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Thunder Dragon
Neigong and Alchemical Arts
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
๐ฟ Coriander Botanical Name: Coriandrum sativum Family: Apiaceae Common Names: Coriander, Cilantro (leaf), Chinese Parsley Parts Used: Seeds (primarily medicinal), fresh leaf (culinary and medicinal) Energetics: Cooling to neutral (seed slightly warming), aromatic, gently drying Tissue States: Dampness with heat in digestion, mild tension, inflammatory states Primary Actions: Carminative, digestive stimulant, mild antimicrobial, antispasmodic, detoxifying, nervine (mi
Josh Goheen
Mar 415 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Buchu (Agathosma betulina)
๐ฟ Buchu Botanical Name: Agathosma betulina (primary species), Agathosma crenulata Family: Rutaceae Common Names: Buchu, Round-Leaf Buchu Parts Used: Leaves Energetics: Warming, aromatic, slightly drying Tissue States: Dampness in urinary tract, cold stagnation, mild mucosal atony Primary Actions: Urinary antiseptic, diuretic, carminative, mild stimulant, anti-inflammatory (urinary) Buch (Agathosma apiculata) ๐ฑ Botanical Description of Buchu Native to: South Africa
Josh Goheen
Mar 214 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)
๐ฟ Scarlet Pimpernel Botanical Name: Anagallis arvensis Family: Primulaceae Common Names: Scarlet Pimpernel, Poor Manโs Weatherglass, Shepherdโs Weather-Glass Parts Used: Aerial parts (fresh preferred) Energetics: Cooling, slightly bitter, mildly drying Tissue States: Damp heat, toxic heat in skin, sluggish lymph, melancholic stagnation Primary Actions: Alterative, mild diuretic, expectorant (traditional), hepatic stimulant, lymphatic mover โ ๏ธ Scarlet Pimpernel is mil
Josh Goheen
Feb 2517 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Rauwolfia (Rauwolfia serpentina)
๐ฟ Rauwolfia Botanical Name: Rauwolfia serpentina Family: Apocynaceae Common Names: Indian Snakeroot, Sarpagandha Parts Used: Root Energetics: Cooling, bitter, grounding, strongly descending Tissue States: Excess heat, agitation, hypertension, sympathetic overdrive Primary Actions: Antihypertensive, sedative, tranquilizing nervine, antipsychotic (historical use), autonomic modulator โ ๏ธ This is a potent herb with pharmaceutical-level effects. Use requires professional
Josh Goheen
Feb 2317 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Sundew (Drosera spp.)
๐ฟ Sundew Botanical Name: Drosera rotundifolia (also D. intermedia , D. anglica ) Family: Droseraceae Common Names: Sundew, Round-leaved Sundew Parts Used: Aerial parts (harvested in flower) Energetics: Cooling, slightly bitter, mildly sweet Tissue States: Dry irritated mucosa, nervous spasm, lingering inflammation of respiratory tissues Primary Actions: Antitussive, antispasmodic, respiratory trophorestorative, mild antimicrobial, nervine Sundew (Drosera spatulata)
Josh Goheen
Feb 1817 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Teasel (Dipsacus spp.)
