Product Overview
Parts used: Dried leaves and ginger tablets
TCM category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
TCM nature: Warm
TCM taste(s): Bitter Pungent
Meridian affinity: Spleen Kidney Liver
Scientific name: Artemisia argyi
Other names: Chinese mugwort, Argy wormwood, Ai Cao or Gaiyou
Actions: Warms the meridians and stops bleeding. Warms the womb and calms the fetus. Expels Cold and stops pain. Calms cough, relieves asthma and breaks up Phlegm.
Properties: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), silvery wormwood leaves are plants that belong to the 'Herbs that invigorate the Blood' category. Like the name indicates these herbs tend to stimulate the Blood flow. In TCM they're used to help the circulation of Blood in cardiovascular conditions or menstrual irregularities as well as to treat acute pains caused by Blood Stagnation. They can also be used to treat Blood Stasis in the case of certain tumors, cysts and hardened clots.
Furthermore silvery wormwood leaves are plants that are Warm in nature. This means that silvery wormwood leaves tend to help people who have too much "cold" in their body, although with less effect than a plant that would be Hot in nature. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Those who have too much cold in their body are said to either have a Yin excess (because Yin is Cold in nature) or a Yang deficiency (Yang is Hot in Nature). Depending on your condition silvery wormwood leaves can help restore a harmonious balance between Yin and Yang.
Silvery wormwood leaves also taste Bitter and Pungent. The so-called "five elements" theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Bitter ingredients like silvery wormwood leaves tend to have a cleansing action on the body by clearing heat, drying dampness and promoting elimination via urination or bowel movements. On the other hand Pungent ingredients tend to promote the circulations of Qi and body fluids. That's why for instance someone tends to sweat a lot when they eat spicy/pungent food.
The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what organs and meridians they target. As such silvery wormwood leaves are thought to target the Spleen, the Kidney and the Liver. In TCM the Spleen assists with digestion, blood coagulation and fluid metabolism in the body. The Kidneys do not only regulate the urinary system but also play a key role in the reproductive system and the growth and aging process of the body. The Liver is often referred as the body's "general" because it is in charge of regulating the movements of Qi.
Dosage: 3-9 grams
