NAMES OF TCM HERBS IN CHINESE - H1N1

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE - H1N1

INFLUENZA A [H1N1] AND TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

In April 2009, in a little boy in a village in Mexico contacted Influenza A [H1N1]. Since then, it has spread far and wide across the five Continents of the world. As of 4th August 2009, the World Health Organisation has reported that 1,154 people have died of H1N1 and as per report in the Malaysian newspaper on 16th August 2009, an estimated 80,000 Malaysians might have been infected with Influenza A [H1N1], which is a viral pneumonia since it the outbreak began in May 2009. Until 16th August 2009, 59 people have died in Malaysia.

The newspaper reported that the Ministry of Health has reported that it noted that H1N1 related deaths in Malaysia were caused by virus attacking the respiratory system [breathing system]. Most of the death victims suffered from acute respiratory distress syndrome as a result of severe fulminant [disease or symptom of severe and sudden in onset] pneumonia.

The H1N1 virus, like seasonal flu, is spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing by the infected people. It can also be spread by persons who touch on the surface of an object, which are contaminated by droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person.

The signs and symptoms of H1N1 as reported include: -
[1] fever of >38 degrees
[2] dry cough
[3] body aches
[4] running nose
[5] sore throat
[6] nausea
[7] vomiting and/or
[8] diarrhoea
[9] headache
[10] difficulty in breathing

The Lungs, according to the Chinese Medical Philosophy, are “Lid of the of the Yin Organ. It is the cap on top of the thoracic cavity. The Lungs are the most easily affected by External Pernicious Influences.

The Chinese Medical Philosophy describes that the function of the Lungs is very closely associated with the Qi of the Chest. The Qi of the Chest is associated with the movement of all Qi and Blood in the body. A disharmony of the Lungs can lead to Deficient Qi or Stagnant Qi anyway in the human body..

According to the Chinese Medical Philosophy, “Lungs are the upper origin of water”. That is, the Lungs move water in the body in the same two directions as it moves the Qi. The Lungs liquefy water vapour and move it downwards to the Kidneys. At the same time, the Lungs have the disseminating function of circulating and scattering water vapour throughout the human body through the skin and pores. In another words, the Lungs cause the water vapour to ascend or circulate while the water in liquid form to descend. Disharmonies of the Lung Qi may lead to weakening of the Protective Qi in the human body that may result in fever, urination problems or edema and other complications, etc.

Ancient Traditional Chinese Medical experts have classified that diseases are caused mainly by either of the following factors: -
[1] Pestilential Factors
[2] improper diet
[3] fatigue and lack of proper physical exercise
[4] the seven emotions, namely: joy, anger, meditation (thinking frequently about a happening
etc.), fear, grief, melancholy and anxiety
[5] the six excesses, that is: wind, cold, summer-heat, dampness, dryness and fire (heat)
[6] traumatic wound
[7] insect or animal bites
and so on.
These causes are classified further into Yin and Yang categories. Zhang Zhongjing of Han Dynasty [206-220 B.C.], in his Synopsis of the Golden Bookcase, had described that there were several ways a person can contact or acquire a disease, that is, when a pathogenic factor invades the meridian and the viscera [organs], infects the skin, and injuries from excessive sexual activity, wounds, insect or animal bites.

Disease caused by Pestilential Factors
Pestilential factors are highly infectious and contagious pathogens. They are characterised by rapid onset a critical disease with severe infection of a highly contagious type. The Pathogens may attack a local area as well as over a number of areas of the human body.

The prevalence of the Pestilential Factors is usually related to: -
[1] Abnormal change of climate such as the recent Tsunami that hit Indonesia and Sri
Lanka, the Cyclone that hit Myanmar, the Earthquake that hit Szechuan in China and
the Marokat Typhoon that hit Taiwan
[2] The Environment
[3] Delayed prevention and isolation action, e.g. the current spread of the H1N1
[4] Diet,
[5] Pollution of the air
[6] Influence through social activities.
[7] Poor public health programmes o control of the spread of the deadly contagious
disease.

Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that in a situation where the body constitution of Yin and Yang is in balance, the viscera [organs] will function normally and well. The Qi, the Blood and the body fluid will be enriched and hence the anti-pathogenic factor in the human body will be strong. When there is a Yin-Yang imbalance, the anti-pathogenic factor will be weak leading to invasion of pathogenic factors into the human body. The anti-pathogenic factor includes the human body condition that is not conducive for the pathogenic factor to live in.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine [TCM], an invasion by the pathogenic factors into the human body is an indication that there is Yin-Yang imbalance in the human body. The TCM treatment is to restore the Yin-Yang balance in the human body so that the body condition will become non-conducive for the pathogenic factors to live in. Hence the invaders will die naturally as the result of restoration of the Yin-Yang balance and hence strengthen the anti-pathogenic factor in the human body.

The signs and symptoms of the H1N1 as described above indicate that there is Yang excess as the result of the invasion that cause Yin Qi to decrease or Yang Qi to increase into a condition of Yin Qi deficiency in the body. Vomiting and diarrhoea indicate that there is Yin-Yang imbalance in the lungs, spleen and the stomach as the result of the pathogenic attack. The dry cough, headache and sore throat indicate that there is Yang excess [pathogenic wind-heat] in the Lungs and the Liver. Running nose and difficulty in breathing are signs of the pathogenic attack on the Respiratory System.

Analysis of the signs and symptoms indicates that the affection of exogenous (i.e. relating to external factors) pathogenic heat has invaded the Lungs. Hence the Lungs cannot carry on its clearing functions leading to occurrence of cough, difficulty in breathing (hasty and rough breathing). The body fluid has been consumed by the burning heat causing thirst. The blockage of the Lungs by the pathogenic heat caused the sore throat. Delay in clearing stagnation of pathogenic heat from the Lungs will cause the body fluid to be concentrated into phlegm, which will block the Lungs and the nutritional blood will be impaired and pus may form in the Lungs leading to gangrene of the Lungs with foul expectoration. The exogenous pathogenic dryness by invading the Lungs has severely consumed the body fluid and caused occurrence of asthmatic breath with no or little mucoid sputum. The Lung Qi will be weaken and becomes unable to carry out its dispersing functions resulting to fever and aversion to cold. When the pathogenic damp-heat invades the Stomach and the Intestines, the stagnant pathogenic damp-heat accumulates in the Large Intestine as the result of improper diet. The accumulated and stagnated pathogenic damp-heat in the Large Intestine will force the Qi to stagnate causing failure of the Large Intestine to perform its transportation function and hence, diarrhoea occurs and burning sensation of the anus and thirst results.

The Yang Excess condition is conducive for the H1N1 virus [pathogens] to survive in the human body. The TCM method of curing such disease or to prevent the human body from such attack is to restore and maintain the Yin-Yang balance in the human body. Below are some of the herbs that reduce the Yang Excess to restore the Yin-Yang balance in the body and thus overcome the pathogenic attack. However, administrations of the various types of herbs rest with the body condition of the individual and the combination of herbs.

