Zinai

there are these great vials of herbal concoctions one can find in chinese herbal shops that, for me, work better than valium and don't have the same side effects that synthetics have.Each vial contains zizyphus jujuba seed, schizandra chinensis berries and salvia miltionhiza root. These herbs are said to "nourish the heart" which is the place where one's spirit is said to reside during sleep. The name of this herbal product is "ZAOREN ANSHEN YE", available from most chinese grocers or herbalists.

hey there, I'm curious to know what are the traditional uses of this plant, and if there is an Australian native counterpart. Has anyone had any experience with erythrina? Also, are the seeds edible? cheers Zinai

hi Murple, "dan shen" or "cinnabar root" is, it seems, the only salvia used commonly in chinese herbal medicine. The roots of dan shen(not to be confused with dang shen - codonopsis pilosula root, which is a qi tonic) have an invigorating effect on blood and heat clearing properties. Thus it is indicated for blood stasis patterns with symptoms like dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, blood clots in the lower abdomen with palpable masses. This herb is said to "enter the liver, heart and pericardium qi channels" so it has a stronger focus on these parts of the body. Dan shen is also a cool herb which can counter heat-like symptoms(fever, irritability, restlessness, palpitations, insomnia). As with most herbs used in chinese medicine, dan shen works best in concert with other complimentary herbs(ie commplimentary to one's overall symptom presentation). Dosage is given to be 6 - 15g in a formula or up to 60g on its own for "vasculitis". It is said that frying dan shen in wine enhances its blood invigorating effect. Source: Materia Medica by Bensky and Gamble ISBN no: 0-939616-15-7 I don't think this herb has a direct sedative nature, rather it clears heat symptoms(as described above) by its cooling nature. Its main indication is "invigorating", though. regards, Zinai [This message has been edited by Zinai (edited 06 April 2002).]

From my friend Mabo: SLOW DOWN FOLKS... chill... for the times, they are a'changin... I have known for over 25 years that the Commonwealth and the various states have been interfering with the free exercise of the religous beliefs of shamanic idealists. UP UNTIL NOW I HAVE MANAGED TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT. During that 25 years, I have considered this very issue at great length. These are the facts: Section 116 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia reads: "The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth." It has been established that the States are also prohibited by the Constitution from making any law prohibiting the free exercise of any religion. This Constitutional provision was designed specifically to protect minority religious groups(presumably as the rights of mainstream Christian religions are so permanently and irrevocably enshrined in common law). Constitutional law is extremely complicated. It should be noted that all legislation is purported legislation only and will always be open to challenge in the High Court of Australia. Acts of parliament can(and have)been declared to be invalid by the High Court of Australia. I believe that a challenge to all state and federal legislation that interferes with the religious beliefs of shamanic idealists will be successful, but only if such a challenge contains the correct arguments, and only if it is done in the right political climate. The time is not yet. One poorly conducted challenge in the High Court could destroy this sacred constitutional right. My advice: keep your mouths shut and Torsten, I suggest that this entire thread be removed, I will e-mail my telephone no to you shortly as I would like to discuss this further. regards, Mabo