Chinese medicine : ingredients

[12DrinkMore]

The GF came back with a couple of bottles of unpleasantly smelling liquid, but was nicely packaged in a hologrammed plastic wrapper.

After a quick check to make sure I was not a "pregnancy woman", (which reminds me that I must do something about the annoyingly persistent, "saam duan laeow" stomach), I discovered it did not taste too good either.

So what, I wondered, was in this?

After checking the label and searching the internet, here it is.

Curcuma : Java ginger : Symptomatic aleviation of Dyspepsia

Trikatuk : Mix of Black Pepper, long pepper, ginger : adjust patient’s element during rainy season

Caesalpinia sappan : Sappanwood Tree : antibacterial and anticoagulant

Carthamus tinctorius : Saltflower : coloring and flavoring

Trisan : Only reference I can find is to an antibacterial hand cleanser, doubt if that is put in.

Dracaena angustifolia Roxb : Tropical plant : None.

Zingiber purureum roscoe : Ginger : Disputed claims on fixing things such as cancer and nausea

Drosera Indica : Sundew insect eating plant : Athsma, coughs and stomache ulcers.

Citrus hystrix : Makrut Lime : flavouring and unspecified "medicinal properties"

Lingusticum Acutilobum : Licorice : A few promising benefits, but in Chinese medicine it "harmonizes" the ingredients

Picrorhiza Kurroa : Kutki (nearly extinct) : Digestive problems

Leersia hexandra : Clubhead cutgrass : none found

Honey : Little or no proven health benefits.

Ginseng : Various disputed benefits, but there is a claim that it lowers blood concentrations of alcohol.

Removing all the stuff with none-proven and disputed benefits, we are left with

Curcuma : Java ginger : Symptomatic aleviation of Dyspepsia

Caesalpinia sappan : Sappanwood Tree : antibacterial and anticoagulant

Picrorhiza Kurroa : Kutki (nearly extinct) : Digestive problems

And the vitally important "element adjuster".

Trikatuk : Mix of Black Pepper, long pepper, ginger : adjust patient’s element during rainy season

As the Picrorhiza Kurroa is almost extinct, I would guess that there is not too much of it used, if any at all, nowadays, and I can't see how an anticoagulant will be beneficial, we are left with a mild antibacterial agent, ginger to relieve indigestion and an element adjuster which functions only during the rainy season.

Edited November 25, 2014 by 12DrinkMore

[Rooo]

Moved to health.

[Aussieroaming]

Well quadruple the price and sell in in the west...they love buying tonics from mysterious and far off places.

[12DrinkMore]

Well quadruple the price and sell in in the west...they love buying tonics from mysterious and far off places.

Don't think it would meet EU regulations...........