Strong tasting herbs

The Biltmore Room s Gin Blossom is an excellent cocktail. The taste of basil is strong and unexpected, and the elderflower cuts its herbal power with a touch of sweetness—a neat reverse on most cocktails, which use herbs to balance sugar instead. 

Bai Zhu is less bitter and warm than Cang Zhu and has no pungent taste. The strong point of this herb is tonifying the Spleen-Qi and, at the same time, drying the dampness in the Middle-Jiao. It is particularly suitable for use in conditions where the Spleen is too weak to transform and transport the fluid. This herb can be used for a long period of time. 

These herbs can be used as deputies in the formula to treat acute and excess conditions where excess heat is blazing in the Heart. They are all bitter and cold, and enter the Heart and Liver meridians. They can strongly reduce the excess fire from the Heart and Liver, and therefore calm the mind. Zhi Zi and Mu Tong can also drain heat by promoting urination. These herbs can be used to treat agitation, difficulty falling asleep, a bitter taste in the mouth, mouth ulcers and scanty and difficult urination. 

Rue A European, strong scented perennial woody herb (Ruta graveolens) with a bitter taste. 

It has traditionally been a primary herb of choice for treating colds and flu. It is especially useful for children in that it is safe in large quantities and yet tastes quite good. A relatively unknown fact is that ginger s antitussive (anticough) action rivals that of codeine, and its strong expectorant and antihistamine actions help thin bronchial mucus and move it up and out of the system. This makes it a perfect herb for upper... 

Characters.—Leaves sinuated, clammy, and hairy. The fresh herb has a strong unpleasant odour, and a slightly acrid taste, which nearly disappear on drying. The fresh juice dropped into the eye dilates the pupil. 

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