๐ฟ Teasel Botanical Name: Dipsacus fullonum / Dipsacus sylvestris (commonly used interchangeably; Dipsacus asper in TCM) Family: Caprifoliaceae (formerly Dipsacaceae) Common Names: Teasel, Fuller's Teasel, Wild Teasel Parts Used: Root (primarily), sometimes leaf Energetics: Warm, bitter, slightly sweet, drying Tissue States: Cold stagnation, deep inflammation, connective tissue weakness, chronic infection Primary Actions: Connective tissue trophorestorative, muscul
Josh Goheen
Feb 1118 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)
๐ฟ Ghost Pipe Botanical Name: Monotropa uniflora Family: Ericaceae (formerly Monotropaceae) Common Names: Ghost Pipe, Indian Pipe, Corpse Plant Parts Used: Fresh whole plant (above-ground portions; traditionally tinctured immediately) Energetics: Cooling, slightly bitter, moistening Tissue States: Acute nervous shock, severe pain, dissociation, trauma held in the nervous system Primary Actions: Nervine analgesic, antispasmodic, anxiolytic, trauma modulator, autonomic
Josh Goheen
Feb 918 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata)
๐ฟ Andrographis Botanical Name: Andrographis paniculata Family: Acanthaceae Common Names: Andrographis, Kalmegh, King of Bitters, Bhunimba Parts Used: Aerial parts (leaves and stems) Energetics: Very bitter, cold, drying Tissue States: Heat, toxicity, inflammation, infection, damp-heat Primary Actions: Antimicrobial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, febrifuge Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata) ๐ฑ Botanical Description of Andrograph
Josh Goheen
Feb 418 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Neem (Azadirachta indica)
๐ฟ Neem Botanical Name: Azadirachta indica Family: Meliaceae Common Names: Neem, Nimba, Indian Lilac, Margosa Tree Parts Used: Leaves, bark, seeds, oil, flowers (varies by application) Energetics (Ayurveda): Bitter, cooling, drying Doshas: Reduces Pitta and Kapha; may aggravate Vata if overused Tissue States: Heat, toxicity, infection, inflammation, dampness Primary Actions: Antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, alterative, blood purifier, anti-inflamm
Josh Goheen
Feb 219 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata)
๐ฟ Pipsissewa Botanical Name: Chimaphila umbellata Family: Ericaceae Common Names: Pipsissewa, Princeโs Pine, Ground Holly, Rheumatism Weed Parts Used: Aerial parts (leaves and stems) Energetics: Cooling, drying, slightly bitter and astringent Tissue States: Dampness, stagnation, heat in the urinary tract, lymphatic congestion Primary Actions: Urinary antiseptic, diuretic, lymphatic, alterative, astringent, anti-inflammatory Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) ๐ฑ Botani
Josh Goheen
Jan 2817 min read
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๐พ Plant Profile - Oat (Avena sativa)
๐พ Oat Botanical Name: Avena sativa Family: Poaceae (Grass family) Common Names: Oat, Common Oat Parts Used: Milky oat tops (fresh), straw (dried stems and leaves), grain (food) Energetics: Neutral to slightly cooling, moistening, grounding Tissue States: Nervous exhaustion, deficiency, dryness, convalescence Primary Actions: Nervine tonic, trophorestorative, adaptogenic (mild), nutritive, antidepressant (traditional), restorative Oat (Avena sativa) ๐ฑ Botanical Descr
Josh Goheen
Jan 2618 min read
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๐ Plant Profile - Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
๐ Cranberry Botanical Name: Vaccinium macrocarpon (American cranberry) Family: Ericaceae Common Names: Cranberry, American Cranberry Parts Used: Fruit (fresh, dried, juice, extract) Energetics: Cooling, sour, drying Tissue States: Damp-heat in the urinary tract, microbial adhesion, mucosal vulnerability Primary Actions: Urinary anti-adhesive, antimicrobial (indirect), astringent, antioxidant, cooling alterative Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) ๐ฑ Botanical Descript
Josh Goheen
Jan 2116 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
๐ฟ Alfalfa Botanical Name: Medicago sativa Family: Fabaceae (Legume family) Common Names: Alfalfa, Lucerne Parts Used: Aerial parts (leaves and stems), sprouts (young stage) Energetics: Cooling to neutral, moistening, alkalizing Tissue States: Deficiency, malnutrition, acidity, convalescence, mineral depletion Primary Actions: Nutritive tonic, alterative, mild diuretic, alkalizing, galactagogue, hypocholesterolemic Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) ๐ฑ Botanical Description of
