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Thunder Dragon
Neigong and Alchemical Arts
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🌿 Plant Profile - Birch (Betula spp.)
🌿 Birch Botanical Name: Betula pendula , Betula pubescens , Betula lenta (medicinal species vary by region) Family: Betulaceae Common Names: Birch, Silver Birch, White Birch, Sweet Birch, Black Birch Parts Used: Leaves, bark, buds, sap Energetics: Cooling to neutral, drying, light Tissue States: Dampness, stagnation, metabolic waste, skin congestion Primary Actions: Diuretic, alterative, anti-inflammatory, mild analgesic, vulnerary, astringent (bark), diaphoretic Si
Josh Goheen
Dec 22, 202518 min read
Personal Responsibility on the Alchemical Path: Ownership, Refinement, and the Internal Arts
The Alchemical Path The path of the alchemist is, and has always been, a path of Self-cultivation . In Taoist internal martial arts (neijia), Hermetic philosophy, and classical alchemy alike, the work is never outward first—it is inward. The aim is the continuous refinement of Body, Soul, and Spirit , guided by natural law and disciplined intent. Each day, the practitioner labors to overcome who they were the day before. The true struggle is not against society, fate, or circ
Josh Goheen
Dec 19, 20254 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Chaparral (Larrea tridentata)
🌿 Chaparral Botanical Name: Larrea tridentata Family: Zygophyllaceae Common Names: Chaparral, Creosote Bush, Gobernadora, Greasewood Parts Used: Leaves and young twigs (traditionally fresh or dried) Energetics: Cooling, drying, strongly detoxifying Tissue States: Heat, toxicity, damp-heat, chronic inflammation, microbial overload Primary Actions: Antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, alterative, antiparasitic, antiviral, topical vulnerary ⚠️ Chaparral is a c
Josh Goheen
Dec 17, 202519 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Sweet Annie (Artemisia annua)
🌿 Sweet Annie Botanical Name: Artemisia annua Family: Asteraceae Common Names: Sweet Annie, Sweet Wormwood, Annual Wormwood, Qing Hao, Sweet Sagewort Parts Used: Aerial parts (leaf, flower) Energetics: Cooling, drying, penetrating Tissue States: Heat, damp-heat, fever, inflammation, infection, stagnation Primary Actions: Antimalarial, antiparasitic, antiviral, immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, bitters tonic, aromatic carminative Sweet Annie (Artemisi
Josh Goheen
Dec 12, 202521 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Ophiopogon
🌿 Ophiopogon Botanical Name: Ophiopogon japonicus Chinese Name: Mai Men Dong (麦门冬) Family: Asparagaceae Used Part: Tuberous roots Energetics: Cooling, moistening, nourishing Tissue States: Dryness, deficiency (especially Yin deficiency), heat, irritability Primary Actions: Yin tonic, moistening demulcent, Lung tonic, Heart Blood and Shen nourisher, mild expectorant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective Ophiopogon japonicus 🌱 Botanical Description of Ophiopogon Ophio
Josh Goheen
Dec 10, 202521 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Hintonia latiflora
🌿 Hintonia latiflora Botanical Name: Hintonia latiflora Synonyms: Copalchi , Copalche , Quina Mexicana Family: Rubiaceae Plant Part Used: Bark (primarily), occasionally leaves and twigs Energetics: Cooling, mildly drying, stabilizing Tissue States: Heat with dryness, metabolic dysregulation, pancreatic insufficiency Primary Actions: Hypoglycemic, pancreatic trophorestorative, astringent bitter, anti-inflammatory, cholagogue, antimicrobial Copalchi (Hintonia latiflor
Josh Goheen
Dec 8, 202521 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Blue Flag (Iris versicolor)
