When the plague is prevalent, this herb grows luxuriantly and helps people tide over the difficulties.

「There is so much gold in the world, but Yiyu sings with joy alone. Life and death are the same, and interests and dangers are endless. The effect of the decoction is not shallow, but the disease is already deep. However, it is still burning moxa, used to comfort the hearts of friends.」             “Answering Guests” Shao Yong, Song Dynasty

This work by Shao Yong shows that even though the disease has penetrated deep into the body, the friend still needs to use the power of burning mugwort to help his friend overcome the difficulties, which illustrates the extraordinary efficacy of mugwort. Another idiom “burning mugwort divides the pain” is derived from “Song Dynasty” history. Volume three. “Taizu Benji III”, when Taizong fell ill, Taizu himself used moxa moxa to burn it; when Taizong felt pain, Taizu also used moxa moxa for self-moxibustion. The latter is a metaphor for brotherly friendship, and burning moxa is the “moxibustion” method in acupuncture. The common method is to use fire to light moxa and place it on acupuncture points to stimulate the acupuncture points, which has the effect of relaxing muscles and activating collaterals.

According to records in the third edition of the Taiwan Chinese Pharmacopoeia Mugwort (http://localhost /tcm/dt_articles/%e8%89%be%e8%91%89/) is the dried leaf of the Asteraceae plant Artemisia argyi H.Lev. et Vaniot. It is also known as wild mugwort, grass mugwort, white mugwort, and sunburn mugwort. It is also called “medical herb” because it is used for moxibustion treatment. It is also called “chicken-foot mugwort” because the leaves are shaped like chicken feet. It is basically cultivated throughout mainland China, and is mainly produced in Anhui, Shandong, Hubei, Hebei and other places. The traditionalMugwort, the quality produced in Qizhou, Hubei is better, also known as Qi mugwort. Because the geographical conditions are suitable, Taiwan also has a large area of ​​cultivation, and is produced for food or traditional Chinese medicine. , usually harvested before and after the Dragon Boat Festival, especially Mugwort leaves< / a>, it is best to absorb the pure Yang energy between heaven and earth. After harvesting, remove impurities and dry it in the sun, then store it for later use. Mugwort has a very long history, which can be traced back to the “Book of Songs” in the 11th century BC: “When someone picks mugwort, if you don’t see it for a day, it feels like you are three years old.” Used. To express the feeling of longing. It is recorded in “Bielu of Famous Doctors”: “Mugwort leaves are bitter in taste, slightly warm, ripe and hot, and have pure yang properties. They can return the dying yang, open the twelve meridians, regulate qi and blood through the three yin, and drive away cold and warmth. It warms the uterus and uses the scorching fire to penetrate the meridians and eliminate all diseases. “When purchasing, the ones with green color, gray-white back, thick leaves, soft and tough texture, and rich aroma are the best.

When purchasing, you may buy mixed products of hibiscus leaves, which are confused because of their name, also known as Qi Ai. The main way to identify them is that the hibiscus leaves are densely covered with white fine hairs, gray-white, narrowly spoon-shaped or narrowly obovate; and Mugwort leaves are mainly pinnate and deeply lobed, the lobes are elliptical and lanceolate, and the edges are irregularly serrated. Because the leaves have different shapes, they are easy to distinguish. According to different clinical usage situations, there are different preparation methods, which can be divided into vinegar The preparation method of mugwort leaves is to wash the mugwort leaves, mix them well with vinegar, stir-fry them over a slow fire, then take them out and dry them in the sun for later use. There is also moxa leaf charcoal. Wash the moxa leaves first and rub them into pieces. Put them in a pot and stir-fry them over medium heat until they are all dark brown. Spray a little water on them to extinguish the sparks. After frying, take them out and spread them out to dry for later use. The seed is mugwort. After washing the dried mugwort leaves, put them into a mortar or iron boat and pound them into a velvet shape. Remove the leaf veins and thick stems, sift out the fine powder, and take the clean velvet for later use. Moxa is a commonly used medicinal material for moxibustion in traditional Chinese medicine, and moxa is also used as the base with sulfur, musk, frankincense, myrrh, rosin, cinnamon twig, eucommia, citrus aurantium, saponin, asarum, Chuanxiong, Duhuo, and angelica. Grind the medicinal materials into fine powder and mix well. Then use a piece of mulberry paper, spread it flat, first take the moxa velvet, spread it evenly on the paper, then take the powdered medicine, mix it evenly into the moxa velvet, then roll it tightly into a stick shape, and then apply it with egg white to stick it. Then ignite it and place it on the acupuncture points to diffuse heat back and forth.

Mugwort leaves in addition to containing a large amount of volatile oil, are also rich in tannins , according to the research of President Hong Mingqi of China Medical University, it was found that tannic acid can inhibit the new coronavirus. The results were also published in the “American Journal of Cancer Research” and received much praise from the academic and medical circles. Due to the diversity of Mugwort leaves, it can be taken internally or externally. Therefore, the third edition of Taiwan’s Chinese Pharmacopoeia has standards for sulfur dioxide in mugwort leaves, as well as certain content standards for heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead to ensure the safety of people’s medication.

[Image provided] Professor Zhang Xianzhe “Authentic Medicinal Materials Illustrated Book“http://en.whatsintcm.com

【About the Author】

Chen Dazhen

Education: China Medical University, PhD, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Current position: Assistant Researcher, Medical Intelligence Center, Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University

Member of the National Traditional Chinese Medicine School Common Textbook Compilation Committee, Chinese Medicine Discipline

Distinguished Lecturer, Industrial Research Institute

Post-baccalaureate Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Part-time Lecturer

Department of Pharmacy, Jianan University of Pharmacy, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Heluo Pharmacopoeia www.whatsinTCM.com Co-founder