Folium Mori and Semen Sojae Praeparatum in combination can ventilate the Lungs to dispel the pathogenic factors therefrom. Semen Pruni Armeniacae will ventilate the Lungs and promote the flow of Qi while the Radix Adenophorae, Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii together with Exocarpium Pyrus will moisten the Lungs to arrest cough. Fructus Gardeniae will clear the pathogenic heat in the chest. Folium Mori and Flos Chrysanthemi can expel pathogenic heat from the Lungs and the Wei System while the Herba Menthae, which has the effect of dispelling wind-heat with Semen Armeniacae Amarum and Radix Platycodi will assist to promote the dispersing function of the Lungs. Fructus Forsythiae together with Rhizoma Phragmitis can be adjuvant herbs to dispel and clear wind-heat from the exterior and promote the production of body fluid to quench thirst. Radix Glycyrrhizae is the mediator for co-ordinating the various effects of the herbs in the recipe.
Gypsum Fibrosum can clear away the heat from the Lungs and from the Stomach and the Pericarpium Trichosanthis will promote the circulation of the vital Qi to clear the heat and phlegm. Semen Armeniacae Amarum will calm the Lung Qi to increase the purgative effect of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei to expel stagnated heat in the Large Intestine in order to keep the Lung Qi pure and descending. Rhizoma Anemarrhenae which will enhance the effect of Gypsum Fibrosum. Radix Glycyrrhizae and Semen Oryzae Sativae will benefit the Stomach and promote production of body fluids to prevent the extreme cold agents from damaging the Stomach.

Herba Menthae is cool in property and it acts on the Lungs and Liver Channels. It is effective in dispelling wind-heat and relieving sore throat while Flos Lonicerae is cold in property. Flos Lonicerae acts on the Lungs, Stomach and Large Intestine Channels. Fructus Forsythiae is cold in property and it acts on the Lungs, Heart and Gallbladder Channels. It clears away heat and toxins. Radix Platycodi is neutral in property and it acts on the Lung Channel. It ventilates the Lungs while Semen Armeniacae Amaran, which is slightly warm in property, acts on the Lungs and the Large Intestine Channels. It relieves cough and moistens the Intestines to relax the bowels. Rhazoma Amenarrhenae is cold in property and it acts on the Lung, Stomach and Kidney Channels. It clears away heat, purge out fire and promotes the production of body fluid. Rhizoma Coptidis is cold in property and acts on the Heart, Stomach, Liver and Large Intestine Channels. It clears away heat, dry up dampness and purge away fire and clears away toxins. Cortex Phellodendri is cold in property, acting on the Kidneys, Urinary Bladder and Large Intestine Channels. It clears away heat, purging fire & toxins. Herba Artenisiae is cold in property and acts on the Liver, Gallbladder and the Kidney Channels. It can effectively remove the heat from the blood and brings down hectic fever. It also clears away heat from the Gall bladder. Radix Palsatilla, which is cold in property acts on the Large Intestine Channels. It detoxifies and clears and removes the heat from the blood. Cortex Lycii Radicis is cold in property and it acts on the Lungs and Kidney Channels. It removes and clear away heat from the Blood and the Lungs and brings down hectic fever. Semen Arecae is warm in property and acts on the Stomach and the Large Intestine. It has anthelmintic functions (destory parasites in the human body) as well as descend of flow of Qi function. Radix Spepheniae Tetrandrae is cold in property and acts on the Urinary Bladder, Kidney and Spleen Channels. It expel wind to relieve pain. Semen Plantaginis is cold in property and acts on the Kidney, Liver and the Lung Channels. It induces diuresis to arrest diarrhoea, Caulis Artistolochiae Manshuriensis is cold in property and it acts on the Heart, Small Intestine and Urinary Bladder Channels, It expels heat and induces duiresis. Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae is warm in property and it acts on the Lung and Spleen Channels. It regulates Qi and normalises the functions the Spleen and the Stomach. Magnoliae Officinalis is warm in property and it acts on the Lung, Spleen, Stomach, and the Large Intestine Channels. Bulbus Macrostemi is warm in property and it acts on the Lung, Stomach and the Large Intestine Channels. It can disperse the accumulation of pathogens and promote circulation of Qi. Herba Leonuri is slightly cold in property and it acts on the Heart, Liver, and the Urinary Bladder Channels. It invigorates the Blood Circulation to remove blood stasis. Rhizoma Corydalis is warm in property and acts on the Heart, Liver and Spleen Channels. It promotes Blood Circulation and the flow of Qi to relieve pain. Radix Polygalae is slightly warm in property and it acts on the Lung and the Heart Channels. It tranquillises the mind and induce resuscitation. Fructus Mume is neutral in property and it acts on the Lung, Liver, Spleen and Large Intestine Channels. It acts on the Lungs and the bowels to relieve cough and stop diarrhea. Fructus Tritici Lovis is cold in property and acts on the Heart Channel. It replenishes Qi and clear away heat. Herba Dendrobii is cold in property and acts on the Stomach and Kidney Channels. It nourishes Yin and clear away heat. Radix Ophiopogonis is slightly cold in property and it acts on the Lung, Heart and the Stomach Channels. It moist the Lungs and nourishes Yin and clear away Heart-fire. 424, Radix Glehniae is slightly cold in property and acts on the Lung and Stomach Channels. It nourishes the Yin and clear away heat from the Lungs. It also reinforces the Stomach as well as promoting production of body fluid. Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae is slightly cold in property and acting on the Heart, Pericardium and the Liver Channels. It invigorates the Blood Circulation to cool the blood and tranquillises the disturbed mind.

