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Chrysanthemum, Micro-blood Circulation and Longevity: A Survey
Originated in the far East, chrysanthemum is either an annual or perennial herb belongs to the large genre of the daisy family.
Two Thousand Years of Chinese Use
As an important food supplement and tonic, chrysanthemum has been used in China for more than two thousand years. The Shen Nong's Canon of Materia Medica compiled before the Christian era, rated it as a superior herb the use of which prolongs life. Its central pharmaceutical properties recorded in traditional Chinese medical manuals, are, "pacifying the liver and brightening the vision, relieving fever and removing toxins".
Chrysanthemum as Food
Cuisines with chrysanthemum flowers abound in China, especially in the south. Guangzhou (Canton) features its famous Autumn Chrysanthemum Banquet, and Nanjing (Nanking) provides serialized cuisines with chrysanthemum flowers as the principal ingredient. Chrysanthemum liquor is also very popular.
The last eight emperors of China averaged 53 years and the average life span at that time was about 50. The famous Empress Dowager Ci Xi who ruled China for 43 years however, lived 73 years, and was able to keep a young body! According to analysis, it was mainly because she adhered to a herbal diet. Of all the herb foods she loved and used chrysanthemum longevity jelly the most. During her last years she used it every day.
Research on Chrysanthemum
Modern analysis shows that chrysanthemum contains choline, vitamin A, B1, glycosides, adenine, amino acids, flavonoid, volatile oil, etc. It is said to have inhibiting effect on bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus hemolyticus B, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella dysenteriae, tubercle bacillus and dermatomycosis. It may have antivirus and antispirochete qualities, enhance capillary resistance, and it is used in Chinese traditional medicine to help cure high blood pressure, heart colic, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis and high cholesterol, relieve congestion, palpitation, short breath, dizziness, migraine headache, cold, flu, etc,. Regular use is believed to " lead to energetic body, better vision and hearing, alert brain and longevity".
Available Forms of Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum is available in three forms, some stores just sell dried flowers, some market its extract, while some others provide herb tea with it. Now more and more people are enjoying the loving care of this "mum".
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