Hello lovely steem residents
In my last post over a month ago I talked about a Chinese Herbal Medicine translation project that i had agreed to undertake.
There have been almost endless obstacles and challenges, Many of which i am not really interested in talking about.
The primary challenge so far in translation has been, Regional colloquial names for herbs and the consistent use of often toxic mineral "Herbal" ingredients in formulas .
Take for example a common Shaolin Herbal trauma treatment called:
"Purple Gold Elixir" or Di Bi Zi Jin dan.
The Forumla contains 8 herbs and requires a moderately complex preparation process. The Final result of the process being a traditional herbal pill that acts as an Anti inflamitory agent,expectorant and analgesic (Reducing swelling, Expelling phlegm and turbidity and easing pain ).
This formula, However contains 2 Toxic mineral ingredients.
- Realgar: Chinese Herb Name: Xiong Huang
( Commonly called Ruby sulfur or more importantly "Ruby of Arsenic"
commonly Used to kill parasites and expel pathogens.
- Cinnabar: Chinese Herb Name: Zhu Sha
(Commonly called: Mercury sulfide)
Commonly used as a relief for blood toxicity and as a mild sedative
As one can imagine these substances are no longer allowed to be used in modern practice and my challenge is to find suitable replacements Herbs for a modernised version of this formula that is not counteracted or itself toxic with the other herbs. Now there are modern patent medicine variations of this formula, However the ingredients lists are kept secret as they are proprietary products.
Things are never as simple as they might at first seem.
But that is part of the fun.
Wishing you all the best.
Be safe.
~ Chris
(Image source: wikipedia image. Wikicommons.)