🌿 Blue Flag Botanical Name: Iris versicolor Family: Iridaceae Common Names: Blue Flag, Wild Iris, Liver Lily, Poison Flag Parts Used: Rhizome and root Energetics: Cooling, drying, dispersing Tissue States: Damp stagnation, heat with congestion, lymphatic torpor, glandular swelling Primary Actions: Alterative, lymphatic, hepatobiliary stimulant, endocrine modulator, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying Blue Flag (Iris versicolor) 🌱 Botanical Description of Blue Flag A bea
Josh Goheen
Dec 5, 202516 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Poke Root (Phytolacca americana)
🌿 Poke Root Botanical Name: Phytolacca americana Family: Phytolaccaceae Common Names: Poke, Poke Root, Pokeweed, Cancer Root, American Nightshade, Red Ink Plant Parts Used: Root (primarily), occasionally berries (ripe only) Energetics: Cold, powerful, penetrating, dispersing, detoxifying Tissue States: Heat with congestion, damp stagnation, lymphatic torpor, hardened swellings Primary Actions: Potent lymphagogue, alterative, immune stimulant, glandular decongestant
Josh Goheen
Dec 3, 202517 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
🌿 Bloodroot Botanical Name: Sanguinaria canadensis Family: Papaveraceae Common Names: Bloodroot, Redroot, Red Indian Paint, Tetterwort, Sweet Slumber Parts Used: Rhizome (fresh or dried) Energetics: Warming, drying, penetrating, dispersive, highly stimulating Tissue States: Damp stagnation, phlegm accumulation, cold congestion, obstructed or hardened tissues Primary Actions: Escharotic, expectorant, antimicrobial, lymphatic stimulant, circulatory stimulant, anticat
Josh Goheen
Dec 1, 202518 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)
🌿 Yellow Dock Botanical Name: Rumex crispus Family: Polygonaceae Common Names: Yellow Dock, Curly Dock, Narrow Dock, Sour Dock Parts Used: Root (fresh or dried), occasionally leaf Energetics: Cooling, drying, gently stimulating Tissue States: Damp accumulation, heat with stagnation, torpor of elimination, mild deficiency Primary Actions: Alterative, hepatic stimulant, mild laxative, cholagogue, nutritive, iron-enhancing tonic, lymphatic mover Yellow Dock (Rumex cri
Josh Goheen
Nov 28, 202516 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidia piscipula)
🌿 Jamaican Dogwood Botanical Name: Piscidia piscipula Family: Fabaceae Common Names: Jamaican Dogwood, Florida Fishpoison Tree, West Indian Dogwood, Fishfuddle Parts Used: Bark (stem bark & root bark) Energetics: Cooling, deeply relaxing, slightly drying, sedative Tissue States: Heat, tension, spasm, irritation, hyper-reactivity Primary Actions: Antispasmodic, analgesic, sedative, anodyne for nerve pain, muscle relaxant, sleep aid, antitussive Jamaican Dogwood (Pis
Josh Goheen
Nov 26, 202515 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Goat’s Rue (Galega officinalis)
🌿 Goat’s Rue Botanical Name: Galega officinalis Family: Fabaceae Common Names: Goat’s Rue, French Lilac, Professor Weed Parts Used: Aerial parts (leaf & flower) Energetics: Cooling, slightly bitter, drying Tissue States: Hot/stagnant (“excess sugar/heat”), deficient lactation, sluggish metabolism Primary Actions: Galactagogue, insulin-sensitizing, pancreatic trophorestorative, diaphoretic, mild diuretic Goat’s Rue (Galega officinalis) 🌱 Botanical Description A hard
Josh Goheen
Nov 24, 202513 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)
🌿 American Ginseng Botanical Name: Panax quinquefolius Family: Araliaceae Common Names: American Ginseng, White Ginseng Parts Used: Root (occasionally leaf) Energetics: Cooling, moistening, sweet-bitter Tissue States: Dryness, deficiency, depletion, yin-deficient heat, stress-induced exhaustion Actions: Adaptogen, yin tonic, endocrine balancer, immunomodulator, neurotrophorestorative, mild anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) 🌱 Bo
Josh Goheen
Nov 21, 202513 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)
