Chinese Herbs Abbotsford - Ever since the beginning of time, Mankind has been using herbs as medicine. From the earliest days of human development, the experience and knowledge acquired by making use of several herbal medication was recorded as reference meant for future generations. People consider this transition from being gatherers in the wilds to pharmacology students as the dawn of medical herbalism or herbal medicine.
Various different cultures know a wider view of herbal medicine to go beyond an observance of cause and effect from chewing a leaf or sipping an herbal tea. Traditional Chinese Medicine or also called TCM is one of the oldest systems of medicine. It embraces utilizing traditional Chinese herbs as a balancing component of a holistic body and mind method to health and wellness.
Among the earliest known medical documents explaining TCM is the Huang Dei Nei Jing that dates back to around 475 B.C. This particular document was key to the formulation of many of Traditional Chinese Medicine basic diagnostic techniques. The methods include the duality concept of yin and yang or masculine and feminine, and the five element theory. Various herbs in the Chinese material medica provided an understanding of how Chinese herbs correspond to these theories and herbology was then introduced. Herbology means the science of designing herbal formulas in accordance with the person's yin and yang status.
One more old document, the Shennong Benaco Jing which dates back to the Han dynasty, is particular to Chinese herbs. Shennong Benaco Jing is recognized as Chinese medicines first herbalist. According to legend, Shennong sampled lots of Chinese herbs himself in order to study their properties, many of which were very toxic. This particular work is reputed to describe approximately three hundred sixty five medicinal formulations with more than 250 being detailed as Chinese herbs.
Usually, all parts of the Chinese herbs are normally utilized rather than just the leaf or the root as often is the case in Western botanical medicine. Chinese herbal medicine is further distinguished by the fact that it often includes non-botanical ingredients into the formulas like animal fur, bones and organs, although this particular practice has been mostly stopped for the reason that getting a few of these ingredients poses a threat to some endangered species.
There are certain criteria which Chinese herbs are traditionally classified under: The five tastes, the four natures and the meridians. The 5 tastes which are bitter, pungent, sweet, sour and salty indicate the medicinal merit of the plant based on the taste it yields. The four natures mean the orientation and degree of yin and yang aspects which vary from very hot or extreme yang to very cold or excessive yin. Lastly, how the herb corresponds to the energy channels or meridians of the body is determined by the biological activity the herb exerts on the body systems and the organs.
many Chinese herbs may be unfamiliar to those in the West. Other Chinese herbs are normally known but they go by various names. Like for example, garlic is a common item which is known as a medicinal herb in Western medicine and in Chinese medicine it is known as dasuan. Aloe vera is one more common garden and house plant that produces a burn-soothing, healing gel and is called luhui in China.
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