The Herb & Ingredient Glossary
A growing guide to the herbs, botanicals, minerals and oils at the heart of Chinese and Eastern herbal tradition, including the ones in our range and others we think are worth knowing. Explore where each one comes from, how it has traditionally been used, and where you'll find it with us.
Herbal Patches
Ingredients appearing in East Remedy adhesive patch range (SKUs 001–006). Patches carry the formula in a pressure-sensitive hotmelt adhesive, worn directly on the skin for 4–8 hours. Ingredients: Yi Tiao Gen · Lavender · Marjoram · Ylang Ylang · Peppermint · Wintergreen · Eucalyptus · Turmeric · Tourmaline · Far Infrared Mineral Powder · Graphene
Roller Gels
Ingredients appearing in East Remedy water-based roller gel range (SKUs 007–009). Roll-on format, applied by sliding the ball against the skin. Ingredients: Yi Tiao Gen · Turmeric · Tourmaline · Lavender · Peppermint · Eucalyptus · Wintergreen · Graphene
Essential Oil Rollerballs
Ingredients appearing in East Remedy 15ml essential oil rollerball range (SKUs 010–012). Oil-based format in a sweet almond carrier, applied to pulse points. Ingredients: Lavender · Marjoram · Citrus Essential Oil · Menthol · Wintergreen · Ginger Root Essential Oil · Bergamot Essential Oil · Lemon Essential Oil · Sweet Almond Oil · Yi Tiao Gen · Hinoki Cypress · Cypress Essential Oil
Soothing Muscle Cream
Ingredients appearing in East Remedy 100g muscle cream (SKU 013). Rich cream base, applied by massage. Ingredients: Yi Tiao Gen · Peppermint · Lavender · Eucalyptus · Wintergreen
What are Botanicals?
Plants and plant-derived ingredients used in wellness and skincare practice. Botanicals can be roots, flowers, bark, leaves or seeds — each carrying distinct aromatic, mineral or sensory properties. East Remedy's range draws primarily on botanicals from Chinese and Taiwanese herbal tradition, alongside a handful of Mediterranean and Southeast Asian plants.
What are Minerals & Actives?
Naturally occurring minerals and modern material actives that contribute heat, sensation or functional properties to a formula. In East Remedy's range this includes tourmaline (a piezoelectric mineral that emits far-infrared energy when heated) and graphene (a modern carbon material valued for thermal conductivity). Neither is a botanical — but both have a role in how the product feels on the skin.
What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?
A system of traditional medicine with documented roots stretching back over two thousand years, recorded in classical texts like the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon). It treats the body as a connected whole — balancing qi (vital energy), yin and yang through combinations of botanical and mineral ingredients. In China, Taiwan and across East Asia, herbal formulas for topical use have been part of household daily life for generations — not as alternatives to medicine, but as a practical, everyday wellness tradition.
What is Far Infrared Therapy?
Far infrared (FIR) refers to a specific wavelength of heat energy that sits beyond visible light. Certain minerals — particularly tourmaline — emit this energy when warmed by body heat. In East Asian heat therapy practice, the use of mineral-rich heated materials dates back centuries (Korean jjimjilbang saunas, jade stone beds), though the specific far-infrared mechanism is a modern scientific framing of that older tradition. In patch and gel form, the mineral powder is embedded into the formula to generate a gentle, even warmth on the skin.
What are Essential Oils?
Concentrated aromatic compounds extracted from plants — typically through steam distillation or cold-pressing. They carry the characteristic scent and sensory properties of the plant they come from. Essential oils are used topically (diluted in a carrier) in aromatherapy and herbal wellness practice across many cultures. In East Remedy's range they appear as the primary aromatic actives in all rollerballs and as supporting ingredients in patches and gels.
What are Carrier Oils?
Base oils used to dilute and deliver essential oils safely onto the skin. Unlike essential oils, which are highly concentrated and used in small amounts, carrier oils are used in larger quantities and are valued for their skin-compatible, absorbent texture. Sweet almond oil is the carrier used across East Remedy's rollerball range — light, non-greasy and well-suited to roll-on application.
Suan Zao Ren (Jujube Seed)
WHAT IT IS
The dried seed of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa — the primary herb used in Chinese medicine for restless mind and disturbed sleep.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to China and widely cultivated across Asia — particularly in Hebei, Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces. The jujube fruit (red date) is widely consumed as food across East Asia; the seed is used specifically for its herbal properties.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Suan Zao Ren (酸棗仁 — 'sour jujube kernel') is the primary herb in one of the most famous classical formulas for sleep: Suan Zao Ren Tang, documented in the Jingui Yaolue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet, ~220 CE). It is classified as nourishing the heart and calming the spirit (shen) — the TCM framework for what Western medicine might call nervous system support. It has been used continuously in clinical Chinese medicine for nearly two thousand years.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
The jujube fruit is harvested in autumn; the seeds are extracted from the dried fruit, then dried further and either used whole or processed into powder or extract.
Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
WHAT IT IS
The dried root of Angelica sinensis — one of the most widely used herbs in Chinese medicine, particularly in formulas associated with women's health.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to the high-altitude regions of China — particularly Gansu, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. Cultivated at elevations above 2,500 metres.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Dang Gui (當歸 — literally 'return to order') is one of the four foundational herbs in Chinese medicine alongside ginseng, rehmannia and white peony. It has been used continuously for over two thousand years and appears in numerous classical formulas. Its warming, aromatic character and its role in moving blood and nourishing Qi have made it central to Chinese women's health formulas — though its use in TCM is not gender-restricted. In Japanese Kampo it appears under the name Toki (当帰). It is commonly used in Chinese herbal cuisine — added to soups and slow-cooked dishes — particularly during winter and postpartum recovery periods.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Roots are harvested in autumn from 3-year-old plants, then dried slowly. Different parts of the root (head, body, tail) are traditionally used for different purposes in classical formulas.
