Why Use Chinese Herbs?

A Proven Track Record of Effective Use

While high-quality, history, a depth and detail of accumulated knowledge, an unparalleled variety, and their comes from a rich application within asophisticated medical system. Human beings have employed plants for healing since prehistory. but the Chinese have cultivated their knowledge within a highly-developed medical system that has survived into the modern era and continues to evolve today.

Health and Balance

Chinese medicine views the body as a subtle balance of interacting energies. These energies have varying concentrations directions, affinities, and functions. Highly concentrated energy in the body takes on the form of tissue; a less corporeal form of energy in the body is qi (energy, vital force, animating principle).The natural state of the body is one of relative balance and harmony; but environmental factors, poor diet, ex treme emotions, stress, or trauma can throw off this balance and lead to illness.

An Advanced Healthcare System

All herbs in the Chinese system are categorized by temperature, flavor, action, and affinity for one or more organ channels. For example, the famous gynecological herb, dang gui (tang kuei, angelica root) is warm, both sweet and pungent, and has an affinity for the channels of the liver, spleen, and heart. Its actions are mainly upon the blood. The sweetness of dang gui is associated with its blood-nourishing action. The pun- gent flavor is associated with its action to invigorate circulation. Dang gui has the further action of moisten: ing and unblocking the bowels.

Safety

One of the hallmarks of Chinese herbology is that herbs are rarely used singly. Most herbs are combined with other herbs into a harmonious formula to address several aspects of a person's complaint-symp toms as well as root causes. When used in a formula, the actions and properties of each herb are taken into consideration. For instance, a formula that relieves cough willnot just contain a decongestant and a cough suppressant, but may also "free the chest," provide some antibacterial and/or antiviral action, help to moist- en lungs that have been dried out, protect the lung tissue, and bolster the immune system. Using herbs in combinations increases their safety and effectiveness.

Focusing on the Individual, Not Just the Illness

The Chinese herbal treatment model emphasizes the individual constitution and circumstances of the pa- tient rather than the disease itself Chinese diagnosis seeks to identify patterns of imbalance as they manifest and transform. The same disease process Can take distinct paths in different people, or even develop differ- ently in the same person at various times The Chinese herbal treatment strategy seeks to correct imbalances by clearing away excesses or supplementing deficiencies; warming what is cold; cooling or draining off what is too hot: moving what is stuck; resolving what has accumulated; eliminating invaders; or protecting an organ O bodily function.

Entire Plant Parts, Not Individual Chemicals

Chinese herbs are whole plant parts, not isolated chemicals. Traditional Chinese medicine is founded upon the principle that nature has already provided everything we require to maintain life and health, Chemi cal isolates can be too harsh, overide certain healthy physiological responses, or damage organ function Whole plant parts contain multiple constituents that perform a number of functions when taken together Some can ameliorate relative harshness, others Can support the intended action from a different angle. Whole plant parts are much more likely to support and finely tune normal physiology and immune responses.

A Safe, Wide Spectrum of Antimicrobial Action

Chinese hertbs provide superior antiviral/antimicrobial action. Modern pharmaceutical medicine provides lit- tle help for killing active viruses (emphasizing vaccinations over treatment of acute viral illness). Single-herb prescriptions, typical of Western herbology, provide a decidedly narrow scope for each herb. Chinese herb- al formulas are unique among antiviral/antimicrobial strategies because multiple ingredients, chosen to strengthen, modify, and generally compliment each other, provide a safe wide spectrum of antimicrobial action.

Assistance and Prevention

One of the most common uses of Chinese herbal formulas over the last few millennia is for tonic medicines. Any organ, tissue, and function in the body can be supported, nourished, consolidated, or supplemented to prevent illness. Over the last 2000+ years there has been extensive experimentation and observation that has contributed to the voluminous information we have acquired about how various substances can sup- port our bodies'tissues, fluids, and physiology. Chinese herbs are superior tonic medicine-the hundreds of herbs and herbal formulas that are the product of this long, rich tradition are one of the great gifts of history to the modern world.