top of page
Thunder Dragon
Neigong and Alchemical Arts
Search
🌿 Plant Profile - Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
🌿 Goldenseal Botanical Name: Hydrastis canadensis Family: Ranunculaceae Common Names: Goldenseal, Yellow Root, Orange Root, Eye Root Parts Used: Rhizome and root Energetics: Cooling, drying, bitter Tissue States: Damp heat, boggy mucosa, chronic catarrh, atonic tissues, inflamed and infected mucous membranes Primary Actions: Antimicrobial, mucosal tonic, bitter digestive stimulant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, alterative Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) 🌱 Botanical Descr
Josh Goheen
Jun 1026 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
🌿 Yerba Mansa Botanical Name: Anemopsis californica Family: Saururaceae Common Names: Yerba Mansa, Mansa, Lizard Tail, Swamp Root Parts Used: Root, rhizome, leaves, flowering tops Energetics: Warming, drying, aromatic Tissue States: Boggy tissues, damp stagnation, chronic catarrh, relaxed mucosa, lymphatic congestion, cold damp inflammation Primary Actions: Antimicrobial, astringent, lymphatic, decongestant, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, alterative Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis cali
Josh Goheen
Jun 824 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Goldthread (Coptis chinensis)
🌿 Goldthread Botanical Name: Coptis chinensis (primary Traditional Chinese species) Related species: Coptis trifolia, Coptis teeta Family: Ranunculaceae Common Names: Coptis, Huang Lian Parts Used: Rhizome and root Energetics: Cold, drying, bitter Tissue States: Damp heat, toxic heat, inflamed mucosa, infection with irritation, excess metabolic heat Primary Actions: Antimicrobial, bitter tonic, anti-inflammatory, hepatobiliary stimulant, antidiarrheal, mucosal astringent Gol
Josh Goheen
Jun 124 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Dill (Anethum graveolens)
🌿 Dill Botanical Name: Anethum graveolens Family: Apiaceae Common Names: Dill, Dillweed Parts Used: Seeds (fruit), leaves, flowering tops Energetics: Warming, drying, aromatic Tissue States: Cold digestion, damp stagnation, spasmodic cramping, sluggish lactation, nervous tension with digestive involvement Primary Actions: Carminative, antispasmodic, digestive stimulant, galactagogue (mild), antimicrobial, nervine (gentle) Dill (Anethum graveolens) 🌱 Botanical Description of
Josh Goheen
May 2723 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Rock Rose (Cistus spp.)
🌿 Rock Rose Botanical Name: Cistus creticus / Cistus ladanifer (commonly used species) Family: Cistaceae Common Names: Rock Rose, Cistus, Labdanum (resin), Sun Rose Parts Used: Leaves, young stems, resin (labdanum) Energetics: Cooling, drying, strongly astringent Tissue States: Damp heat, lax tissues, chronic infection, immune weakness with inflammation, excess mucous discharge Primary Actions: Astringent, antiviral, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, vulnerary Ro
Josh Goheen
May 2522 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)
🌿 Okra Botanical Name: Abelmoschus esculentus Family: Malvaceae Common Names: Okra, Gumbo, Lady’s Finger Parts Used: Pod (fruit), seeds, leaves (less common), mucilage (from fresh pods) Energetics: Cooling, moistening, soothing Tissue States: Dryness, irritation, inflammation, heat in the gut, depleted mucosal tissue, urinary irritation Primary Actions: Demulcent, nutritive tonic, anti-inflammatory, mucosal restorative, mild diuretic, vulnerary Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)
Josh Goheen
May 2025 min read
🌻 Plant Profile - Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
🌻 Sunflower Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus Family: Asteraceae Common Names: Sunflower, Common Sunflower Parts Used: Seeds, flower heads, leaves, petals, stalk pith (traditional), oil Energetics: Warming, moistening, nourishing Tissue States: Dryness, deficiency, nervous depletion, stagnant circulation, mild inflammation with weakness Primary Actions: Nutritive tonic, nervine, demulcent (mild), anti-inflammatory, diuretic (mild), cardiovascular supportive, vulnerary Sunflo
