there was a thread recently about a geek asking about chinese herbal medicines... there seems to be a confusion in what it is and whether it actually serves its purpose i.e heal.
i thought i'll post this thread to allow my fellow geeks - who are interested -into some information about chinese herbal medicines.
the chinese has been using herbal medicines for over 2000 years and the reason why it is still exist and going strong today is because it does work. In china, chinese medicine is not an alternative form of treatment, but used in the state hospitals alongside modern western medicine.
basically, chinese herbal medicines are based on the concept of the 'ying' and the 'yang'. the chinese believe that in order for the human body to function properly, the 'ying' and 'yang' inside your body must balance.
The body is viewed as a microcosmic universe and the inner organs and their functions are classified according to their yin and yang properties. The relationship between the organs, is described in terms of the five elements :wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
The inner organs are paired off according to their yin and yang characteristics. For example, the kidney and urinary bladder form a pair and are linked to the water element. These relationships form the basis of diagnosis and treatment.
For example, water quells fire, so if there's a heart (fire) problem, underlying kidney deficiency may be diagnosed and treated.
Another central concept is that of 'chi' or vital energy. This is said to flow through a network of channels to vitalise the inner organs. When chi flows freely, there's a good balance between yin and yang in the body and good health. If chi becomes blocked or deficient, owing to dietary, lifestyle or other factors, disease will ensue.
if a problem arises i.e illness, then the doctors will diagnose the problem individually and sometimes will prescribe a treatment which is tailor-made to yourself. This is because every human body is individual and each person has a different amount of ying and yang in different parts of their body. this explains why one herbal medicine will work for one person but not another even though the two has the same illness and the same symptoms.
Chinese doctors will diagnose using four types of examination:
Observation - tongue analysis and facial characteristics
Listening - relates to the patient's voice and respiration.
Questioning - covers diet, sleep, excretion and symptoms.
Palpation - involves taking six pulses on each wrist, one for each inner organ, and interpreting the depth, speed, strength and quality of each.
then they will prescribe treatment accordingly. treatments will include herbal therapy, acupuncture, diet, lifestyle management.
chinese medicines has been used as a front line medicine by the many of the worlds population since before recorded history. adverse reaction to chinese herbs are very rare. the reason being that chinese herbal medicines were orginally invented as a form of 'prevent' rather than cure. which means that it is safe for people drink herbal medicines even if they havent got a problem. it is used to balance the 'ying' and 'yang' in their bodies to prevent illness.
chinese medicine is very complicated and i have to tried to explain this in a nutshell. i hope this will help my fellow geeks to have a little more understanding of what it is and not get freaked out about the horrid smell and weird lotions and potions..!:lol:
having said all this though, i want to emphasis one VERY important point - please do not assume that all herbal shops you see are genuine and qualified practioners. like nails, there are high standard salons and non standard salons. it is true that you do not know what you are drinking and putting into your body. chinese medicines will only work if it is true to its form and prescribed by a qualified and experience doctor. if you are interested in getting chinese medicine treatments for any reason then go through a recognised organisation such as 'the register of chinese herbal medicine'
http://www.rchm.co.uk/
this organisation was set up to regulate the practice of chinese herbal medicines in the uk. through this website, you are able to type in the practioners name and check to see if they are a member.
thanks for reading this geeks ( if you actually managed to get this far and not be bored yet..!) this took me ages to write. i hope it is useful to some of you. :hug:
i thought i'll post this thread to allow my fellow geeks - who are interested -into some information about chinese herbal medicines.
the chinese has been using herbal medicines for over 2000 years and the reason why it is still exist and going strong today is because it does work. In china, chinese medicine is not an alternative form of treatment, but used in the state hospitals alongside modern western medicine.
basically, chinese herbal medicines are based on the concept of the 'ying' and the 'yang'. the chinese believe that in order for the human body to function properly, the 'ying' and 'yang' inside your body must balance.
The body is viewed as a microcosmic universe and the inner organs and their functions are classified according to their yin and yang properties. The relationship between the organs, is described in terms of the five elements :wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
The inner organs are paired off according to their yin and yang characteristics. For example, the kidney and urinary bladder form a pair and are linked to the water element. These relationships form the basis of diagnosis and treatment.
For example, water quells fire, so if there's a heart (fire) problem, underlying kidney deficiency may be diagnosed and treated.
Another central concept is that of 'chi' or vital energy. This is said to flow through a network of channels to vitalise the inner organs. When chi flows freely, there's a good balance between yin and yang in the body and good health. If chi becomes blocked or deficient, owing to dietary, lifestyle or other factors, disease will ensue.
if a problem arises i.e illness, then the doctors will diagnose the problem individually and sometimes will prescribe a treatment which is tailor-made to yourself. This is because every human body is individual and each person has a different amount of ying and yang in different parts of their body. this explains why one herbal medicine will work for one person but not another even though the two has the same illness and the same symptoms.
Chinese doctors will diagnose using four types of examination:
Observation - tongue analysis and facial characteristics
Listening - relates to the patient's voice and respiration.
Questioning - covers diet, sleep, excretion and symptoms.
Palpation - involves taking six pulses on each wrist, one for each inner organ, and interpreting the depth, speed, strength and quality of each.
then they will prescribe treatment accordingly. treatments will include herbal therapy, acupuncture, diet, lifestyle management.
chinese medicines has been used as a front line medicine by the many of the worlds population since before recorded history. adverse reaction to chinese herbs are very rare. the reason being that chinese herbal medicines were orginally invented as a form of 'prevent' rather than cure. which means that it is safe for people drink herbal medicines even if they havent got a problem. it is used to balance the 'ying' and 'yang' in their bodies to prevent illness.
chinese medicine is very complicated and i have to tried to explain this in a nutshell. i hope this will help my fellow geeks to have a little more understanding of what it is and not get freaked out about the horrid smell and weird lotions and potions..!:lol:
having said all this though, i want to emphasis one VERY important point - please do not assume that all herbal shops you see are genuine and qualified practioners. like nails, there are high standard salons and non standard salons. it is true that you do not know what you are drinking and putting into your body. chinese medicines will only work if it is true to its form and prescribed by a qualified and experience doctor. if you are interested in getting chinese medicine treatments for any reason then go through a recognised organisation such as 'the register of chinese herbal medicine'
http://www.rchm.co.uk/
this organisation was set up to regulate the practice of chinese herbal medicines in the uk. through this website, you are able to type in the practioners name and check to see if they are a member.
thanks for reading this geeks ( if you actually managed to get this far and not be bored yet..!) this took me ages to write. i hope it is useful to some of you. :hug:
