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TCM Treasures - Balsamine
By Zhang Qian |
May 12, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
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SIMPLIFIED Chinese: 凤仙花 Pinyin: fèng xiān huā
Brightly colored feng xian flower - balsamine - was favored by ancient Chinese ladies. They would wrap their nails in balsamine petals to color their nails pink and take it for gynecological problems.
According to legend, the flower is named after a girl named Feng Xian, who was in love with a boy called Jin Tong.
They offended an official's son who had attempted to sexually assault Feng Xian, so ran off with her parents to avoid revenge from the official. But the mother had menstrual problems and could not keep up. With the official's posse closing in, the young couple leapt from a mountain to their deaths to protect the parents from blame.
That night, the young lovers appeared in a dream to the parents and told them that flowers in the valley could help the mother. The parents found red and white flowers filling the valley, which cured the mother, and the flower was named after her good daughter, feng xian.
Balsamine blossom is a "warm" herb that helps activate blood circulation and unblock energy stagnation. It can help detoxicate when applied externally, but should not be taken by pregnant women.
The seeds are prescribed to treat an absence of periods and difficult labor. The flowers and roots are also used to treat injuries and arthritis.
Prescriptions & Usage:
For ringworm of the nails
Soak the infected nail in warm water for five minutes. File off the nail surface. Mash 7-15 white balsamine flowers and apply them on the nail. Wrap the finger. Change this twice a day. Adding white vinegar in the mashed flower may strengthen the effect.
Benefits: Helps regain healthy nails.
For nail fungus:
Mash 10 balsamine flowers together with a big spoon of sweet rice wine. Apply the mixture to the infected part. Change once a day.
Benefits: Relieves pain and inflammation.
For whooping cough:
Cook 10 balsamine flowers with rock sugar as needed. Take once a day.
Benefits: Helps relieving the coughing.
Brightly colored feng xian flower - balsamine - was favored by ancient Chinese ladies. They would wrap their nails in balsamine petals to color their nails pink and take it for gynecological problems.
According to legend, the flower is named after a girl named Feng Xian, who was in love with a boy called Jin Tong.
They offended an official's son who had attempted to sexually assault Feng Xian, so ran off with her parents to avoid revenge from the official. But the mother had menstrual problems and could not keep up. With the official's posse closing in, the young couple leapt from a mountain to their deaths to protect the parents from blame.
That night, the young lovers appeared in a dream to the parents and told them that flowers in the valley could help the mother. The parents found red and white flowers filling the valley, which cured the mother, and the flower was named after her good daughter, feng xian.
Balsamine blossom is a "warm" herb that helps activate blood circulation and unblock energy stagnation. It can help detoxicate when applied externally, but should not be taken by pregnant women.
The seeds are prescribed to treat an absence of periods and difficult labor. The flowers and roots are also used to treat injuries and arthritis.
Prescriptions & Usage:
For ringworm of the nails
Soak the infected nail in warm water for five minutes. File off the nail surface. Mash 7-15 white balsamine flowers and apply them on the nail. Wrap the finger. Change this twice a day. Adding white vinegar in the mashed flower may strengthen the effect.
Benefits: Helps regain healthy nails.
For nail fungus:
Mash 10 balsamine flowers together with a big spoon of sweet rice wine. Apply the mixture to the infected part. Change once a day.
Benefits: Relieves pain and inflammation.
For whooping cough:
Cook 10 balsamine flowers with rock sugar as needed. Take once a day.
Benefits: Helps relieving the coughing.
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