The Basics
of Chinese Herbal Medicine
By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac. www.Acufinder.com
* What is a Chinese
Herbal Formula?
* What is the difference between Western Herbs and Chinese
Herbs?
* Safety of Chinese Herbs
* Selection of Quality Herbs
About Chinese Herbal
Medicine
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine consists of 5,767
substances derived from plant, animal, and mineral sources.
The use of these substances can be traced back to 1,000 BC.
Over the past 3000 years, an incredibly rich and powerful
system has medicine has been created. During this time,
classical herbal formulas that are effective for many
health concerns have been developed. The herbs are
available in the form of herbal teas, liquid extracts,
tablets, capsules, granules, lotions, creams, salves, or
poultices.
What is a Chinese
Herbal Formula?
Individual substances are rarely prescribed alone in
Traditional Chinese Medicine. A carefully balanced recipe
of several different herbs is specifically tailored for
each person's entire health condition. Each herb is chosen
for its own specific functions. In addition, herbs can
enhance the strengths and reduce the side effects of each
other. The combination of substances in a formula creates a
new therapeutic agent that can treat much more effectively
and completely that a single substance.
What is the difference
between Western Herbs and Chinese Herbs?
Western Herbal Medicine tends to use one or two herbs to
treat just a specific symptom. A Chinese Herbal formula has
as many as 20 different herbs. The herbs are selected to
work synergistically to treat the whole person. In Chinese
medicine, due to our diagnostic system, we are able to
assess a persons whole constitution (the health of their
whole body) and treat the root (or cause) of a health
concern along with a branch (or the symptoms) of a health
concern. It is in this way that we are able to treat a
person's whole body and mind, rather than just a symptom.
Safety of Chinese
Herbs
One of the most appealing qualities of Chinese Herbal
Medicine is the low risk of adverse reaction or side
effects. Herbal medicine uses all the constituents of the
plant, including the cellulose. The herb is completely
balanced, and therefore has minimal side effects.
The most commonly reported adverse reaction is minor
gastrointestinal upset. Modifying the herbal formula or
adding herbs to strengthen the digestive system can remedy
this. If you do notice any side effects, please stop taking
your herbs and consult your herbalist right away.
Selection of Quality
Herbs
To be confident that the herbs that you use are of the
highest potency, quality, and safety; only use herbs from
manufacturers that are certified by the Therapeutic Goods
Administration of the Australian government as having Good
Manufacturing Practice (GMP) - a hygiene guideline even
more strict than in the United States.
Do not use endangered species (plant or animal), and
promote wildlife conservation through the use of surrogate
natural substances.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and
Drug Administration
