The Chinese cabbage is cultivated in all parts of China and is gathered during the winter and spring. Its Latin name - Brassica chinensis or Brassica pekinensis (of the Cruciferae family) means "Chinese cabbage" or "Beijing cabbage".

In the archaeological excavations in the ancient village Banpo, near Xian city in China, are found Chinese cabbage seeds of more than 6000 years of age. All Chinese imperial dynasties have known and used its nutritious and flavor properties and have often praised it in treatises and poems. The famous Chinese poet Fan Chengda of Song dynasty writes that "its flavor is more delectable even than that of a lotus".

The Chinese cabbage is rich in many nutrients and is distinguished by its fresh and pleasant taste. In every 100 g Chinese cabbage there are 37 mg vitamin C, 265 mg vitamin A (200 times more than that of the common cabbage!), 140 mg calcium, 50 mg phosphorus, and also some iron, magnesium, potassium and vitamin B.

The Chinese cabbage has a sweet taste and neutral, slightly Yin energy. It enters the energy meridians of the lung, stomach and the gall bladder and benefits these organs. It cleanses the heat in the body, promotes the metabolism and urination, activates the work of the brain and the kidneys, reinforces the Yin energy in the body.

Although the energy of the Chinese cabbage is neutral, this vegetable is used mainly for symptoms of Heat and inner Fire in the body, manifested as fever, inflammations, infections, sore throat, cough with expectoration of yellowish mucus and sputum, eye infections, breast pains, ulcers, tumors and cancer diseases, difficult urination, abdominal swelling, constipation, poisoning, and others.

The Chinese cabbage can be eaten raw in salads or cooked into various ways. It is also commonly used for stuffing in dumplings, steamed buns, in soups or in the form of juice.

In cases of inner Heat of the lungs and stomach, thirst and cough due to Heat in the lungs, can be taken Chinese cabbage - raw or boiled in soup - together with turnips. It also can be made into juice stirred with 1 spoon of honey.

The scientific research shows that freshly made Chinese cabbage juice can treat poisoning of gas and other chemical toxins and help in cancer diseases.