|
|
Chinese herbalism, also known as Chinese internal
medicine, is an important aspect of Chinese medicine. The history of
Chinese herbal medicine is believed to date back at least 5,000
years to a time when medicine was practiced by shamans.
Philosophy
Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the Taoist philosophy that
emphasizes the importance of balance in life. Herbs are used
in this system to help establish and maintain the body's internal
balance. Qi or ch'i refers to the life energy or force
which is thought to circulate throughout the body and its organs.
The energy is composed of the yin and the yang
-polarities which counterbalance each other while being in a
constant state of movement. Illness is seen as a result of imbalance
where overall blockages and deficiencies have developed in the flow
of ch'i and hence in the balance between yin and yang. These
patterns of disharmony are said to manifest in the body organs
resulting in a particular set of physical, mental and emotional
symptoms.
Herbs
Chinese herbs are drawn from a wide range of plant, mineral and
animal substances. Great care is given to the correct method of
growing, harvesting and processing of each herb to maximize its
healing properties. Chinese herbalists classify herbs
according to their nature (e.g. warming, cooling or neutral), their
taste, their appearance and their properties (e.g. dispersing,
consolidating, nourishing, or toning). Herbalists therefore believe
they understand not only how the herb may affect a symptom (e.g.
diarrheas), but also how it will address the underlying pattern of
disharmony (strengthening the spleen and clearing 'damp').
After diagnosis, the Chinese herbalist prescribes a combination
of herbs that may come in the form of powders, pills or raw herbs.
The latter are mixed specifically for the client who then makes a
decoction out of them by simmering them for between 20-40 minutes,
preferably in a traditional Chinese clay pot. Usually a few courses
of treatment over weeks or even months, are required to firmly
rebalance the body's ch'i.
Chinese herbalism is said to be suitable both for general health
maintenance and for the treatment of specific conditions.
It is particularly recommended for chronic conditions such as skin
problems, migraine, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory and
digestive disorders, arthritis, and disorders of the reproductive
system.
|
|