Native to Russia through to China, this small, woody plant is now grown throughout the world.

Despite its name, it is not a member of the ginseng family, though it resembles the ginseng root. The word ginseng is derived from the Chinese term rénshēn, meaning ‘essence of man’, a reference to the root’s characteristic forked shape, resembling the human body and the legs of a man.

Traditionally used in Western Herbal Medicine as an adaptogen and to:

• Support energy levels and vitality
• Support a healthy stress response in the body
• Maintain immune system health
• Relieve weariness
• Assist with recovery from illness

This ancient plant was used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to help support immune system health, vitality and energy levels.

Native to Asia, but due to its widespread availability across the globe, this oriental fungus is also recognised by its Chinese name, Lingzhi, or more commonly referred to by its Japanese name, Reishi.

Its botanical nameLucidum, is derived from the Latin word meaning ‘shiny or brilliant’, referring to the varnished glossy appearance of the mushroom’s surface.

The Chinese name,Lingzhiis symbolic for spiritual potency, representing success, well-being, divine power and longevity.Reishiis the Japanese interpretation of the mushroom’s ancient Chinese nameruizhimeaning ‘auspicious mushroom’.

Recognised as a wood-decaying fungus (commonly known aslignicolous), it grows on and digests moist wood, causing it to rot. By helping start the decomposition process, it serves as an important and unique function in forest ecosystems. It breaks down the lignin (organic polymer) found in the wood of the trees so that other soil organisms can access the nutrients. Without the help of mushrooms, dead trees and fallen branches would simply sit on the forest floor and not decompose into rich forest soil.

Reishi is used as an antioxidant and traditionally used in Chinese Medicine to:

• Relieve cough
• Support healthy immune system function
• Relieve tiredness
• Maintain vitality
• Replenish Qi

Reishi has a long history of use. It is also rooted deeply into Chinese and Japanese culture where it is a focal point in ancient works of art due to its association with royalty, wisdom and eternal life. For example, the Forbidden City, the heritage site at the heart of Beijing, is carved with Lingzhi throughout the imperial palace.

Native to North America it is now widely grown across the world. Echinacea is a member of the Asteraceae family which includes daisies as well as edible herbs like Dandelion and Arnica. It does not hold many common English names, but one of the few is the Purple Coneflower, named because of the attractive flower head with purple, pink petals and cone-shaped centre.

Echinacea is derived from the Greek word echinos, meaning ‘hedgehog’, which refers to the cone-shaped, prickly centre which is said to resemble the spines of a hedgehog.

Traditionally used in Western Herbal Medicine to:

• Maintain healthy immune system function

Echinacea was one of the most widely used medicinal plants of the Great Plains Native Americans used to treat a variety of ailments including colds and infections.

Originally native to southeast Asia, this sprawling, hardy plant with pale yellow roots, is also referred to as Huang Qi or Milk Vetch.

Its Chinese name, Huang Qi, means “yellow leader” and refers to both the coloured interior of the root and the plant’s position of prestige among Chinese medicine practitioners. Astragalus root is one of the fundamental herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is regarded by some as the king of Chinese tonic herbs, often used as a Qi tonifying herb.

Traditionally used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as an adaptogen and to:

• Help the body adapt to stress
• Support healthy immune system function
• Tonify and strengthen Qi
• Strengthen lungs
• Support vitality

Astragalus the one of the most widely used herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine where it is primarily used to tonify lungs.