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Thunder Dragon
Neigong and Alchemical Arts
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🌿 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
🌿 Plant Profile - Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum)
🌿 Rambutan Botanical Name: Nephelium lappaceum Family: Sapindaceae Common Names: Rambutan, Hairy Lychee Parts Used: Fruit (aril), rind (pericarp), seed (processed) Energetics: Cooling, slightly moistening, mildly astringent Tissue States: Heat, mild dryness, fluid depletion, irritated mucosa, mild blood deficiency Primary Actions: Hydrating nutritive, antioxidant, mild astringent, digestive support, skin restorative, antimicrobial (rind) Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum
Josh Goheen
Mar 3020 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Black Radish (Raphanus sativus)
🌿 Black Radish Botanical Name: Raphanus sativus var. niger Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard family) Common Names: Black Radish, Spanish Radish, Black Spanish Radish Parts Used: Root (fresh primarily), seeds occasionally Energetics: Cooling to neutral, pungent, slightly drying Tissue States: Hepatic congestion, bile stagnation, sluggish digestion, dampness with heat Primary Actions: Cholagogue, choleretic, digestive stimulant, expectorant, antimicrobial, mild diuretic Bla
Josh Goheen
Mar 2517 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
🌿 Bergamot Botanical Name: Citrus bergamia Family: Rutaceae Common Names: Bergamot Orange, Bergamot Parts Used: Fruit peel (essential oil), occasionally juice and rind Energetics: Cooling to neutral, aromatic, slightly bitter Tissue States: Nervous tension, digestive stagnation, mild hepatic congestion, emotional constriction Primary Actions: Nervine relaxant, digestive stimulant, carminative, antimicrobial, mild antidepressant ⚠️ Most medicinal use is via the essenti
Josh Goheen
Mar 2315 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Gentian (Gentiana lutea)
🌿 Gentian Botanical Name: Gentiana lutea Family: Gentianaceae Common Names: Gentian, Yellow Gentian, Bitter Root Parts Used: Root Energetics: Cold, very bitter, drying Tissue States: Digestive stagnation, metabolic sluggishness, deficient digestive secretions, dampness Primary Actions: Bitter tonic, digestive stimulant, cholagogue, hepatic stimulant, appetite stimulant Gentian (Gentiana lutea) 🌱 Botanical Description of Gentian Native to: Central and Southern Europe
Josh Goheen
Mar 1816 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)
🌿 Grapefruit Botanical Name: Citrus x paradisi Family: Rutaceae Common Names: Grapefruit, Pomelo Hybrid Parts Used: Fruit, peel, essential oil from peel, seeds (extract) Energetics: Cooling, slightly drying, aromatic, bitter-sour Tissue States: Metabolic sluggishness, lymphatic stagnation, digestive heaviness, damp accumulation Primary Actions: Digestive stimulant, mild cholagogue, lymphatic mover, metabolic support, antimicrobial (seed extract), uplifting nervine Gra
Josh Goheen
Mar 1617 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
🌿 Thyme Botanical Name: Thymus vulgaris Family: Lamiaceae Common Names: Thyme, Common Thyme, Garden Thyme Parts Used: Leaf and flowering tops Energetics: Warming, drying, aromatic Tissue States: Cold dampness, stagnation with mucus, microbial overgrowth Primary Actions: Antimicrobial, expectorant, antispasmodic, carminative, immune stimulant, antioxidant Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) 🌱 Botanical Description of Thyme Thyme is a low-growing perennial shrub that thrives in a
Josh Goheen
Mar 1117 min read
🌸 Plant Profile - Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)
🌸 Ylang Ylang Botanical Name: Cananga odorata Family: Annonaceae Common Names: Ylang Ylang, Cananga Parts Used: Fresh flowers (primarily distilled as essential oil) Energetics: Cooling, moistening, aromatic, relaxing Tissue States: Nervous tension, sympathetic overdrive, emotional constriction, heat in the heart Primary Actions: Nervine relaxant, anxiolytic, mild hypotensive, aphrodisiac, cardiac calming agent Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata) 🌴 Botanical Description of
Josh Goheen
Mar 917 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
🌿 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
🌿 Plant Profile - Buchu (Agathosma betulina)
🌿 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) 🌱 Botanical Description of Buchu Native to: South Africa
Josh Goheen
Mar 214 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)
🌿 Scarlet Pimpernel Botanical Name: Anagallis arvensis Family: Primulaceae Common Names: Scarlet Pimpernel, Poor Man’s Weatherglass, Shepherd’s 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 ⚠️ Scarlet Pimpernel is mil
Josh Goheen
Feb 2517 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Rauwolfia (Rauwolfia serpentina)
🌿 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 ⚠️ This is a potent herb with pharmaceutical-level effects. Use requires professional
Josh Goheen
Feb 2317 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Sundew (Drosera spp.)
🌿 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
🌿 Plant Profile - Teasel (Dipsacus spp.)
🌿 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
🌿 Plant Profile - Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)
🌿 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
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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