Search Acupuncture Today

What is cuscuta? What is it used for? Cuscuta is a leafless plant with branching stems, which can reach a height of approximately five feet. It is a parasitic plant: cuscuta has no chlorophyll and cannot make its own food through photosynthesis, so it grows on other plants and uses…

What is cuttlefish bone? What is it used for? Cuttlefish bone refers to the internal cartilaginous shell of the cuttlefish, a relative of the squid and octopus. Cuttlefish bone is typically smooth and white, with small, wavy lines or ridges. The shell is rich in minerals such as calcium and…

What is cymbopogon? What is it used for? Known is many circles as lemon grass, cymbopogon is a perennial herb used primarily as an ornamental herb and in Asian cooking. The word cymbopogon comes from the Greek words "kumbe" and "pogon" because the leaves are boat-shaped in appearance, but the…

What is cynanchum? What is it used for? Also known as the swallow-wort, cynanchum is a cylindrical, branched plant native to several provinces of China. The two most common varieties of cynanchum are cynanchum stauntonii (Decne.) or cynanchum glaucescens (Decne.). Cynanchum can reach a height of one meter, with narrow,…

What is cynomorium? What is it used for? Cynomorium is a perennial plant found in southwest Asia and the Mediterranean region. The plant is dark red to purple in appearance, with stems that grow up to two feet in length. Cynomorium root is brick-red in color, and has a somewhat…

What is cyperus? What is it used for? Also known as the nutgrass, cyperus is a small plant found throughout China. It usually consists of a single stem, with smaller, extremely long, thin green leaves that taper to a point. The rhizome of the plant is used in herbal remedies.…

What is bamboo juice? What is it used for? Bamboo juice comes from the bamboo plant, which grows throughout China and other parts of Asia, and can reach a height of more than 30 feet. Bamboo juice is collected from the plant when it is harvested and allowed to dry,…

What is bamboo shavings? What is it used for? Bamboo is a tall, treelike grass that grows throughout the southern part of China and southeast Asia. It has a hollow wooden stem (also known as a culm), which usually grows in a branching cluster. Because of its rigidity, bamboo can…

What is belamcanda rhizome? What is it used for? Belamcanda is a perennial herb that belongs to the iris family. Native to east Asia, it grows throughout China, Japan and Nepal, and can reach a height of just over three feet, with hermaphroditic, orange-yellow flowers. The rhizomes of the plant…

What is benincasa peel? What is it used for? Also known as the winter melon or the Chinese waxgourd, benincasa is a type of herb native to China. The benincasa is similar in appearance to a small watermelon, with bright, green skin. The fruit usually ripens in the late summer…

What is benincasa seed? What is it used for? Also known as the winter melon or the Chinese waxgourd, benincasa is a type of herb native to China. The benincasa is similar in appearance to a small watermelon, with bright, green skin. The fruit usually ripens in the late summer…

What is benzoin? What is it used for? Benzoin comes from the benzoin tree, a deciduous, shrubby gum tree that grows in Sumatra and other parts of southern Asia, and can reach a height of more than 100 feet. The active ingredient in the tree is a type of gummy…

What is bilberry? What is it used for? Bilberry is a small shrub-like plant native to western Europe and North America. It is known by a variety of names, including the whortleberry and the European blueberry. Both the leaf and the fruit are used in herbal remedies; however, different parts…

What is biota leaf? What is it used for? Different parts of biota are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Biota seed (bai zi ren) will be discussed on another section of this site; this section pertains strictly to ce bai ye, which is made of the leaves and branches of…

What is biota seed? What is it used for? Biota is a slow-growing tree native to China. It can reach a height of about 45 feet, and grows best in moist soil. When cultivated, biota produces vast quantities of seeds. Both the seeds and branches are used in healing. In…

What is bitter melon? What is it used for? Bitter melon is commonly used as a vegetable in tropical areas such as East Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and South America. The plant gets its name from the bitter taste of its fruit and juice; however, cooking it with the appropriate…

What is black plum? What is it used for? The black plum is a small, fleshy fruit native to Japan and China. It grows on tall trees that bloom in the spring, with scented flowers. In China, black plums are grown primarily in the Zhejiand, Fujian and Yunnan provinces. The…

What is black cohosh? What is it used for? Black cohosh is a member of the buttercup family. It is a tall, flowering plant that grows in the U.S. and Canada, with a black stem and small white flowers. Black cohosh gets its name in part from an Algonquin word…

What are black sesame seeds? What are they used for? Sesame seeds are believed to be one of the worlds’ first spices. The earliest recorded use of sesame seeds as a spice can be traced to an Assyrian legend, which claimed that the gods drank sesame-based wine before creating the…

What is bletilla? What is it used for? Bletilla is a type of flowering plant related to the hyacinth. It is native to China and Japan, and resembles an orchid, with white striped leaves and magenta or pink-colored flowers that usually bloom in the summer. The plant’s roots and rhizomes…