Josh Goheen
May 1824 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum)
🌿 Blue Tansy Botanical Name: Tanacetum annuum Family: Asteraceae Common Names: Blue Tansy, Moroccan Tansy Parts Used: Flowering tops (essential oil most commonly used) Energetics: Cooling, drying, dispersing Tissue States: Heat, inflammation, allergic reactivity, irritated skin, histamine excess, nervous overstimulation with inflammation Primary Actions: Anti-inflammatory, antihistamine-like, antispasmodic, nervine (aromatic), skin restorative, antimicrobial (mild) Blue Tans
Josh Goheen
May 1322 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
🌿 Pomegranate Botanical Name: Punica granatum Family: Lythraceae (formerly Punicaceae) Common Names: Pomegranate, Granada, Chinese Apple Parts Used: Fruit (arils/juice), peel (rind), flowers, bark (historical use) Energetics: Cooling, drying, astringent Tissue States: Damp heat, lax tissues, excess secretions, inflammation with discharge, heat in the blood Primary Actions: Astringent, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, gut tonic, styptic Pomegranate
Josh Goheen
May 1123 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)
🌿 Nutmeg Botanical Name: Myristica fragrans Family: Myristicaceae Common Names: Nutmeg, True Nutmeg, Jaiphal (Ayurveda) Parts Used: Seed (nutmeg), aril (mace), essential oil (external use primarily) Energetics: Warming, drying, deeply grounding Tissue States: Cold digestion, damp stagnation, nervous depletion, insomnia, diarrhea from weakness, excess mucus with coldness Primary Actions: Carminative, antispasmodic, nervine, sedative (mild), astringent, digestive tonic, antimi
Josh Goheen
May 623 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
🌿 Marjoram Botanical Name: Origanum majorana Family: Lamiaceae Common Names: Sweet Marjoram, Knotted Marjoram Parts Used: Leaf and flowering tops Energetics: Warming, drying, gently relaxing Tissue States: Cold stagnation, dampness, nervous tension, digestive weakness, respiratory congestion with chill Primary Actions: Carminative, antispasmodic, mild nervine, expectorant, antimicrobial, circulatory stimulant Marjoram (Origanum majorana) 🌱 Botanical Description of Marjoram
Josh Goheen
May 422 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
🌿 Sassafras Botanical Name: Sassafras albidum Family: Lauraceae Common Names: Sassafras, White Sassafras, Cinnamon Wood, Ague Tree Parts Used: Root bark (traditional), root, leaves (filé powder), occasionally twigs Energetics: Warming, drying, aromatic Tissue States: Cold stagnation, dampness, sluggish circulation, lymphatic congestion, chronic toxicity with skin eruptions Primary Actions: Alterative, diaphoretic, carminative, circulatory stimulant, mild antimicrobial, aroma
Josh Goheen
Apr 2922 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
🌿 Tarragon Botanical Name: Artemisia dracunculus Family: Asteraceae Common Names: Tarragon, French Tarragon, Dragon Herb, Little Dragon Parts Used: Leaf and flowering tops (fresh preferred) Energetics: Warming, drying, slightly bitter Tissue States: Cold digestion, damp stagnation, sluggish bile flow, nervous tension with digestive involvement Primary Actions: Carminative, bitter tonic, antispasmodic, mild nervine, digestive stimulant, antimicrobial Tarragon (Artemisia dracu
Josh Goheen
Apr 2720 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
🌿 Wild Ginger Botanical Name: Asarum canadense Family: Aristolochiaceae Common Names: Wild Ginger, Canadian Snakeroot, Indian Ginger, Woodland Ginger Parts Used: Rhizome and root Energetics: Warming, drying, stimulating Tissue States: Cold stagnation, dampness, cold phlegm congestion, sluggish circulation, depressed vitality Primary Actions: Diaphoretic, carminative, expectorant, circulatory stimulant, warming nervine, antimicrobial Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) 🌱
Josh Goheen
Apr 2222 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Virginia Snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria)
