CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE

The Chinese have been using herbs to help maintain health and to fend off illness for centuries. With such a long and successful history, it is easy to see why so many people still follow the practices of Chinese herbal medicine today.

Taking a Look at Chinese Herbal Medicine History :-
The Chinese herbal medicine history is a long and interesting one. According to tradition, the first herbalist in Chinese herbal medicine was Shennong, who is a mythical personage. According to lore, Shennong tasted hundreds of different herbs and then shared his knowledge of which were poisonous and which were medicinal to farmers. The first Chinese herbal medicine manual was created sometime in the 1st century and contained a list of 365 different medicines, 252 of which were herbs.
Early Chinese herbal medicine publications limited specific recipes for certain ailments. Updated versions of these manuals continue to be published, all of which contain detailed information about various herbs.


Classifying Herbs within Chinese Herbal Medicine
Within the realm of Chinese herbal medicine, there are three major categories in which every herb falls. These are:

The Four Natures – based upon the concept of yin and yang and involves treating illnesses with an herb with the opposite property

The Five Tastes – based on the five tastes of sweet, pungent, bitter, sour and salty, with each taste having a different effect on the body

The Meridians - based upon the organs that the herbs are used to act upon

Understanding the uses of herbs within Chinese herbal medicine depends upon understanding different aspects of the herbs and thoughts about the herbs in a method that is different from modern medicine. With Chinese herbal medicine, a great deal of emphasis is placed on those characteristics that can be easily identified. With the five taste method, for example, taste is the only method used to determine the herb’s use. Those that are sweet are used to vitalize the blood and to bring harmony to the body. Those that are sour, on the other hand, are astringent and bitter herbs are used to help purge the bowels.

Although Chinese herbal medicine is measured to be an alternative form of medical treatment, some modern day medicines have been resulting from the herbs that have long had a place in Chinese herbal medicine history. Furthermore, millions of people have experienced success with the help of Chinese herbal medicine techniques, which means it will still be around for several years to come.

A look at Chinese herbal medicine history and some of the basic theories upon which Chinese herbal medicine has been built.
Ralph King has been contributing to leading magazines for the past 10 years. He’s also an accredited researcher on the subject for leading research institutes in the US.