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What Are the Medical Uses of Chinese Wax?
The term Chinese wax carries some ambiguity. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), there are several herbs and compounds that use the term. Chinese tree wax, Chinese throughwax, fruit from the Chinese wax leaf privet and the Chinese wax gourd are all used in TCM. Since these herbs may all be abbreviated simply as Chinese wax at times, it is important to be sure which meaning is correct.
Chinese insect-wax or tree wax is excreted by insects and gathered from trees. Traditionally, it has been used to treat internal parasites and hoarseness. Some practitioners believe that it helps to mend bones and treat nervousness. Chinese tree wax is not widely used even in TCM and has not experienced much use as an herbal remedy outside of China.
Chinese wax may be used to describe Chinese throughwax, a herb also known as hare’s ear or bupleurum. Unlike Chinese tree wax, Chinese throughwax is used in many TCM formulas, especially those made to treat liver dysfunction. The herb has transitioned well into Japanese herbal medicine, or Kampo, as an ingredient in formulas used to treat lingering cold and flu symptoms.
Due to Japan’s scientific stance on traditional herbalism, Chinese throughwax has been the subject of intense testing. Several of those studies have found that the herb improves the effectiveness of many modern synthetic drugs. For example, although through wax is a mild anti-inflammatory when given alone, it truly shines when given in conjunction with cortisone steroids. Along with greatly increasing their effectiveness, the herb has also been shown to reduce the damage of steroids to the adrenal gland.
Practitioners of herbal medicine in both Japan and China were probably unsurprised by the revelation of Chinese throughwax as a “helper” herb. Both kampo and TCM have used the herb for centuries in conjunction with other plants to treat conditions ranging from mild congestion to life-threatening malaria. Traditionally, the herb has also been given to women to regulate menstruation and decrease the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome.
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