Chinese Herbal Medicine

Herbal Medicines is a another branch of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Acupuncture helps release blockages in the meridians, the herbal medicine help to treats the main cause of internal imbalances. Using acupuncture and herbs gives the patient a more comprehensive treatment. Chinese herbs are made up of roots, barks, stems, leaves, seeds and flowers of many plants. Some formulas also use minerals and animal products. Herbal medicines are usually taken as a formula which consisting of a combination of herbs to solve any imbalances in the body.

Herbs can be prepared in a variety of different way like pills, tablets, and decoctions (herbal tea). The pill or tablet forms are more popular in the US. The herbal tea is more used in China.

There are several different methods to classify traditional Chinese medicine:

• The Four Natures:  hot(热), warm(温), cool(凉), cold(寒) or neutral(平), in terms of temperature. Hot and warm herbs are used to treat cold diseases, while cool and cold herbs are used to treat heat diseases.
• The Five Flavors:  The Five Flavors, sometimes also translated as Five Tastes, are: acrid/pungent(辛), sweet(甘), bitter(苦), sour(酸), and salty(咸).  Pungent substances can induce sweat and act on qi and blood. Sweet flavor herbs can be supplementing, harmonizing, and moistening. bitterness drains heat, purges the bowels, and eliminates dampness. The sourness tends to be astringent(涩) in nature to relieve diarrhea and stop bleeding.
• The meridians: each herb has its special connection with meridians. For example, the Dang Gui (Angelica Rood ) apply to liver and kidney meridian which is effectively help with women’s diseases.  
• The specific function. There are more than 10 categorys to classfy Chinese herbs:

1.  heat-clearing

2.  wind-damp-dispelling

3.  promoting the movement of water and percolating dampness

4.  interior-warming

5.  qi-regulating or qi-rectifying

6.  stopping bleeding or blood-stanching

7.  quickening the Blood and dispelling stasis or blood-quickening or Blood-moving

8.  Phlegm dispelling, stopping coughing and calming wheezing

9.  Spirit-quieting[22][23] or Shen-calming.[24]

10.  calming the Liver and expelling wind[22] or Liver-calming and wind-extinguishing[23]

11.  orifice-opening[22][23]

12.  supplementing[22][23] or tonifying:[24] this includes qi-supplementing, blood-nourishing, yin-enriching, and yang-fortifying.[23]

13.  astriction-promoting[22] or securing and astringing[23]

14.  vomiting-inducing[22]

15.  substances for external application[22][23

If you interested to have Chinese herbs as your suplement for your conditions. Just set up a consultation with Melinda Tingan Li, L.Ac.