https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/A4PeQB2Vq1CW8xtc-5KQOA
Everyone is welcome to share their experiences with the herbs in the replies to help others search and learn more easily.
347. Shouwu Vine (首乌藤)
Slightly bitter, with a noticeable astringent taste, but not unpleasant to drink.
After drinking, it both gathers qi and blood in the muscle layer, helping the defensive qi to enter the organs through the meridians, and also has a certain cleansing effect.
Efficacy: Astringes qi and blood, clears turbidity.
348. Hehuan Flower (合欢花)
Initially sweet on the palate, followed by a kumquat-like sourness. As the sourness spreads, an astringent flavor suddenly bursts in the mouth, making the throat feel a bit sore, like countless tiny prickles stuck to the pharyngeal wall. On close tasting, the texture is somewhat thick and rich, a bit like Assam milk tea.
After drinking, qi and blood disperse from the inside towards the muscles and skin, causing a slight sensation of floating and restlessness. At the position on the back where the Du meridian meets the diaphragm, there is a popping open sensation (like pulling off a plug under negative pressure).
Efficacy: Expands the chest and opens the back, disperses qi and blood, relieves depression and uplifts the spirit.
348.1 Hehuan Bark (合欢皮)
Sweet with a bit of tung oil taste, slightly astringent; swallowing causes slight throat discomfort.
After drinking, its effect of dispersing qi and blood is stronger than Hehuan Flower, with additional effects of unblocking the heart’s obstructions, but its ability to relieve depression overall is less than that of Hehuan Flower.
Efficacy: Disperses qi and blood, unblocks heart obstructions, relieves depression.
Note: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), regulating the shen (spirit/mind) is to some extent a misleading proposition; medical interventions can only adjust “how issues of the shen affect the physical body.” Today, using Hehuan Flower resolved “depression,” but since the cognitive structure remains unchanged, the depression will likely return after a few days. The key lies in changing erroneous cognitive structures at cultural and philosophical levels—which does not mean that Chinese herbs or acupuncture are ineffective in regulating the shen. By resolving physical issues, they reduce the resistance to changes in psychological structures. To untie a knot, one must address the source (TVB flavor emerging here). Illnesses at the levels of form (shape), qi, and shen require solutions at their respective levels.
