disease, neutropenia, bronchitis and neurasthenia with good success rates.

Traditional Use Acrid, sweet and warm in nature, Yinyanghuo enters the kidney and liver meridians. It is used to tonify the kidneys and fortifiy the yang, increase libido and expel wind-damp-cold. It can treat symptoms of kidney yang deficiency - including impotence, lack of desire, weakness of the lower back and knees and infertility - as well as resolve blockages in the free flow of yang and chi caused by wind-damp-cold. The herb is prepared from the leaves and twigs of Epimedium, or Horny Goat Weed, which are gathered in spring and autumn, sun-dried, and cut into small pieces.

Origin and Sources From the branches and leaves of Epimedium sagittatum ( Sieb. Et Zucc.) maxim, or E. brevicornum Maxim., family Berberidaceae.

Hydration Factor CTE4

獨特保濕因子CTE4

Traditional Use Moisturises and rehydrates skin and maintains the correct osmotic balance of water and lipids to keep complexions looking young and fresh.

Origin and Sources Synthetic.