Raisin Tree - Discovered as a Herbal Medication 500 years ago

Raisin Tree (Hovenia Dulcis)

Printed during the Wanli period, Ben cao gang mu (Compendium of materia medica) is a work on an encyclopaedic scale.

It was compiled by Li Shizhen (circa 1518–93), a native of Sichuan, who was one of the greatest physicians, pharmacologists, and naturalists in Chinese history.

The compendium contains details on approximately 1,800 medicinal drugs, including previously unknown varieties, with illustrations and some 11,000 prescriptions.

Each herb is described by its type, form, flavour, nature, and method of application.

The work was reissued many times during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) and since then.

It has been translated into many languages and is still considered the premier reference tool for Chinese herbal medicine.

The properties and powers of Hovenia Dulcis (Raisin Tree) are detailed and discussed in the compendium.