Jade Forest® Tea & Herbal Encyclopaedia
​
A-C
Alfalfa
'The father of all foods'
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
It is also known as lucerne, clover or Medicago sativa, it is a type of plant that belongs to the pea family, and is found throughout western Asia and eastern Europe. It is probably better known as a life stock crop, but in the recent years the sprouts of the alfalfa plant have become a popular food, not to mention it has been used as herbal medicine for at least 1,500 years
As a type of folk medicine, alfalfa has been used to treat conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, malfunction of the thyroid gland, kidney conditions, bladder and prostate conditions and to help with blood clotting. The Ancient Greeks used alfalfa to treat a variety of diseases including bladder and kidney conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses alfalfa for kidney stones, reduce swelling.
​
It contains high content of bioactive plant compounds. They include saponins, coumarins, flavonoids, phytosterols, phytoestrogens (plant estrogens), which are useful in either hypo or hyper-estrogenic states, and alkaloids. There has been some research and a range of small human studies confirmed its cholesterol lowering effect.
Aloe Vera
'Empress of healing plants'
The earliest record of a human use for Aloe vera comes from the Ebers Papyrus (an Egyptian medical record) from the 16th century BC, it is also found in the Greek Herbal of Dioscorides (41 A.D.-68 A.D.) In TCM it is used to clear the Heat and ease constipation.
Aloe vera products are made from the juice, the gel, and the whole leaf, and come in tablets, capsules, juices, gels, topical ointments, and lotions. Aloe support the body's natural elimination processes, and soothes the intestinal tract, mucous membranes and skin. A review of academic literature notes that Aloe Vera's emollient and demulcent effect, while its Polysaccharide content supports immune system in fighting inflammation.
​
​
Andrographis
'The king of bitters'
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Andrographis is a bitter herb native to South Asian countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia and Southern China. It readily grows in humid, shady places, with dark green slender stem and leaves that are used by the traditional herbalists to treat infectious disease and heart problems. The traditional Chinese herbalists consider andrographis an extremely herb and would never recommend it to pregnant women.
Andrographis contains a pharmacologically important chemical called andrographolide – an extremely bitter substance. Scientists are fascinated by andrographolide as previous research have shown its effects on immunomodulation and stoke. More and more in-depth studies are carried out every day to understand more of this herb. In fact, andrographolide is licensed as a drug for use in China, known as Xiyanping.
Aniseed
'Warms the Interior and expels Cold, tonifies qi and yang'
First cultivated in the eastern Mediterranean and Southwest Asia, aniseed is an integral part of Asian cuisine. Due to its pungent and warming nature, traditional herbalists tend to use aniseeds for upset stomach, menstrual pain and to warm up the body for people with the 'yang-deficiency' constitution.
​
Aniseed essential oil is rich in powerful flavour components such as anethole - the same chemical found in fennel - which has anti-microbial and anti-fungal activities. In the hands of master tea brewers, aniseed can be a powerful ingredient that 5brings distinct flavour as well as wellness benefits, in fact, aniseed even makes excellent alcohols such as Sambuca, Ouzo and Mastika.
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Angelica Sinensis
'The goddess of female herbal medicine'
Commonly known as 'Dong Quai' or 'Dang Gui', Angelica Sinensis is a well-known Chinese herbal medicine that grows in the high altitude mountainous regions. The dried root of the herb is traditionally used for women's health issues, such as menstrual problems and reproductive issues, as well as many blood circulation-related problems.
Angelica Sinensis has been shown to affect estrogen and other hormones in animal, but there is currently a lack of extensive human trials. At least six chemicals related to coumarin have been identified in Angelica Sinensis, that may act to relax blood vessels. As a result, an experienced herbalist would not prescribe Angelica Sinensis to pregnant women.
Ashwagandha
'Indian ginseng'
Ashwagandha is also known as 'winter cherry' or ' Indian ginseng' and belongs to nightshade family of plants. The translation of Ashwagandha from Sanskrit is roughly, “the smell and strength of a horse”, alluding to its aphrodisiac properties, while its Latin name “somnifera”means “sleep-inducing”. It has over 4,000 years of traditional use in Ayurvedic medicine in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In China it is categorised to "Tonify Qi" and "Tonify Blood and Essence".
