Beach vitex is in flower again

Huashan Social Welfare Foundation (華山基金會) provides care for disadvantaged senior citizens living alone, many of whom suffer from insomnia and headaches. Huashan volunteers have been trying to address such health conditions by collecting the seeds of Vitex rotundifolia, a Chinese herbal medicine commonly called beach vitex. Beach vitex is known for helping to ease insomnia and headaches, so this winter, small sachets were filled with the seeds and delivered to disadvantaged elderly villagers living alone.

When rubbed on the head, the sachets release a soothing fragrance that many have found improves sleep and tinnitus issues, so seniors receiving this small gift from the Huashan volunteers were visibly touched. In the process, volunteers were able to explore the problems faced by the elderly and attempt to provide suitable assistance. Hopefully, the regional integration of resources and substantive services to improve the physical and spiritual needs of the elderly will generate a warm current of love to begin tackling the growing problem of loneliness in Taiwan's elderly population.

以下為中文對照

以關懷服務獨居弱勢老人為責的華山基金會，因鑒於所服務長者多為失眠頭痛所苦，在義工協助下採集中藥學理上治療頭疾的蔓荊種子，並縫製成香包。在今年冬季送到每位長者家中，希望藉由其成份舒緩阿公阿嬤們的失眠頭痛情形。

粽型的香包逐一送到每個獨居弱勢長者家中，除了由外角搓揉頭臉，透過其散發的氣味舒緩頭疾外，部分長者也因其功效，對舒眠與耳鳴有了改善。收到香包的長者們，普遍受到華山義工的心意所感動，發掘長者們所面臨的問題並予以協助，期望透過區域性的資源整合連結與實質的服務，改善長者的身心靈需求，為高齡化社會塑造一股暖流，也讓長者們不再孤單。

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