Chinese Herbal Remedies Overview
The practice of Chinese Medicine dates as far back as 300 BCE. The point of reference for Chinese herbal remedies was the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic Medicine which was compiled at around that same time between 200 BCE and 100 ACE. A pharmaceutical system was established in 600 ACE.
Chinese herbal remedies were established around 3494 BCE during the era of Emperor Shen Nong. However, records on herbal discoveries weren’t put into writing until 2,000 years later. Using Chinese herbal remedies became a widespread practice approximately 5,000 years ago. It is considered to be the oldest practiced medicine anywhere in the world.
Emperor Shen Nong started the agricultural movement in China and later learned the various medicinal properties in the plants they were cultivating; there fore, he has been called the founder of Chinese herbal remedies. The discoveries were handed from generation to generation through word of mouth, until; it was finally put into writing for all future generations thousands of years later.
The Chinese herbal remedies are still being practiced today, although now all over the world. Some have even been proven by modern science as effective as a medicinal herb in treating ailments.
Chinese herbal remedies are an integral part of Chinese philosophy and spiritualism, the core of which is the attempt to define the meaning of life. It is a marriage of two basic ideas- health of body and health of soul. Shen Nong discovered nature’s opposing principles; nature and all matter are governed by two opposing yet complementary forces the “yin” and “yang”.
Chinese doctors correlate yin and yang with the five ‘elements’ (wood, fire, earth, metal and water), ten major internal organs of the body and meridians which refer to the invisible three-dimensional pathways that circulate qi and blood throughout the body. Chinese believed that the natural world and life are determined by energy that are dependent and interact with each other.
Traditional doctors who prescibe Chinese herbal remedies conduct a four-phase examination:
- Visual examination: The doctor notes the patient’s appearance particularly the tongue for color, shape and coating.
- Listening/smelling: The doctor listens to breathing and smells unusual body odors.
- Verbal questions: The doctor feels the ten organs through the abdomen, qi points along meridians and the pulse.
- Probing: The doctor feels three different pulse points on each wrist and thirty different pulses at each point.
The most popular Chinese herbal remedies that are used in the United States available in herb capsules:
Chinese Ginseng, increases stamina and is a tonic.
- Astragalus, this builds the immune system and counters effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Dong Quai, aids in production of red blood cells and bone marrow.
Chinese cinnamon bark used for different medicinal purposes.
Reishi mushroom, eliminates toxins from the body.
Schisandra, prevents fluid loss.
Chinese herbal remedies are based on a holistic philosophy of life. The purpose of Chinese herbal remedies is to restore health through correcting imbalances within the patient’s body or between the larger social community and natural order.
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Posted: September 18th, 2008 under Chinese Herb.