Homeopathy Haven

Herbal Formulas have been the chief agents of Chinese Medicine for over 4000 years. In its primary theory, the human and the natural world are considered an inseparable whole. Knowing how to work with Yin Yang, Meridians or channels, differentiation, etc., are considered essential to sustain the balance of the whole body. An herbal practitioner assists the body to unblock the circulation of energy thus supporting a natural healing. The stasis, excess or deficiency of energy will finally make the body vulnerable to “evils” or external invasions. For example: Evil heat is very similar to infection. The English word of Medicine transferred to China in the late 16th Century, without the knowledge of modern chemistry. The Chinese used the word “Chinese Medicine” and “Chinese Drug” as a way to translate or help the English speaking understand their healing methodology before there was a FDA regulation outlawing the use of Chinese/American medical terminology.

Chinese medicine is still used in most of European countries and recognized as a viable contribution to the health arts and practice. Again, the term was coined to help English and Chinese speaking medical practitioners understand, bridge and assist in the exchange of information. The goal was to never replace one another’s art but to share between methodologies. Accurately, Chinese medicine is not a chemistry form of medicine. Herbs are not pharmaceutical chemicals but therapeutic foods. In truth, if you were to explore the nutritional values in herbs and in drugs, examination would show what is apparent. There is nutritional value in herbs whereas pharmaceutical medicines are empty of nourishment that meets the criteria as a chemical.  

Two thousand years ago, Dr. Hauto, the most respected doctor of Chinese medical history declared that, ” Herb is food, food is medicine”. At that time, the English term of medicine did not exist yet. Language, sometimes, can cause problems. This is especially true when you are still learning a foreign language. The current situation is a challenging paradox for American Chinese herbologists who have to live under the standards of traditional American medical doctors while in the U.S.A. Whereas, in China, both traditional medical arts from America and China are respected, equally. In the U.S., its OK or legal for Chinese acupuncturists and herbologists to say, “Chinese Medicine heals the body, but herbs are not medicine”. This is difficult to understand when the Chinese practice of medicine has existed 4000+ years as compared to the 200 year practice of American traditional medicine.

Over time, the sharing of both medical practices will yield more trust and exchange. By and large, progress in the curative ability will increase from this combined effort and eventually the ailing will reap the reward providing genuineness and the patient’s welfare are appreciated.    

Chinese herbs and medicine is a 4000 year practice as far as recorded history (between 2100 - 1700 B.C.) goes. Most likely, Chinese herbs have been farmed, provided that humans have been in this region of the planet. The application, almost certainly, began in the pre-history of China’s populating. Given there is considerable argument here, we’ll agree, its been a long time. In general, the practice of Traditional Chinese herbal herbs fits prominently in Chinese medicine practices. In fact, if you specialize in this area alone, you could be very busy and well known for helping a lot of people. In this article, the focus will be to present Chinese herbology in its proper position and its function in this modality’s framework. The purpose of showing this order is to encourage customers to view physical conditions and their solution in a graduated process. By living in our fast paced life-style with high stress, long work hours, reduced family contact, fast food, low nutrition, reduced energy, etc., our immune system becomes extra challenged. It doesn’t come about suddenly and so the care is suggested to be at the same pace as the conditioned was entered. The exception occurs while the infirmity is urgent and life-threatening.

TAM (Traditional Asian Medicine) CARE
(Four Tiers of Asian Medicine)

1. Food Therapy
2. Herbal Therapy
3. Exercise: Tai Chi & Qi Gong
4. Acupuncture & Cupping

I. FOOD THERAPY 

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
- Hippocrates circa 431 B.C.

Traditional Chinese Medicine first employs food as a therapeutic tool. Why? Because we are very pre-occupied with food. Our stomachs will let us know that we are hungry, so most of us, unless we are imbalanced, will eat 1-6 times per day unless food is not available. Given that, we eat, its imperative to think about what we are eating due to the fact, food has a major effect on the fitness of our bodies. If we drink pop, alcohol, eat desserts, cheese, candy, red meat, bread, processed foods, etc. then guess what happens to the body? It clogs up and gains weight and we get sick. If we eat vegetables, fruit, water, fish, then what happens? We share our emotions, lose weight to balance and leanness and we can get well. The effective TAM practice will include food therapy with the knowledge of what food works best with a particular constitution. Has anyone ever pay attention to of, “You are what you eat”? What that means, is that certain foods will definitely determine the cell quality in the tissues of your body. Food, ideally, provides substance to make energy from, benefitting the cells so they can do their job. The more energy, the more capacity your cells have to do their jobs. If they are obstructed with poor choices, that fit your wants, then the result will be illness. Foods that balance your ailing constitution, are essential to re-establishing your health. Master herbalists, sophisticated in this specialty, will recommend this strategy in order to form a foundation for other traditional Asian medicine. Regardless of whatever remedial strategy, allopathic or naturopathic, treatment can be disrupted, if food remedy does not consistently accompany the therapeutic course of action. For that reason, food therapy is vital to reinstatement of your health. Though food is a more subtle remedy, its gradual nourishing effect, has the power to restore, unnoticed, only because it takes more time. Thus, when we get sick, it is difficult, to connect the dots as to how we got in that condition.

This discussion of the Four Tiers of Chinese Medicine is further covered at Longevity Mountain. For those of you who desire to know the prioritized next 3 levels, Chinese herbs, Chinese medicine exercise and Accupuncture/Cupping.  

