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Chrysanthemum (Juhua)

Taste: Bitter, Sweet. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Mainly treats vertigo due to wind-pathogen (Feng Tou Xuan), swelling and pain, sensation of eyes protruding, tearing, dead skin tissue, aversion to wind, damp-bi syndrome, lower back pain with a sensation of flowing comfort or dizziness (Lai Lai Tao Tao), removes heat and irritability in the chest, calms the stomach and intestines, benefits the five meridians, harmonizes the four limbs. Long-term consumption promotes the flow of Qi and Blood, lightens the body, resists aging, and prolongs life.

Alternative names: Jie Hua (Festival Flower), Ri Jing (Sun Essence), Nv Jie (Female Festival), Nv Hua (Female Flower), Nv Jing (Female Stem), Geng Sheng (Reborn), Zhou Ying (Full Circle), Fu Yan Nian (Support Longevity), Yin Cheng (Yin Completion). Habitat: Rivers, marshes, and fields in Yongzhou. Harvesting times: Roots in the first lunar month, leaves in the third, stems in the fifth, flowers in the ninth, fruits in the eleventh; all dried in shade. Adjuvants: Atractylodis Rhizoma (Baizhu), Lycii Radicis Cortex (Gouqigen), Morus Albae Cortex (Sangbaipipi).

Tao Hongjing stated: There are two types of Chrysanthemum: One has purple stems, an aromatic fragrance, sweet taste, and edible leaves for soup; this is the true variety. The other has large green stems, smells like Mugwort (Ai) and Wormwood (Hao), tastes bitter and inedible, named Ku Yi (Bitter Aster), which is not true. Their flowers look similar, distinguished only by sweet and bitter tastes. Most abundant in Li County, Nanyang; now found everywhere near roads; easy to propagate from seeds. There is also White Chrysanthemum, with similar stems and leaves but white flowers, harvested in May. It also treats wind-vertigo and prevents graying of hair. The "Immortal Canon" considers Chrysanthemum highly effective but rare, recommending regular consumption. Ministers Yuxi et al., consulting the "Erya", noted: Ju treats Qiang. Annotation: Current autumn-flowering Chrysanthemum. "Pharmacological Properties" states: Sweet Chrysanthemum acts as an adjuvant. It treats severe wind-vertigo causing collapse, cranial bone pain, and dissipates various wind pathogens in the body. Chen Cangqi stated: Ku Yi is bitter and breaks blood stasis. Consumed for fixed blood stasis in women's abdomen. Also regulates the middle jiao and stops diarrhea. Flowers resemble Chrysanthemum, stems resemble Kalimeris indica (Malan), grows by water margins. Chrysanthemum is sweet, Ku Yi is bitter. Proverb: "Bitter like Ku Yi." White Chrysanthemum is bitter. Dyes beard and hair black. Combined with Sesamum indicum (Jusheng) and Poria cocos (Fuling) into honey pills, it treats wind-vertigo, prevents hair graying, anti-aging, and improves complexion. "Lingbao Formula": Poria combined into pills, refined pine resin mixed, one pill size of chicken egg per dose, improves complexion, anti-aging, treats vertigo. Grows in wetlands, flowers purple-white, blooms in May. "Baopuzi - Liu Sheng Dan Fa": Uses White Chrysanthemum juice for mixing. Yang Sunzhi stated: Sweet varieties enter medicine; bitter ones are unsuitable. Rihua Zi stated: Chrysanthemum treats wandering wind in four limbs, benefits vessels, relieves irritability, chest oppression, carbuncles, headaches. Made into pillows to brighten eyes; leaves also brighten eyes; raw or cooked both edible. Two types: Large flowers, aromatic, purple stem = Sweet Chrysanthemum; Small flowers, strong odor, small green stem = Wild Chrysanthemum, bitter. However, cultivated in fertile garden soil, they become identical. Water from flowers enhances complexion and yang energy, treats all wind pathogens, no taboos.

