Let's begin our class In the past two units I've introduced the concept of Chinese herbs their cultural attributes action mechanism and wisdom in disease treatment During those two sessions we've also mentioned specific herbs However, we mainly talked in theory From today on in this unit I'm going to introduce specific herbs The third unit mainly addresses the role and position of rare and expensive herbs in the disease prevention and treatment In this regard, I'm going to explain in two major parts First, we'll introduce the basic concept of rare and expensive herbs We are doing this because there are some misunderstandings about rare and expensive herbs in modern society. This at least manifests in two aspects (1) In terms of understanding people often assume rare and expensive herbs have to be expensive popular and inaccessible This is one aspect of misunderstanding (2) another misunderstanding is that people take it for granted that rare and expensive herbs do good to our body believing that these herbs can reinforce our body This is another aspect of misunderstanding Misunderstanding will surely lead to wrong actions Many people only buy expensive herbs believing 'the more expensive, the better' They buy an expensive one today and a different one tomorrow or even store these herbs no matter how expensive they are Misunderstanding and wrong actions can bring about major consequences In terms of market behavior because you are pursuing goods you are storing goods you are actually disturbing the market and may lead to price-gouging Let's give you one example Over the past years the price of Dong Chong Xia Cao (Cordyceps) has gone crazy That's why we say this can disrupt the market order At the same time, another consequence is the inaccessiblity and unaffordability of those who really need these rare and expensive herbs This is one aspect Another aspect I personally think, is more serious Some people do not know whether they need these rare and expensive herbs or how to take them but just follow others blindly What about the outcome? It may not work 'May not work' is ok sometimes misue of rare and expensive herbs can cause adverse reactions Some people may conclude that Chinese herbs are not effective and can even do harm to the body This can, to a great extent ruin the reputation of Chinese herbs Therefore I think it very necessary to correcdt these common misunderstandings on rare and expensive Chinese herbs When we say misunderstandings or wrong actions we need to understand the concpet of rare and expensive Chinese herbs in a correct way What's the correct concept Let's move on to this topic Indeed, it's very hard to give a simple and clear definition on rare and expensive Chinese herbs However, the rare and expensive Chinese herbs should at least consist of the following elements (1) A long history: some herbs has been recorded in medical classics such as the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Classic of the Materia Medica) The records of those herbs have never changed until today This indicates they have a long history and the long history has been well-recognized through generations This is the first factor Now let's move on to the second factor Since they are called rare and expensive herbs they are not available everywhere but limited to specific geographical origin As for Chinese herbs we have a term called 'Dao Di Yao Cai' (genuine Chinese Materia Medica) The 'genuine' here means 'authentic' China is a huge and geographically diversified country with different climate and environment conditions as well as species In terms of Materia Medica for example, Ginseng we know say Ginseng in northeastern area of China for example, Zhejiang (near Shanghai) has famous Zhe Ba Wei (eight authentic herbs) including Hang Bai Ju (White Chrysanthemum from Hang Zhou) and Zhe Bei Mu (Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii from Zhejiang), etc for another example high-quality Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae), Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii) and Huang Qi (Radix Astragali) are often grown in northwestern area of China This is the second charactersitic and element Now the third and most important factor The long history or specfiic georgraphic origin manifests in one aspect the therapeutic efficacy remarkable therapeutic efficacy very significant therapeutic efficacy Without therapeutic efficacy, herbs with a long history will be eliminated through selection The only reason that one herb remains popular today is its remarkable effect Therefore the core element of judging a rare and expensive herb is the therapeutic efficacy This is the third factor The 4th and 5th factors are indeed associated with the supply of herbs When something become rare they are precious and expensive I think rare and expensive Chinese herbs involve five elements But they do not necessary have all the five elements However, some elements have to be met the most important one is outstanding therapeutic efficacy or strong effect This is how we define rare and expensive Chinese herbs from their concept and characteristics As a result in terms of categorization and definition rare and expensive Chinese herbs involve two aspects Broadly speaking it contains at least three aspects (1) Very famous but not expensive (2) Very expensive but not so famous (3) Very famous and expensive These are the three aspects in a broad sense Narrowly speaking, it's easily accepted by the general public that these herbs are both expensive and famous However if they are only limited to high cost and fame their value in application and promotion may be missed That's why we prefer the categorization in a broad sense famous but not expensive expensive but not so famous or expensive and famous