Astragalus (Huang Qi)
WHAT IT IS
The dried root of Astragalus membranaceus — a foundational tonic herb in Chinese medicine, used for centuries to support vitality and resistance.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to Northern China, Mongolia and Korea. Widely cultivated across Inner Mongolia, Shanxi and Gansu provinces in China.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Huang Qi (黃芪) — literally 'yellow leader' — has been used in Chinese medicine for over two thousand years and appears in the Shennong Bencao Jing. It is classified as a premier tonic herb, specifically associated with strengthening Wei Qi (protective qi) — the Chinese medicine concept closest to immune function. It features in some of the most widely used classical TCM formulas, including Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi). In Chinese folk medicine, astragalus is commonly added to soups and broths as a food-herb during winter.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Roots are harvested in autumn from plants 4–7 years old. The long, yellow roots are sliced and dried for use in decoctions, powders or extracts.
Ginseng (Ren Shen)
WHAT IT IS
The root of Panax ginseng — one of the most revered herbs in Chinese medicine, used as a tonic for over two thousand years.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to Northeast China, Korea and the Russian Far East. Korean ginseng (specifically cultivated Panax ginseng from the Goryeo region) is considered the highest grade. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a separate species with distinct properties.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Ginseng (人參, rén shēn — literally 'man root,' for its human-shaped form) appears in the Shennong Bencao Jing as a premier tonic herb. In TCM it is classified as strongly tonifying to Qi — used to strengthen and restore vitality, particularly after illness or exhaustion. Its status in Chinese imperial medicine was extraordinary — entire wars were fought over ginseng-producing territories in Northeast Asia. In Korean tradition, red ginseng (processed through steaming and drying) is considered a national treasure with its own dedicated research institutions.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Wild ginseng (increasingly rare and valuable) is hand-dug in autumn after at least 6 years of growth. Cultivated ginseng is harvested at 4–6 years. Red ginseng is steamed and dried; white ginseng is simply dried.
Mugwort (Ai Cao)
WHAT IT IS
The dried leaves of Artemisia argyi — the herb at the centre of moxibustion, one of the oldest therapeutic practices in Chinese medicine.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to and widely distributed across East Asia — China, Korea and Japan all have significant mugwort cultivation and harvesting traditions.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Mugwort (艾草, Ai Cao) is one of the most deeply embedded plants in Chinese herbal history. It is the primary herb used in moxibustion — the practice of burning dried mugwort near or on acupuncture points to warm and stimulate them. Moxibustion is documented in classical texts including the Huangdi Neijing and has been practised continuously for over two thousand years. In Chinese folk tradition, mugwort bundles are hung at doorways during the Dragon Boat Festival to ward off illness. It features in Japanese Kampo and Korean traditional medicine equally prominently.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Mugwort leaves are harvested in spring and early summer, dried and aged — the older the moxa material, the more uniform and gentle the burn. Dried mugwort is compressed into sticks or cones for moxibustion use.
Graphene
WHAT IT IS
A single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice — one of the lightest and strongest known materials, with exceptional thermal conductivity.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Graphene is synthesised industrially rather than mined. First isolated in 2004 by Novoselov and Geim at the University of Manchester (Nobel Prize in Physics, 2010). Commercial production is now distributed globally.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Graphene is used for it’s thermal conductivity properties allow it to hold and distribute heat evenly across the skin, making it the most effective heat carrier in the range.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Produced through industrial synthesis processes, then processed into a form suitable for embedding in patch and gel formulas.
Tourmaline
WHAT IT IS
A naturally occurring crystalline boron silicate mineral that generates a small electrical charge when heated — emitting far-infrared wavelengths and negative ions.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Mined globally, including in Brazil, parts of Africa, Sri Lanka and China. The mineral occurs in many colour varieties; the colourless to black varieties are typically used in far-infrared wellness products.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Unlike the botanical ingredients in East Remedy's range, tourmaline has no ancient herbal heritage. Its use in wellness products is a 20th-21st century commercial application — it became widely used in East Asian heat therapy products (patches, mats, socks, belts) from the 1990s onwards, based on the hypothesis that far-infrared emission and negative ions have beneficial effects on the body. This hypothesis has generated significant commercial interest across Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Mined from geological deposits, then crushed and ground into a fine powder at high temperature (sintering) to produce the grade used in wellness product formulas.
Herbal Patch · Far Infrared (Warming)
Herbal Patch · Turmeric (Warming)
Far Infrared Mineral Powder
WHAT IT IS
A finely ground mineral powder — typically tourmaline, jade or ceramic-based — embedded into patch and gel formulas to generate far-infrared energy when warmed by body heat.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Sourced from mineral deposits across East Asia and globally. The specific mineral composition varies by supplier and product.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
The use of heated mineral materials for warmth and wellness is documented across East Asian cultures for centuries — Korean jjimjilbang (sauna) tradition uses heated mineral-rich floors and walls; jade and volcanic stone have been used in heated applications in Chinese and Korean wellness practice. The specific far-infrared framing is a modern scientific application of this older mineral-warmth tradition.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
High-temperature sintering is used to process raw minerals into ultra-fine powders suitable for embedding into fabrics and gel formulas. This is an industrial process, not a traditional one.
