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TCM Treasures Pseudostellaria root
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SIMPLIFIED Chinese: 太子参 Pinyin: tài zǐ shēn
Pseudostellaria root is called taizi shen in Chinese, which literally means prince ginseng.
It is so named because it is similar to ginseng and because it is said to have been discovered around a prince’s tomb from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Legend suggests that Li Shizhen, the most well-known herbalist in the Ming Dynasty discovered taizi shen and helped cured a women with digestive problems. He didn’t list the herb in his “Bencao Gangmu” (Compendium of Materia Medica) due to fears people would dig up the plants around the prince’s tomb, breaking the law.
Taizi shen is a “neutral” reinforcing herb that travels through the heart, spleen and lung meridians. It helps reinforce energy, promote fluid secretion and is good for the lungs and spleen. It is often used to relieve energy deficiency in the spleen or lungs in patients with frequent coughing, poor appetite, fatigue and frequent thirstiness.
Though it is much weaker than ginseng, taizi shen works better for patients with chronic ailments with much less side effects. TCM doctors will even give it to children.
Taizi shen is usually prescribed with maidong (lilyturf root) to reinforce and nourish the lungs. When accompanied with spine date seeds, taizi shen can help relieve insomnia and night sweating.
Prescriptions & Usage:
White fungus and taizi shen soup
Soak 15g white fungus with warm water for about an hour. Wrap 25g taizi shen with gauze.
Cook soup with the white fungus, taizi shen and water. Add rock sugar. Take out the wrapped taizi shen and eat.
Benefits: Helps reinforce energy, soothes nerves and relieves nervousness and shortness of breath.
Lily’s root, taizi shen and beisha shen soup
Wrap 25g taizi shen and 20g beisha shen (radix glehniae) with gauze. Cook with 25g lily’s root. Take out herbs. Add malt sugar.
Benefits: Helps reinforce energy and relieves spontaneous sweating.
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