Monthly Archives: January 2012

Ginseng the Star Root

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Lok-Kwan

Ginseng 人參 ranks at the top of a group of longevity herbs that have anti-aging and anti-cancer properties. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing 神農本草經, The Divine Husbandman’s Classic of the Materia Medica, honors it as a superior herb with profound … Continue reading →

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Born in the Year of the Dragon

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Lok-Kwan

Mass media often present Chinese astrology in simplified but inaccurate forms. For instance, the birth years of the Dragon may be approximated according to the Western, or Gregorian, calendar as: 1928 1940 1952 1964 1976 1988 2000 2012 2024 Some … Continue reading →

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靈芝 Lingzhi (ganoderma lucidum), the Spiritual Herb

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Lok-Kwan

The Su Wen identifies mushrooms as ‘spiritual herbs’ 芝, 神草也.* 神農本草經 Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, The Divine Husbandman’s Classic of the Materia Medica, describes lingzhi this way: 赤芝,  味苦，平。主胸中結，益心氣，補中，增智慧，不忘。久食，輕身、不老、延年、神仙。 一名丹芝。 ‘Red mushroom: Bitter in taste, neutral in temperature, red … Continue reading →

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The Quest for Immortality

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Lok-Kwan

Few things are as certain in life as death. The Elixir of Immortality, or Elixir of Life, is a substance that confers eternal life or eternal youth. All ancient cultures have some myths about it; the search for lasting youth, … Continue reading →

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