Josh Goheen
Jan 1918 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
๐ฟ Wormwood Botanical Name: Artemisia absinthium Family: Asteraceae Common Names: Wormwood, Absinthe Wormwood, Green Ginger Parts Used: Aerial parts (leaves and flowering tops) Energetics: Very bitter, warming, drying, penetrating Tissue States: Cold, dampness, stagnation, parasitic burden, microbial excess, digestive weakness Primary Actions: Bitter tonic, anthelmintic, antimicrobial, carminative, hepatic stimulant, emmenagogue, nervine (low dose), vermifuge โ ๏ธ Wormw
Josh Goheen
Jan 1421 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
๐ฟ Western Red Cedar Botanical Name: Thuja plicata Family: Cupressaceae Common Names: Western Red Cedar, Pacific Red Cedar, Giant Arborvitae, Canoe Cedar Parts Used: Leaves (scale tips), bark, wood, resin (primarily external or ceremonial) Energetics: Warming, drying, penetrating Tissue States: Cold, dampness, stagnation, microbial excess Primary Actions: Antimicrobial, expectorant, decongestant, rubefacient, astringent, ceremonial purifier โ ๏ธ Western Red Cedar is a p
Josh Goheen
Jan 1217 min read
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๐ Plant Profile - Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum)
๐ Reishi Mushroom Botanical Name: Ganoderma lucidum (also G. lingzhi , G. tsugae in regional use) Family: Ganodermataceae Common Names: Reishi, Ling Zhi, Mushroom of Immortality, Spirit Mushroom Parts Used: Fruiting body (dried), mycelium (modern preparations) Energetics (TCM): Neutral to slightly warming, bitter, sweet Meridians: Heart, Lung, Liver Primary Actions: Adaptogen, immunomodulator, cardiotonic, hepatoprotective, nervine, anti-inflammatory, antitumor (ad
Josh Goheen
Jan 719 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium spp.)
๐ฟ Horny Goat Weed Botanical Name: Epimedium brevicornum , Epimedium sagittatum , Epimedium koreanum (medicinal species) Family: Berberidaceae Common Names: Horny Goat Weed, Yin Yang Huo Parts Used: Aerial parts (leaves primarily) Energetics (TCM): Warm, sweet, acrid Meridians: Kidney, Liver Primary Actions: Yang tonic, aphrodisiac, adaptogenic, vasodilatory, osteotonic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium spp.) ๐ฑ Botanical Description of H
Josh Goheen
Jan 518 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Amla (Phyllanthus emblica)
๐ฟ Amla Botanical Name: Phyllanthus emblica (syn. Emblica officinalis ) Family: Phyllanthaceae Common Names: Amla, Amalaki, Indian Gooseberry Parts Used: Fruit (fresh or dried) Taste (Rasa): Sour (primary), sweet, bitter, pungent, astringent (all five except salty) Energetics: Cooling, rejuvenating Doshas: Pacifies Pitta strongly; balances Vata and Kapha when properly prepared Primary Actions: Rasฤyana, antioxidant, adaptogenic, digestive tonic, hepatic, immunomo
Josh Goheen
Dec 31, 202519 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Mastic Tree (Pistacia lentiscus)
๐ฟ Mastic Tree Botanical Name: Pistacia lentiscus Family: Anacardiaceae Common Names: Mastic Tree, Lentisk, Masticha, Mastiha Parts Used: Resin (mastic gum), leaves, bark (less commonly) Energetics: Warming, drying, strengthening Tissue States: Dampness, weakness, inflammation, microbial imbalance, leaky or ulcerated tissues Primary Actions: Gastroprotective, antimicrobial, astringent, carminative, vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, tonic Mastic Tree (Pistacia lentiscus) ๏ฟฝ
Josh Goheen
Dec 29, 202518 min read
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๐ฟ Plant Profile - Juniper (Juniperus communis)
๐ฟ Juniper Botanical Name: Juniperus communis (primary medicinal species) Family: Cupressaceae Common Names: Juniper, Common Juniper, Juniper Berry Parts Used: Berries (female cones), leaves/needles (primarily external or ritual use) Energetics: Warming, drying, penetrating Tissue States: Dampness, stagnation, cold, toxicity, microbial overload Primary Actions: Diuretic, urinary antiseptic, carminative, digestive stimulant, antimicrobial, diaphoretic, alterative, rub
Josh Goheen
Dec 24, 202518 min read
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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.
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