Plants and animals help keep the soil fertile. Plant roots tunnel through the soil and break it up, and decaying plants form humus. Burrowing animals mix the soil; the excrete of animals contribute nutrients and improve soil structure.
Chinese medicine is a system of medicine partly based on the idea that an energy, called qi (say chee), flows along pathways in the body called meridians. In this belief, if the flow of qi along these meridians is blocked or unbalanced, illness can occur.
In traditional Chinese medicine, some people rely on an herbal formula known as xiao yao wan for help in enhancing mood, reducing stress, and addressing a number of common health conditions. Also referred to as xiaoyaosan, xiao yao wan contains a variety of herbs and is available in dietary supplement form.