The Nine Great Immortal Herbs are nine precious tonic medicinal materials recorded in ancient texts

The Nine Great Immortal Herbs is a collective name for nine traditional precious tonic medicinal materials, said to originate from the Tang Dynasty Taoist text "Daozang" (the Taoist Canon). These medicinal materials got their name because they were regarded in ancient times as treasures for preserving health and prolonging life; although the name carries a mythical flavor, they are in fact all real animals, plants, or fungi used as medicine.

According to the more widely circulated account, the Nine Great Immortal Herbs include Dendrobium officinale (tiepi shihu), Tianshan snow lotus, three-liang ginseng, 120-year-old fleeceflower root, 60-year poria, deep-mountain lingzhi, sea pearl, cordyceps, and cistanche. Among them, Dendrobium officinale ranks first and is often used to make tea or soup; ginseng, lingzhi, and fleeceflower root are also tonic Chinese medicinal herbs that the general public is relatively familiar with.

Most of these medicinal materials grow in special environments; for example, Tianshan snow lotus grows in high, cold mountain areas, cordyceps is produced in plateau meadows, and poria is a fungus parasitic on pine roots. Some varieties have now been artificially cultivated; for instance, Dendrobium officinale and lingzhi can be grown as potted plants, which are both ornamental and edible, and in daily life some people also use them to steep in water as a tea substitute.

It should be noted that the name "immortal herb" reflects more the admiration of the ancients and does not mean it can cure all diseases. Each type of medicinal material has its own suitable groups of people and methods of use; before consumption it is best to consult a professional, and when purchasing, one should also pay attention to distinguishing authenticity, giving priority to regular channels and artificially cultivated sources.