Cypress Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS
The steam-distilled essential oil of Cupressus sempervirens — the tall Mediterranean cypress, one of the most ancient cultivated trees in the world.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Cupressus sempervirens is native to the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia — cultivated across the region since antiquity. Today it grows throughout Southern Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Mediterranean cypress has been cultivated for over 3,000 years and carries profound symbolic significance across cultures — associated with longevity and endurance in Persian and Greek tradition, with mourning and the afterlife in Mediterranean cultures, and with resilience in Islamic garden design. In Western herbalism, cypress oil has been used for its woody, resinous aromatic character. While not a classical East Asian herb, it pairs naturally with hinoki in the same botanical family (Cupressaceae), contributing a slightly sharper, more resinous counterpoint to hinoki's warmer, more honeyed wood character.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Oil is steam-distilled from the needles, twigs and cones of the cypress tree.
Hinoki Cypress
WHAT IT IS
The essential oil of Chamaecyparis obtusa — a Japanese cypress tree valued for its warm, woody, slightly medicinal scent, and one of Japan's most culturally significant botanical materials.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to Japan, growing in the mountainous regions of central and southern Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Also found in Taiwan (where a related variety grows at altitude) and parts of China.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Hinoki (檜木) is one of Japan's five sacred trees — alongside sugi (Japanese cedar), akamatsu, sawara cypress and kōyamaki. It has been used in temple and shrine construction for over a thousand years, most famously at Ise Shrine, which has been ritually rebuilt in fresh hinoki wood every 20 years since roughly 690 CE. The connection between hinoki's scent and sacred or meditative spaces is deeply embedded in Japanese culture. Its aromatic compounds — particularly α-pinene and cedrol — are associated with Japanese forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) research, which has documented physiological responses to phytoncide exposure in forest environments. Hinoki bathtubs (hinoki-buro) are a longstanding feature of Japanese bathing culture.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Oil is typically steam-distilled from wood offcuts, sawdust and branches — often a byproduct of sustainable forestry and construction rather than trees felled specifically for oil production.
Menthol
WHAT IT IS
A naturally occurring organic compound isolated from cornmint (Mentha arvensis) and related mint plants — distinct from peppermint oil in that it is a single isolated compound rather than a whole essential oil.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Produced primarily from cornmint (Mentha arvensis), widely cultivated across Asia — particularly in India (which produces around 75–80% of the world's natural menthol), China and Brazil.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Menthol is closely related to Bo He (薄荷) — the Chinese mint herb long used in TCM for its cooling and dispersing properties. In Chinese herbal tradition, the cooling sensation of mint has been valued for clearing heat and refreshing the senses. Menthol as an isolated compound gives a more concentrated and immediate cooling effect than the whole essential oil — activating cold-sensitive receptors in the skin to produce a sustained cooling sensation without a change in actual skin temperature.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Cornmint leaves are steam-distilled to produce a high-menthol oil. The oil is then chilled, causing menthol crystals to precipitate out and separate from the liquid. The crystals are collected, purified and used directly or re-dissolved.
Lavender Essential Oil Rollerball · Sleep
Sweet Almond Oil
WHAT IT IS
The cold-pressed oil of Prunus dulcis (sweet almond) kernels — a light, skin-compatible carrier oil used as the base in East Remedy's rollerball range.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
The sweet almond tree (Prunus dulcis) is native to the Middle East and South Asia — cultivated in the Mediterranean, Central Asia and parts of China for thousands of years. The US (California) and Spain are now the world's largest commercial producers.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Almond oil has been used as a skin and hair treatment across Persian, Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal traditions for centuries. In TCM, sweet almonds (tian bian tao, 甜扁桃) have been documented as nourishing and moistening in nature. In Ayurvedic practice, almond oil is one of the foundational abhyanga (self-massage) oils. Its light texture and minimal scent make it an ideal vehicle for delivering more active essential oils without competing with them aromatically.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Almonds are harvested in late summer, then cold-pressed to extract the oil without heat — preserving its light colour, mild scent and skin-compatible fatty acid profile.
Lavender Essential Oil Rollerball · Sleep
Citrus Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS
A blend or single-origin citrus essential oil adding a bright, fresh aromatic note to the formula.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Citrus trees are native to Southeast Asia and have been cultivated across Asia, the Mediterranean and beyond for thousands of years. The broad citrus family includes mandarin, sweet orange, yuzu, lime and others — each with a distinct aromatic profile.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Citrus (ju, 橘) has been central to Chinese herbal medicine for over two thousand years. Dried citrus peel (chen pi, 陳皮) from aged tangerine is one of the most widely used ingredients in classical TCM formulas. In Japanese and Korean herbal traditions, yuzu (柚子) holds particular cultural and herbal significance. Across East Asia, citrus is associated with warmth, circulation and the lifting of Qi stagnation.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Citrus oil is typically cold-pressed from the fruit peel, often as a byproduct of juice production.
Lavender Essential Oil Rollerball · Sleep
Lemon Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS
The cold-pressed essential oil of Citrus limon peel — clean, sharp and immediately recognisable.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
The lemon tree (Citrus limon) is native to South Asia, likely originating in northeast India, and has been cultivated across the Mediterranean and Asia for over 2,500 years. Major commercial producers today include Argentina, Italy, Spain and the United States.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Lemon is documented in Chinese herbal medicine as a digestive and clarifying herb, and citrus more broadly has been used medicinally across East Asia for millennia. The broader genus Citrus (ju, 橘) features prominently in TCM — dried citrus peel (chen pi, 陳皮) is one of the most common herbs in classical formulas, used to regulate Qi and support digestion. Lemon's bright, cutting character makes it a natural complement to warming and cooling botanical blends.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
The peel is cold-pressed — a mechanical extraction that preserves the bright, volatile top notes of the fresh peel more effectively than steam distillation.