Most of the menopause products are created based on 3 strategiess:

• a single supplement/herb wonder
• a combination of past researched supplements/herbs with an addition of the latest fad herb
• in most cases a newbie manufacturer/distributer copies another company’s product that is selling well

The result is that it is difficult for the consumer to determine what works. So how do you know what works?

Anybody can produce testimonials but long term repeatable, sustainable results are very challenging to produce. The research on the research demonstrates that women are not getting the truthful facts but rather a marketing spin to get you buy their product or one where they share in the proceeds. In most cases, the manufacturer may truely believe they have a formula that will work based on misinformation on a herb’s benefits.

The right herbs for menopause will primarily 1) raise the body’s energy, 2) nourish the blood, 3) cool the body and 4) normalize the body’s thermostat. And indirectly, because the underlying imbalance is corrected, the menopause symptoms will begin to dissapate within 2 hours.  

Most discoveries about herbs have come from Chinese herbal medicine but revealed to the American public in an incomplete manner. The American manufacturers share the info about an herb as a solution for everyone who has a particular symptom. Nevermind, all the body of Chinese medicine and theory that understands that there are different body types or constitutions that may accompany those symptoms. Menopause is a hot body type condition requiring specific emphasis on cooling the liver. 

Chinese herbs which have proven to be effective for hundreds of years on millions of patients. Most Chinese master herbalists understand that after millions of subjects there isn’t much need to research what is obvious, tried and proven. Its essential to apply the right formula to the right constitution and symptoms, not just the symptoms. In addition, in order to discern this  relationship between body constitution and herb formulation, it is essential to choose the most knowledgeable practitioner.

A Practicing Master Herbalist Knows More About Herbs Than Any Other Profession?

A seasoned master herbalist (10 years+) who works with herbs every day is the best source for herb medicine. The time element is critical to allow the practitioner to get the kinks out and test his/her knowledge. What is taught in our traditional Chinese herbs and herb medicine schools is only a beginning knowledge and needs to be tested. Better yet, graduates need long term apprenticeship before they are ready to correct imbalances with their clients. Medical doctors rely on their Physician’s Desk Reference for information on herbs which is truely a beginning base source.Rarely does one herb or two , three herb compound work for the whole public. They may work for a quarter of the population or people who have a similar constitution but not everyone. For instance, the Chinese herb, Black Cohosh, has been exposed as unsuitable for menopause. Its used for fevers.Notwithstanding, American supplement makers have discovered a method to take advantage of the half truths provided to everyone and so the tale carries on. Never mind that its short term benefits decay in 2-3 weeks.A proven improvement with other homeostatic herbs would be to ingest bupleurum.

In summary, the best choice of herbs for menopause will take into consideration the woman’s constitution or body type when constructing a formula. Additionally, herbs that have a long established record for hundreds to thousands of years must be perceived with greater preference over herbs with a minimal account. I encourage everyone to seek a seasoned source in herbal medicine. 

For thousands of years the human race has used herbs in a variety of ways. These uses can be categorized into three distinctive groups; religious, culinary and medicinal. In the following article we shall examine each of these categories in order focusing upon medical uses and essential oils.

Throughout history there have been other uses of herbs which we will not be looking at here and these include them being used as currency (instead of money), as a disinfectant and as a perfume or powerful smell to mask bad odors. Herbs originate from various parts of the globe and each race often had unusual uses for them. It is interesting to note that the Ancient Egyptians, Ancient Greek and Sumerians, the Romans all wrote about them in detail and other writings exist from Ancient India and China. We shall be focusing on modern uses.

Religious Uses Of Herbs

Herbs are still used in various religions across the globe.  Many Christians will recognize myrrh from the Nativity (myrrh is the dried sap of Commiphora myrrha). Hindus will be very familiar with the Tulsi plant, which is a form of Basil, as it is grown by many and worshipped as a Goddess. In Pagan and Wiccan religions herbs are used extensively in spells, rituals as well as for healing.

Culinary Uses of Herbs

The leaves of various plants are used in cooking but there is a distinction between leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, and a herb, such as sage, in that the latter are used in very small amounts due to their distinctive, and powerful flavor. Virtually every person in the world has benefited from the these amazing plants which are capable of lifting the blandest meal into the realms of a culinary masterpiece.

Medicinal Uses of Herbs

As well as being powerful in flavor a herb can also have a profound effect upon the human body. Some types are used as recreational drugs, such as cannabis, which can cause legal problems as they can also have useful medical properties which are still being scientifically researched.

Essential Oils

An essential oil is the concentrate extracted from a variety of plants. Essential oils are usually produced by the method known as distillation but some require a different method such as expression or solvent extraction.

Essential oils have a variety of uses, such as perfumes, bath oils, flavorings, burning (for scent) and in cleaning products. However most folk know of their use in medicine and especially in aromatherapy and other forms of alternative medicine. I use lavender oil in a variety of ways, I add it to my mixture for my oil burner to make the room smell nice but I also use about three drops in a bath when I suffer from achy legs. When my legs are very painful I massage it into the muscles but only when it is mixed with a carrier oil. As well as helping to relax the muscles it also helps me sleep more soundly.

Herbs should be handled with care as some can be extremely toxic to the human body (in large quantities). Special care should be taken if you are pregnant as something that sounds safe can be problematic, such as peppermint oil which should be avoided completely in its dilute form. However spearmint and a few other mild oils can be used but to avoid the risk of miscarriage I would avoid all herbs and essential oils unless I know for certain they are safe.

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