He Shou Wu 何首乌 (Polygonum Multiflorum Thunb) is one of the most revered tonic herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is also known as Fo-Ti, Ho Shou Wu, and Jiaoteng.
In the Orient, all philosophy, art and science are traditionally based on the fundamental realization that all things and all processes are interconnected. Oriental wise men and women long ago recognized the interconnectedness of the various parts of the body. The human body, mind and spirit are experienced as one complete whole...
Of the several thousand herbs used in the Chinese herbal system, there is an elite group of about fifty herbs known as the "Superior Herbs." These very special herbs have also become known as the "tonic" herbs of Chinese herbalism.
Chinese tonic herbalism is the most sophisticated and effective herbal system in the world. It differs from other herbal systems in that it emphasizes the promotion of health rather than the elimination of disease. In this sense, tonic herbalism is extremely similar to qigong.
Perhaps no other herb of the Chinese pharmacopoeia has received as much attention and fame as the one with the man shaped root known as "Ginseng" (in Chinese, "ren shen"). Its invigorating and rejuvenating properties have been attested to in the West as well as the East...
There was once a farmer who wanted desperately to become a doctor like his famous neighbor. He pleaded with his neighbor to take him as a student, but the doctor refused. In those days, it was customary to only teach the medical profession to members of one's own family.
Article reprinted from "Hunters and Trappers Guide" (ninth edition) by W.J. Burnett, Minneapolis, Minnesota, circa 1901. This gives us a historical perspective of the "Sang" hunters and the value of ginseng from early America. Note that the original English text and expressions are reproduced in original form.