Chinese Herbal Centre. Hertford, England
Image taken on 2007-08-24 22:59:14 by Steve_C.
Image taken on 2007-08-24 22:59:14 by Steve_C.
Chinese herbal medicine is a health care system which has been around since ancient times. It is also known by the acronym CHM. As the causes of illness that afflict mankind have evolved in time, CHM has also undergone developments continuously. Along with modern medicine, state hospitals in China use herbal medicine for various ailments and diseases.
All forms of diseases can be treated by Chinese herbal medicine. The traditional view in Chinese herbal medical system is to prevent diseases before they occur.
The majority of the world population uses Chinese herbal medicine since ancient times and it still is the most extensively used medical system. In comparison to commonly produced pharmaceutical drugs, chinese herbal medicine rarely gives an adverse reaction.
Depending upon the disease’s severity the duration of the medication is expanded to get the best results and cure. Allergies, digestive disorders, respiratory conditions pertaining to respiratory tracks, immune system disorders, pain, problems due to psychological disorders, children’s diseases and gynecological problems can be effectively treated using Chinese herbal medicines.
People of all ages and constitution can take Chinese herbal medical treatment. Symptoms of current illness and previous history will be taken into consideration by the practitioner before prescribing the medicine. Even pregnant women and children can be given treatment using Chinese herbal medicines.
Traditional and modern versions of Chinese herbal medicines are available in number of formats. At first the unusual taste of the herbal medicine will be difficult to adjust to, but quickly the patients will get used to the taste. Chinese herbal treatment does not have any standard price structure. Nowadays many health insurance companies are covering herbal treatment too.
Colonic dialysis therapy is a form of treatment in Chinese herbal medicine which enables the body to eliminate toxins effectively and quickly and helps to overcome addictions.
PLA Institute of Drug Dependence Treatment and Rehabilitation is doing research to observe the effects of using colonic dialysis therapy in persons addicted to heroin and to find out whether this treatment can help them abstain from the craving for heroin.
An evaluation of an ancient Chinese remedy for dermatitis was done by doctors at the Royal Free Hospital in London. A mixture of 10 herbs was prescribed to a group of forty adult patients with longstanding and widespread atopic dermatitis in a trial which lasted 5 months. Over an eight week period each patient was randomly allocated to receive either the herbal remedy or a similar tasting placebo. This was followed by a four week wash-out period. 31 patients completed the study and showed a continued and rapid improvement in the extent of redness of skin (erythema) and surface damage during the time they were taking the prescribed Chinese herbal medicine. The research concluded that the remedy is effective in treating adult atopic dermatitis.
Find more info at http://www.onlinepharmacyresource.info
Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. Find more articles here. For more info visit CHM or Herbal Remedies
Welcome to Boston Alternative Health! Be sure to visit www.bostonalternativehealth.com for more infchinese herbalupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine services, and feel free to contact Rebecca Ong-Sutherland if you have any questions (contact info at website).
This form of treatment has been made use of for a far longer period of time than most people realize. It originated many centuries ago, but it has only become properly recognized in many western societies within the last few years. This form of treatment is where herbs and plants are used to provide the body with support in order to combat many adverse states. The adverse states can be divided into different types according to the energies that are affected by this state and different plants and herbs can be used to treat each adverse condition depending on what type of energy is affected or is causing the adverse state.
Each herb and plant that is used can have a different energy and this can determine which of the herbs can be most effective when attempting to combat the adverse condition of the body. There are four energies within the body and they are classified according to their heat, there are cold energies and hot energies as well as warm energies and cool energies. The exact symptoms of a disruption of the body’s energies can depend greatly on which is the energies has been affected. The plants that are used are typically of the opposite heat to the energy that is being disrupted or is the cause of the disruption.