Most of the herbs prescribed above are cold or cool in property and act on the Lung, Heart, Liver, Stomach, Gallbladder and Spleen, e.g., Folium Mori is cold in property and is good for clearing away wind-heat or dry-heat from the Lungs, but it is not strong enough, hence it has to be assisted by Semen Sojae Praeparata and Fructus Gardeniae, which is cold in property and acts on the Heart, Lungs, Stomach and the Sanjiao Channels. Fructus Gardeniae is capable of purging fire-heat, relieving dysphoria, removing heat from the Blood and promoting diuresis. However, some of the herbs are warm in property such as the Rhizoma Corydalis and Radix Polygalae.

Application of herbs is related to the body condition as diagnosis has determined by the TCM Physicians. However, to strengthen the body resistance and relieve exterior syndromes, the first decoction to start with can be as follow:
[1] RhizomaPolygonati Odorati [H40] 9g 90
[2] Bulbus Allii Fistulosis [H41] 6g 90
[3] Radix Platycodi [H10] 5g
[4] Radix Cynanchi Atrati [H43] 3g 90
[5] Semen Sojae Praeparata [H44] 9g
[6] Radix Glycyrrhizae Praeparata [H45] 2g 90
[7] Herba Menthae [H 8] 5g
[8] Fructus Ziziphi Jujubae [H47] 2pcs 90



The second prescription that follows after taking 4 to 6 packets more of the aforesaid prescribtion can be as follow [take about 4 packets]:

[1] Semen Armeniacae Amarum [H 9] 6g
[2] Fructus Forsythiae [H 11] 5g
[3] Herba Menthae [H 8] 2.5g
[4] FOLIUM Mori [H 1] 7.5g
[5] Flos Chrysantemi [H 7] 3g
[6] Radix Platycodi [H 10] 6g
[7] Radix Gyyrrhizae [H 13] 2.3g
[8] Rhizoma Phragmitis [H 12] 6g

The subsequent prescriptions eill be determined by the body’s response to the two above decoctions. As a general preventive measure, a person can drink the following decoction once or twice a week [ prescription for adult. For children, reduce the weight age of the herbs so prescribe below by half]:

[1] Flos Lonicerae [H 19] 12g
[2] Flos Chrysantemi [H 7] 8g
[3] Herba Menthae [H 8] 3g
[4] FOLIUM mori [H 1] 12g
[5] Semen Arecae [H 25] 4g
[6] Semen Plantaginis [H 42] 10g

The following herbs can also be added to the above 6 herbs:

[7] Fructus Gardeniae [H 6] 8g
[8] Magnoliae Officinalis [H 29] 8g
[9] Radix Polygaiae [H 33] 8g
[10] Semen Armeniacae Amarum [H 9] 8g


W Y Ho, ACIS
[Dragon Ho]
8th September 2009-09-15

W Y Ho [Ho Wah Ying] is the former Advisor to the Kuala Lumpur Traditional Chinese Physicians Association. Currently, he is the President of the Kiwanis Club of Pandan Jaya [2007 – 2008 & 2008 – 2009] and the Lt. Governor-Elect for Division 3 of Kiwanis Malaysia [2009 – 2010]. For his contributions to societies, China has awarded W Y Ho with:



WARNING: The author is not asking or advising readers to follow this article of his and he therefore disclaims and shall not be liable for any eventualities as the dispensing of the herbs must be prescribed by TCM physicians.



