Tonic and Longevity Herbs

hands

Dear Dr. Miraculous Hands,

I am glad to get back with you with more questions.

1. It appears to me from the text "It is said that anyone who takes this herb regularly for a long period can prolong his life" that Radix Polygoni Multiflori (He Shou Wu) is a longevity herb. Are there any side effects of this herb ? I want to make a tonic wine with this herb for tonification purpose. Can I use a red (grape) wine with 12% alcohol instead of rice wine (rice wine is too strong for me) ? Do you have any specific recommendations regarding compatibility between herbs and wines, herb concentration in wine and time required to make a tonic wine ?

2. Are there any other herbs classified as longevity herbs in TCM ?

3. Is Radix Morindae Officialis an important yang tonic herb ? This herb is not listed in the Herb Index of the course.

Thanks and best regards,

Nam

--------------------------------

Nam Le

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 6:18 am    

hands

Dear Mr. Nam Le,
Sure you can use He Shou Wu to make a longevity or tonic wine, doesn't matter it's rice wine, red wine or liquor.
Some other herbs can be also used to make the longevity or tonic wine, such as Ginseng, Dang Gui and Gou Qi Zi.
If the herbs are not toxic, it can be used to make the tonic or longgevity wines, but there could be different ways and methods for making the tonic wines, and the use of different herbs would have required different length of time. Animal and plants materials can be used but not really the minerals.

The Yin and blood tonifying herbs, especially those which can replenish the kidney essence can be regarded also as the longevity herbs.

You are right, Radix Morindae Officialis is also a good Yang tonic, and I don't know why it's not listed in the text.

--------------------------

miraculous hands

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:36 am    

hands

Dear Dr. Miraculus Hands,

It is interesting to learn your definition of longevity herbs. Mixing Yin herbs with wine (Yang by nature) makes sense since we will have a mixture of more or less yin/yang in balance. This mixture will be helpful particularly for old people with deficiency of both yin and yang.

As a first step, I will make a tonic wine with Ho Shou Wu. Later during winter I may add a Yang herb such as Du Zhong to fight the cold weather.

Nam

---------------------------

Nam Le

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 3:07 am    

hands

Dear Nam Le,
It is very important to know that Yin is of more importance than Yang in concerns with longevity!
For sure if it is the matter of being immortal, Yang is more important. But that's not the subject of traditional Chinese medicine.
In winter, you can also add Ginseng as the Yang tonic. Certainly, Du Zhong is good, always good, even in summer, for it is good for strengthening lumbosacral region.
Dong Chong Xia Cao is good for both Yin and Yang, but it is expensive.

-----------------------------

miraculous hands

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:52 am    

hands

Dear Dr. Miraculous Hands,

Thanks for your valuable advices.

Nam

----------------------------

Nam Le

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:52 am    

hands

Dear Miraculous Hands,

It's interesting how you mentioned herbs are Yin/Yang classified. Would know where I could get the Yin and Yang Index for herbs? Thanks!

---------------------

richiemed

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:12 pm    

hands

Dear Richiemed,
Are you studying course E at the moment?
If so, you would know the herbs for tonifying Yin and Yang respectively.

M.H.

---------------------------

miraculous hands

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:13 pm