There are many herbs that are used as part of a mixed selection of herbs in Chinese herbalism where there is one primary herb and other subordinate herbs that can help to provide support for the primary herb. There are many different ways in which a selection of different herbs can react to one another. It is these reactions that determine which herbs should be used in a selection together since a positive reaction between the herbs can provide the body with a range of benefits especially helping to provide support the immune system and help to rebalance the energies within your body. Some herbs may have negative reactions when used together so herbalists need to train for many years to have sufficient knowledge of herbs so that they can be aware of what reaction will occur when using particular herbs together.
This form of treatment is guided by the Chinese philosophies of health and philosophies regarding the body. This influences how problems within the body are dealt with and what manner of treatment can produce the greatest results as well as what ingredients are best to use in any given situation or condition. According to health philosophy the body has three physical components and two non-physical components, blood, Qi and moisture are the three physical components while Spirit and essence are the two non-physical components. It is the interaction of these five components that have such a large impact on the health of the body.
The selection of each herb to be used in the treatment of a particular ailment is largely influenced by which of the components in the body is affected as well as which energies within the body are effected. There are some plants and herbs that may have a beneficial effect on the energy being affected but have a negative effect on the component being affected. Therefore all ingredients to be used in a course of Chinese herbalism must be checked to ensure that they provide beneficial effects for both the components and the energies within the body.
All chinese herbal information has been researched and written by Juliette Pickup.
Many people are unaware of what the difference between a herb and a plant which can make them a little confused as to which plants can be viewed as herbs and within that which can be viewed as Chinese herbs. A herb is a plant or a part of a plant that is either used or prized for its aromatic or savory properties or for its medicinal properties. The herbs that are seen as being Chinese herbs have increased as the traditional medicine has become more and more widely used in Western society. This has lead to a greater range of different herbs and plants being used in the creation of herbal products, particularly herbal supplements, although they are still created using the same health philosophies. This has lead to an increased amount of different benefits being made available to those people who wish to take advantage of the increased availability of herbal supplements that are created in line with those traditional herb use philosophies.
There are also different variations available of herbs that have been used traditionally that are available to use in combination with the traditional herbs such as ginseng which now has American ginseng being used in addition to traditional ginseng. This is also true of many other herbs and groups of plants that have been in use as part of traditional chinese herbal treatment. This means that people are gaining access to range of different plants and herbs that can provide different benefits within the body and can help provide support for your health. The different types of herbs and plants that are used in the formulation of the herbal supplements can help to provide a range of different benefits for the person that makes use of them. The inclusion of alternate herbs and plants into traditional recipes that have been used for many years has lead to the creation of improved formulations. These improved formulations can result in more potent effects within the body or a wider range of benefits for the health depending on how the formulation has been improved.
There are some formulations where the traditional plants or herbs have been replaced by their modern counterparts if the counterparts are found to be more effective or potent. These formulas are created so that they maintain the use of traditional Chinese medical philosophies and knowledge gathered through many years This is very evident in some of the formulas that previously included plants that are now far harder to obtain than previously and as such the more effective and available western equivalents have been inserted into the formulation as replacements. There are also Chinese herbs that are use in herbal supplements alongside the modern or Western equivalent where making use of both types can lead to a supplement of increased potency. This can also help to provide a wider range of effects that may prove to be able to provide benefits to a larger range of people.
All Chinese herbal products information has been researched and written by Juliette Pickup.
“Sciatica and low back pain are the most prevalent conditions I treat,” reported Colleen Blacklock, an acupuncturist and expert on Chinese herbal formulas. At her acupuncture clinic, she inserts needles into acupuncture points in the arms and legs to provide instant relief for chronic sciatica sufferers.
To aid recovery and healing, she prescribes a Chinese herbal formula that naturally increases blood circulation and address the pain, rather than masking the pain with traditional medications like painkillers. “They can give a false sense of relief and create more problems,” she said, emphasizing why a more natural approach is necessary.
Are you thinking of creating a chinese herbal formula at home? It is really very cost efficient and easy to do once you have the basics down! Trade in those expensive cold medicines for a home brewed echinacea elixir! Before you begin concocting a herbal formula on your own, a visit to a herbalist is always a good idea to determine your individual needs.
