Chinese herbs are used to ward off variety of illnesses and to strenthen a person’s constitution. There are two types of constitution: liong (cool) and yeit (heaty). A person with cool constitution can consume heaty food without much trouble, while too much heaty food - fried food,durians and certain herbs; can be bad for those with a ” heaty” constitution.
Thus eating and drinking the right things can help one retains his or her normal balance Yin ( representing the female, dark and cold qualities and Yang ( male, hot and dry). The herbs are valued for their curative, or nuritious qualities. Among the most common herbs are:
(a) kei chi: tiny little red seeds. It is suppose to improve function and also believed to be good for the kidney and the eyes;
(b) dried longan: good for the spleen, kidneys and lungs;
(c) lotus seeds(lin chi): promotes virility and good blood circulation;
(d) pak kei: Fights fatigue and bad blood circulation;
(e) yoke chok: for illness related to the pancreas,lungs, and throat;
(f) tong kwei: usually consumed by women;
(g) wai san : helps to relieve inflammation of the uterus;
(h) cordceps; (toong choon chou) combat body aches and pain;
(i) ginseng: (pau sum) It adds as a tonic, helps respiratory ailments,relieves insomnia, back pains, lumbago and many others.
