A long time ago, there was a huge cave in Kun Lun Mountain in China. Inside were millions of poisonous insects and viruses. The cave was locked by a very large stone, and was guarded by a bird with three legs. One day the bird heard a voice saying, 'You have locked us in here for thousands of years. Please let us go! Could you just open the door just a little bit, and give us some air?"
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Since the bird felt pity for them, he got the big key to the lock and opened it just a bit. Suddenly all the poisonous insects and viruses flew out into the air. |
| When the emperor heard about it, he locked the bird in jail. The viruses gave diseases to humans, endangering human life. | 
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There was a magic farmer who was watching the humans suffering from diseases and sicknesses, and he was worried. He thought there were so many kinds of plants and herbs, that there must be some to help the humans. |
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He collected many plants
that he thought could help the
humans survive and he decided to
use the plants and herbs to help
the humans, but first he had to test
them.
So, he collected many plants and herbs and began to a test them in useful ways. He closely observed the shapes of the plants and tasted their medical reactions. Some of them were sweet; some were bitter and hot. He recorded the reactions of the herbs collected. Some made you feel warmer; some made you feel cooler. |
| One time the farmer ate a poisonous plant, and fainted to death. When the emperor heard this, he sent one of his messengers to the farmer and gave him 'the medicine that wokt let you die.' | 
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The messenger also gave him a gift from the emperor. It was a magic whip that when you whip a plant, it will indicate its use and taste. |
This is the way the farmer invented the use of herbs in China.
Added to the WWW on 06/21/99
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