Bergamot Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS
The cold-pressed essential oil of Citrus bergamia peel — bright, floral-citrus in character, most widely known as the flavouring in Earl Grey tea.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is believed to have originated in Southeast Asia, later cultivated extensively in Calabria, southern Italy — now the world's primary commercial producer. Around 80% of global bergamot oil comes from a narrow coastal strip of Calabria.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Bergamot does not have an ancient East Asian heritage, but has become deeply familiar across the region through Earl Grey tea, which has been consumed across China, Japan and Korea since the 19th century. Its bright, slightly floral-citrus character makes it a natural pairing with other citrus and botanical oils in contemporary Asian wellness blending. In aromatherapy tradition it is associated with a lifting, clarifying aromatic effect.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
The peel of the bergamot fruit is cold-pressed — the same process used for most citrus oils. Harvest typically occurs in winter when the fruit is fully ripe.
Ginger Root Essential Oil
Acupressure Sleep Patch · Lavender
Herbal Patch · Far Infrared (Warming)
Herbal Patch · Turmeric (Warming)
Herbal Patch · Graphene (Warming)
Herbal Patch · Lavender (Cooling)
Herbal Patch · Peppermint & Eucalyptus (Cooling)
Herbal Roller Gel · Turmeric
Herbal Roller Gel · Lavender
Herbal Roller Gel · Graphene (Warming)
Lavender Essential Oil Rollerball · Sleep
Almond Essential Oil Rollerball · Cooling
Hinoki Essential Oil Rollerball · Calm
Soothing Muscle Cream · with Yi Tiao Gen
WHAT IT IS
The steam-distilled essential oil of dried Zingiber officinale root — spicy, warm and woody in character, distinct from fresh ginger in both scent and concentration.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to Southeast Asia, ginger has been cultivated across China, India, Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific region for over 3,000 years. China and India remain the world's largest producers.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Ginger (jiāng, 薑) is one of the most documented and frequently prescribed herbs in classical Chinese medicine. It appears in the Shennong Bencao Jing — one of the oldest extant TCM texts — and has remained central to Chinese, Japanese Kampo and Korean Hanbang herbal practice for millennia. In TCM it is classified as acrid and warm, used to warm the interior, dispel cold and stimulate circulation. Fresh and dried ginger (shēng jiāng and gān jiāng) are treated as distinct substances in classical Chinese materia medica. In Ayurveda it holds an equally prominent role as one of the foundational warming herbs.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Ginger root is harvested in autumn, dried and then steam-distilled to produce the essential oil. Dried ginger produces a different oil character to fresh ginger — deeper, woodier, with less of the sharp brightness of the raw root.
Ylang Ylang
WHAT IT IS
The essential oil of Cananga odorata flowers — deeply floral, rich and sweet, one of the most recognisable scents in both Asian ceremonial tradition and global perfumery.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to tropical Southeast Asia and the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, including the Philippines and Indonesia. Today, Madagascar and the Comoro Islands are the world's leading commercial producers.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Ylang ylang has been used across Southeast Asian and Pacific island cultures for centuries — the flowers scattered at ceremonies, worn in hair, and steeped in coconut oil as a traditional perfumed body oil across cultures including Filipino, Indonesian and Polynesian traditions. In Indonesian jamu practice it is used aromatically. The French perfumery industry adopted it heavily in the 19th century (most famously in Chanel No. 5), which later created a feedback loop of association between ylang ylang and luxury aromatherapy worldwide, including in East Asian wellness contexts.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Flowers are hand-picked, typically at dawn when their fragrance is most concentrated. The oil is extracted by steam distillation in stages — 'extra,' 'first,' 'second' and 'third' grades correspond to successive distillation passes, each producing a slightly different character.
Marjoram
WHAT IT IS
The dried herb and essential oil of Origanum majorana, a Mediterranean plant related to oregano but with a softer, sweeter and more floral character.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to the Mediterranean and western Asia, particularly Cyprus, Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean coast. Cultivated widely across Europe and the Middle East for culinary and herbal use.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Marjoram has been used in Mediterranean herbal medicine since antiquity — documented in Greek and Roman botanical texts as a herb associated with warmth, comfort and calm. In Western herbalism it carries a long traditional association with relaxation and sleep support. It is not a classical East Asian herb, but its calming aromatic character makes it a complementary pairing with lavender and ylang ylang in sleep-oriented topical formulas.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Leaves and flowering tops are harvested just before the flowers fully open — when essential oil content is highest — then dried or steam-distilled.
Lavender
WHAT IT IS
The dried flowers and essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia, one of the world's most widely grown and recognised aromatic plants.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Originally native to the Mediterranean — particularly southern France, Spain and Italy. Since the 1960s, lavender has been successfully cultivated in Asia, most notably in Yili, Xinjiang, which is now one of the world's four major lavender-growing regions alongside Provence, Hokkaido and the Caucasus.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Lavender is not a traditional Chinese medicine herb — its heritage is Mediterranean and Western aromatherapy, and it should be presented honestly as such. It entered Asian wellness practice relatively recently, alongside the global spread of aromatherapy in the 20th century. Its association with calm and sleep is now deeply embedded in modern herbal practice worldwide, including across East Asia, where it is widely used in contemporary wellness blending. The Yili, Xinjiang cultivation region is particularly notable — often called 'China's Provence,' it produces lavender oil at scale and has developed its own regional horticultural identity around the crop since the 1960s.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Flowering stems are cut in mid-to-late summer at peak bloom, then steam-distilled for oil, or dried for use in sachets and patches.
