New subscriber with herb questions

[Guest guest]

Hi, folks. I've been an herbal enthusiast for about 15 yrs. I

primarily explore chinese and non-chinese tonic herbs. Though

avid, I tend to approach each new herb or formula pretty

conservatively, first doing as much research as possible, then

trying the formula for a certain period of time, then stopping for a

while to better gauge the effect, or lack of, on myself. So I've

gained a fair amount of empirical info on how certain herbs work

(on myself).

 

I am curious about a few herbs (some of which you may have

seen me query on other, similar lists) and I'd like to post the

following two questions:

 

1)In an issue of " Herbalgram' there's an extensive ginseng

article which explores, amongst other things, the concentrations

of saponins in different kinds of roots & in different parts of the

root. The author states that the root hairs have a very high

concentration. I've seen bundles of red ginseng " tails " (twiggy

little branch-roots) in the herb shops, but never was sure what

they were for. Never even thought to ask, actually. I'm wondering

if anyone out here has any experience with em? If they're high in

saponins, I'd imagine thay'd be more popularly known, but

knowing chinese herbalism, I'd guess that they have a very

specific usage. Next time I go herb shopping, I'll probably ask. If i

get a useful answer, I'll share it, of course.

 

2) Recently, I came across a package of " Bamboo ball tea " at a

chinatown market. This is a sort of tea that's been wrapped &

tied in big bamboo leaves so that it resembles 5 wrapped

golfballs. My understanding was that it was a sort of Pu-erh tea.

In fact, when unwrapped from the bamboo, you have a dry black

mass of presed plant material, rather like Tuo Cha tea (which is

a type of Pu-erh). Now, Pu-erhs are an actual type of Tea

(Camillia Sinensis) that's often pressed & /or aged. Supposed to

be good for digestion & for cholesterol, and the worst tasting

ones are supposed to be a delicacy (as all awful-tasting foods

are).

Since I'm also quite a tea-fancier, I had to give it a try. The outer

package, however, described the contents as a tea consisting of

Desmodium, Kadsuda, Honeysuckle, and one or two other

herbs. It lists the indications for this tea as " detoxifying &

anti-itch. "

The taste would definitely lead me to think that there's tea proper

in there, but it seemed also to have a slight muscle relaxing

effect. I can't testify for it's handling of itching or toxicity, though.

 

Does anyone have any experience with this item, and perhaps

know it's proper place, if it has one, in the realm of herbs & teas?

 

Thanks for any input you could provide.