The Strength of Herbal Medicine
The tradition and clinical application of Chinese herbal medicine is dynamic and time tested. The first written documentation on Traditional Chinese Medicine is the HungDi NeiJing or Yellow Emperor’s Cannon of Internal Medicine. HungDi NeiJing is the oldest medical textbook in the world, how cool is that?! Different opinions date the book back to between 800 BC and 200 BC. I was first drawn to Chinese medicine and acupuncture because of this very rich herbal history.
Chinese herbal medicine uses herbal formulas that usually consist of 6 to 15 herbs. These formulas have been used for centuries to treat various illnesses from the common cold to menstrual irregularities to severe digestive complaints. Chinese herbal medicine categorizes herbs dependent on their temperature and which meridian systems they have an affinity to, similar to how the tradition approaches food, which is thought of as our first medicine. Instead of using a large dose of one herb or it’s chemical component, Chinese herbal medicine uses the herb itself in conjunction with a bunch of friends. You get small doses of a group of herbs, working together to bring you wellness.
I LOVE Chinese herbal formulas for certain complaints. You know that cough that is really junky and won’t go away? Herbs. Anything going on in the world of menstrual issues, painful periods, PMS, excessive flow. Herbs! I may have three women that come in with hot flashes and give them three different formulas because one may have loose stools, one may be constipated and one may also have headaches.
Chinese herbal medicine is strong and care should be taken when prescribing and ingesting herbs. We see a lot of trends in health news, whether it be a new food to eat or supplement to take. Many times, years later, we learn that trend didn’t do as much good as thought, or worse, because folks started taking mega doses of certain substances, harm was even done. With centuries of clinical application, we don’t have those problems with Chinese herbs. A studied practitioner will understand and prescribe an herbal formula safely. Some formulas should only be taken for a few days or weeks, while others can be safely used for months at a time.
Want to know if herbs are right for you? Click here to visit our page on herbal medicine. Want to make an herbal consult appointment? Click here to visit our booking site. Feel free to call or text us with questions: (908)237-1076.