Acupressure Sleep Patch · Lavender
Herbal Patch · Graphene (Warming)
Herbal Patch · Lavender (Cooling)
Herbal Roller Gel · Graphene (Warming)
Lavender Essential Oil Rollerball · Sleep
Eucalyptus
WHAT IT IS
A tall evergreen tree native to Australia, grown commercially around the world for the essential oil steam-distilled from its leaves.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to Australia — home to over 700 eucalyptus species, found nowhere else in the world as a native range. China is now the world's largest producer of eucalyptus oil by commercial volume (around 70%), grown in Guangxi and Yunnan provinces — the plant travelled from Australia to Asia, not the other way around.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Eucalyptus was used medicinally by Aboriginal Australians for centuries before European contact — the leaves were used to cover wounds and inhaled for respiratory care. Following the plant's introduction to China in the early 20th century, it was adopted into Chinese herbal medicine and became a staple of commercially produced topical formulas. Its sharp, clean, camphor-adjacent scent makes it a natural pairing with other cooling botanicals — peppermint and wintergreen — in the Chinese topical tradition.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Leaves are stripped from branches and steam-distilled. Oil quality is measured by 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) content — high-grade oils typically contain 70–85% cineole.
Herbal Patch · Turmeric (Warming)
Herbal Patch · Graphene (Warming)
Herbal Patch · Lavender (Cooling)
Herbal Patch · Peppermint & Eucalyptus (Cooling)
Wintergreen
WHAT IT IS
The steam-distilled essential oil of Gaultheria fragrantissima, an Asian shrub whose leaves are rich in methyl salicylate — the compound responsible for its characteristic sharp, cool sensation.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Our range uses the Asian species of wintergreen (Gaultheria fragrantissima), found across the Himalayan belt, Nepal, India and China's Yunnan province — distinct from the North American species (Gaultheria procumbens) more commonly associated with the 'wintergreen' name in Western contexts.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
The Asian wintergreen species has documented use in Chinese ethnomedicine and in Ayurvedic tradition, where it has been used topically for its cooling, stimulating sensation. In traditional Taiwanese and Chinese topical formulas, methyl salicylate (the active compound in wintergreen oil) has long been a key ingredient in liniment-style preparations for muscular use — a practice carried forward in the Yi Tiao Gen tradition of Kinmen.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Leaves and young stems are steam-distilled to extract the oil. The distillation yields an oil that is very high in methyl salicylate — typically 96–99% — giving it its characteristic scent and cooling effect.
Herbal Patch · Turmeric (Warming)
Herbal Patch · Graphene (Warming)
Herbal Patch · Lavender (Cooling)
Herbal Patch · Peppermint & Eucalyptus (Cooling)
Herbal Roller Gel · Graphene (Warming)
Lavender Essential Oil Rollerball · Sleep
Almond Essential Oil Rollerball · Cooling
Peppermint
WHAT IT IS
A hybrid mint plant (Mentha × piperita) widely grown for its essential oil, valued for its sharp, immediate cooling sensation on the skin.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Peppermint itself is a European hybrid, but the broader mint family — particularly Bo He (薄荷, Mentha canadensis) — is native to and long-cultivated across Asia, including China, Japan and India.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Bo He (薄荷) is one of the most frequently cited herbs in classical Chinese herbal texts, including the Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica, 1596). Classified as cooling and dispersing in nature, it has been used in TCM for centuries to clear heat, refresh the senses and support surface conditions. In Japanese Kampo medicine it is similarly valued. The cooling sensation it produces — driven by its menthol content activating cold receptors in the skin — has made it one of the most universally recognised sensory botanicals across both Eastern and Western herbal traditions.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Leaves are harvested at peak oil concentration, just before the plant flowers. The harvested material is steam-distilled to extract the essential oil.
Acupressure Sleep Patch · Lavender
Herbal Patch · Turmeric (Warming)
Herbal Patch · Graphene (Warming)
Herbal Patch · Lavender (Cooling)
Herbal Patch · Peppermint & Eucalyptus (Cooling)
Turmeric
WHAT IT IS
The dried and ground rhizome of Curcuma longa — a flowering plant in the ginger family, long used as a spice, dye and herbal ingredient across Asia.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to South and Southeast Asia, with India historically the world's largest producer. Also long cultivated in southern China, including Yunnan province.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Known in Chinese medicine as jiāng huáng (薑黃), turmeric has appeared in Chinese herbal texts for well over a thousand years. In traditional Chinese medicine it is classified as warming in nature and associated with moving blood and Qi — used in formulas for conditions of stagnation and cold. In Ayurveda it holds an equally central role, used both internally and externally for its warming, clarifying properties. Across Southeast Asia it features in ceremonial and everyday wellness practice — in Indonesia, a turmeric-based drink called jamu has been consumed for centuries.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
The rhizome is harvested after the plant flowers and the leaves die back — typically 8–10 months after planting. It is then boiled or steamed, dried and ground to a powder, or processed into an extract.
Herbal Patch · Turmeric (Warming)
Yi Tiao Gen
WHAT IT IS
The root of Glycine tomentella Hayata — a leguminous plant native to the Kinmen islands in the Taiwan Strait, wild-harvested and processed into an extract used across East Remedy's patches, gels and cream.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to the Kinmen islands, a small archipelago off the coast of Fujian, China. Wild-harvested in limited seasonal quantity — not commercially farmed at scale.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Local record traces the use of Yi Tiao Gen (一條根, literally 'one root') to the Koxinga era in the 1660s, when mainland Chinese soldiers stationed on Kinmen reportedly turned to the local root for relief after long days in the field. The military physician of the time is said to have documented the local villagers' use and formalised it into a folk remedy. It has remained a staple of household herbal practice in Kinmen for roughly 350–400 years — used topically, in tinctures, and as a tea. Yi Tiao Gen occupies a unique position in Taiwanese folk medicine: it is a specifically Kinmen tradition, not a classical TCM herb found in ancient texts, which is part of what makes it genuinely rare.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Roots are harvested wild, typically after three years of growth, in autumn and winter. They are cleaned, dried and processed into an extract for use in topical formulas.
