|
Herbal
medicine
Herbal medicine is an integral component of traditional Chinese medicine. Studies have shown that as much as 40% of American adults use herbal products. The use of herbal medicine is even higher overseas.
In China, besides the TCM hospitals, most general hospitals have their own TCM departments and herbal medicine facilities. Chinese herbal medicine is especially welcome in treating the clinical conditions (with or without defined Western medical diagnoses) that have little or no effective Western medical treatments, or cannot tolerate the Western medications. These conditions include but are not limited to the following: auto-immune diseases, cancers, viral infections, allergy, endocrine disorders, hypertension, menopause symptoms, menstrual disorders, infertility, general fatigue, aging, and health maintenance. Depending on the particular clinical scenario, a better therapeutic response
may be achieved when combined with acupuncture or/and other Oriental healing measures.
Chinese medicinal herb is typically prepared from the whole or part of a plant in natural forms: seed, berries, roots, leaves, bark or flowers. Most herbs are required some well-established processing, depending on the types of herbs and the therapeutic applications. The processing includes various steps, i.e., washing and cleaning, discarding the useless parts, sectioning, soaking into water, drying under sunlight, steaming, roasting, stirring-baking mixed with a liquid (i.e., wine, rice vinegar or honey). The processing of herbs is to enhance or temper the medicinal power, modify their meridian and organ targeting, minimize the unpleasant smell and taste or, in some special herbs, to alter or remove the undesired functions.
Although a single herb could be served as a regime, typically, Chinese herbal medicines are administrated in formula, which contains several (usually 2 ~ 16 herbs) different herbs and compiled according to the disease pattern and the basic principles of the Chinese herbal formulating strategy. The herb medicines can be cooked and served as tea, or prepared in forms of pills or capsules depended on patient’s preference and the clinical need.
Not all plants can be used as herbal medicine. Based on thousands
of years investigation and practice, the TCM literatures have
systemically documented over 5000 medicinal substances (with more than
4000 herbal medicines) on their therapeutic functions, clinical
indications, herbal interactions, toxicity, serving methods and
dosages, and the diet requirements during herbal care. One very
important fact is that Chinese herbal medicines are served in a form
of whole food rather than an extracted and purified single compound.
One single medicinal herb can contain a huge complex of organic and
mineral compounds that, as whole, has been optimally “composed” by our
“Mother Nature” and therefore carries a unique, organic and “mature”
medicinal profile or therapeutic power. The Chinese herbal medicine we
are using today are those that are most commonly-used, and effective
and have shown no clinic adverse side effect when prescribed
(formulated), based on a precise TCM diagnosis, by a fully trained and
experienced practitioner.
Site Maps:
Acupuncture Houston
Clinic (Houston, TX)
(Serving Greater Houston; easily accessed from West University,
River Oak, Bellaire City, Rice Village, Medical Center, Memorial,
South Side, Sharpstown,
Sugar Land, Katy, Kingwood, Woodland, College Station, Beaumont,
Galveston...)
Acupuncture Denver
Clinic (Cherry Hills Village, CO)
(Serving Greater Denver; easily accessed from Denver, Englewood, Cherry Hills Village,
Greenwood Village, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Lakewood, DTC,
Cherry Creek, Aurora, Centennial, Boulder)
Acupuncture Boulder Clinic (Boulder, CO)
(Serving Boulder areas, easily accessed from Louisville,
Lafayette, Superior, Broomfield, Golden, Eldorado Springs,
Nederland, Northglenn, Longmont, Loveland and Fort Collins)
|
