There is a type of “herb” that is the “nemesis” of schizophrenia. When used properly, it can eliminate hallucinations and delusions from the mind, with 99 out of 100 people being able to recover, and it has rarely failed in 40 years!
This miraculous “herb” is Shi Chang Pu (Acorus calamus).
Shi Chang Pu grows in mountain streams and thrives by the creek. Having survived the erosion of rivers, it continues to grow vigorously, showcasing its strong vitality.
Moreover, throughout the ages, medical practitioners have discovered that Shi Chang Pu has significant medicinal value. The “Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic” has recorded that Shi Chang Pu “opens the orifices, nourishes the five internal organs, unblocks the nine orifices, sharpens the senses, and produces sound. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents forgetfulness and confusion, prolongs life, enhances mental clarity, and maintains youthful vitality.”
In other words, Shi Chang Pu not only helps to clear meridians and nourish the internal organs, but it also sharpens the mind and enhances acuity. After a period of use, it helps the body shed the burdens of lethargy, improves memory, enhances longevity, and boosts one’s spirit.
Because of these benefits, ancient people referred to Shi Chang Pu as “immortal grass,” elevating its value to an extraordinary degree. However, from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, Shi Chang Pu indeed possesses high medicinal value.
When it comes to nourishing the brain and awakening the spirit, Shi Chang Pu is truly a standout in treating mental disorders.
Although Shi Chang Pu grows by mountain streams, its medicinal properties are slightly warm, capable of tonifying the heart yang. It enters the body like a ray of sunlight, unblocking the meridians, dispelling internal cold, phlegm, and dampness. As the saying goes, “the heart houses the spirit;” when the heart yang is replenished, the spirit becomes calm, naturally dispelling hallucinations and fantasies.
Given Shi Chang Pu’s significant effects on treating schizophrenia, how should it be used specifically?
1. Brewed as tea
Slice Shi Chang Pu and wrap it in clean gauze to make a tea bag. Boil with hot water and drink as tea, which can alleviate anxiety and depressive emotions, promoting mental clarity. However, Shi Chang Pu tea has a bitter taste; if difficult to accept, one can add an appropriate amount of honey or brown sugar to suit personal taste.
2. As a medicinal ingredient
Shi Chang Pu’s medicinal value is high and is often used in formulas with other common medicinal ingredients.
For instance, I had a schizophrenia patient in my clinic. At the age of 43, after a business failure and accumulating debts, his family fell apart. Unable to accept such a significant change, he became mentally distressed, gradually experiencing hallucinations and always hearing voices threatening him to repay debts.
Additionally, he displayed symptoms like talking to himself, paranoid delusions, emotional instability, insomnia, and general weakness. When he came to see me, I observed that his tongue was coated with a white, greasy substance, and his pulse was wiry and slippery—conditions caused by phlegm stagnation affecting his body and disturbing the clear orifices.
In this situation, using Shi Chang Pu to eliminate phlegm and awaken the mind was perfectly suitable, so I wrote a prescription:
Shi Chang Pu, Turmeric, Poria, Bamboo Shavings, Sour Jujube Seed, Pinellia, Bitter Orange, and Polygala.
This prescription can quickly eliminate phlegm and help the patient regain mental clarity. During the treatment period, I also prescribed a certain dosage of Shi Chang Pu for him to brew as tea, assisting in a faster recovery from his condition.
After two treatment courses, the patient’s hallucinations and delusions…