​
It is considered an adaptogen that support the ability of an organism to cope with stress and thereby conserve energy. It can reduce cordisol levels and regulate chemical signaling in the nervous system. Ashwagandha rejuvenates and tonifies the entire system, especially the endocrine and immune systems.
Astragalus
'A mild nourishing herb that replenishes the Qi'
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Astragalus is an essential herb of the TCM system. First recorded in the ‘Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica’ 2,200 years ago, it is widely used in TCM as a ‘shield and enforcer’ of the Qi, often added to soups and teas, with extended period of boiling or brewing to allow full extraction of the dried root. Astragalus is considered a milder alternative to ginseng as it's less stimulative.
Modern scientific research of astragalus focuses on its cardio-protective and anti-inflammatory effects. The main active ingredients of astragalus have been identified as astragalosides, saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides. Curiously, isolated astragalosides showed very poor bioavailability, suggesting it may only function at a lower concentration or in conjunction with other active ingredients.
Basil
'King of the Herbs'
Word basil itself is derived from the Greek basileus, which means "king". Sweet basil is perhaps more known for its culinary usage being a staple of Italian cuisine, but what might be less known is its use in Southeast Asia and particularly China (TCM) and India (Ayurveda) for over 5000 years.
​
In TCM it is considered a 'cold' herb that is used to treat digestive disorders and to relieve coughs and colds as well as being an adaptagen with antibacterial properties . According to research presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester 2008, basil can protect against the harmful effects of aging by actively searching for and eliminating harmful molecules and protecting against damage caused by some free radicals in key organs such as the heart, liver and brain.
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Barley grass
'Green blood for the body'
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Barley may be the first cereal grain to have been cultivated by humans, as it was cultivated in before the grain is developed. Barley grass is grown by soaking the seeds in clean water until they sprout and grow shoots approximately 5 cm long and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for at least 1800 years.
​
Barley grass is an extraordinarily rich source of many vitamins, minerals, and amino acids and a single tablespoon contains a day’s supply of beta-carotene, betaine, biotin, boron, copper, iron, lutein, magnesium, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine, while its medicinal action of the dried shoot is due to its content of hordenine. Chinese medical practitioners use barley grass to support bone health, promote digestion as it is especially effective in aiding the digestion of grains and vegetables. It is thought to strengthen the stomach and reduce food stagnation.
Bitter melon
'Vegetable insulin'
Bitter melon, sometimes also known as 'bitter gourd', 'bitter cucumber' or 'karela', is a perennial climbing elongated fruit that resembles a gourd or cucumber with warty skin like that of a crocodile or a toad. It is cultivated in tropical parts of China, India, East African, Central, South America and the Caribbean.
​
All parts of the plant, the seeds, leaves and vines, are used for medicinal purposes. It has been used to support digestion, cardiovascular function and abundant animal and biochemical studies show it has at least four types of compounds with anti-diabetic and blood sugar lowering properties. It contains insulin-like protein called polypeptide-P, or plant insulin. In TCM it is used to clear the internal liver, Gal-bladder and stomach heat.
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Black tea (Chinese Red tea)
'warm-natured Yang drink'
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Red tea usually goes by the name "Black tea" for English speakers - which can be confusing as Black tea is a separate category of Chinese tea (see below). For disambiguation, it will be referred to as Red tea. Red tea is a type of tea that is more oxidized than other lightly fermented teas (such as green tea or white tea) and it is gentle and warm in nature.
​
Red teas are more yang in nature. This means that they are warming on the digestive system and can be drunk with greater frequency by those who have weak digestive systems, a condition marked by bloating, cramping and an abdomen cool to the touch. It has a soothing effect on the central nervous system and is a safe, long term herbal remedy for headaches, irritability, disturbed sleeping patterns, insomnia, nervous tension, stress, hypertension, panic attacks and even mild depression due to high concentrate of Thiamine, an amino acid, which enhances blood circulation to the brain.