🌿 Wild Yam Botanical Name: Dioscorea villosa (also Dioscorea pubescens , Dioscorea quaternata ) Family: Dioscoreaceae Common Names: Wild Yam, Colic Root, Rheumatism Root, Devil’s Bones Parts Used: Root / rhizome Energetics: Cooling, slightly drying, relaxing, dispersing Tissue States: Tension, spasm, constriction, heat, irritability of smooth muscle Primary Actions: Antispasmodic, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, cholagogue, hormone-modulating (indirect), digest
Josh Goheen
Nov 19, 202515 min read
🌼 Plant Profile - Spilanthes (Acmella oleracea)
🌼 Spilanthes Botanical Name: Acmella oleracea (formerly Spilanthes acmella ) Family: Asteraceae Common Names: Toothache Plant, Buzz Buttons, Electric Daisy, Eyeball Plant Parts Used: Fresh or dried flowering heads and leaves Energetics: Warming, stimulating, penetrating, dispersing Tissue States: Stagnation, coldness, damp congestion Primary Actions: Sialagogue (induces saliva), immune tonic, lymphatic stimulant, antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, carminat
Josh Goheen
Nov 17, 202513 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Graviola (Annona muricata)
🌿 Graviola Botanical Name: Annona muricata Family: Annonaceae Common Names: Graviola, Soursop, Guanábana, Corossol, Brazilian Pawpaw Parts Used: Leaves, fruit, seeds, root, bark (leaves are most commonly used medicinally today) Energetics: Cooling, relaxing, slightly bitter and sour Tissue States: Heat, tension, infection, inflammation Primary Actions: Antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antispasmodic, sedative, anti-inflammatory Important Caution: Contains com
Josh Goheen
Nov 14, 202511 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum spp.)
🌿 Prickly Ash Botanical Names: Zanthoxylum americanum (Northern Prickly Ash) Zanthoxylum clava-herculis (Southern Prickly Ash / Hercules Club) Family: Rutaceae (Citrus family) Common Names: Prickly Ash, Toothache Tree, Hercules’ Club, Suterberry Parts Used: Bark and berries Energetics: Warming, stimulating, dispersing, drying Tissue States: Cold, damp stagnation; weak or stagnant circulation; congested lymph Primary Actions: Circulatory stimulant, lymphatic mover, c
Josh Goheen
Nov 12, 202513 min read
The Real Root of the Mental Health Crisis
This is vital for our modern society to hear. As it has been taught in the great esoteric, spiritual, and religious practices since time immemorial, modern science is increasingly returning toward the understanding that our "mental health" crisis is in fact rooted in lifestyle choices... a failure to live well and in accordance with nature and God's design... abuse of body, derangement of mind, and neglect of spirit. Our modern society is consumed in the nihilistic and self-d
Josh Goheen
Nov 10, 20252 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus prostratus)
🌿 Shankhapushpi Botanical Name: Convolvulus prostratus (syn. Evolvulus alsinoides ) Family: Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory family) Common Names: Shankhapushpi, Morning Glory, Aloeweed, Vishnukranti (sometimes used interchangeably with other species) Parts Used: Whole plant (leaves, stems, flowers) Energetics: Cooling, calming, sattvic, slightly sweet and bitter Tissue States: Heat, dryness, nervous agitation, weakness of memory and focus Primary Actions: Medhya rasay
Josh Goheen
Nov 7, 202512 min read
🌿 Plant Profile - Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
🌿 Hibiscus Botanical Name: Hibiscus sabdariffa Family: Malvaceae Common Names: Roselle, Red Sorrel, Jamaica Flower, Karkade, Bissap, Sour Tea, Gongura (Telugu) Parts Used: Calyces (the fleshy red outer parts of the flower), leaves Energetics: Cooling, sour, slightly drying Tissue States: Heat, stagnation, inflammation, excessive moisture Primary Actions: Refrigerant, antioxidant, hypotensive, hepatic, diuretic, astringent Hibiscus ( Hibiscus sabdariffa ) 🌱 Botanical
Josh Goheen
Nov 5, 202514 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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