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What is cistanche? What is it used for? Cistanche is a hardy, shrub-like plant native to the desert regions of Mongolia and northern China. It is shaped somewhat like a cross between a pine cone and a pineapple, with thick, fleshy stems and large, yellow flowers that grow smaller as…

What is citron? What is it used for? Citron fruit comes from two types of trees - medicinal citron and Wilson citron - which resemble small evergreen trees or shrubs. The tree grows to a height of between 10 and 11 feet, with irregular, spiny branches, and is in flower…

What is citrus peel? What is it used for? Citrus peel is the dried peel of a citrus fruit, most commonly a tangerine or Mandarin orange. (Note: If an immature peel is being used, the peel is known as qing pi .) The peels are removed from the fruit and…

What is clam shell? What is it used for? Clam shells come from the clam, a type of shellfish found in rivers, lakes and marshes. In China, the two most commonly used clam shells in traditional Chinese medicine come from the triangular sail clam ( hyriopsis cumingii L. ) and…

What is clematis? What is it used for? Clematis is a non-climbing, leafy plant native to Europe. The plant grows to a height of 2-4 feet, with white, pink or purple flowers. The flowers are used in a variety of herbal formulas and preparations. Traditionally, clematis was used to treat…

What are cloves? What are they used for? Cloves consist of the flower buds of the syzygium aromaticum plant, which is native to the Molucca Islands but is now cultivated in tropical regions worldwide. The clove resembles an evergreen tree, with short, lance-like leaves and whitish-pink flowers. The buds are…

What are cnidium seeds? What are they used for? Cnidium seeds are derived from the cnidium plant, which grows throughout China. A typical cnidium is round, dark yellow in color, and has a pleasant aroma. According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, cnidium seeds are characterized as acrid, bitter…

What is codonopsis? What is it used for? Codonopsis is a fast-growing vine that blooms during the summer and fall. A perennial herb, codonopsis can reach a height of ten feet, with oval or heart-shaped leaves and ornate, bell-shaped flowers that range in color from yellow to light purple. The…

What are coix seeds? What are they used for? Coix seeds come from the coix plant, which is grown in the Fujian, Hebei and Liaoning provinces in China. The seeds are usually oval-shaped or egg-shaped, with a milky white outer surface and a slightly sweet taste. Coix seeds are harvested…

What is coptis? What is it used for? Coptis is a small, perennial herb found in North America, Greenland, Iceland and Siberia. Its name is derived from the Greek "kopto," meaning "to cut," in reference to its leaves, which are dark green and divided. It is also known by a…

What is cordyceps? What is it used for? Cordyceps is one of the most unique substances found in herbal medicine. It’s actually a form of fungus which grows naturally on the backs of caterpillars found only in China, Nepal and Tibet. Synthetic versions of cordyceps have been manufactured in the…

What is coriander? What is it used for? Coriander is an annual herb indigenous to southern Europe, but now produced throughout Asia and parts of North America as well. It consists of a slender, branched body that can reach a height of three feet, with leaves similar to those of…

What is corn silk? What is it used for? Corn silk pertains to the thin, threadlike material found at the end of a corn husk. It ranges in color from light yellow to brown, and can reach more than a foot in length in some species of corn. As part…

What is corydalis? What is it used for? Corydalis is a tall, thin herb native to the Zhejiang province of China. The plant consists of a thin, green stem with green leaves and yellow flowers. The rhizome is used for medicinal purposes. In traditional Chinese medicine, corydalis is believed to…

What is costus? What is it used for? Also known as aucklandia, costus comes from the plant saussurea costus, a perennial that grows to about six feet in height and is native to northern India and Pakistan. It has irregular, triangular-shaped leaves and dark blue or black florets, with brownish…

What is cornus? What is it used for? Cornus is a type of tree found in the woodland regions of China and Korea. It grows to a height of about 30 feet, and contains fleshy, green oval-shaped leaves and small, berry-shaped fruit. Both the fruit and bark are used medicinally,…

What is cranberry? What is it used for? Native to North America, the cranberry is a small, red berry that belongs to the same family as blueberries and bilberries. Cranberry bushes usually grow in bogs and swampy regions, and are small, red, and rather tart. They are often used in…

What is cremastra? What is it used for? Cremastra is also known as Chinese tulip ( cremastra appendiculata [D. Don] Makino ), a type of flower native to the Guizhou and Sichuan provinces of China. The bulb is white in appearance, and resembles a large clove of garlic. Cremastra bulbs…

What is croton seed? What is it used for? Croton seeds come from the croton, a small tree-like shrub that grows throughout China and other parts of Asia. The seed of the plant is used medicinally. The seeds are gathered in the autumn, dried in the sun, and ground into…

What is curculigo? What is it used for? Curculigo is a type of grass native to east Asia, found growing throughout the hilly areas of India and China. The typical curculigo consists of a few long blades and a single, yellow flower, which has earned it the nickname of "golden-eye…