TCM Treasures Bai qian 白前
January 13, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
"BAI qian", or cynanchum glaucescens, is a herb that helps relieve coughing.
It is said to have been used by the legendary Hua Tuo - a doctor in Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD220) - in saving the life of a child.
Hearing a child's coughing and crying while in a hostel, Hua was determined to help as he knew the child wouldn't live much longer.
After careful diagnosis, Hua lit a lantern and went for herbs at midnight. He found the herbs on the slope in front of the hostel near a river. He dug the herb out, cut the roots for decoction, and had the child drink it. He departed early next morning and left the leaves to the father, so that he could find more. The child was completely cured within days.
People in the whole village learned of the "magic" herb to stop coughing, but didn't know its name. Since it was dug up in front of the hostel, owned by a man surnamed Bai, they named it "Bai qian," literally meaning Bai's front.
"Bai qian" is a warm herb with a bitter taste. It travels through the lung meridian. It can help calm abnormally ascending "qi," dissolve phlegm and relieve coughing.
It is said to have been used by the legendary Hua Tuo - a doctor in Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD220) - in saving the life of a child.
Hearing a child's coughing and crying while in a hostel, Hua was determined to help as he knew the child wouldn't live much longer.
After careful diagnosis, Hua lit a lantern and went for herbs at midnight. He found the herbs on the slope in front of the hostel near a river. He dug the herb out, cut the roots for decoction, and had the child drink it. He departed early next morning and left the leaves to the father, so that he could find more. The child was completely cured within days.
People in the whole village learned of the "magic" herb to stop coughing, but didn't know its name. Since it was dug up in front of the hostel, owned by a man surnamed Bai, they named it "Bai qian," literally meaning Bai's front.
"Bai qian" is a warm herb with a bitter taste. It travels through the lung meridian. It can help calm abnormally ascending "qi," dissolve phlegm and relieve coughing.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