[Please see the names of herbs in Chinese below:

TRADITION CHINESE MEDICINE

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
[Continued from earlier article posted on 16/7/2009]

Actions of Lifting, Lowering, Floating and Sinking.
In the previous week, we have discussed about the Properties and Flavours of Chinese herbs.
This article is discussing the actions of Chinese herbs tend to act on the human body.

The terms Lifting, Lowering, Floating and Sinking refer to the upward, downward, inward and outward directions in which the herbs tend to act on the human body:

Lifting indicates that the herbs will cause an upward movement of Qi in the body and Lowering is the opposite of that. Floating means causing the Qi to move outward towards the surface of the skin from the inside of the human body while Sinking means going inward into the body or purging away.

Herbs that belong to the Lifting and the Floating class have the upwards and outwards actions, hence these herbs are used for elevating Yang to relieve exterior syndromes by way of causing resuscitation, diaphoresis [to induce perspiration] dispelling superficial wind and cold, inducing vomiting, etc.

Herbs that belong to the Lowering and Sinking class have downward and inward action and therefore, these herbs are used for inducing purgation, promotion of micturition [ stimulate urination], clearing excessive body heat, removing dampness, causing an adverse flow of Qi to stop vomiting, checking the exuberance of Yang, relieving cough and asthma, removing stagnated food, tranquillising the mind, etc.

Generally, for diseases that are located in the upper part or exterior of the human body, it is appropriate to use herbs that belong to the Lifting and Floating class. For diseases that are located in the interior or lower part of the human body, such as dry stool and constipation, it is appropriate to use herbs of Lowing and Sinking class.

For diseases of which the manifestations tend upward, such as headache and vertigo due to hyperactivity of Liver-Yang, herbs belonging to Lowering and Sinking class should be used to calm the Liver and suppress the hyperactivity of the Liver-Yang.

For diseases of which manifestations tend downward, lifting herbs are suitable for curing such diseases as treatment for chronic diarrhea.

Most herbs that are pungent, or sweet in flavour and warm or hot in property have lifting and floating actions, while most herbs that have bitter, sour or salty flavour and cold or cool in property have lowering and sinking actions.

Generally, most of the herbs that are light in weight have lifting and floating actions while those that are heavy in weight have lowering and sinking actions. However, some herbs that are light in weight have lowering and sinking actions and conversely, some herbs, which are heavy in weight, have lifting and floating actions.

Composition of herbs in a prescription and the processing of the herbs can influence or alter the property of the herb, e.g., when wine is added to the decoction of herbs that have lowering and sinking properties, such properties can change to that of lifting and floating actions. Likewise the lifting and floating properties of herbs can be changed to that of lowering and sinking when salt solution is added to the preparation of` decoction.

If herbs that have lifting and floating actions are decocted with a greater amount of lowering and sinking action herbs, they may also have lowering and sinking actions. Similarly, if herbs that have lowering and sinking actions are decocted with a greater amount of lifting and floating action herbs, they may also have some lifting and floating action characteristics.

Some herbs may exert specific therapeutic action on pathological changes in certain viscera and certain or several channels, but having little effects on the other channels. For example, among the heat-clearing herbs, some herbs will either clear heat in the Lung Channel or in the Liver Channel or in the Heart Channel, etc. This herb’s selective therapeutic effects on certain channels and certain organs of the human body are referred to as Channel Tropism.

