Search Acupuncture Today

What is perilla stem? What is it used for? The perilla is a purplish plant that grows throughout east Asia, especially in the hills and mountains of China and Japan. It can reach a height of approximately two feet, with scented flowers that bloom in July and August. Different parts…

What is persimmon? What is it used for? Persimmon is a type of tree that usually grows in the tropics. It is made of especially hard wood and yields an orange-reddish fruit that can be eaten only when the fruit is completely ripe. In traditional Chinese medicine, the calyx, or…

What is pharbitis seed? What is it used for? Pharbitis seed comes from the pharbitis (also known as the morning glory), an annual climbing herb that many people use as an ornamental plant. Known for its beautiful flowers that bloom in the summer, pharbitis seed is harvested when the plant’s…

What is phaseolus? What is it used for? The phaseolus is a family of climbing, twining plants that grow in the world’s warmer climates. Some types of phaseolus are grown for ornamental purposes (many types produce bright, fragrant flowers), while others are used as food. The phaseolus family produces several…

What is phellodendron? What is it used for? Also known as the amur cork, phellodendron is a type of tree. The name "huang bai" comes from the bright yellow color of the plant’s inner bark, which is used in herbal preparations. The bark is peeled from the tree during the…

What is phragmites? What is it used for? Phragmites is the name given to several species of aquatic grasses, including the water reed, the giant reed, the sea reed and reed canary grass. The grasses can reach a height of between five and 15 feet, with feather-like flowers and thin,…

What is picrorhiza? What is it used for? Picrorhiza is a creeping plant native to the mountains of India, Nepal, Tibet and Pakistan. Also known as Kharbagehindi, the plant consists of long leaves and five-lobed flowers, which are pale blue or reddish-blue in color. The largest part of the plant…

What are pine knots? What are they used for? Pine wood knots come from the branches of pine trees. The knots are collected by cutting off the branch of a tree, then letting the knots dry (either in the sun or the shade). The knots are then soaked in water,…

What is pinellia? What is it used for? Pinellia is a small, stem-like plant native to southern China and Japan. The aboveground part of the plant resembles a horn, with a long, green protuberance that extends outward from the center of the horn. The medicinal part of the plant is…

What is pipe fish? What is it used for? Pipe fish is a type of fish that is closely related to the sea horse. There are an estimated 200 varieties of pipe fish, including a few varieties that live in fresh water. The typical pipe fish ranges between five and…

Plantain seeds come from either the Asiatic plantain or the depressed plantain, a perennial herb native to eastern Asia. It grows in the woods and lowlands of China, Japan and Korea, and can reach a height of between 12 and 18 inches. It can grow in semi-shade or no shade,…

What is platycodon? What is it used for? Platycodon is a perennial plant that grows to a height of about three feet. Also known as bell-flower or balloon-flower, platycodon is indigenous to China, Japan, Korea and Siberia. The plant is characterized by its flower buds which, when unopened, resemble small,…

What is polygala? What is it used for? Polygala is a branching type of herb native to the central and western United States. There are several varieties of polygala, but the most common are P. senega, P. sibirica and P. tenuifolia. It earned its nickname of "Seneca snakewood" in the…

What is polygonatum? What is it used for? Also known as Solomon’s seal, polygonatum is a perennial herb that belongs to the lily family. It is native to east Asia and can be found throughout China, particularly in the Henan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces. The part of the plant…

What is polyporus? What is it used for? Polyporus is a large, golden brown mushroom that grows in wooded areas, especially on and around trees. It is characterized by a large, bracket- or saddle-shaped body, with a white underside and large pores, and has a bland or slightly sweet taste.…

What is poppy capsule? What is it used for? The opium poppy is an annual plant that reaches a height of between four and five feet. Native to western Asia, it is cultivated in many countries. The sale and cultivation of poppy is also banned in many countries, due to…

What is poria? What is it used for? Poria is a type of fungus related to polyporus, which usually grows on pine trees. Although it can range in color from white to pale red, the typical color of poria is light brown, with striations on the outer skin. It is…

What is prickly ash peel? What is it used for? Also known as zanthoxylum and Chinese pepper, prickly ash peel comes from a type of small tree, which can reach a height of 20 feet and is characterized by thorny stems, branches and leaves. Different species of prickly ash grow…

What is prinsepia seed? What is it used for? Prinsepia seed comes from the prinsepia, a small, hardy shrub native to east Asia and northwest China. It is named after, John Prinsep, a former secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, who conducted extensive studies on the shrub in the…

What is prunella? What is it used for? Prunella is the name given to a small yet hearty herb found throughout Europe, Asia and other temperate regions. The plant goes by a variety of names, including self-heal, carpenter’s weed and sicklewort. It consists of an extremely thin stem that reaches…