Six traditional Chinese herbs should always be kept at home for daily use

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6 traditional Chinese herbs should always be kept at home. 6 traditional Chinese herbs should always be available in households. When people suffer from minor illnesses such as colds, diarrhea, headaches, etc., many choose to buy some medicine on their own to treat them. Therefore, people often prepare some medicine in advance to meet unexpected needs. Commonly available medications include cold remedies and anti-inflammatory drugs. Below are several traditional Chinese herbs that should be kept on hand in households. 1. Goji berries: For dry mouth in the elderly at night. Properties and effects: Goji berries have a sweet taste and a neutral nature; they help to nourish the kidneys and lungs, as well as strengthen the liver and improve vision. Disease prevention and health maintenance: If there is someone in the family suffering from chronic atrophic gastritis, an appropriate amount of goji berries can be taken, washed with clean water, dried, crushed, and packaged. 20 grams should be taken daily, divided into two doses, on an empty stomach. One treatment course lasts for 2 months; no other herbal or Western medicines should be taken during this period ； If an elderly person at home suffers from dry mouth at night, 30 grams of goji berries can be taken, washed with clean water, and chewed before going to bed; effects are usually seen after 10 days ； For men suffering from infertility, 15 grams of goji berries can be used; they should be washed with clean water and chewed thoroughly before swallowing each night. A course of treatment lasts for 2 months, and sexual activity should be avoided to some extent during this period. 2. Corn silk: For patients with chronic nephritis. Properties and effects: Corn silk has a sweet taste and a neutral nature; it helps to promote diuresis and reduce heat, as well as to calm the liver and improve gallbladder function. Disease prevention and health care: For patients with chronic nephritis, 50 grams of dried corn silk can be used together with 600 milliliters of warm water; it is then boiled over low heat for 20–30 minutes. Once the volume of the liquid reduces to 300–400 milliliters, the residue is removed and the liquid is consumed once a day or in several doses ； For patients with gum bleeding, 50 grams of corn silk can be taken, placed in a thermos bottle, soaked in boiling water, covered and left to steep for about 10 minutes. It should be consumed in several doses throughout the day, one dose per day; 7 days constitute one course of treatment ； For diabetic patients, 30 grams of corn silk can be used, boiled in water; one dose should be taken daily, divided into two servings in the morning and evening. Effects are usually visible within 2 to 4 months. 3. Mugwort leaves: For coughs caused by wind-cold. Properties and effects: Mugwort leaves are bitter and pungent in taste, and warm in nature; they help to warm the meridians and stop bleeding, dispel cold and relieve pain, eliminate dampness and reduce itching, as well as support fetal development. Disease prevention and health care: For coughs caused by wind-cold, the method of fumigating the feet with mugwort leaves can be used. The specific procedure is as follows: Take an appropriate amount of mugwort leaves, boil them in water for 15 minutes, remove the residue to obtain the liquid, pour this liquid into a basin, and then use it to fumigate the feet before washing them ； When furuncles appear on the skin, take one mugwort stick, light one end of it, and apply moxibustion at a distance of 3–5 centimeters from the affected area. During the process, the mugwort stick should be rotated slowly around the furuncle, continuing the moxibustion until the furuncle and the surrounding skin turn noticeably red and the patient feels a slight warmth. This treatment should be performed once a day for 10 minutes each time ； For those who suffer from frequent stomach pain, take an appropriate amount of mugwort leaves, wash them and chop them up. Mix them with eggs until well combined. Pour vegetable oil into a pan; once the oil is hot, add the mixture of mugwort leaves and eggs and fry it until it is half-cooked. Add an appropriate amount of water and bring to a boil. When the temperature is suitable, consume both the liquid and the residue, 3 times a day. 4. Rehmannia root: For those who suffer from frequent constipation. Properties and effects: Rehmannia root is sweet and bitter in taste, and cold in nature; it has the functions of clearing heat and cooling blood, as well as nourishing yin and generating body fluids. Disease prevention and health maintenance: Those who suffer from frequent constipation might consider drinking a cup of rehmannia root honey drink. The method is as follows: take an appropriate amount of rehmannia root, boil it in water for 30 minutes; once the liquid has cooled down a bit, add 2 tablespoons of honey and stir well. Effects are usually seen within 5 to 10 minutes after drinking it. 5. Chinese yam: For children with weak spleen and stomach. Properties and effects: Chinese yam has a sweet taste and a neutral nature; it helps to replenish energy and nourish yin, as well as strengthen the spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Disease prevention and health maintenance: Children with weak spleens and stomachs often have a poor appetite and suffer from diarrhea from time to time; having them eat more Chinese yam can often yield unexpected results ； Chinese yam has a certain therapeutic effect on chronic cough and shortness of breath in the elderly caused by weak lung qi, as well as symptoms such as back pain and weak legs as well as frequent urination at night resulting from weak kidney qi ； For those who are weak after illness and need long-term recuperation, Chinese yam is an excellent and inexpensive tonic. Note: It can be used for making soups or porridge. Since Chinese yam has a mild nature, it can be consumed over the long term. 6. Coix seed: Removes dampness. Properties and effects: Coix seed has a sweet and mild taste, and a slightly cold nature; it helps to promote diuresis and eliminate dampness, strengthen the spleen, and clear heat and discharge pus. Disease prevention and health care: In seasons or areas with high humidity, coix seed can be used to make soup. Since coix seed has a slightly cold nature, people with a yang-deficiency constitution who are prone to feeling cold should not take it for an extended period of time. Some minor illnesses don’t require a hospital visit and can be dealt with on one’s own. Therefore, people should keep some medicine at home.