p.Article - Anti-Aging Chinese Herbs: 雷公根 and 枸杞

The last part is here:   Article - 世界上寿命最长的人 -- 李清云

Anti-Aging Chinese Herbs: 雷公根 and 枸杞
Posted June 15, 2010 by Alicia 

A few months ago, I was researching immortality when I came upon an extraordinary story. It told of the oldest living human, a Chinese man named 李清雲 who reportedly lived to be over 250 years old. Before you click away from this page in skepticism, it’s said that his obituary was published in the New York Times when he died in 1933 – dating his birth at 1677 (I haven’t spoken to anyone at the Times to back this up, but I totally plan on calling them this week). 

Meantime, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by such an amazing story and I had to know right away: what the heck did this guy eat? Lucky for me, he was an herbalist – and his recipe for long life had been well documented. 

A Professor of Chinese herbal medicine, 李清雲 supposedly lived the first half of his long life in the mountains, studying herbs and their properties. The latter part of his life was devoted to teaching, and at the end of his life it’s said that he was still lecturing. When asked what gave him such long life, he reportedly answered: “nothing has irritated me since I was 40 years old. Because of that, my heart is very calm, peaceful and divinely tranquil. That is why I am free from any illness, and always healthy and happy.” 

When I read this I thought, "Nice. This is definitely an answer true to my own heart, but I’m looking for something closer to my own stomach." Digging a little deeper, I read his secret: 5 grams of Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berries) and a few leaves of 雷公根 per day. Everyday for 220-something years? I could do that! 

Both Goji Berries and 雷公根 have made modern day news as super herbs. Goji Berries, found growing high in the asian alpine regions, have for centuries been used as a preventative treatment for healthy eyes. They’re also packed with antioxidants, which make them amazing for anti-aging (they’ve even made their way into various skincare products, as well as packaged cereals and bars). 

Professor 李清雲 attributed 雷公根, or Pennywort, to helping him maintain a calm state of mind – in his opinion, the most important longevity factor. When it comes to 雷公根, the saying in Asia goes :“Two leaves a day, keeps old age away”! Used by Chinese and Indian herbal doctors for thousands of years, 雷公根 is a remedy that is still used today to combat stress-related anxiety, and strengthen immunity. 雷公根 is a unique herb not to be confused with the Kola Nut, which contains caffeine. 雷公根 has no caffeine present, and instead contains compounds called triterpenoids that can decrease anxiety and increase mental function. 

This April I moved across town, just one block from the gates to Chinatown. Vancouver has one of the largest Chinatown’s in North America, and I knew that if I could find 雷公根 leaves and Goji Berries anywhere, it would be here. I was settled in my new place I set out to find these two most amazing ingredients for immortality. It wasn’t to be as easy as I thought. 

My first stop was T & T Market, and asian super market chain found across Canada. Here, I thought, I’ll find that 雷公根 and make salads, pestos and who knows what else – and eat it every day! I was so wrong. 

I found myself at the customer service desk, earnestly describing to the clerk (Name: Renee, we’re good friends now) what I was looking for. She looked at me like I was nuts. Likewise the head of the produce department, and the general manager. No one knew what 雷公根 was (I didn’t even bother asking for Goji Berries). 

Back at home I looked up the Chinese name for 雷公根 online. I found it – and then I found another. Then another. Then another. I found a total of 5 different Cantonese or Mandarin names for one herb! Which one was it? Yikes. Of course I scribbled them all down and headed back out. 

At the grocery store I was met with the same bewilderment. What was I looking for, exactly? Was it a vegetable? A fruit? An herb? Which one on the list was I looking for? I had no idea, of course. I was finally directed to the heart of Chinatown, where I could (and should) inquire at one of the pharmacies. 

The next day, 4 1/2 year old daughter/co-explorer in tow, I marched through the gates into Chinatown. I had a plan: since there were about a gazillion (ok, more like 20) herbal dispensaries within a 3 block radius, I was going to start with one I had first visited as a teenager (a scant 20 years prior, barely a blip on my soon-to-be-immortal radar). But alas, when I arrived I found it had long ago departed. 

