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Chinese Herbs – The Answer To Perhaps Every Ailment on Earth
chinese healing herbs and chinese medicinal herbs may seem like an
ancient and mysterious approach
to healing in the modern age, but
these techniques were developed over thousands of years. They are
very effective and take a holistic mind, body, spirit approach to
healing a variety of illnesses and maladies. Traditional chinese Medicine
(TCM) incorporates a variety of techniques with chinese unique herbs.
TCM promotes healing based on the harmonious interplay and balance
between the physical body, and the emotional, spiritual, and environmental
realms.
A Brief Overview of Traditional chinese Medicine
The history of Traditional chinese Medicine (TCM) dates back thousands
of years. The use of chinese healing herbs and their curative qualities
is one of the oldest forms of healing in human history. chinese herbs
and infertility and chinese herbs and fertility date back to 200 A.D.
where records indicate that chinese herbs were used for the treatment
of infertility and miscarriage. TCM is rooted in a philosophy that
illness is a manifestation of imbalances between the person and the
environment.
TCM uses a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Qigong
exercises that promote the flow of “Qi” (or Chi) energy
which is the “vital” universal life energy. Diagnosis
and treatment of illness is interpreted through the theory of Ying
and Yang (based on the philosophy of Daoism or Taoism) and the five
elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Ying and Yang is rooted
in the “unity” of opposites. The Ying and Yang represent
the universal laws of the dynamic relationship between “mutually
dependant” opposites that are constantly changing and in motion.
Disease or illness is diagnosed when there are imbalances in the equilibrium
of /or within these systems. Optimum health is achieved when the different
systems are in balance and harmony is restored.
How
are chinese Medicinal Herbs Used for Healing
There are more than 6,000 medicinal substances listed in the chinese
pharmacy, and about 600 chinese medicinal herbs and combinations of
herbs are currently being used in modern chinese healing. There are
chinese herbs for endometriosis, chinese herbs for scabies, and chinese
medicinal herbs for thousand of other aliments and conditions. chinese
herbs are prescribed in order to correct the Ying and Yang imbalances
in very specific combinations particular to each individual. chinese
healing herbs are classified in two major categories. The first category
defines herbs by the property of temperature: There are more than
6,000 medicinal substances listed in the chinese pharmacy, and about
600 chinese medicinal herbs and combinations of herbs are currently
being used in modern chinese healing. There are chinese herbs for
endometriosis, chinese herbs for scabies, and chinese medicinal herbs
for thousand of other aliments and conditions. chinese herbs are prescribed
in order to correct the Ying and Yang imbalances in very specific
combinations particular to each individual. chinese healing herbs
are classified in two major categories. The first category defines
herbs by the property of temperature:
- Hot (re)
- Warm (wen)
- Cold (han)
- Neutral (ping)
- Aromatic
The second category defines herbs by the property of taste:
- Sour (suan)
- Bitter (ku)
- Sweet (gan)
- Spicy (xin)
- Salty (xian)
In order to influence the body Ying and Yang energy, chinese herbs
are taken in different combinations of taste and temperature. Herbs
do not necessarily possess just one quality alone, and their effectiveness
is based largely on their use in unique combinations that are believed
to affect specific conditions or imbalances in the body. For example,
warm herbs can be mixed with cool herbs and sour herbs with salty
herbs and so on. The healing properties are only effective when the
right combination or formula of herbs is given.
How are
chinese Healing Herbs Administered
chinese herbal medicine differs from western herbal medicine in several
ways, but the most dominant difference is in the way the herbs are
combined to treat illness. In the West, a single herb or very small
combinations of herbs are used to treat illness. For instance, in
the West, St. John's Wort will be used to treat depression, Echinacea
will be used to treat a cold or flu, or Kava will be used to treat
anxiety. But these herbs are used singularly, not in the complex combinations
used by chinese herbalists. They also do not assess disorders in the
same philosophical manner based on relational imbalances of different
internal and external systems acting upon one another. chinese herbalism
and treatment is grounded in these complex formulas for treating maladies.
It is very rare for an herbalist to prescribe just one herb to treat
a condition, and most formulas will usually contain 24 or more different
combinations of herbs.
Pre-made chinese herbal formulas can easily be found today on the
internet and in Western stores and pharmacies. They are available
as pills, tablets, capsules, powders, extracts, balms, creams, and
teas, but these formulas are not as potent or effective as traditionally
prepared formulas.
Traditional preparation of herbal formulas is a process called Decoction
(Simplified chinese). Decoction is defined as the process of boiling
herbs or plants to concentrate and extract their essential properties.
The strained liquid is the decoction. chinese herbs are administered
one of two ways, with either traditional decoction or the use of granulated
herb decoctions which are highly concentrated powder extracts.
Traditional At Home Decoction
1. The herbalist pre-weighs, combines, and individually bags a patients
daily dose of herbs.
2. Patients are given individual bags of herbal formula for each day
to take home.
3. Patients boil their daily dose of herbal formulas at home for 30
to 60 minutes.
4. The decoction is consumed several times during the day, as directed
by the herbalist.
Granulated Herb Decoction Powders
1. The herbalist makes powders by preparing the herbs as a traditional
decoction.
2. The decoction is then dehydrated and the dried powder residue is
then collected.
3. The herbalist then mixes these powders together for each patient
into a custom formula.
4. The powder is given to the patient so that they can place it in
hot water to re-create the decoction at home. The original decoction's
potency remains intact, and the patient does not need to boil the
decoction at home.
Continue to : Benefits and Safety of chinese Herbs
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