The human body is an organic whole in which the channels and collaterals are linked up with the interior and exterior and the all parts of the body. Pathological change in the exterior may affect the viscera in the same way as diseases in the viscera may find expressions in the exterior of the body, e.g., bacteria in the blood may weaken the liver and cause fever that is felt in the exterior of the body. Base on the theory of the channels and collaterals, the signs and symptoms of diseases in different parts of the body can be understood systematically, e.g., swollen gum in the oral, cavity is the symptom of the flare-up of stomach-fire, and pain in the hypochondriac region is the symptom of stagnation of Liver-Qi. Gypsum is used to treat pain and reduce swelling of the gum because it contains mainly hydrated calcium sulphate [CaSO4.2H2O]. It is pungent & sweet and cold in property. It acts on the Lung and the Stomach Channel. Gypsum has the effect of clearing away heat and purging fire, relieving thirst and restlessness. It promotes regeneration of the tissue and heals wound.

Different herbs can act on the same channel, but have different effects owing to the differences in property, flavour and actions, e.g. Dried Ginger [Gan Jiang], Lily Bulb [Baii Her], Lipidium seed [Huang Jin] and Scutellaria Root [Ding Le Zi] all act on the Lung Channel, but Dried Ginger can warn up cold Lung, Lily Bulb can cure Lung deficiency, Lipidium seed is used to soothe excess syndrome of the Lung and Scutellaria Root is used to clear heat in the Lung. Thus the Channel Tropism theory must be understood in association with the theories of the Properties and Flavours and the Action of Lifting, Floating, Lowering and Sinking.

Toxicity in Chinese herbs
Five thousand years ago, the Father of Chinese Medicine, Sheng Nong had identified Chinese herbs into: -
[1] Non-toxic herb:
[a] Food herbs – the food that the Chinese takes daily until to-day
[b] Curative herbs – those herbs that are used until present days

[2] Toxic herbs are classified into:
[a] Slightly toxic
[b] Extremely toxic
[c] Deadly toxic.
The slightly toxic herbs have no harmful effect on the human body.

Most of the herbs used in the administration of medicines are non-toxic herbs. Some extremely toxic herbs have remarkable effects and in certain extreme cases, are required to cure certain chronic, critical or obstinate illnesses. For the purpose of safety, such toxic herbs are usually prescribed in small and proper dosage to ensure that it will not have harmful effect on the human body. The dosage so prescribed will not cause side effects. The administration of such herbs is also determined by the patient’s age, severity, constitution and location of the disease. The dosage of such herbs is dispensed with extreme care to prevent and avoid overdose. Extremely toxic herbs must be DISCONTINUED immediately after the patient shows signs of getting better. Toxicity of the herbs can be eliminated or reduced by processing, preparation and dispensing. All the herbs available in the Chinese Medicine Shops [Drug Stores] are prepared or processed herbs.

TCM PRINCIPLE: “Treat the critical or obstinate illnesses with toxic herbs, of which the prerequisite is safety”.

Deadly toxic HERBS CANNOT BE DISPENSED for oral consumption.

[To be continued next week – Application of herbs - Compatibility and Contraindictions]

W Y Ho
26th August 2009



Meastro D’Taijiquan conducts Taijiquan and Qigong in Petaling Jaya. Please contact Master W. Y. Ho at 012-3319234

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

[Continued from earlier article dated 2nd July 2009]

The Five Flavours of Chinese herbs
The flavour of some of the herbs are often described below are different from their true tastes, nonetheless they are grouped together according to the various effectiveness. The various groups of herbs are explained below according to flavour grouping: - [1] Sweet [2] Sour [3] Bitter [4] Salty and [5] Pungent. There are two more groups and they that are Tasteless and Astringent.