Herbal Patch · Far Infrared · Warming
Herbal Patch · Turmeric · Warming
Herbal Patch · Graphene · Warming
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Herbal Patch · Peppermint & Eucalyptus · Cooling
Herbal Roller Gel · Turmeric · Warming
Herbal Roller Gel · Lavender · Cooling
Goji (Gou Qi Zi)
WHAT IT IS
The dried ripe fruit of Lycium barbarum, a small, deep-red berry from a shrubby member of the nightshade family. Known in Chinese as Gou Qi Zi (枸杞子).
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to northern and north-western China. The Ningxia region on the Yellow River is the best-known growing area, with Xinjiang, Gansu and Qinghai also producing it.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Goji is recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing, one of the oldest Chinese materia medica, and has been used for well over 2,000 years. In traditional practice it is classed as a herb that nourishes the liver and kidney and supports the eyes. It is also a food: cooked into congee, soups and teas across East Asia.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Berries are picked by hand when fully ripe, in summer and autumn, then dried gently in the shade or at low heat so they keep their colour.
Reishi (Ling Zhi)
WHAT IT IS
The fruiting body of the Ganoderma lucidum group of fungi, a glossy, reddish-brown, shelf-like mushroom. In Chinese it is Ling Zhi (靈芝), often translated as 'spirit mushroom' or 'mushroom of immortality'.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Grows on decaying hardwood in warm, humid forests across East Asia. Wild reishi is rare, and most today is cultivated on logs or sawdust blocks in China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Reishi is listed among the 'superior' herbs in the Shennong Bencao Jing and appears throughout Chinese art and folklore as a symbol of good fortune and long life. In traditional practice it is used to calm the spirit (shen) and nourish the body's vitality. It is taken as a decoction, tea or powder.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Cultivated mushrooms are picked once the cap has fully formed and the white growing edge has disappeared, then sliced or left whole and dried.
Licorice root (Gan Cao)
WHAT IT IS
The dried root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, a perennial legume. Known in Chinese as Gan Cao (甘草), 'sweet herb'. Its sweetness comes mainly from a compound called glycyrrhizin.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Grows wild and is cultivated in the dry, sandy soils of northern and north-western China, including Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Xinjiang, and across Central Asia.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Gan Cao is one of the most frequently used herbs in Chinese medicine, appearing in a large share of classical formulas. It is known as the 'harmoniser', added to blend the other herbs and to soften their taste and strength. It has been used for around 2,000 years.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Roots are dug in spring or autumn from plants at least three to four years old, then washed, trimmed and dried, either whole or sliced.
GOOD TO KNOW
Licorice has a long record in food and herbal use, but taken internally in larger amounts it can affect blood pressure and potassium. Ask your doctor first if you are pregnant or take medication.
Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi)
WHAT IT IS
The dried young twigs of Cinnamomum cassia, the Chinese cassia tree. Known as Gui Zhi (桂枝). It is distinct from Rou Gui (肉桂), the bark of the same tree, which is used separately.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to southern China, particularly Guangxi and Guangdong, and also grown in Vietnam and parts of Southeast Asia.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Gui Zhi is the lead herb in Gui Zhi Tang, one of the best-known classical formulas, recorded in the Shang Han Lun (c. 200 CE). In traditional practice it is a warming herb, used to move warmth through the channels and ease the feeling of cold and stiffness in the limbs.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Young twigs are cut in spring and summer, the leaves removed, then the twigs are sliced thinly and dried in the sun.
Ginger (Sheng Jiang and Gan Jiang)
WHAT IT IS
The rhizome of Zingiber officinale. Chinese medicine uses it in two forms: fresh, called Sheng Jiang (生姜), and dried, called Gan Jiang (干姜). They are treated as separate herbs with different traditional uses.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Originally from tropical Asia and cultivated across southern and central China for thousands of years, including Sichuan, Shandong and Guizhou, as well as India and Southeast Asia.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Ginger appears in the Shennong Bencao Jing and in the Analects of Confucius, which describes it as part of everyday meals. In traditional practice fresh ginger is a warming herb used to disperse cold, while dried ginger is warmer and deeper, used to warm the centre of the body. It is one of the most common herbs in classical formulas and in home cooking.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Rhizomes are dug in autumn once the leaves wither. Fresh ginger is washed and sold as is; dried ginger is sliced and sun-dried.
Chuan Xiong (Sichuan lovage)
WHAT IT IS
The dried rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong, a fragrant plant in the carrot family. The name Chuan Xiong (川芎) simply means 'Sichuan xiong'.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Cultivated mainly in Sichuan province, especially around Dujiangyan near Chengdu, where the climate and soil have supported it for centuries.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Chuan Xiong is recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing and is used in a very large number of classical formulas. In traditional practice it is a herb that 'moves' circulation, used where there is a feeling of stagnation, tension or aching in the head and body. It is also frequently paired with Dong Quai in formulas for women.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
The rhizomes are dug in early summer, cleaned, dried over low heat and cut into slices.
