Restore Natural Balance and Harmony By Chinese Herbs

The use of Herbs in the ancient China has history of at least 3,000 years. In 1066-771 B.C various types of Herbs had been formally recorded by written. One Herbal Medicine book written by a famous Herbalist named Li, Xi-Chen in 1518-1593 collected 1,892 herbs and 11,000 formulas. In his book which also included animal products and minerals, detailed prescribed each herb by its nature, part of used, taste, property, indication of use and dosage. Herbs listed in this book, "Ban Tsao Kang Mu", are wildly used by many people and play an important role in traditional medical therapy.

Different Herbs different action

Different types of Herbs will affect the body differently. Whether if the herb provides a better therapeutic result depends on factors such as the place of cultivated, the season of collection, the part of the plant and the method of procession. Some Herb is the flower to be used while another is the leaf has treating effect. There are Herbs which have Hot characteristics mainly use to treat Cold disease or weaken condition. There are Herbs with Cold characteristics most of which used to clear heat of the body. Some of the Herbs will promote excretion, used as diuretics, but some will retain liquid used to a dry constitution. There are Herbs that can strengthen the body and organs, while there are Herbs that will calm the spirit.
There are Herbs that will address directly the disease or the condition of the body. On the other hand, there are herbs that will exercise the defense mechanism of the body to add to the action of the "direct herbs". Alternatively the latter kinds can be used individually to increased body's immunity prior to the body is invaded by diseases.

Herbs are not only plants

The Herbs of the Oriental Medicine are not limited to the plant materials. Animal parts, shells, insets and even minerals can also be part of the formula add to the plant herbs. It is understood that the shells, minerals and stone can give an effect of sedation to clam the patient. Animal parts such as the extract of the donkey's skin, can strengthen the energy and move the blood of the body. The insects are typically used to break the blockage of Chi (energy) and the clot of blood.

Formula formed by Herbs

Most of the time the physician of Oriental Medicine prescribes not a single Herb to the patient but a formula that combines two or more herbs. There are standard formulas for the treatment of sickness, but they can be modified to accommodate the patients. Subtracting an Herb or adding different Herbs can change action of the formula dramatically. Also by adjusting the amount of individual Herb in the formula, the Herb formula can be modified to increase the strength of a Herb while decreasing the strength of the other Herb. In that way, the same formula can be used for different conditions only by adjusting the amount of the ingredients.
Utilizing different methods of preparation can modify herbal formulas further. Dry frying, frying with wine, vinegar or honey are common preparing method of the Herbs. Wine can bring the action of Herbs to the upper part of the body and will increase dispersion of the action. Vinegar provides a stringer action. Sweet can harmonize the action of strong herbs, increasing the Tonification aspect of the Herbs and protect the digestive organs.

Adverse effects

Oriental Herbs are mostly part of a plant. Due to their natural property when are used according to the dosage no obvious adverse effect are to be seen. Preparation of raw Herbs usually gives an odor that is not easily accepted by the Western patients or their family while cooking the Herbs. Nowadays, Extracts of the Herbs using modern technique to form granular or pills are wildly supplied in the market. This not only can avoid the odor but also is more comfortable and easy to take or carry.

Effective Herbal formula

Most of the formulas, especially those of the great Masters of the Oriental Medicine are still being used more than 1,000 years after they were written without any modifications or changes. The important thing is the formula will be a good one if it is balanced to have eliminated all possible interactions and has taken into consideration to benefit patients. Oriental Medicine is an ancient science and has its complexities. It stressed on "decision of treatment depending on the accurate diagnosis". Thus if a formula prescribed by a knowledgeable and experienced physician, who diagnosed the patient's condition accurately, it would give a predictive effect to the patient and clear the condition efficiently.