And so I took a chance, and headed across the street. We entered a bustling (always a good sign), packed place. I found a woman in a white coat (a pharmacist – also a good sign), and I handed her my well meaning note. (Addendum: I had left the original note at the supermarket, so had to look them all up again – this time finding only 3. They were: Ji Xue Cao, Ping Da Wan, and Fo Ti Tieng). “Ha ha ha,” she laughed at me, “which one you want?”. Sigh. Again. 

I explained that I wasn’t sure since I thought they were all the same thing, but that I could draw her a picture of the fresh herb. She led me to the side of the shop, and pulled out some packaging paper. Instead of having me draw, she began to literally throw different herbs onto the page, naming them as she did. Fo Ti looked like a root, not at all like the leaves of the 雷公根. That left choosing between the remaining two. My pharmacist began explaining in broken English what each herb looked like, and then began drawing. Instantly I recognized my Pennywort, and chose the corresponding herb (Ping Da Wan – readers take note). When she asked me what I wanted it for, I declared, “my mind” – she advised taking Gingko Biloba instead. “This,” she said, pointing to my pile of herbs, “very powerful for detox. This you want to clean for you”. Perfect, I thought, cleanliness is next to Goddessliness, and I aim to become a Goddess! “I’ll take it!” I shouted, “How much?! One and half pound?!” she yelled, and ushered me to the cash register. I was told I could take as a tea everyday, one handful in boiling water if I wanted. The exchange and advice was so casual, I felt like no one had ever been prescribed this stuff! 

1 and 1/2 pounds of dried 雷公根 later, and I was on my way to immortality. Price: 86 cents (no kidding); value: one half of priceless). All I was missing were the other half of the recipe: Goji Berries. Skipping up another street, my daughter and I found a different pharmacy, smaller and far less busy. Jackpot again: There on shelves were bags and bags of the berries – big, small, dark and light colored. And prices ranged across the board from $3 to $40 per bag. I asked a clerk to explain the difference in prices, and received a very polite, “this one better, this one not so good,” very descriptive, thank you. I chose a bag under the classification of “Very Good”, which apparently was just under “Excellent”, and paid my $7. Before I left, I asked again for Ping Da Wan/ 雷公根, and both shop clerks in the store had no idea what I was talking about. I showed them my stash, which they eagerly fingered, laughing “Ping Da Wan, Ping Da Wan” under their breath. As if it were a pile of special silk thread, meant to wrap someone in the smooth shroud of long life. 

At a fruit stand next door, I thought I’d try my luck one more time at finding the raw green herb (雷公根 pesto here I wanted to come so badly!). Sadly, no luck – though I managed to attract a crowd of lively shoppers who wanted to see this special dried herb. More laughs, and much tapping on my back with eyes twinkling. Friendly, at least! 

Back at home, I unwrapped the herbs. They weren’t all leafy like I would have liked, but looked like a bunch of stems with a smattering of leaves. I tried one, it was very bitter. My tea would require honey – and lots. 

I concocted a tea of one handful 雷公根 and about a gram of Goji Berries (I had broken into the bag and eaten about 200 grams on the way home. Readers, don’t do this – your bum will thank you). It made enough for about 4 small cups, which I approximated to be about 2 – 3 leaves. I left the tea loose in the teapot, and had a few cups. 

While it smelled like any herbal shop I’d been to – grassy, herby, slightly mildewy – the taste was mild and pleasant, and not really bitter at all (surprise!). The Goji Berries were plump and a nice touch, too. That evening, I felt energized but ready for sleep. I felt mentally clear, and relaxed. Placebo effect or not, I felt great. 

I think this tea may become an everyday ritual. With a tea like this steeped in ancient wisdom and lore, I think I have only everything to gain (including 200 years). Of course, I could easily have ordered a tincture online – but then I wouldn’t have had this little adventure to share. 

Love, Alicia 

PS:   If anyone knows where I can find the raw 雷公根 herb, please email me or post a comment! I’m still dying (actually, not really anymore! Haha!) to try eating it! Be Sociable, Share!

雷公根 (Centella Asiatica) really is a magical herb. Not only is it full of minerals -- calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorous, manganese, chromium, zinc, selenium, iodine, silicon, germanium and cobalt -- but it contains awesome phytonutrients known as triterpenoids. Triterpenoids promote collagen formation and have been shown to concentrate antioxidants into damaged tissue and increase the blood supply as well. Germanium is essential for the regeneration of DNA and for maximising nutritional well-being in the body. It also activates oxygen within the body enabling more to be available to the tissues and helps to restore T-cell balance thus heightening immune system function. Cobalt is the key mineral holding vitamin B12 together and yes, you get vitamin B12 in 雷公根. 

