Shamanic Exorcism, Botanical Pharmacology, or Both?
A child from Wuyi Mountain fell mysteriously ill, and soon three other children followed their friend into derium —flushed faces, trembling limbs, burning like fire. Desperate, the elders summoned Shan Xian, a shaman living over thirty miles away. When he arrived, clad in a black robe with a peach wood sword on his back, the villagers greeted him with reverence and a feast.
At dawn, Shan Xian sent a man to gather wild Ai Yi /mugwort and Shi Chang Pu/ Acorus calamus from the mountain. By nightfall, his ritual began. Chanting incantations, burning incense, and worshiping unseen gods, he declared the Eight Immortals would descend to vanquish the demon fox. The room plunged into darkness as lamps were snuffed out. In the pitch black, talismans on the children's foreheads began to glow faintly, revealing eerie images of the Eight Immortals.
Half an hour later, the children's cries fell silent. Shan Xian ordered the lamps relit, revealing the children asleep, their faces calm. The glowing talismans were now lifeless, leaving only faint traces of red sand. Astonished, the villagers hailed him as a "Bodhisattva of Salvation."
Ignoring their praise, Shan Xian burned the talismans, mixed the ashes with water, and had the parents feed it to their children. Within another half hour, the fevers broke, and the trembling ceased. The children awoke, healed as if touched by divine hands. The villagers stood in awe, their gratitude overflowing toward the enigmatic and powerful shaman.
Antifungal and Antibacterial Attributes
Shi Chang Pu (Acorus tatarinowii):
Antibacterial: Contains asarones, effective against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and other pathogens by disrupting microbial cell membranes.
Antifungal: Inhibits fungi like Candida albicans through volatile oils.
Supports Recovery: Clears phlegm, enhances circulation, and boosts immunity.
Mugwort (Artemisia argyi):
Antibacterial: Essential oils (cineole, camphor) target bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Helicobacter pylori.
Antifungal: Addresses fungal overgrowth by weakening cell walls and clearing dampness.
Supports Recovery: Warms the body, resolves dampness, and aids immune function.
Role in Infection Recovery
these herbs can:
Enhance immune defenses.
Clear dampness and toxins that harbor infections.
Support respiratory and digestive health.
Be used in teas, topical applications, or moxibustion.
It is possible that the healing attributed to spiritual powers in traditional use was, in fact, the direct result of the potent antibacterial and antifungal properties of these herbs.
Early depiction of Chinese shamanistic rituals