Curiosity Is Your Ticket In

Episode 202

In Episode 202 we visited with Robert Newman, L.Ac. Robert is the former curator of the Chinese herb garden at the Nanjing Institute of Botany in China and one of the leading experts on Chinese medicinal plant identification in North America. He currently oversees the Chinese


The Herbarium (NAS) at the Nanjing Institute contains a total amount of 700,000 sheets of specimens of various plants from all over China. In addition, the garden has set up an exchange program of seeds, plants, specimens and books with over six hundred organizations of more than sixty countries in the world.

In this day and age this is hugely important as biodiversity is increasingly threatened by commercial farms and seed producers. For example, three-quarters of biodiversity in crops has been lost in the last century, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. In Mexico, only 20 percent of the corn types that existed in the 1930s exist today. In the United States, 95 percent of cabbage varieties and 94 percent of pea types are gone.

100 years ago everyone knew how to cultivate plants for food and medicinal purposes. Today, very few have any idea what that even means. So gardens are important as classrooms because they maintain some vestige of our once intimate relationship with plants and the earth.

I encourage you to check out the program to see and learn about the Learning Garden at Venice High School in Venice, California. Its a wonderful example of a living classroom and the benefits extend far beyond the students and teachers who study and work there. Also, be sure to check out my follow-up blog where Robert has graciously provided us with some great resources for seeds and plants used in Chinese medicine.

We discussed a number of Chinese herbs and their medicinal uses so let's take a look at them:


These flowers are great for eye probelms, fatigued or bloodshot eyes. We also use it for sore throats and colds and flus. It makes a great tea to have in the summer time as well and, as you can see, the flowers make a beautiful addition to your garden. Check out my entry in the forum for a great tea recipe that we actually drank on the show.


A popular food item in Asia. these delicious fruits are quite beneficial for your digestive system and actually have a calming effect. Medicinally, they are often used with ginger root and licorice root to "harmonize" formulas with more bitter herbs by helping to make them more palatable.


Rose flowers are used to harmonize the liver and are great for taking edge off when you are feeling irritable. Great as a tea for PMS issues.

This common garden spice is used for its warming properties. I use it in my clinic for chronic sinus problems and sinus congestion. And as everyone knows, it is the key ingredient in any delicious pesto.

Medicinally, the root of this plant is used for relieve coughs (usually combined with other herbs). It is quite effective and a much better alternative to children's cough problems than many of the drugs currently marketed to children.


A beautiful ornamental flower, the root of this plant is also used for lung conditions, particularly dry lung problems.

Another beautiful flower, this root is used for sore throats, lung conditions and it helps to resolve phlegm and mucous. In Chinese medicine it also has an interesting role serving to guide other herbs to the lungs and throat.

All of these plants can be grown in your own garden and can add beauty and with a little knowledge can be used to treat some common conditions. The best of both worlds. Be sure to check out this article for a great list of sources for these plants.