🌿 Virginia Snakeroot Botanical Name: Aristolochia serpentaria Family: Aristolochiaceae Common Names: Virginia Snakeroot, Snakeroot, Serpentaria, Snakeweed Parts Used: Root Energetics: Warming, drying, stimulating Tissue States: Cold stagnation, damp congestion, low vitality, sluggish circulation, chronic infection with debility Primary Actions: Diaphoretic, stimulant, bitter tonic, circulatory stimulant, antimicrobial, carminative, expectorant Virginia Snakeroot (Ari
Josh Goheen
Apr 2022 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - American Spikenard (Aralia racemosa)
🌿 American Spikenard Botanical Name: Aralia racemosa Family: Araliaceae Common Names: American Spikenard, Spikenard, Pettymorel, Life-of-Man, Indian Root Parts Used: Root and rhizome Energetics: Warming, drying, stimulating Tissue States: Cold damp stagnation, respiratory congestion, lymphatic sluggishness, chronic catarrh, depleted vitality with damp accumulation Primary Actions: Expectorant, alterative, lymphatic stimulant, diaphoretic, carminative, anti-inflammato
Josh Goheen
Apr 1523 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
🌿 Ginger Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale Family: Zingiberaceae Common Names: Ginger, Common Ginger, Sheng Jiang (fresh), Gan Jiang (dried) Parts Used: Rhizome (fresh or dried) Energetics: Warming, drying, stimulating Tissue States: Cold stagnation, dampness, digestive weakness, sluggish circulation, cold phlegm Primary Actions: Carminative, circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, digestive tonic, expectorant Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Josh Goheen
Apr 1324 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)
🌿 Mangosteen Botanical Name: Garcinia mangostana Family: Clusiaceae Common Names: Mangosteen, Queen of Fruits, Mangostan Parts Used: Pericarp (rind), fruit, occasionally leaves and bark Energetics: Cooling, drying, slightly astringent Tissue States: Heat, inflammation, damp heat, irritated mucosa, sluggish lymph with heat Primary Actions: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, immunomodulatory, digestive support Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) 🌱
Josh Goheen
Apr 820 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Dragonfruit (Hylocereus spp.)
🌿 Dragonfruit Botanical Name: Hylocereus spp. (syn. Selenicereus spp. ) Family: Cactaceae Common Names: Dragonfruit, Pitaya, Strawberry Pear Parts Used: Fruit, seeds, occasionally flowers Energetics: Cooling, moistening, mildly sweet Tissue States: Heat, dryness, dehydration, mild deficiency, intestinal irritation Primary Actions: Hydrating nutritive, antioxidant, mild laxative, prebiotic, cardiovascular supportive, cooling tonic Dragonfruit (Hylocereus spp.) 🌱 Bot
Josh Goheen
Apr 621 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Lychee (Litchi chinensis)
🌿 Lychee Botanical Name: Litchi chinensis Family: Sapindaceae Common Names: Lychee, Litchi, Lichi Parts Used: Fruit (primary), seed (traditional medicine), peel (less common) Energetics: Slightly warming, sweet, moistening Tissue States: Fluid deficiency, mild dryness, cold stagnation (especially in lower abdomen) Primary Actions: Nutritive tonic, fluid generator, mild digestive stimulant, blood-supportive (traditional), analgesic (seed), warming dispersant (seed) Ly
Josh Goheen
Apr 116 min read
DISCLAIMER:
As with any diet or exercise program, always consult a qualified physician prior to beginning any new routine, especially if you have any health issues. The training and information provided on this site and in person is for educational consideration only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease, nor is it to take the place of any qualified medical treatment.
All original material presented represents the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of the author and is intended to be taken as such. All quoted or shared material is the property and responsibility of the original author/source.
bottom of page