The best container for making your Chinese herbal formula is preferably ceramic (but glass is ok too). You should avoid cast iron or metals because some herbs create chemical reactions with those materials. Your teapot should also have a lid, which you should never lift while cooking, as it can allow the vital healing properties to escape. In ancient times, the preferred water used came from a spring, although today you can fill your pot with whatever you prefer.
Cook times for your Chinese herbal formulas will vary depending on what’s in the pot. The average cook time is 20-30 minutes, and aromatics like peppermint or lemon balm should only be steeped 5 minutes. Herbs like burdock or echinacea should be cooked no longer than 15 minutes. Chinese tonic herbs like licorice, ginger or ginseng may require up to 50 minutes of simmering.
After you finish cooking, strain the tea and try some. Some people find the initial brewing of their Chinese herbal formulas unpalatable, in which case they should try adding more water (or a drop of honey if absolutely necessary) before nixing the whole brew. While the taste may be shocking at first, you’ll find that the body will warm up to it over time.
Some of their medicine books recommend putting your tea in for a second steeping. The first steeping will affect energy/Qi levels, while the second steeping offers effects on the blood level. You can even split the batch in half, putting one half in for a second steeping to combine both effects.
You may feel like a mad scientist at first, just throwing all these things together. But isn’t that what cooking and culinary sciences are all about?
At the end of the day, you’ll be ingesting less toxins, less free radicals and improving the body’s natural processes through natural medicines. You’ll feel more invigorated, more relaxed and more balanced. This is what Chinese herbal formulas are all about!
A whole world of information about chinese herbal formulas eagerly awaits you from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our oriental medicine blog.
Herbal Remedies are an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. (TCM). Chinese Medicine has been used as front line medicine by the majority of the worlds population since before recorded history, and is still the most widely utilised medical system in the world today. Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is an ancient system of health care that has undergone continual development over the centuries as the causes of illness that afflict mankind have evolved. Chinese Medicine is a complete medical system that is capable of treating disease in all its forms. Although your practitioner will treat whatever complaint you have come for.
The traditional view places great importance on preventing disease before it occurs. Chinese medicine is successfully used for a very wide range of conditions. Chinese herbal medicine is not based on conventional Western concepts of medical diagnosis and treatment. Chinese herbal medicine uses a variety of herbs, in different combinations, to restore balance to the body (see Astragalus, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Green Tea, and Siberian Ginseng). Herbal preparations are said to prevent and treat hormone disturbances, infections, breathing disorders, and a vast number of other ailments and diseases.
Some practitioners claim herbs have the power to prevent and treat a variety of cancers. In China, there are over 3,200 herbs, 300 mineral and animal extracts, and over 400 formulas used. Herbal formulations may accord of 4 to 12 different ingredients, to be taken in the form of teas, powders, pills, tinctures, or syrups. chinese herbal remedies are made up of one or two herbs that are said to have the greatest effect on major aspects of the problem being treated. The other herbs in the formula treat minor aspects of the problem, direct the formula to specific parts of the body, and help the other herbs work more efficiently.
Nourishing and harmonising herbal remedies serve as excellent tonics, strengthening those weakened by stress, overwork, serious illness, childbirth, menopause or poor diet and irregular eating. They also advance the smooth flow of energy, fluids and blood and thus reduce pain and congestion. Herbs with a cooling action can counteract fevers, night sweating, hot flushes and other signs of overheating. Many Chinese herbs are sold individually and in formulas. In the United States, Chinese herbs and herbal formulas may be purchased in health food stores, some pharmacies, and from herbal medicine practitioners.
Juliet Cohen writes articles for Health Problems. She also writes articles for Stye and Sunburn Treatment.
Possibly that trip to the corner coffee house has more benefits than just the immediate wakeup call. I bet you never thought of coffee as an herbal medicine, but there is more to coffee bean than meets the eye.
