Chinese Medicine herbology has been an essential component of this culture's healing practices for centuries. Documented as far back as 2697 B.C., it is an ancient form of medicine trusted by Asians and now spreading throughout the world.
Chinese herbal medicine is founded on the idea that each herb has varying medicinal and energetic functions, and that the body must stay in balance in order for it to function healthfully. Combinations of Chinese herbs are used in treatment to bring the body into balance and to stimulate self-healing abilities. Traditional Chinese doctors have been experimenting with and documenting the results of these combinations, resulting in a complex pharmacological system of herbal tinctures, pills, teas and powders for the treatment of primary and secondary infections as well as serious and minor diseases. It is a holistic system of medicine that treats the mind, body and spirit through herbal combinations.
The qualities of the herbs used are broken down into different categories. First, the herbs are classified by energetic properties as either hot, cold, warm, cool or neutral. When determining what formula will work best, herbs are chosen according to these energetic qualities so that an ailment with a cold nature is treated with herbal combinations with a hot nature. Herbs are also classified by taste, falling into the following categories: sour, pungent, sweet, bitter and salty. The tastes of the herbs further isolate the medicinal properties, since each taste is related to a specific result. For example, bitter herbs are believed to be detoxifying and antibiotic in nature, helping to drain the chi (life energy force) downward while strengthening the heart and small intestine. Sweet herbs, on the other hand, are regarded as nourishing and relaxing and are used to calm and slow chi down while appeasing the stomach.
In most cases, a Chinese herbal medicine formula will be concocted of several herbs which bring the intended elements into balance, restoring proper chi flow and stimulating the body's natural ability to heal.
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The following information has been gathered and compiled over a period of years, through personal experience, while traveling, teaching classes that include T'ai Chi, Qi Gong, herbal information, martial arts and other health related subjects. |
View photo gallery of traditional Chinese medicine practices including massage, accupuncture and herbal treatments. |
