Goji berries have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to manage diabetes, high blood pressure, fever, age-related eye problems and fatigue associated with living at high altitudes. Goji berries are eaten raw, cooked, or dried (like raisins) and are used in herbal teas, juices, wines and medicines.
Schisandra is one of the many traditional Chinese herbs recommended for coughs and various nonspecific pulmonary diseases. 2 It has been studied extensively in Chinese and Japanese literature. Schisandra has been used for healing purposes for over 2,000 years. It is often used as an ethanolic tincture. The Chinese name for the plant, wu-wei-zu, means “5 taste fruit” and is associated with sweet, sour, bitter, astringent, and salty flavors. Salty and sour tastes were believed to have effects on the liver and testicles, while the bitter and astringent properties were beneficial to the heart and lungs. The sweet component had effects on the stomach.
One of the primary benefits of Fructus Rubi according to traditional Chinese medicine is alleviation of excessive urination. It helps invigorate the kidneys and livers by entering the meridians of those two organs, at which point it shrinks the volume of the urine "basin," thereby reducing the need to urinate as frequently.
Asian cornelian cherry is a major herb in Chinese herbal medicine. Its primary use is to hold in fluids, and is useful for such problems as excessive urination, incontinence, excessive sweating, spermatorrhea, and excessive menstrual bleeding. Another function of Asian cornelian cherry is treatment of chronically sore backs and knees. In combination with other herbs, it can also be used to treat bronchitis and certain types of coughs. It is also used in combination with other herbs for dizziness, lightheadedness, ear ringing, and poor vision.
