July 13, 2009
How many sleepless nights have you suffered through already? You’ve tried changing your sleep habit schedule, drinking less coffee, working out in the mornings, but it still doesn’t help your brain shut off at night. Sleep aids and prescription medicines work, but usually leave you feeling groggy and dopey the next day. Surprisingly, Chinese herbal formulas may help with your insomnia in a natural way. A combination of ginseng and ziziphus or concha marguerita and ligustrum have been known to help with insomnia and the accompanying heart palpitations, worrying, night sweats and bad dreams. If your sleep disorder leaves you feeling chronically fatigued all the time or deprives you of your appetite, then try ginseng and longan or ginseng and tang gui tea. Chamomile is used for mild bouts of sleeplessness that is stress-related and Emperor’s tea is another popular natural remedy for restlessness.
Are you thinking of creating a Chinese herbal formula at home? It is really very cost efficient and easy to do once you have the basics down! Trade in those expensive cold medicines for a home brewed echinacea elixir! Before you begin concocting a Chinese herbal formula on your own, a visit to a Chinese herbalist is always a good idea to determine your individual needs.
The best container for making your Chinese herbal formula is preferably ceramic (but glass is ok too). You should avoid cast iron or metals because some Chinese herbs create chemical reactions with those materials. Your teapot should also have a lid, which you should never lift while cooking, as it can allow the vital healing properties to escape. In ancient times, the preferred water used came from a spring, although today you can fill your pot with whatever you prefer.
For recipes and Chinese herbal formulas, you may want to pick up a book at your local bookstore. For instance, “Herbs For Beauty” by Qing Yan gives ancient Chinese secrets for face wash and skin rejuvenation. Or perhaps you want a beginner’s guide, like Sandy Maine’s “Simple Herbal Recipes” book. For a more traditional approach focused on ancient methods, check out “The Healing Power of Chinese Herbs and Medicinal Recipes.” There are, of course, many books on the subject so it’s recommended that you make a trip to the bookstore, rather than trying to scour the internet.
After you finish cooking, strain the tea and try some. Some people find the initial brewing of their Chinese herbal formulas unpalatable, in which case they should try adding more water (or a drop of honey if absolutely necessary) before nixing the whole brew. While the taste may be shocking at first, you’ll find that the body will warm up to it over time. Some Chinese medicine books recommend putting your tea in for a second steeping. The first steeping will affect energy/Qi levels, while the second steeping offers effects on the blood level. You can even split the batch in half, putting one half in for a second steeping to combine both effects.
The optimal tea time is one hour before eating on an empty stomach to ensure absorption of the essential properties. Some people with sensitive stomachs prefer to take the Chinese herbal formulas an hour after eating or have with some fresh ginger root and sushi. The school of Chinese medicine recommends adding things like meditation, yoga or martial arts to your day to balance your Qi and feel more rejuvenated as well.