Ingredients
Eighteen herbs, one by one
Every one comes from China's food-and-medicine catalogue. Below: English name, byname in pinyin, element, grade and organ link.
The catalogue
The eighteen we actually use
Grade refers to where it sits in the four spirit-food grades: common (everyday), spirit (food-and-medicine), treasure (needs craft).
| Herb | Element | Grade | Organ link |
|---|---|---|---|
| HerbGoji berry · Hóngzhū | ElementWood | GradeSpirit | Organ linkLiver |
| HerbYuzhu root · Yùjié | ElementMetal | GradeTreasure | Organ linkLung |
| HerbPoria · Yúngēn | ElementEarth | GradeSpirit | Organ linkSpleen |
| HerbWild jujube seed · Tiáoshuìzhū | ElementFire | GradeTreasure | Organ linkHeart |
| HerbBlack sesame · Xuángǔ | ElementWater | GradeTreasure | Organ linkKidney |
| HerbAged tangerine peel · Chénxiāng | ElementEarth | GradeCommon | Organ linkSpleen |
| HerbHangzhou chrysanthemum · Shuāngyīng | ElementMetal | GradeSpirit | Organ linkLung |
| HerbLily bulb · Yùbàn | ElementMetal | GradeSpirit | Organ linkLung |
| HerbLongan aril · Lízhū | ElementFire | GradeSpirit | Organ linkHeart |
| HerbMint · Qīngkè | ElementWood | GradeCommon | Organ linkLiver |
| HerbHawthorn · Chìshí | ElementEarth | GradeCommon | Organ linkSpleen |
| HerbOphiopogon root · Cùnjīn | ElementMetal | GradeTreasure | Organ linkLung |
| HerbLotus leaf · Qīnggài | ElementEarth | GradeCommon | Organ linkSpleen |
| HerbBamboo leaf · Xìqīng | ElementFire | GradeSpirit | Organ linkHeart |
| HerbDandelion · Jīnzān | ElementWood | GradeCommon | Organ linkLiver |
| HerbJob's tears · Zhūmǐ | ElementEarth | GradeSpirit | Organ linkSpleen |
| HerbGardenia · Huángzhī | ElementFire | GradeSpirit | Organ linkHeart |
| HerbCassia seed · Huántóng | ElementWood | GradeSpirit | Organ linkLiver |
Origin & harvest
Each herb is recorded per batch — origin, harvest window and processing method (the nine steamings of black sesame, for instance). Every batch keeps a retention sample, traceable by its batch code.
Testing & retention samples
The indicators we watch are pesticides, heavy metals, sulphur dioxide and microbiology. Ask by email for the data on any batch.
What we do not use
- Anything outside the food-and-medicine catalogue;
- Artificial flavours, colours and preservatives;
- Untested bulk material.
Related
See the four grades for the grading logic, and Science & standards for what is traditional framework versus what is verifiable.