"Tujing" stated: Chrysanthemum grows in Yongzhou rivers/marshes/fields, now ubiquitous; best from Ju Tan, Nanyang. Sprouts fine seedlings in early spring, lush in summer, flowers in autumn, fruits in winter. Many varieties: Purple stem, aromatic, thick tender edible leaves, tiny sweet flowers = True. Green stem, large, thin leaves smelling of Mugwort/Wormwood, bitter = Ku Yi, not true. Nanyang Chrysanthemum has two types: White Chrysanthemum, large leaves like Mugwort, green stem, thin root, white flower yellow center; Yellow Chrysanthemum, leaves like Tonghao (Corchorus capsularis), all yellow center. Currently, elixir practitioners mostly use White. Nanjing has a variety with small flowers, bead-like bases under petals, called Zhuzi Ju (Pearl Chrysanthemum), good for medicine. Harvest: Roots 1st month, leaves 3rd, stems 5th, flowers 9th, fruits 11th; shade-dried. Tang Dynasty "Tianbao Single Formula Diagram" records White Chrysanthemum: Pungent, neutral, non-toxic. Native to Nanyang valleys/fields. Yingchuan calls it Huifeng Ju; Runan calls it Tukuku Hao; Shangdang/Jian'an/Shunzheng call it Yanghuan Cao; Henei calls it Diwei Hao. Efficacy: Treats chronic wind-vertigo/dizziness in men/women, dry falling hair, phlegm stagnation in chest. Upon wind attack, vertigo occurs, vision dims, feeling of fainting. Treatment: Moxibustion on Fengchi (GB20) acupoints, 14 moxa cones each, plus White Chrysanthemum wine/pills for permanent cure. Method: Late spring/early summer harvest soft seedlings, shade-dry, powder. Empty stomach, 1 cun bi (square inch spoonful) mixed with unfermented wine, twice daily, gradually increase to 3 cun bi. If avoiding alcohol, mix with soup/congee/juice. August harvest flowers, sun-dry, chop, 3 jin放入 3 dou wine in silk bag, steep 7 days, take 3 times daily, maintain continuous mild intoxication. Do local Chrysanthemum wines derive from this?

"Shiliao" stated: Sweet Chrysanthemum, neutral. Leaves harvested 1st month for soup; stems 5th day of 5th month; flowers 9th day of 9th month. Treats wind-headache, vertigo, tearing, removes heat, benefits five zang-organs. Wild bitter Chrysanthemum is unusable. "Shenghui Fang": Treats wind-vertigo. Dry September 9th Chrysanthemum, mix with 1 dou steamed glutinous rice, add 5 liang Chrysanthemum powder, ferment normally with fine yeast. Strain when ready, warm 1 small cup per dose. "Waitai Miyao": Treats drunkenness. Drink 1 cun bi of pure September 9th Chrysanthemum powder with water. "Zhouhou Fang": Treats lethal carbuncle. Crush 1 handful of leaves, extract 1 sheng juice, ingest immediately for miraculous effect. Use roots in winter. "Shiyi Xinjing": Sweet Chrysanthemum treats wind-vertigo, chest agitation, tearing, wind-bi bone/muscle pain. Chop for soup/congee or eat raw. "Yuhan Fang": Wang Ziqiao Rejuvenation Formula: Sweet Chrysanthemum harvested on Yin days: 3rd month = Yu Ying; 6th month = Rongcheng; 9th month = Jingjing; 12th month = Changsheng (roots/stems). Shade-dry 100 days, equal parts, grind 1000 times on auspicious day, take 1 qian bi with wine. Honey pills size of paulownia seeds, 7 pills with wine, 3 times daily. 100 days: body light/smooth; 1 year: gray hair turns black; 2 years: lost teeth regrow; 3 years: 80-year-old becomes child-like, miraculous.

"Yanyi" stated: Modern Chrysanthemum has 20+ varieties. Only single-leaf, small yellow-green flowers, dark small thin leaves, blooming on schedule are valid. This matches "Monthly Ordinances" description. Dengzhou White Chrysanthemum (single-leaf) is also medicinal; others unused by medical classics. Specifically treats wind-heat of head/eyes. Now commonly collected for pillows.