Written by Dr. M. Ling, 19 September 2016 In Chinese medicine, we have the concept of “Qi”. In simplified terms, this means “life-force power” or “life-force energy”. When we have abundant powerful Qi, we have strong physical constitution, easy recovery from illness, determined willpower, and charismatic...
Written by Dr. M. Ling, 25 February 2015 In my clinic I spend a fair amount of time guiding willing people to tune in to their feelings, bringing gentle awareness to what is not being felt, or avoided/resisted, and thus often contributing to illness or unwanted...
Ling Zhi - "Spiritual Vegetable Meat" or Reishi mushroom Pharmaceutical Name: Ganoderma Lucidum In a small Chinese village a long time ago there lived a dedicated student with a great ambition to pass the empirical examinations to become a government official. This student was so ambitious that...
Xia Ku Cao - "See-Me-Not-After-Summer" or Self-heal Spike Pharmaceutical Name: Prunellae Spica The mother of a mayor in ancient China suffered from scrofula with a swollen neck. All the doctors said there was no cure for it. One day, however, a herbalist came along who told the mayor...
Written by Dr. M. Ling, 6 May 2013 Once upon a time there was a man in ancient China who was short in stature, yet very strong, robust and had great courage and a generous heart. It was the Southern Song dynasty (1132-1279 A.D.), a time...
Written by Dr. M. Ling, 12 April 2013 The HEART is the “EMPEROR” organ and dominates mental activities. – from Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon (Huangdi Neijing) In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the heart is in control of the entire body’s physical and psychological functions, and is the storehouse...
Che Qian Cao – “Plant-Before-Cart” or Asiatic Plantain Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Plantaginis There was a Chinese general in the Han dynasty (206 B.C. – 220 A.D.) by the name of Ma-Wu. One summer, the country was undergoing a severe drought and the people were suffering from famine. ...
Jin Ying Zi – Golden Tassel Seed or “Japanese honeysuckle” or Cherokee Rose Fruit Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Rosae Laevigatae Once upon a time in northern China, there were 3 brothers who lived together with their wives. But only one of the couples had a child and this...
Xian He Cao – Red-Crowned Crane’s Herb Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Agrimoniae One summer two Chinese officials were making a long trip to Peking (now called Beijing) to take a national examination for promotion. Seeing that time was almost running out, they hastened their journey, only to find...
Pu Gong Ying – Asian Dandelion or “Fisherman’s Herb” Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Taraxaci The 16-year old daughter of a government official in ancient China was suffering from mastitis with a triangular lump underneath her left breast. She was in pain and was becoming very worried, but she...