86 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



^ :^ (Hsiieh-ch'a) is the leaves from a rare plant growing 

 on the mountains of Lingchiangfn in Yunnan province. It is 

 said to be found within the snow limit ; hence the name, 

 "snow tea." It is very difficult to procure samples of it, and 

 it commands a high price. The plant is said to resemble the 

 tea plant in appearance, and if of the same genus, shows the 

 great range of adaptability of this plant to wide differences of 

 climate. The method of preparation is similar to that used 

 in preparing ordinary tea. This tea is considered to be warming ; 

 it being said that if a cupful is drunk on a cold day the 

 internal organs are pervaded by a sense of warmth, " as if a fire 

 had been kindled therein." Therefore it is regarded as most 

 excellent for colds. By those who spit blood, who sometimes 

 do not relish ordinary tea, this is considered to be a grateful 

 drink. It is also used for the cure of dysentery. 



^ ti^ ^ (Lo-chieh-ch'a) is named for a man of ancient 

 times, who at Changhsinghsien, on the west side of the 

 Wutung mountain, at the rear of a wayside shrine, raised 

 most excellent tea. The leaves of this variety are at their best 

 at the time of the summer solstice, and as the plant grows only 

 in mountainous districts, it is therefore held in high esteem. 

 Medicinally, it is valued most highly in the treatment of 

 pulmonary troubles and dropsy. That which comes from the 

 province of Kiangsi is considered to be inferior in quality, and 

 is only used as an aid to digestion. 



^ Pb ^ (P'u-t'o-ch'a), so called because it conies from 

 the small island of Pootoo in the Chusan archipelago, is 

 quite scarce, for the reason that a very small amount is 

 gathered. In the mountains of Tinghaihsien on the large 

 island adjoining Pootoo, quantities of it grow ; but the natives 

 do not gather it, possibly because the demand for it is small. 

 It is said to be useful in hemorrhages, as in haemoptysis or 

 dysentery. 



^^'^ (Wu-i-ch'a) is from the Wu-i hills of Fukien, from 

 the name of which is derived the foreign term Bohea. This tea, 

 when brewed, is rather dark in color, and the taste is described 

 in the Ch'a ching("tea classic") as sour (f^). It is said to 

 be peptic, carminative, and to counteract the effects of wine 

 drinking. It is also used to check dysentery. 