[1] Sweet flavour herbs
The sweet flavour herbs have the effect of nourishing, tonifying replenishing and enriching the3 different parts of the human body or its organs. It has the impact on normalising the function of the spleen and the stomach as well as harmonising the properties of different herbs in combination, relieving spasm pain. Herbs of this group are effective usually in treatment of dry cough, lack of spleen – stomach co-ordination, constipation caused by dry intestine, various pains and the syndrome of the deficiency type, etc. Some of the sweet flavour herbs have detoxication effects.

[2] Sour flavour herbs
This group of herbs has the effects of inducing astringency and arresting discharge. Sour flavour herbs are used for treating:
[a] chronic diarrhea [f] emission
[b] sweating due to debility [g] spermatorrhea
[c] chronic cough [h] enuresis (involuntary urination)
[d] chronic leukorrhagia [I] frequent micturition (having the urge to urinate).
[e] metrorrhagia (non-menstruation) or metro-stasis (stoppage of menses)

[3] Bitter flavour herbs
Bitter flavour herbs have the effects of purging out pathogenic fire, clearing heat, sinking of the adverse Qi to treat cough and vomitting, cough and vomiting, cough with dyspnea (laboured breathing) eliminating dampness, relaxing the bowels, constipation due to heat excess, damp-heat syndrome as well as damp-cold syndrome etc.

[4] Salty flavour herbs
Herbs of this group have the effects of relieving constipation, softening and resolving hard mass. It is usually used for treating dry stool, scrofula (disease with glandular swelling), goitre, abdominal mass, etc.

[5] Pungent flavour herbs
This group of herbs has the effect of promoting the circulation of the vital energy and the blood as well as dispersing exo-pathogens (external micro-organisms that can cause diseases) from the body. Pungent flavour herbs such as garlic are usually used to treat blood stasis, stagnation of vital energy (Qi flow) and other superficial and mild illness caused by exo-pathogens, etc.

[6] Tasteless flavour herbs
This group of herbs has the effects of excreting dampness and inducing diuresis (sweating). It is commonly used for treating edema (water retention) and dysuria (difficulty in urination), etc.

[7] Astringent flavour herbs
This group of herbs has the harsh, biting quality. Astringent flavour herbs have the similar actions as those of the Sour flavour herbs.

Generally, herbs of the same flavour will have similar actions and herbs of different tastes will have quite a different actions. Nonetheless, some herbs have the same property, but have different flavour and vice-versa and as such, their effects are not all the same.

The property and the flavour of a herb should be considered as an integrated whole and not be treated separately

W Y Ho
16th July 2009


[To be continued next week – Action of Lifting, lowering. Floating and Sinking ]


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Maestro D’Taijiquan conducts Taijiquan and Qigong in Petaling Jaya. Please contact Master W. Y. Ho at 012-3319234

FOREST RESERVES - Deforestation

Recently, The Star Metro had reported about the deforestation exercises that took place at the Sungai Jelok Forest Reserves (reported on 29th June 2009) and at Rantau Panjang Forest Reserves near Bukit Terak (reported on 2nd July 2009). The Sungai Jelok Forest Reserves is in the Hulu Langat District while the Rantau Panjang Forest Reserves Hulu Selangor District in the State of Selangor, Malaysia.






The two reports in the Star Metro had prompted the Association of Backpackers Malaysia to revisit the jungle trails of Bukit Terak (Rantau Pajnang Forest Reserves) on 5th July 2009. Twelve members of the Association of Backers Malaysia (ABM) travelled by 3 cars from Petaling Jaya through the Rawang Interchange to a spot about 1Km before the Rawang to Batang Berjuntai – Batang Arang Junction. Bukit Terak is on the right side of Rawang-Batang Berjuntai [now known as Bestari Jaya] Road. From that spot the group of 12 ABM members walked up to the top of Bukit Terap and thereafter crossed over to Batu Arang Town on the left side Rawang-Batang Berjuntai Road. Below is what the 12 members of ABM saw during their excursion up Bukit Terak.

Dated 6th July 2009