Artemisia, commonly known as wormwood, is a versatile herb that is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Among the many species of artemisia, three in particular, Yin Chen, Ai Ye, and Qing Hao, are highly valued for their unique medicinal properties and have been used in TCM for centuries.
- Yin Chen 茵蔯- virgate wormwood, Artemisiae scopariae
- Ai Ye 艾葉 - mugwort, Artemisiae Argyi Folium
- Qing Hao 靑蒿 - sweet wormwood, artemisia annua
Ai Ye, commonly called mugwort leaf, is used as moxibustion, a form of heat therapy that involves burning the herb on or near the skin. The word 'moxibustion' is believed to have originated from the Chinese word 'jiǔ' (灸), But, actually, the word 'moxibustion' came from 'moxa'. 'Moxa' is the European pronunciation of 'mogusa' (艾), which refers to 'Ai ye' in Japanese. Therefore, 'moxibustion' is a word that originated from the Japanese term 'mogusa'." It is also used internally in TCM to warm the womb, stop bleeding, disperse cold, and relieve pain. Ai Ye has a warm nature, bitter and acrid taste, and enters the Liver, Spleen, and Kidney channels. The recommended dosage of Ai Ye is 3-9g.
Qing Hao, also known as sweet wormwood, is a herb that has been used as an antipyretic in TCM for centuries. In the 1970s, Chinese scientist Tu Youyou studied ancient TCM texts and focused on Qing Hao to extract a substance called artemisinic acid. This compound was found to inhibit the malaria parasite and has since improved the survival of millions of people worldwide. Tu Youyou's groundbreaking work on artemisinin also earned her a Nobel Prize. Qing Hao has a cold nature and bitter, acrid taste and enters the Liver, Gallbladder, and Stomach channels. The recommended dosage of Qing Hao is 3-9g, and it should be added near the end of the decoction process.
In TCM, the three artemisia herbs are used to treat a wide range of conditions, from digestive disorders and liver problems to gynecological issues and infectious diseases. They are often used in combination with other herbs to create customized formulas that address the specific needs of individual patients.
Today, modern research has confirmed the therapeutic benefits of these herbs. Yin Chen, Ai Ye, and Qing Hao, are valuable treasures of TCM, representing the wisdom and knowledge of ancient healers that continues to benefit people around the world.
All about Mugwort
https://acupunctureherbalmedicine.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-fascinating-story-of-mugwort.html
Hua Tuo and Yin Chen
Once upon a time, there was a patient who had jaundice. He looked very weak and his skin was yellow. He was so thin that he looked like a mantis. The patient was searching for a cure and he stumbled upon Hua Tuo, a famous doctor in ancient China. He pleaded, "Sir, please cure my disease."
Hua Tuo saw the patient and realized that he had jaundice. He shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, but doctors have not found a cure for jaundice yet. I cannot help you with this disease."
Six months later, Hua Tuo met the same person again. He was surprised to see that the patient had not only survived but also looked healthy with a rosy complexion. Hua Tuo was amazed and asked, "Which doctor cured you of this disease? Tell me quickly so I can learn from him."
The patient replied, "I didn't see any doctor. I got better on my own." Hua Tuo was puzzled and asked, "How did you get better?" The patient replied, "Because of the spring drought, I ate wild grass for many days."
Hua Tuo realized that grass could be medicine, and he asked the patient which grass he had eaten. They walked to a hillside, and the patient pointed to a patch of green grass and said, "This is it." Hua Tuo named it as Yin Chen. He gave some to other patients with jaundice to try, but after several attempts, it was ineffective.
Hua Tuo asked the patient when he had eaten the grass, and he said it was in March. Hua Tuo realized that many plants sprout in March, and perhaps the Yin Chen from March had medicinal properties. The following spring, Hua Tuo collected a lot of Yin Chen from March and gave it to patients with jaundice to try, and they all improved after taking it. However, after March, the Yin Chen lost its effectiveness again.
To understand the medicinal properties of Yin Chen, Hua Tuo classified the roots, stems, and leaves for testing and found that only the young stems and leaves could be used as medicine to treat the disease. He also made a song, "Yin Chen in March treats jaundice, and Yin Chen in April is just fire-starter (三月茵陳治黃癆，四月青蒿當柴燒)" “3월 인진쑥, 4월 개똥쑥”
傳說，有一個黃癆病人(黃疸），面色薑黃，眼睛凹陷，瘦似刀螂，一步一哼地找到華佗說：「先生，請你給我治治病吧。」華佗見病人得的是黃癆病，皺著眉搖了搖頭說：「眼下醫生們還沒有找到治療黃癆病的辦法，我對這病也是無能為力呀！半年後，華佗又碰見那人。誰想這個病人不但沒死，反倒變得身體強壯，滿面紅潤了。華佗大吃一驚，急忙問道：「你這病是哪位醫生治好的？快告訴我，讓我跟他學學去。」那人回答道：「我沒請醫生看，病是自己好的。」華佗不信：「哪有這種事！你準是吃了什麼藥了吧？」「藥也沒有吃過。」「這就怪了。」「哦，因為春荒沒糧，我吃過多日野草。」「這就對了！草就是藥，你吃了多少天？」「一個多月」「吃的什麼草啊？」。他們走到山坡上，那人指著一片綠茵茵的野草說「就是這個」。華佗一看是青蒿，便採了一些，給其他黃癆病人試服，但試了幾次，均無效果。華佗又問那人，吃的是幾月的蒿，病人說是三月的。華佗醒悟到，春三月百草發芽，也許三月蒿子有藥力。 第二年春天，華佗又採了許多三月的青蒿，給黃癆病人服用，果然吃一個好一個，但過了三月青蒿又沒有功效了。為摸清青蒿的藥性，第三年，華佗把根、莖、葉分類試驗發現，只有幼嫩的莖葉可以入藥治病，並取名「茵陳」。這就是「華佗三試青蒿草」的傳說。他還編歌供後人借鑒：「三月茵陳四月蒿，傳給後人切記牢。三月茵陳治黃癆，四月青蒿當柴燒。
華佗三試茵陳蒿，大紀元，2018-05-16