The Chinese herbologist Professor 李清雲 outlived 23 wives and claimed one of his major nutritional staples was 雷公根. He was born in 1677 and died in 1933 -- he lived an amazing 256 years, and it is documented by the Chinese government who celebrated his 150th and 200th Birthday with him. He still gave 3 hours lectures on longevity at the age of 200 for 28 weeks at a time. Ginseng was another herb promoted by Professor 李清雲 as contributing to maximum health and longevity (ginseng also contains germanium). He was a strict vegetarian who ate herbs that grew above the ground only and fruit of high alkaline mineral content -- the soils in which he cultivated his foods were rich in humus, minerals and microbial life. 

My Comments:

Many interesting sources. But, I believe we are closer to the truth now. 鹿茸, 人参, 何首烏, 雷公根, 枸杞, 当归, 甘草, 鹿心血, 梅花鹿鞭, 黄精, 灵芝, working towards “保持人体三通: 血通, 尿通, 便通.” 

I refused to write in English for fear of leakage. I will work on the consumption rate next.

p.Article - 世界上寿命最长的人 -- 李清云

在百度百科上面有一條記載歷史上壽命最長的人瑞的介紹，名叫李清雲，據說曾被紐約時報及其他國際媒體給報導過，由於活的壽命實在不尋常，我自己有點存疑，但還是將內文放在這裡，給大家參考。

世界最長壽的素食者——李清雲 

李清雲（1677-1933年），傳說中他在世256年（傳說來源：易俊傑，湖南省邵陽教育學院中文教研室主任、副教授、科普作家）是清末民國初年的中醫中藥學者，也是世界上著名的長壽老人，但無確切史料考證。在他100歲時（1777年）曾因在中醫中藥方面的傑出成就，而獲政府的特別獎勵。在他200的時候，仍常去大學講學。這期間他曾接受過許多西方學者的來訪。李清雲一生娶過24個妻子，子孫滿堂，180位後人。當時的紐約時報與時代雜誌都做了報導。按照這個年代推算，他應該生於清康熙16年（1677年），先後歷經了康熙、雍正、乾隆、嘉慶、道光、咸豐、同治、光緒、宣統九代至民國，在世256歲，是世界上極罕見的長壽星。

長壽秘訣

他認為自己健康長壽的原因有三：一是長期素食；二是內心保持平靜、開朗；三是常年將枸杞煮水當茶飲。(Wolf-berries are easy to get)“保持一種平靜的心態，坐如龜，行如雀，睡如狗” (This should be replaced by yoga.) 這就是李清雲留給後人長壽的秘訣指引。他始終認為保持一個平靜安寧的心態是長壽所必須的。他的飲食主要以米飯和少量的葡萄酒為主。(I intend to upgrade this wine to mead.)

英國、法國的醫學科研工作者得到這一消息後，便對枸杞進行了深入研究，發現枸杞中含有一種沒有 見過的維生素，便取名為“維生素X”，也稱為“駐顏維生素”。經動物實驗證實，枸杞具有抑制脂肪在纖維內蓄積、促進肝細胞的新生，降低血糖及膽固醇等作 用。枸杞的返老還童作用表現為：對腦細胞和內分泌腺有啟動和新生作用，增強荷爾蒙的分泌，清除血中積存的毒素，從而可維持體內各組織器官的正常功能。

民國二十年《萬州日報》曾載“開縣二百七十三歲老人李清雲”，一時轟動全川。1986年《氣功》雜誌第六期又刊載開縣籍人劉成勳所寫“憶二百五十六歲的長壽老人李慶遠”（即李清雲）的文章。筆者利用參與編修地方誌之便，對李清雲在開縣的活動情況，廣為收集，現將所得資料加以整理，供有興趣者參考。

