Polygala, Yuan Zhi 远志 Chinese Senega, Thinleaf MilkwortYuan Zhi (TCM)Byi ‘u srad ma  བྱི་འུ་ སྲད་མ་ (Herb, Tibetan Medicine) Colla., Icones plantarum rariorum herbarium pedemontanum, (1835-1837) Polygala sibirica flower(Photo by Igorpysh) (Wikimedia Botanical name: Polygala spp. P. tenuifolia P. sibirica Parts used: Root. Classically, the root and leaf were often both used. (Ming Yi Bie Lu) Temperature & Taste: Warm, dry. Bitter, Pungent, Aromatic (TCM) Classification: H. Nourish the Heart Uses: 1. Calms the Heart, Settles the Spirit:-Insomnia, Palpitations with Anxiety, Restlessness, Disorientation, Confusion, Poor Memory-good for mental and emotional disorders associated with Phlegm and Damp obstruction-Seizures and Convulsions associated with Phlegm clouding the Heart and Mind-Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease-‘Benefits the Intelligence and invigorates the Wisdom’ … ‘strengthens Willpower’ (Li Shi Zhen)-‘Facilitates the functions of the Nine Orifices’ (Shen Nong Ben Cao)-‘Pacifies the Spirit and Soul’. (Zhen Quan)2. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:-Cough and Dyspnea with hard-to-clear Mucus-leaf and flower is used for accumulation of serous fluid (Tibetan Medicine)3. Clears Heat and Toxin, Reduces Swelling:-topically for boil, abscesses, Carbuncles, painful breast swellings-neutralizes Aconite poison (Xu Zhi Cai)-Wounds, Bites of rabid dogs (Tibetan Medicine)4. Benefits Qi:-older texts listed it to tonify deficiency-replenishes in deficiency … strengthens physical force (Shen Nong Ben Cao)-long-term use…

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