Although coffee has recently come under fire, there are many benefits to ingesting this herbal medicine in moderation. Terry Graham, Chairman of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, is a coffee researcher and says, “Coffee is a complex beverage with hundreds, if not thousands, of bioactive ingredients, a cup of coffee is 2% caffeine, 98% other stuff.” People seem to forget that the coffee bean is an herb. Indeed, the coffee pmedicinal herbs the Rubiaceae family, which is a source of several different Chinese medicinal herbs, including: gardenia fruit, oldenlandia, morinda, rubia, and uncaria. The effects of this herbal medicine were well known by 1908 when the Indian Materia Medica was published. Towards the end of the 19th century, coffee did make its way to China, where it can now be found in every major city. Furthermore, China is already exporting coffee and is poised to become a major presence in the coffee-growing industry.
At the proper dosages, the coffee bean has the ability to improve health in several ways. Drinking coffee can increase cardiovascular health and lower the risk of colon cancer, gallstones, cirrhosis, and Parkinson’s disease (Dharmananda 2003). A typical dosage for this type of herbal medicine is in the range of 6-18 grams per day, which translates to about 1-3 cups of coffee, depending on how many grams of ground beans are used. Roasting the coffee beans does not detract from the beneficial effects of this herb
The primary active substances in the coffee bean are chlorogenic and caffeic acids. These substances have been shown to have anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects. No wonder those local Starbucks have become our favorite pit stops. Furthermore, these compounds are important components of vegetables, fruits, and many culinary herbs and are thought to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Another potential beneficial effect of these herbal medicine substances is to regulate blood sugar levels by reducing the absorption of glucose (thus reducing blood glucose levels). Coffee also contains antioxidant phenols that can reduce the risk of cancer.
There have been case studies done to examine the effect of long-term coffee drinking on type 2 diabetes mellitus, and it has been found that, “… long-term coffee consumption is associated with a statistically significantly lower risk for type 2 diabetes,” (Salazar-Martinez E et al. 2004). This study by Salazar-Martinez et al. took into consideration age, body mass index, as well as other risk factors to ensure accurate results. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated more with behavioral and lifestyle choices than necessarily with genetics and can be brought on by obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity.
Coffee, like any other potent herbal medicine, is not necessarily for everyone, as some people may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine or another of the ingredients present in coffee, such as potassium, niacin, magnesium, and tocopherols . However, coffee has proven to be safe for the majority of people when consumed in reasonable amounts. So start your day guilt-free with a freshly brewed cup of herbal chlorogenics, drink up and enjoy.
References:
Ann Intern Med. 2004; 140: 1-8.
Cathy Margolin is a Licensed Acupuncturist and consumer health advocate with a passion for teaching people how to improve their health through the use of Chinese herbal formulas. She enjoys impacting the lives of readers around the world who haven?t yet experienced the phenomenal health benefits from the ancchinese herbal Chinese herbal medicine. She currently maintains an Acupuncture & Chinese herbal medicine practice, writes herbal formulas for her patients and works at PACHerbs.com.
The Chinese have been using herbs to battle disease for thousands of years and unlike most countries, the Chinese tested all of the herbs that they use on themselves rather than on animals. Basically it was a process that took many years of trial and error to get to the point of recognition that Chinese herbs have today. Over the years the Chinese were able to come up with some very effective herbal cures for many ailments. To this day, many are still used on a global scale and are referred to as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
The Chinese believe that the human body has to be balanced and when the balances are broken problems will arise. Chinese herbs are believed to adjust and align when used in combination to create an unbroken balance. This is probably why using Chinese herbs will create a perfect balance within the body while never affecting our normal body functions at all. What I found to be amazing about chinese herbal cures, is that one can mix multiple herbs together to create a perfect recipe for just about any disease or ailment. This unique asset makes Chinese herbs a first pick for many who embrace the idea of mixing only herbs that address individual symptoms precisely. Chinese herbs allow you to basically control your own health effectively without the hassles of prescriptions, expensive doctor’s visits, and more importantly, no ill side effects.