李清雲，原名陳遠昌，籍貫不詳，傳說是上海附近的人，又說原籍雲南省。約在清嘉慶二十五年 （1820）前單身一人來到開縣陳家場上。李身材魁偉，體態肥胖，禿頭無發，皮膚光滑無皺紋，肌肉結實，來時看上去約摸五十有餘歲年紀。但自稱已一百五十 多歲（一說九十多歲到開縣定居），在一百年前來過開縣，能講出陳家場附近百年前的人名和情況。李會武功，以賣草藥為生，先借住于陳家鄉石龍村（現龍鳳 村），後移往開縣（現兼善鄉平和村），並娶妻向氏，定居於此。李生活習慣異于常人，不飲酒、不喝茶、不抽煙，吃飯定時定量，早睡早起；閒時閉目靜坐，兩手 置於膝上，昂首挺胸，幾個小時一動也不動；左手蓄長指甲，常用小竹管套在手指上保護指甲，長至六寸左右即剪下置於木匣內保存，李死時有指甲殼一小匣；平時 寡言少語，從不談及無關的話。別人問及年齡，僅答兩百多歲。究竟生於何朝、何年、何地？均無人知曉。他雖娶妻，但不同居，僅讓為其洗衣、煮飯而已。李擅長 眼科和骨傷科，1820年雇用十四歲的少年向此陽為其挑藥擔，常年遊鄉治病，對富有人家收取高額藥費供養全家生活。李閒時常到高橋附近穿心店約人打牌，他 每次都輸一百二十文左右，讓牌友贏夠當天飯食錢。李對人厚道，從不發怒，故鄰人多願與之相處，均尊稱他為李二老師（因曾有一個自稱是他哥哥的老人從上海來 陳家場探望過他）。 　　

民國十六年（1927），李雲青應四川軍閥楊森的邀請去萬縣傳授養身之道。楊森對李敬若上賓， 為李特製全身新衣，請照相館照相放大陳列在櫥窗裏，標明“開縣二百五十歲老人李清雲肖相，民國十六年春三月攝于萬州”。一時之間省內各報競相作為奇聞報 道，轟動全川。因李講不出養身奧秘，不久即送返家。民國二十年（1931）《萬州日報》九月十五日又載：“開縣二百七十三歲老人李清雲，已於前晚由陳家場 到萬縣，住李家花園。老人系應王師長之邀到萬縣的，在萬縣期間，老人談了長生之道只一靜字。李于此次去萬縣返家後二年（1933年，癸酉）病逝，葬於開縣 長沙鎮義學村李家灣。 　　

李清雲在開縣生活的時間約一百一十多年，傳奇性故事頗多。如傳說他是太平天國石達開手下的將 領，隨石達開來到四川。石達開在大渡河全軍覆沒，陳遠昌就改名李清雲，喬裝草藥醫生逃到開縣陳家場一帶避難，他能講很多太平天國的戰鬥故事。（注：石達開 在大渡河被俘是1863年，而李早40多年來到開縣）又說他會水火二遁，也能遁來錢物，因此他買藥雖掙錢不多，但家用不乏。長期打牌只輸不贏也未見過缺錢 用。還傳說他善相法。曾有開縣南門人張驥若年輕時，李算定張將來要當大官，約定算准了以後，以兩石穀子作酬謝。後來張當了四川軍閥的旅長，果真送了他兩石 穀子酬謝。 　　

四川省高縣慶符鎮八十老人胡英華先生在1986年獻出他保存的李清雲照片，還提供書面資料記敍 李清雲壯年時入山采藥。持刀拒虎的壯舉和掘得形似人頭的靈芝草 (This is also something I will farm in my pine/cedar trees)，以及後來楊森為李祝壽的故事。現住常州市成全巷24號的開縣籍八十七歲老人劉成勳先生在 1986年《氣功雜誌第6 期沙鍋上也發表回憶李（誤為李慶遠）的文章。 　　

李清雲不是開縣土生土長的人，他的確年齡和來開縣前的經歷僅憑自己所講，無從考查。加之民間口頭流傳，添油加醋，越來越神秘，這才引起大軍閥楊森的興趣，以至有聘請他去萬縣傳授養身之道及登報照相等事。 　　

李清雲究竟有多大歲數？至今仍是個難解的秘。據現已經掌握的資料證明，李清雲至少有170 歲無疑。李清雲來開縣後雇傭的挑藥擔子的少年向此陽，是現在住在長沙鎮李家灣人黎廣松的外公，生於1806年，活了九十三歲，死於1899年。那時，李青 雲還健在。向此陽十四歲為李挑藥擔子，李當時象個五十多歲的老人，以此推算，至少活了 170 年。

