Many people cannot distinguish between cliff pine and cliff cypress, thinking they are the same thing. But I'm here to tell you that they are not. Today, I will teach you how to correctly differentiate between cliff pine and cliff cypress, as well as the medicinal applications of cliff pine!
Differentiating Cliff Pine and Cliff Cypress
1. Taste
This is the most effective way to distinguish between them. If you cannot tell from their appearance, try tasting them. Cliff cypress has a cypress smell, while cliff pine will always have the smell of pine, regardless of how aged it is. This cannot be changed!
2. Texture
Cliff cypress has various textures such as Bodhisattva cloud pattern, tiger skin pattern, ink pattern, etc. Cliff pine does not have such vibrant textures. Any claims of cliff pine having Bodhisattva cloud pattern are false!
3. Fineness
In terms of the quality of the wood, cliff cypress has a very fine texture, while cliff pine is not as fine. The "coarse silk" texture of cliff pine is rougher. The texture is also not as fine as hair strands like cliff cypress.
Medicinal Uses of Cliff Pine
Cliff pine is used to clear heat and detoxify. It is effective for treating hot and toxic abscesses, erysipelas, orchitis, burns, damp sores, bacterial dysentery, and amoebic dysentery.
Application of Cliff Pine
1. For treating erysipelas in children: Take 15g of cliff pine, and 9g each of honeysuckle flower, forsythia, isatis leaf, dandelion, moutan bark, red peony, and rhubarb. Boil in water and drink.
2. For treating orchitis: Use an appropriate amount of cliff pine. Grind it into a paste and apply externally.
