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What is xanthium? What is it used for? Xanthium is another name for the cocklebur, a common bush native to Europe, North America and western Asia. The name xanthium comes from the Greek "xanthos," meaning yellow, and referring to the bush’s seed pods, which turn from green to yellow as…

What is zedoary? What is it used for? Zedoary is related to the turmeric family. Native to India, it was introduced to Europe and eastern Asia several centuries ago. Originally used as a type of spice, it has been replaced by ginger in most cultures. Nevertheless, it remains an important…

What is camphor? What is it used for? Camphor is a type of evergreen tree native to east Asia. In the wild, they can reach a height of 100 feet, with aromatic, red leaves that turn dark green as they mature; small, yellowish flowers; and oval-shaped red berries. Although the…

What is capillaris? What is it used for? Capillaris is a species of plant that belongs to the asteraceae family, and is related to the artemisia. It resembles a shrub, which can reach a height and diameter of approximately two feet. In China, capillaris is grown mainly in the Shanxi…

What is cardamon seed? What is it used for? Also known as amomum, cardamom is a perennial herb that is part of the ginger family. Native to southern India, cardamom now grows throughout China and other parts of Asia, including Laos and Cambodia. Depending on the area in which it…

What is carpesium? What is it used for? Carpesium is a perennial plant of the compositae family. It is grown from southern Europe to eastern Asia, particularly China, Japan and Korea. Carpesium grows to about one meter in height, usually in land that has most soil, with little or no…

What is cassia seed? What is it used for? Cassia seeds come from the cassia, an annual plant that grows in the world’s tropical zones. It is an upright-growing plant that can reach a height of more than four feet, with large, green leaves and yellow flowers. The entire plant…

What is catechu? What is it used for? Catechu is a type of paste made from an extract of the acacia catechu , a type of tree native to India and Myanmar. (Another type of catechu is produced from a shrub called uncaria gambier and is discussed elsewhere on this…

What is cat’s claw? What is it used for? Cat’s claw is a shrub with thick vines that can grow up to 100 feet in length. It grows in the rain forests of Central America and South America, particularly Peru, where it is known as una de gato . The…

What is celosia seed? What is it used for? Celosia seeds are small (between 1-5 millimeters) and round, with a black or reddish-black exterior and a thin, brittle outer skin. They come from Celosia argentea L. , an annual flowering herb also known as the feather cockscomb. The seeds are…

What is centipede? What is it used for? The centipede is a long, flattened insect found worldwide. There are approximately 2,800 species of centipede known to exist; in China, they are produced predominantly in the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi and Anhui provinces. The typical centipede is between four and…

What is cephalanoplos? What is it used for? Cephalanoplos is a type of thistle, a perennial plant found throughout China, Japan and other parts of Asia. Sometimes referred to as cirsium, it can reach a height of 18 inches, with small, alternating leaves, a thin stem and purplish flowers. The…

What is chaenomeles fruit? What is it used for? Native to east Asia, the chaenomeles fruit comes from a tree, chaenomeles sinensis (Touin) Koehne, which grows predominantly in China and reaches a height of approximately 20 feet. There are two kinds of chaenomeles fruit used in herbal preparations - one…

What is chalcanthite? What is it used for? Chalcanthite is a type of mineral, also known as hydrated copper sulfate. It usually forms near copper deposits, but is water-soluble, which gives it a rather unique ability to dissolve in water and recrystallize at a later time. It is known for…

What is chebula fruit? What is it used for? Also known as the terminalia, the chebula is a type of tree native to Asia. It is found throughout China, India and parts of the Middle East, with small, green leaves, white flowers and a distinctive fragrance. The fruit is gathered…

What is chinese gall? What is it used for? The Chinese gall is the product of an insect, melaphis chinensis , a type of aphid that lives on certain trees throughout China. A typical gall is smooth and oblong, with a grayish-brown outer surface and a smooth, blackish-grey inner surface.…

What is chrysanthemum? What is it used for? Chrysanthemum is a flowering plant that is native to China and Japan, but now grows worldwide. In China, it is found most often in the Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan and Sichuan provinces. Chrysanthemums come in a variety of colors, the most common being…

What is cibotium? What is it used for? Cibotium is a large fern native to China and Mexico, with lacy, light green, leathery fronds which range in length from 18 inches to 3 feet. There are approximately 12 different species of cibotium; however, the version used in traditional Chinese medicine…

What is cinnabar? What is it used for? Cinnabar is not an herb, but a type of mineral, consisting primarily of mercury sulphide, an ore. It is bright red or dull red in color, and lustrous in appearance. The most famous cinnabar deposit is located in Almaden, Spain, where it…

What is cinnamon? What is it used for? Cinnamon is one of the world’s most popular spices. It is also one of the oldest herbal medicines: some Chinese texts have mentioned its use in herbal remedies more than 4,000 years ago. Cinnamon comes from the cinnamon tree, which grows in…