野史

幾乎沒有人知道李清雲早年的身世，目前的資料只知道他出生於四川，最後也終老在了那裏。他10歲的時候出外前往甘肅，陝西，西藏，安南，暹羅和滿洲採集 草藥。隨後他的事情就基本上沒有任何記載可循。再隨後的日子裏，他就依靠為人看病出售中草藥為生，並在其右手留有長達6英寸的指甲。 　　

他自己也承認自己並不是出生於1677年而是1736年，也就是說他活了197歲。但在1930年時成都大學的教授胡忠謙發現了他的出生“證明”，他應該出生於1677年，當時的清政府還為他舉行了150歲和200歲的壽禮慶典。

My Comments (in blue):

When one becomes rich, they are scared to die soon. There is therefore a need to learn the art of longevity. 

The above text remained sketchy. But, all is well. More research are needed along the way.

The herbs that he consumed regularly were He Shou Wu, Ginseng, and Gou Qi Zi (Wolfberries) He ate the Wolfberries raw and cooked the He Shou Wu with the Ginseng. (I am farming He Shou Wu, Ginseng, deer antlers, parts of deer, Dang Gui, Gan Cao and wolfberries respectively.)

It is also known that he consumed 雷公根 regularly both fresh as a salad and brewed as a tea. There is also some evidence that he may have also put these four herbs (along with Dang Gui and Gan Cao) in strong liquor as a tincture and drank a swallow or two every day. (雷公根 is farmed in Bornea.)

雷公根：已经被南亚的 Ayurvedic 文化当作神经激动器使用了几千年，它可以加强大脑的功能，并减缓情绪低落和疲劳的症状。

「何首烏」這名辭及其藥效的由來，源自中國唐朝何田兒的傳奇故事 (公元813 年) 。 唐代李翱所著《何首烏錄》一書中說，唐朝順州南河縣何田兒，天生陽痿卻嗜酒，五十八歲仍單身。有天因醉夜歸，倒臥於山野，醒來看到兩株相隔三尺藤本，二藤 相交，久乃解，且前後合解三、四次。好奇下就挖其根、曬乾研成末、和酒服用，七天後天閹痊癒，娶個曾姓寡婦，生了數男，髮鬚也變黑。兒子何延秀跟著常服， 兩人都活到一百六十歲；孫子何首烏也服用，活至一百三十歲。因他們個個鬚髮黑亮，遂把這植物名為「何首烏」，其藤稱為「夜交藤」。傳說它的生長年代愈久， 藥效愈顯著，例如一些中國藥書所記述，如長筋骨、益精髓、消炎、黑髮鬚等等；呈人形者，其效更佳；甚或有千年何首烏，服用後可長生不老的傳說。

If I had to say which single herb from these had the most "anti-aging" properties I would have to say He Shou Wu!

Read an article by 李清雲 himself! 

In the fifties, the Domestic and Foreign Magazine reported the story of a 李清雲 in Sichuan province, who died at the age of 250 in 1930. It's more then possible this is the same 李清雲 mentioned above. 

In his own account (from an interview in the 1920's) Li says, "When I was 139 years old, and before I met my Master, I could still walk and do the power walk, as if I practiced Chinese martial arts. As a result some people thought I might be a deity or an accomplished swordsman. At the time I thought it was really amusing. I think the reason that I have lived this long and am still perpetually healthy is because nothing has irritated me since I was 40 years old. Because of that, my heart is very calm, peaceful and divinely tranquil. That is why I am free from any illness, and always healthy and happy. 

At the age of fifty when I went to a mountain to collect some herbs, I met an elderly man who lived on the secluded mountain. He didn't appear to be a supernormal man, but he took big strides when he walked, as if he was flying in the air. No matter how hard I tried, I could not keep up with him. Later, I met him again. I knelt before him and begged for his secret. He gave me some wild fruits and said, "My only secret is that I only eat these fruits." I took the fruits, and found that they were Chinese Wolfberries. Since then I consumed three qian of Chinese Wolfberries daily (a qian is the weight used to measure Chinese medicine which is equal to five grams). From then on I became healthy and agile. I can walk a hundred li (a li equals half a kilometer) and not feel tired. I became better in strength and stamina than an average person."

If you notice, my passion businesses are centred with this longevity in mind. Remember and analyze the herbs involved.

You will find enlightenment.