Compare the use of Western medicine to Chinese herbal medicine to treat depression and anxiety. Western medicine will treat depression and anxiety with pharmaceutical drugs more than nine out of ten times. Why? Well, it will alter the brains chemistry and make everything appear to be alright again while restoring a sense of normalcy to that person. There are side effects when these drugs are taken but many know no other way. In Chinese herbal medicine this disorder is not viewed as a mental condition at all, but rather as a condition of the chest where a feeling of agitation is present. Chinese treatments will state that push ups, yoga techniques, boxing, and breathing exercises will do for you exactly what Prozac will without the side effects.
Combining these treatments with some of the Chinese herbs that are available will ensure even further success. Try mixing Chai hu with a hint of mint as the best way to free up the gi of the chest. This has been known to work for so many years that it is hard to argue with the results. It is no wonder why Chinese herbal cures are still used and respected to this day.
Shannon Pollock has been teaching people about natural health remedies for many years. She is a specialist with experience in herbal remedies for both people and animals.
For more information on Chinese herbal cures, as well as other natural health related topics, visit Shannon’s website called Natural Health Remedies and More
Dr. Ting Hung-Leung, Hong Kong’s deputy director for Traditional Chinese Medicine, commented: “The problem in 1997 was we had over 7,000 practitioners of herbal and Traditional Chinese Medicine and anyone could call themselves TCM practitioners.” Now rigid licensing and educational standards have made the study more acceptable to Western standards.
As a result, Chinese herbal medicine and clinics offering acupuncture treatment are opening up in many American medical schools and the ancient treatments are being tested in laboratories for effectiveness. Researchers and patients alike are surprised at the results.
Did you know that emphysema can even be treated by chinese herbal therapy? First, patients should consider what their diets include. Do’s include: protein (fish, eggs, lean meats), nuts, seeds, legumes, fiber-rich vegetables and soy. Don’ts include: complex carbohydrates, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, simple sugars and things ending in “-ose.”
Never skip meals, but rather eat small meals throughout the day and have a small snack before bed. The most important Chinese herbal remedy is brewer’s yeast, which stabilizes blood sugar levels.
Chromium picolinate is also necessary for optimal insulin activity. Pacreatin and proteolytic enzymes aid in digestion. Zinc helps control appropriate insulin release. Glutamine will reduce sugar cravings. Many people with hypoglycemia are found to be lacking certain essentials: manganese and vitamin C with bioflavonoids.
Doctors also recommend herbal teas with burdock, dandelion or licorice to stabilize blood sugar levels. Ohiopogon is a powerful tonic that strengthens the lungs and heart and should be taken twice daily, 6 grams at a time. Check with a specialist to see what options are best for you.
“I think acceptance by the mainstream medicine is getting better and better,”said Che Chun Tao, professor and director of the School of Chinese Medicine at Chinese University. “I can tell you, before 1997 there were no doctors in hospitals who were willing to touch any herbal materials in clinical trials, but now there’s quite a number of clinical trials going on and there’s better acceptance from medical doctors.
I believe a combination of traditional Chinese medicine together with western medicine is needed for treating serious diseases and it’s important to offer a choice for patients and the general public,” he said. Currently, clinical trials for Chinese herbal extracts are being tested all around the world to cure some of the world’s most serious diseases.
“If you are taking herbs without experiencing any results after a week or two, then perhaps your formula needs to be changed, unhealthy foods eliminated from your diet, or other changes made,” says Jiang Wind Xiao, one Chinese herbal exhibitor.
“If you are being told to take herbs for long periods of time without seeing any benefits, or are experiencing side effects, then perhaps you need to see another practitioner.” Pharmaceuticals should still be used for emergencies, but for long term care Chinese herbal remedies work best.
A whole world of information about chinese herbal medicine eagerly awaits you from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our oriental medicine blog.