Black tea (Chinese)
'dark tea for a healthy gut'
Chinese black tea, can be also known as 'dark tea' in its literal translation, is probably least known type of tea in the Western world. It is a type of fermented tea, like black tea or pu-er, but it also undergoes post-fermentation by wet piling the tea, making it very dark brown to black in colour and variously sweet and woodsy, but never astringent in taste.
​
The post-fermentation process develops natural good bacteria, amino acids and theanine. Recent studies suggest that Chinese black tea could promote digestive health as the tea poly-saccharides are capable of passing through to the large intestine without being broken down and thereby having an influence on the gut microbiota.
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Bupleurum Chinense
'Unblock Qi and 'Go with the Flow'
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Bupleurum is an ornamental plant with delicate yellow flowers and sickle shaped leaves, the roots are bright yellow, and bitter and have been used in TCM for over 2000 years.
​
It is a primary component in a Chinese patent medicine called "Free and Easy Wanderer", based on the Taoist conception of being able to “Go with the Flow”. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that living in conflict influences the person's flow of qi and blood, causing it to flow erratically and bind up, leading to disease. Thus freeing flow of Qi and blood is the requirement for health. Bupleurum is also used for respiratory infections, fatigue, headache, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), trouble sleeping (insomnia), depression, liver disorders, and loss of appetite. Substantial pharmacological studies have been conducted on Chaihu and its active components (saikosaponins) are pharmacologically researched for their new-age disease treatment.
Burdock root
'Unblock energy channels and dispel pathogenic energy'
Burdock, also known as beggar's buttons or thorny burr is a common weed across continents and most people are familiar with the flowers of Burdock which form globe shaped clusters with 'hooks' that will cling to anything they touch. Its roots are used in TCM as well as other Asian countries.
​
It is used as for the blood and lymph, healthy digestion and appetite, and skin with. Burdock has been used in many folk remedies as one of the best blood purifiers. It contains certain diuretic principles, which help expel toxic products from the blood through urine. Burdock contains oils, as well as compounds called tannins and plant sterols and one of the ways it functions to do so is by promoting normal liver function and by supporting the detoxification process in the body. In TCM it helps unblock energy channels and dispels various pathogenic energy. It is a widely-used "cold" herb used to dispel pathogenic heat, detox, reinforce kidney and relieve swelling and pain.
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Cape Jasmine
'Queen of the night'
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Cape Jasmine, Gardenia jasminoides, zhizi, the gardenia, cape jasmine, cape jessamine, danh-danh, or jasmin, is an evergreen flowering plant and extremely fragrant, white flowers. It blooms throughout the year in warm climates and is native to China. It was introduced to English gardens in the mid-18th century and is considered difficult to cultivate outside of the warm climates.
The flowers are used in decorative necklaces in Polynesia, while the fruit is used as yellow dye and in TCM. In Chinese medicine it is thought to clear 'heat' and target the Gallbladder (bile from liver, emotion of decisiveness), the Heart ('spirit' and vitality), the Lung (respiration and Qi) and the Sanjiao (metabolism). It is strongly bitter in flavour and cold in nature. The primary active components of gardenia are iridoid glycosides (mainly geniposide and gardenoside), chlorogenic acid, and ursolic acid. The gardenia iridoids and chlorogenic acid have been shown to stimulate flow of bile.
Cassia seeds
'Bright eyes'
Cassia seeds also known as 'Chakramarda' in India and 'Jue Ming Zi' in China, were used in traditional medicine for centuries. They are commonly found in the tropical areas of India, China, and Africa. The cassia plants have yellow flowers and dark green leaves. The seeds of this plant are found in the pods like the regular leguminous plants.Cassia seeds are often used as a daily supplement, consumed as the tea and the oil of the seed is used for relieving joint aches and body pain.
