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TCM Treasures - Polygala root
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Polygala root
Simplified Chinese: 远志 Pinyin: yuǎn zhì
A short herb with purple flowers has a big name, yuan zhi in Chinese, which means high aspirations. It is a frequently used herb in TCM for improving memory and relieving sleeplessness, which may help people realize their aspirations.
It is said that the herb is named by a scholar who married the daughter of a TCM pharmacist. The wife gave him a particular herb before he set off for the imperial exam. She told him that the herb is named da dan (bravery). It can help soothe nerves and benefit health when taken orally, and will help relieve boils and abscesses when applied externally.
He took the herbal decoction before the exam, which helped calm him. He scored first and gave his helper a better name.
Since it helped him realize his aspirations, he renamed it yuan zhi.
Polygala root is a mildly “warm” herb that travels through heart, kidney and lung meridians. There are usually three kinds of polygala roots with different processing, sheng yuan zhi (dried), zhi yuan zhi (soaked in licorice and dried), and mi yuan zhi (fried with honey).
The three share similar functions, while zhi yuan zhi is more effective in soothing nerves and relieving sleeplessness, and mi yuan zhi is more often recommended for dissolving phlegm.
Patients with stomach ulcers should avoid polygala roots.
Prescriptions & Usage:
Polygala root and spine date seed congee
• Cook decoction with 10g polygala roots and 10g spine date seeds.
• Filter the decoction. Cook congee with 50g rice and the filtered decoction. Eat it before sleeping.
Benefits: Helps soothe nerves and nourishes blood. It also can help relieve sleeplessness and improve memory.
Polygala root and walnut milk
• Cook 10g polygala roots and 20g walnuts with 150g water for 30 minutes. Filter the decoction.
• Mix it with 50g milk. Add sugar to sweeten.
• Eat once a day.
Benefits: Helps reinforce lungs and kidney, improves memory.
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