GOOD TO KNOW
Traditionally used with care in pregnancy. Check with a doctor or health professional first if pregnant or on blood-thinning medication.
Peony root (Bai Shao)
WHAT IT IS
The peeled, dried root of Paeonia lactiflora, the white-flowered Chinese peony. Known as Bai Shao (白芍), 'white peony'. It is different from Chi Shao (red peony), which is the unpeeled root.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Grown in Anhui (especially Bozhou), Zhejiang and Sichuan. Bozhou has been a centre of peony cultivation for many centuries.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Bai Shao is recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing. In traditional practice it is a herb that nourishes the blood and 'softens' tension in the body. It is half of one of the most famous two-herb formulas, Shaoyao Gancao Tang (peony and licorice), described in the Shang Han Lun (c. 200 CE) for easing muscular tightness and cramping.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Roots are dug in summer or autumn from plants three to four years old, then boiled briefly, peeled, dried and sliced.
Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang)
WHAT IT IS
The root of Rehmannia glutinosa. Chinese medicine uses it fresh (Xian Di Huang), dried (Sheng Di Huang, 生地黃) and prepared by steaming (Shu Di Huang, 熟地黃). Shu Di Huang is the dark, soft, sweet form most often used for nourishing.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Grown mainly in Henan province around the Huaiqing area, which is so closely tied to it that Rehmannia is counted among the 'four famous Huai herbs'.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Rehmannia is in the Shennong Bencao Jing and is the foundation of many classical formulas, including Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, first recorded in the 11th century. In traditional practice prepared Rehmannia is used to nourish the blood and the body's deep reserves, known as kidney yin.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Roots are dug in autumn. Traditional preparation steams them and dries them in the sun, repeated many times until they turn black, soft and glossy.
Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi)
WHAT IT IS
The dried ripe fruit of Schisandra chinensis, a woody climbing vine with clusters of bright red berries. Known as Wu Wei Zi (五味子), meaning 'five-flavour fruit', because the berry is said to taste sweet, sour, bitter, pungent and salty all at once.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to the cool forests of north-eastern China, including Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang, and also found in Korea, Japan and the Russian Far East.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Wu Wei Zi is recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing. In traditional practice it is a gathering and 'astringing' herb, used to hold in what is easily lost and to settle the heart and spirit. It is often taken as a tea or in formulas for fatigue and restless nights.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Berries are picked when fully ripe in autumn, then sun-dried or steamed and dried until they turn dark and wrinkled.
Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua)
WHAT IT IS
The dried flower head of Chrysanthemum morifolium, the cultivated chrysanthemum. Known in Chinese as Ju Hua (菊花). It is one of the best-loved herbal teas across China.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Grown in Anhui, Zhejiang, Henan and Jiangsu. Named varieties include Hang Ju from Hangzhou and Gong Ju from Huangshan, each with a slightly different flavour.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Chrysanthemum is recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing and has been brewed as a drink for well over a thousand years. In traditional practice it is a cooling herb, used for the feeling of heat in the head and for tired, strained eyes. Brewed with a little rock sugar or goji, it is a common household tea.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Flowers are picked by hand in autumn when fully open, then dried in the shade, sun-dried or gently steamed first to preserve their colour and fragrance.
Safflower (Hong Hua)
WHAT IT IS
The dried flower of Carthamus tinctorius, a thistle-like plant with orange-yellow blooms. Known as Hong Hua (红花), 'red flower'. The same plant is grown for its seed oil and has long been used as a natural red and yellow dye.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Grown across western and northern China, especially Xinjiang, as well as Henan and Sichuan. It also has a long history in Central Asia and India.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Hong Hua has been used in Chinese medicine for well over a thousand years. In traditional practice it is a herb that 'invigorates the blood', used where there is a feeling of tightness, bruising or stiffness. It is often combined with Peach Kernel (Tao Ren) in classical formulas.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Flowers are picked by hand in summer, at the moment the petals turn from yellow to deep orange-red, then dried in the shade.
GOOD TO KNOW
Traditionally avoided in pregnancy. Check with a doctor or health professional first if pregnant or taking blood-thinning medication.
Notoginseng (San Qi)
WHAT IT IS
The root of Panax notoginseng, a close relative of ginseng. Known as San Qi (三七), or Tian Qi. The 'three-seven' name is often explained by the plant's three branches of seven leaves each.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Grown almost entirely in Yunnan and Guangxi, with Wenshan in south-east Yunnan the most famous centre, at around 1,200 to 1,800 metres above sea level.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
San Qi is recorded in detail in the Bencao Gangmu (1596) by Li Shizhen, who described it as a valued herb for bruising and injuries. It is a staple of Chinese sports and trauma traditions and a traditional ingredient in many household remedies for knocks and aches.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Plants take three to seven years to mature. Roots are dug in autumn, washed, dried and often powdered or sliced.
GOOD TO KNOW
Traditionally used with care in pregnancy and with blood-thinning medication. Check with a doctor or health professional first.
Cordyceps (Dong Chong Xia Cao)
WHAT IT IS
Traditionally the fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, which grows from the body of a caterpillar buried in alpine soil, giving the Chinese name Dong Chong Xia Cao (冬虫夏草), 'winter worm, summer grass'. Today most products use cultivated Cordyceps militaris, a related species grown on grain, because the wild fungus is rare and expensive.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Wild cordyceps grows on the high Tibetan Plateau, at around 3,000 to 5,000 metres, across Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan, and in the Himalayas. Cultivated types are grown in laboratories and farms across China.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Cordyceps was documented in Chinese materia medica in the 18th century and, in Tibetan practice, is older still. In traditional use it is a tonic for the lungs and kidney and for stamina and vitality. Wild cordyceps has long been so valuable that it has been traded like a precious commodity.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Wild cordyceps is collected by hand in late spring and early summer, as the small fruiting body emerges from the ground. Over-collection is a real concern, which is one reason cultivated varieties are common.