​
In Ayurveda and TCM it is an excellent source for cooling down the body and as a laxative to help to loosen the bowels to relieve constipation. In China it is a highly valued ancient herb additionally for Liver Yang, expelling Wind-Heat and lowering blood cholesterol. Cassia seed has complex components which mainly are anthraquinone compound and organic ester compounds. Studies showed that cassia seed have effects in anti-septic, immune inhibition, liver protection, improving vision, reducing blood lipids and pressure, inhibiting blood platelet clotting, promoting bowel movements, inducing urination and enhancing gastric secretion.
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Chinese Yam
'mountain drug'
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Chinse Yam, also known as cinnamon vine, rhizome, Chinese potato, shan yao or nagaimo, is an ornamental vine that is native to Asia.It is easy to cultivate and a staple food in traditional Chinese medicine. ​
​
Yam is a herbal remedy used for centuries to treat menstrual cramps, PMS, rheumatism, and digestive problems. It is considered neutral, so it does not affect balance in your body. It is believed to restore the vital energy and to increases yin, which is often linked to feminine qualities.
​
Chinese yam contains diosgenin, a phytoestrogen, allantoin, a natural compound that can accelerate the growth of healthy tissue and reduce healing time.
​
​
Chrysanthemum
'Queen of the Autumn Flowers.
Chrysanthemums, sometimes called mums or chrysanths, are many-petalled flower found all over the world in garden beds​. However, they are also consumed as food, mainly as tea. The first recorded use of the Chrysanthemum flower appeared in the Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica in the second century.
​
This summer infusion tastes great hot or cold and it’s been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries to support skin and eye health, to improve circulation, and, generally, to cool and calm the body.
​
The yellow parts of the leaves are rich in beta carotene. Research found that some chemicals extracted from chrysanthemum flowers can reduce inflammation and help treat bone disorders like osteoporosis.
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Cordyceps
'Himalayan caterpillar mushroom'
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Cordyceps is a small medicinal mushroom which typically grows wild in high altitude parts of Asia. In winter, the cordyceps starts as a spore that enters the body of a moth caterpillar, which then digs itself into the soil before dying. Come summertime, the fungus – just like a plant – sprouts from the head of the dead caterpillar – and appears as a thin, orange finger-shaped bunch of wriggling worms. They are so highly valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine that they were exclusively available to the emperor’s family in ancient China. Nowadays it costs £16 000 per kilo or more.
​
In TCM it is used as immune modulator and adaptogen that promotes overall endocrine health. Numerous studies have shown that cordyceps influences adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels and improves performance.
Cinnamon
'One of most well-known of warming spices'
Cinnamon bark is the dried inner bark from the shoots of the tree. It has a sweet, spicy-hot fragrance and can irritate mucous membranes if concentrated. It is used as a spice as a culinary practice around the world, but also as medicine in both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese medicine.
​
In traditional Ayurvedic medicine it is an important ingredient in many preparations of all kinds. In both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese medicine it is used as a warming spice for digestion, blood circulation, detoxification and as anaesthetic.
​
Scientific research shows that cinnamon containts antioxidants, cinnamaldehyde, which has antifungal and antibacterial properties and that it can reduce reduce fasting blood sugar levels.
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Clove
'Warms the centre'
An essential Chinese root herb used in teas and soup to restore the Qi.
Cloves are the dried aromatic flower buds from an evergreen tree native to Indonesia. Clove is derived from the Latin, Clavus, which means nail. This spice has been traded for centuries and has been a staple of Indian cooking. n Britain in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, cloves were worth at least their weight in gold and inspired explorers and Royalty to seek out new trade routes to South East Asia.
​
Cloves have a supportive action to the digestive system in all systems of traditional herbalism. Both Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine both use cloves in their systems when requiring heating properties.
The high amount of Eugenol essential oil in this dried flower bud is responsible for the highly aromatic characteristics and the "numbing" sensation it provides.Cloves are high in antioxidants, including eugenol and vitamin C and test-tube and animal studies have shown that the compounds in cloves may help promote insulin production and lower blood sugar.
​
​