Chapter Eighteen: Harvesting Herbs (Part Two)
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Jiang Bai directed several apprentice herbalists as they began gathering medicinal plants. “This is dittany root bark, also known as white fresh bark. It grows on earthen slopes and level ground, among shrubs, in grasslands, sparse woods, and beneath limestone mountains. Dittany root bark clears heat and dries dampness, dispels wind and relieves itching, and detoxifies the body. It is suitable for treating hives, eczema, scabies, ringworm, jaundice, damp-heat arthralgia, and other conditions caused by wind, heat, dampness, and toxins. Be careful when harvesting it. We mainly use the dried root bark, and this is the ideal season to gather it.”
“Yes!” the apprentices answered, nodding earnestly.
They continued onward. From time to time, Jiang Bai stopped to teach them how to identify different medicinal herbs. From common astragalus and licorice to rare reishi and fleeceflower root, every herb had its own growing environment and harvesting methods.
“Doctor Jiang, you know so much,” one of the apprentices exclaimed sincerely.
Jiang Bai smiled. “My master taught me all of this. Gathering herbs requires not only knowledge, but also patience and care. All right, spread out and gather the herbs. When we return, I’ll teach you how to process them.”
The apprentices were overjoyed. Although Wang Da and the military physician Liu had always allowed them to lend a hand, they kept all the important methods to themselves, afraid the apprentices might actually learn something. The young men merely obeyed orders and did the hard labor; they knew nothing at all. Put nicely, they were apprentices and assistants. In truth, they were little more than errand boys.
They did not waste any time. Each immediately went his own way and began searching the mountainside with great enthusiasm, eager to make a good impression on Jiang Bai. Jiang Bai continued forward, pausing now and then to observe the surroundings and make sure every apprentice could complete the task safely.
Zhang Tiezhu followed behind Jiang Bai and asked curiously, “Doctor Jiang, you said that white fresh bark can treat hives and eczema. Can it cure any other illnesses?”
Jiang Bai nodded and patiently explained, “Its uses go far beyond that. It can also clear heat and detoxify the body, making it highly effective against sores and carbuncles caused by heat toxins. However, the dosage must be adjusted according to the severity of the illness. Too much can damage the body’s vital energy instead.”
Zhang Tiezhu nodded thoughtfully. “I see. There is certainly a great deal of precision involved in using medicinal herbs.”
Jiang Bai smiled. “Indeed. Every herb must be used with great care, and it must suit the person being treated at that particular time. Even when using the same prescription, the dosage of each ingredient usually needs slight adjustments. In many cases, side effects occur because the herbs were not tailored to the individual patient.”
Seeing that the apprentices had gathered the correct herbs and handled them properly, Jiang Bai was reassured. She picked up a bamboo basket herself, intending to look for some unusual medicinal plants.
“Doctor Jiang, where are you planning to go?” Zhang Tiezhu could not help asking when he saw her preparing to leave.
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“Come with me. We’re going to gather a few other medicinal herbs.”
Zhang Tiezhu nodded without another word. After informing his companions, he followed Jiang Bai. She had saved the lives of so many people in their military camp; she was their greatest benefactor, and he had to protect her properly.
Jiang Bai carried a slender bamboo pole, using it from time to time to part the grass ahead. Zhang Tiezhu followed behind her with a long saber in hand, his vigilant gaze sweeping across the surroundings.
The two continued onward. The air in the mountains grew increasingly damp, and the earth beneath their feet softened. Suddenly, Jiang Bai stopped and crouched down, carefully examining a medicinal plant growing in a crack between the rocks.
She gently brushed away the weeds surrounding it, revealing the plant in full. Its leaves were long and narrow, with serrated edges. Its stem was slender yet tough, while its roots had sunk deep into the crevice.
“This is dendrobium,” Jiang Bai said softly, a hint of delight in her voice. “I never expected to find wild dendrobium here.” What a pleasant surprise.
Zhang Tiezhu leaned closer and asked, puzzled, “Dendrobium? What is it used for?”
“Dendrobium is a precious medicinal herb. It nourishes yin, clears heat, benefits the stomach, and promotes the production of body fluids. It is especially suitable for treating deficient heat, dry mouth, thirst, and similar symptoms.” As she spoke, Jiang Bai carefully used the bamboo pole to loosen the earth around it. “However, dendrobium must be harvested with great care. If its roots are damaged, its medicinal efficacy will be greatly reduced.”
Zhang Tiezhu listened attentively and could not help asking, “How should we gather it, then?”
Jiang Bai took a cloth bag from her basket and handed it to him. “Hold this for me while I harvest it. Remember, be gentle. Do not use too much force.”
Zhang Tiezhu accepted the bag and stood to one side, watching Jiang Bai’s every movement. She gently loosened the soil around the dendrobium with the bamboo pole, then slowly drew its roots from the crack in the rock by hand. The entire process was slow and meticulous, as though she were handling a precious treasure.
“All right.” Jiang Bai placed the harvested dendrobium into the cloth bag and dusted off her hands with satisfaction. “This plant is of a good age. Its medicinal properties should be excellent.”
Looking at the dendrobium in the bag, Zhang Tiezhu could not help praising her. “Doctor Jiang, you are truly remarkable. You can even recognize such a tiny herb.”
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Jiang Bai smiled. “It is nothing. I simply have more experience. There are countless kinds of medicinal herbs, and each has its own growing environment and harvesting method. Only by observing and practicing repeatedly can one truly understand their characteristics. It is much like your knowledge of the terrain—I imagine that, too, comes from years of observation and experience.”
“That’s right. Much of it is knowledge passed down from our ancestors, generation after generation. But unless you walk the land yourself, it is of no use at all.” Zhang Tiezhu felt this deeply. The years when his father-in-law had taken him into the mountains had been exhilarating, but they had also been truly grueling.
The two continued forward, and the mountain scenery grew ever more secluded. Towering trees stood thick and dense, their branches and leaves interweaving as sunlight filtered through the gaps and dappled the ground. The path beneath their feet became increasingly difficult to traverse. The soil was slick with moisture, and moss covered the stones.
“Doctor Jiang, there seems to be a bamboo grove ahead,” Zhang Tiezhu said, pointing forward. “Shall we go and take a look?”
Jiang Bai followed the direction of his finger and indeed saw a lush green bamboo grove. The leaves swayed in the wind, rustling softly.
“All right. Let’s take a look,” Jiang Bai said with a nod. “There may be some unusual medicinal herbs growing in the bamboo grove.”
They quickened their pace and soon reached the edge of the grove. The air inside was exceptionally fresh, carrying a faint fragrance of bamboo. Jiang Bai drew in a deep breath and felt her spirits lift.
“The bamboo here is growing very thickly,” she said, surveying the surroundings. “Perhaps we’ll find some bamboo shavings or bamboo sap.”
“Bamboo shavings and bamboo sap?” Zhang Tiezhu asked, once again looking bewildered. He knew a fair amount about plants and animals, but when it came to medicinal herbs, he was completely ignorant.
“Bamboo shavings are the inner membrane of bamboo. They clear heat, transform phlegm, relieve restlessness, and stop vomiting. Bamboo sap is the liquid that flows from bamboo after it has been roasted over a fire. It clears heat, transforms phlegm, calms convulsions, and opens the orifices,” Jiang Bai explained. “Both herbs are highly useful in treating phlegm-heat coughs, unconsciousness caused by stroke, and similar conditions.”
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