Poria (Fu Ling)
WHAT IT IS
The dried sclerotium of Wolfiporia cocos, a fungus that grows underground on the roots of pine trees. Known as Fu Ling (茯苓). It is pale, mild and slightly sweet, and is also eaten as a traditional snack in northern China.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Grown in Yunnan, Anhui, Hubei and Hunan. Yunnan Fu Ling is widely regarded as a top grade.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Fu Ling is recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing and is one of the most frequently used herbs in classical formulas. In traditional practice it is a gentle, balancing herb, used to support digestion, to ease the feeling of heaviness and bloating, and to calm the mind.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
The fungus is dug from the soil between July and September. It is sweated, peeled, sliced and dried.
Borneol (Bing Pian)
WHAT IT IS
A cool, aromatic crystalline compound. Natural borneol (Bing Pian, 冰片, 'ice flakes') is traditionally obtained from the resin of Dryobalanops trees in South-East Asia, or from the leaves of Blumea balsamifera in southern China. It is the cooling, minty-camphor scent found in many traditional external remedies.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Natural borneol comes from Sumatra and Borneo, and from Blumea grown in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan. Synthetic borneol is also widely made today.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Bing Pian has been used in Chinese medicine for more than a thousand years. In traditional practice it is an 'opening' aromatic, valued for its fresh, cooling feel and used in balms, powders and plasters applied to the skin.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Resin was traditionally collected from the trunk of mature trees and crystallised. Today, borneol from Blumea is steam-distilled from the leaves and then refined.
GOOD TO KNOW
Traditionally avoided in pregnancy. For external use only, away from broken skin and eyes.
Camphor
WHAT IT IS
A white, waxy crystalline substance with a strong, clean, penetrating scent, obtained from the wood of the camphor tree, Cinnamomum camphora. Known in Chinese as Zhang Nao (樟脑).
WHERE IT COMES FROM
The tree grows across southern China, Taiwan, Japan and parts of Asia. Taiwan was historically one of the world's largest camphor producers.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Camphor has been used in East Asian traditions for centuries, in incense, in wood chests that protect clothing and in warming external rubs and plasters. It is valued for its penetrating aroma and the cool-then-warm sensation it brings to the skin.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Wood chips from the trunk, branches and roots are steam-distilled. The camphor crystallises as the vapour cools.
GOOD TO KNOW
For external use only. Not suitable for babies and young children, and traditionally avoided in pregnancy. Never take it by mouth.
Frankincense (Ru Xiang)
WHAT IT IS
A fragrant gum resin from trees of the genus Boswellia. Known in Chinese medicine as Ru Xiang (乳香), 'milk fragrance', after the milky tears the tree weeps when its bark is cut.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
The trees grow in Somalia, Ethiopia, Oman and Yemen, along the old incense trade routes. It reached China more than a thousand years ago.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Ru Xiang is recorded in Chinese materia medica from around the 6th century. In traditional practice it is paired with myrrh, used for the feeling of stiffness and for stagnation, in both internal formulas and external plasters and liniments.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
The bark is cut, or tapped, and the resin that seeps out is left to harden in the air. Hardened tears are then gathered by hand and graded.
GOOD TO KNOW
Traditionally avoided in pregnancy. Speak with a doctor or health professional before internal use.
Myrrh (Mo Yao)
WHAT IT IS
A reddish-brown aromatic gum resin from trees of the genus Commiphora. Known in Chinese as Mo Yao (没药). It has a warm, bitter, earthy scent.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, including Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Mo Yao has been in Chinese materia medica for more than a thousand years. It is traditionally paired with Ru Xiang (frankincense) in classical formulas for injuries, stiffness and aching, taken or applied externally.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
The trees are cut so the sap slowly oozes out, then hardens into 'tears' that are collected by hand.
GOOD TO KNOW
Traditionally avoided in pregnancy. Speak with a doctor or health professional before internal use.
Angelica root (Bai Zhi)
WHAT IT IS
The dried root of Angelica dahurica. Known as Bai Zhi (白芷), 'white angelica'. It is aromatic, slightly pungent and a staple of the Chinese herbal pharmacy.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Grown in Sichuan, Zhejiang, Henan and Hebei, with the Sichuan and Hangzhou varieties among the best known.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Bai Zhi is recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing. In traditional practice it is a warming, dispersing herb, used for head and facial discomfort and for the stuffed-up feeling of a cold. It also has a long history in traditional skincare, in face powders and washes.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Roots are dug in late summer or autumn, washed, trimmed and dried, then sliced.
GOOD TO KNOW
Traditionally avoided in pregnancy. It can make skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Eucommia (Du Zhong)
WHAT IT IS
The dried bark of Eucommia ulmoides, a tree that is the only living member of its plant family. Known as Du Zhong (杜仲). When the bark is snapped, fine, silvery, rubber-like threads stretch between the pieces.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Native to central China and grown in Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei and Shaanxi.
IN CHINESE & EASTERN HERBAL TRADITION
Du Zhong is recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing. In traditional practice it is a tonic for the lower back and knees, and for strong sinews and bones. It is frequently simmered in soups and teas, and the leaves are also brewed as a tea.
HOW IT'S HARVESTED
Bark is stripped from trees at least 15 to 20 years old, in spring and summer, then cured and dried. Stripping is done in sections so the tree can regrow.