Chinese Herbal therapy is the most commonly used therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine which is at least 5,000 years old. More than 300 herbs are used and there are thousands of herbal formulas for every condition imaginable, in the form of Chinese herbal decoctions, herbal powders, Chinese patent formulas, syrups and liniments. Decoctions are not easy for westerners to consume therefore pills and capsules are used more often in the West.
Though it is ancient, Chinese Herbal Medicine has continually developed in response to changes in health conditions, and developments in medical diagnostic approaches and medical knowledge.
Because of its efficacy, Chinese Herbal Medicine has been the subject of rigorous research; it has influenced theory and practice of medicine in the East and has become more and more popular in the West. Research in China and Japan has discovered and documented the active ingredients that provide the health benefits of each herb. Did you know that some modern drugs have been developed from Chinese herbs as a result of this research? Treatments for asthma and hay fever have been developed from Chinese ephedra and remedies for hepatitis from schizandra fruits and liquorice roots. Even a number of anticancer agents have been developed from trees and shrubs.
The ancient Chinese did not believe that health was simply the absence of disease. They understood that health was the total wellbeing of an individual and they sought to maintain health rather than to treat symptoms. They used the concept of Yin and Yang (opposing forces that complement each other) whose balance must be maintained for optimal health. Imbalance of the Yin and Yang showed itself through symptoms and the imbalance could be identified by a practitioner based on the set of symptoms presented. Chinese Herbal Medicine and/or other treatment methods were then used to restore balance, to strengthen and enhance normal body functions, and to boost the immune system. That way vitality was boosted and the person felt better.
In America, Chinese Herbal Medicine has become very popular and more and more physicians are learning how to use them. The medicine is provided as food supplements, not drugs. Some of the herbs that are well-known in the West are:
· Ginseng.
· Gingko.
· Mushrooms.
· Wolfberry.
· Ginger.
· Liquorice.
· Cinnamon.
· Dang Gui (Chinese Angelica Root).
· Ephedra.
· Salvia
If you want to improve and maintain your health, try Chinese Herbal Medicine.
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