We're going to focus on two categories (1) famous but not expensive (2) expensive and famous as for the category 'expensive but not famous' (1) there are not many herbs (2) they do not have sufficient supply Let's take a look As for famous but not expensive herbs besides their long history and remarkable therapeutic efficacy compared with the other two categories they do not have supply problem and are easily accessible, indicating that they can meet the market demand Additionally, comapred with other herbs they are cheaper and not so expensive. Because of their remarkable effect, sufficient supply and a relatively low cost they're extensively used There are many herbs in this category Take Ma Huang (Herba Ephedrae) for example Is it famous Of course Why It has at least two major functions that have been well recognized since ancient times (1) Induces sweating and releases the exterior known as the first option for inducing sweating and releasing the exterior (2) alleviate asthma known as a sacred herb for asthma Can you say it's famous Of course But is it expensive? No It is very cheap Take Ju Hua (Flos Chrysanthemi) for another example you all know Ju Hua it is cheap, not expensive but has many functions and can be used as both food and medicine Another example is Da Huang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) Da Huang is famous among the folk people for its function in promoting bowel movements Is it famous Yes Is it expensive Not at all So I'd like to introduce some herbs in this category This is the first aspect What about the second cateogry They are expensive but not so famous Of course, they are not so famous mainly because of the following aspects including our natioanl policy (1) Insufficient supply some are involved with animals and some animals are protected by the government for example, Chuan Shan Jia (Squama Manitis) one of the second-class national protected animals Even if artifical cultured ones are still expensive So today Chuan Shan Jia is often not available in herbal dispensaries of comprehensive Chinese medical hospitals So is Qi She (long-noded pit viper) Why It's too expensive It's also related to our medical insurance If you use this medicine for two weeks you're going to use up the medical insurance for the entire year As a result, it is rarely prescribed. And it's not necessary to take more time on this topic You only need to know that there is a category of rare and expensive Chinese herbs which are not many but very expensive. Of course, they have exact therapeutic efficacy However their application has been limited by many factors This is the second category The third category is very popular and pursued by many people expensive and famous They contain almost all elements of rare and expensive Chinese herbs a long history remarkable therapeutic efficacy insufficient supply and high cost etc Because of these factors they are not so extensively used as herbs that are famous but not expensive You all know these herbs I've mentioned But I still need to clarify that not all these herbs are reinforcing the body some are not In terms of reinforcing the body for example, Ginseng Dong Chong Xiao Cao Lu Rong (Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum), Shi Hu (Caulis Dendrobii) and Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii) are all expensive and famous and reinforcing the body Some are not reinforcing the body such as Zang Hong Hua (Stigma Croci), Ling Yang Jiao (Cornu Saigae Tataricae), Niu Huang (Calculus Bovis) Chen Xiang (Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum) and Bei Mu (Bulbus Fritillaria) are not reinforcing the body however, they are also very expensive and famous I'm going to introduce some of these herbs So the definition and three major categories of rare and expensive Chinese herbs depends on their history efficacy supply and price Finally, I'd like to talk about the application principles of rare and expensive Chinese herbs I think we all should be aware that if you need one category of herbs generally speaking more rare and expensive herbs have better therapeutic efficacies however, if you use these herbs when you do not need them you may have more severe side effects This is the first principle We need to follow the principle of 'using only when needed' You can use them when you need and stay away from them when you do not need no matter how you obtained these herbs no matter how expensive they are This is one aspect Now let's move on to the second aspect There is now a phenomenon in the market friends or colleagues may recommend taking rare and expensive Chinese herbs These recommendations are good intentional however, the outcome may not be satisfactory Why Because these herbs have strong effects they can be effective when in need but ineffective when there is no need they may even cause side effects I need to remind you that it's important to consider individual differences This is the second aspect The third asect: You cannot use these herbs forever only because they have good efficacy even if you can afford to buy them all the time since you do not always need them I've mentioned this previously the more rare and expensive the herbs are, the stronger effect they have So are their side effects You are taking these herbs only because you need them You need to stop taking them when you get the therapeutic efficacy. So the third principle is stop taking these herbs when you get the effect you cannot take them too much for too long So before introducing specific herbs I've introduced misunderstanding wrong actions, categorization, concept, characteristics and application principles regarding rare and expensive Chinese herbs In next sessions I'm going to introduce application of some herbs So much for this class
