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CHINESE HERBS- Finding the Balance through Chinese Herbs For thousands of years, the Chinese have documented more than 7,000 kinds of herbs that possess healing benefits. The written records (Shen Nung Ben Chao) started from Shen Nung Dynasty (3494 BC). Shen Nung, the Emperor, and his administration examined all kinds of herbs to ascertain their healing properties. Later, the government of Song Dynasty (1000 years ago) reviewed thousands of herbal combinations and published approximately 2,000 non-toxic herbal combinations for public use. Chinese herbal medicine has existed in the United States as long as there have been Chinese living here. However, rarely have Americans been exposed to TCM since most TCM practitioners dwell primarily in the Chinatowns across the nation.. Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is one powerful branch of TCM. Herbs are primarily plants, but also can be derived from animals and minerals. Herbs are either ingested or applied externally to correct physical disorders by balancing body energy and revitalizing cells or tissues. Besides its documentation in historical application, scientists have applied modern technology to identify active compounds for healing properties in many Chinese herbs based on their historic claims. Approximately 65 new herb-derived drugs have been developed over the last few decades. Artemisinin (Qinghaosu) from species of Artemisia including A. annua and ephedrine from Ephedra (ma huang), are examples. Chinese herbs continue to be understood for their health benefits by the scientific community. For example, pueraria lobata (kudzu) has been prescribed in CHM for thousands of years to treat alcohol cravings and hangovers. In a test performed at Harvard University, scientists found that daidzin in kudzu suppress the craving for alcohol in animal models. The people of China have used kudzu as a food for many years. Manufacturers' purifying, refining and treating the herbs with chemicals cause them to lose their potential for natural balance. For example, daidzin in kudzu could be used as a drug to treat alcoholism, but it loses the natural balance of rich isoflavones when purified. The rich isoflavones (puerarin) dilates heart muscles and helps supply blood to the brain. Puerarin prevents cardiovascular damage caused by insufficient oxygen supply. Puerarin may also prevent liver damage, which is a side effect of alcohol abuse. Thus, the most effective treatment of an ailment for total body health is achieved by using the most potent portion of the herb in its natural state. Herbs are more effective when used in a formula. Although each herb has its own healing property and nutritional benefit, understanding an individual herb is necessary. The foundation of TCM is “balance.” Herbs need to be combined in order to harmonize the entire body systematically. This is the only way to correct the imbalance and strengthen the entire body. There is no such single herb that can fulfill this goal. For instance, ginseng has been known to energize the body, especially the lungs and spleen-pancreas. It also causes strong side-effect when used alone. Ginsenosides in ginseng make the arteries become constricted. Combining ginseng with other herbs, such as kudzu or Astragalus balances the side-effects. Moreover, the proper combination of herbs increases the potency in the desired direction while balancing the undesired effects. For instance, bitter orange has the effect of stimulating Qi (vital energy) circulation while ginseng energizes the body. The combination of bitter orange and ginseng with other herbs relaxes muscles and provides great energy. It helps with muscle aches and an abnormal digestive tract caused by poor Qi circulation. For more than 6,000 years, the written records of Chinese herbs help develop the formulas of new combinations for maximum health benefits. To choose an herbal formula, one has to know the energy level characteristics of each herb and the collective energy level of the formula. The common rule is the warm helps cold, the cold heals warm and the neutral nourishes the body. A formula normally consists of at least three herbs. A simple harmonized herbal formula consists of the key herb, the key balancer and one or two other assistants. An example of this formula is bitter orange as the key herb stimulating Qi circulation by supplying cold energy. The herb balancer could be ginseng to energize the body by supplying warm energy. Ginger and other herbs can be blended to relax muscle tissue. One of the uses for this combination is to increase vital energy. The energy level is for individuals who need to strengthen the body Qi. In order to recognize a good herbal formula, one has to know which characteristic “elements” and which organs are the beneficiary of which herbs. This aspect can be briefly illustrated in the following table. Each herb should be classified on the basis of Yin-Yang/Five Elements so the sum of all herbs in a formula will be the total effect of the formula.
This Table demonstrates the link between the Five Elements with energy levels, body organs and characteristic tastes. CHM practitioners traditionally prescribe raw herbs for brewing in water to make an herbal drink (tang). Other forms for herbs are powder (shan) or teas (cha). Herbs can be extracted in water or water/alcohol to form liquid or dry syrup (kao or wan) or an alcohol-based liquid (jui). Herbal liquids are most effective because active ingredients in herbs can be assimilated most efficiently by the body when they are in a soluble form. Raw herb powders are less effective except when the active ingredients are soluble. Most plant based dry herbs contain a large amount of phytochemicals that are not soluble and cannot be easily digested by the body. This can lead to long term health problems for the people who have weak digestive systems, stomach upset and indigestion. Herbal teas are the easiest herbal combinations to make, but less potent than herbal extracts since the majority of active ingredients cannot be assimilated from a tea. However, there is a limitation to liquid herbal forms since not every herb is water-soluble. Alcohol-based liquids should be avoided by those allergic to alcohol and children. Herbal formulas’ unpleasant taste has been a major obstacle in allowing people to benefit from liquid herbs. Lately, modern technology has lent its hand in analyzing, processing and improving herbal products. Processes such as vacuum drying eliminates the alcohol residuals from extracts. Unnecessary and insoluble portions from herbs such as wax, insoluble fibers and carbohydrates, and proteins are eliminated through extraction while all beneficial ingredients in their natural state. Herbal extracts can be standardized to an active ingredient or a group of active ingredients. Standardized herbal extracts allow manufacturers to produce herbal formulas consistently from batch to batch. They also can be used to formulate liquid concentrates, capsules and tablets among which liquid concentrates are still the most effective. Unlike tablets and capsules, liquid eliminates the fillers, which is not beneficial to the body. Capsules and tablets can be considered for healing ailments when those herbs are not soluble or hard to formulate into a good tasting combinations. Still modern laboratory technology thus far cannot identify all of the properties in all herbs. Many active ingredients remain to be standardized. However, these unknown ingredients are still playing integral roles in maintaining proper health. The Author: Reference This Article is written for the January Issue of Health Supplement Retailer Magazine. |
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