We have
discovered and inherited a list of useful remedies but the modern medical tool
kit happens to be woefully deficient. We
also have an assemblage of additional herbals available to us from other parts
of the world which could benefit hugely from the Chinese approach.
Our western
approach halts at the herb itself.
The Chinese
approach worked up an excellent protocol of applying the herb to (A) target the
disease, (B) applying an additional herb or ingredient to modify secondary
symptoms such as fever, (C) applying an agent to balance the effects and
eliminate toxins, and (D) an agent able to deliver the result to the target
area.
This all screams
a very sophisticated scientific tradition that we have largely lost and need to
replace. It is also an excellent
pharmaceutical research protocol that we need to teach and apply with the many
new tools we have created and often failed to work well.
For example I
know that a whole line of new drugs where withdrawn from the market some years
back. Their unexpected side effect was
to induce heart attack symptoms. I also
know that this side effect was neatly and immediately neutralized by the simple
addition of a certain type of ginseng which rebalances the blood. Thus the active ingredient which may still be
important could actually be salvaged.
This is in fact
a very powerful pharmaceutical discovery that needs to be addressed.
5
Things About Chinese Herbal Medicine That Will Impress You
Are
you intrigued by Chinese medicine’s profound philosophy, but don’t have much of a grasp on what it’s
all about? Here’s a quick guide to what lies behind one major aspects of
Chinese medicine: Chinese herbal medicine.
What is Chinese herbal medicine? Just herbs?
As the name suggests,
herbs are the main ingredient in Chinese herbal medicine. Indeed, Chinese herbology
recognizes more than 3,200 different types of herbs. Some prominent
examples are ginseng and astragalus (root is used).
But that’s not all.
Chinese herbal medicine also utilizes a slightly less mind-numbing 300
different minerals, insects, sea-creatures, and animal extracts. Cinnabar
(ore of mercury), silkworm, seahorse, and rhinoceros horn, are some examples.
The different herb and
non-herb ingredients are often combined as formulas, of which there are more
than 400 widely known permutations.
So it’s the chemical properties of the herbs that are important,
right?
Like Western medication
and vitamins, Chinese herbs are chemical agents with illness-treating
properties.
But the chemical
component of Chinese herbs is not the sole consideration for an effective
treatment. Rather, the level of energy
output of each formula that goes toward restoring the body’s yin-yang balance
is the key determinant.
[ This is actually a sound
idea. The problem the body faces is one
of internal system balance and its
maintenance. Regressing that should be
the first priority always. – arclein ]
With so many herbs and ingredients, how do they know which to
combine?
In most cases, four
types of herbs are included in the formula, categorized as: “emperor,”
“minister,” “assistant,” and “ambassador.” There can be more than one of herb
of each type.
These herbs are not
casually termed. The “emperor” targets an illness’ main symptoms and underlying
causes, while the “minister” treats the accompanying symptoms and their
underlying causes. The “assistant” harmonizes the formula and eliminates
possible toxins and side effects. Finally, the “ambassador” is there to get the
formula to the afflicted meridians and organs.
Before being
administered to a patient, these four herb types are made into a decoction
(medicinal liquid) or capsule and pill variant. After that, like a proper,
functioning bureaucracy, these herbs perform their own roles, and combine for
efficient “governance” of illnesses.
[ This is still far superior to our present practice which stops
after throwing an ‘emperor’ at the victim and then just allowing it to work or
not and allowing the body to figure out how to handle side effects on its own –
arclein ]
Is it so different from a regular health supplement I can buy
off the shelf?
For those who want to
self-medicate, STOP.
Chinese herbal medicine
is uniquely tailored to the illness. If a trained Chinese physician does a
proper assessment and gives the right prescription, Chinese herbal medicine has
minimum side effects, if any.
However, consume the
“wrong” herb at the “wrong” time, and Chinese herbal medicine can be harmful.
Take the herb,
astragalus, as an example. On its own, astragalus is excellent for boosting
one’s immunity and helping prevent bacteria and viral infections. Yet if one
has high blood pressure or high fever, astragalus should be avoided as it would
instead cause one to develop acute infections.
So how does a doctor of Chinese medicine know what to prescribe?
First, the diagnosis: A
patient states his/her illness symptoms, then the Chinese physician ascertains
the problem using techniques such as pulse and tongue reading, for example.
The physician will also
attempt to determine the emotional state of the patient, since Chinese medicine
acknowledges the link between mind and body in the occurrence of illnesses.
Finally, after the
determining the level of yin-yang and qi (vital energy) imbalance, the
physician will formulate an individualized remedy.
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