A Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese herbal medicine is really a major aspect of traditional Chinese medicine and focuses on restoring the balance of energy, body and spirit in one's life. In Chinese herbal medicine a wide variety of herbs are used and rather than being based on conventional Western concepts of medical diagnosis and treatment, Chinese herbal medicine treats patients on the patterns of their symptoms rather than on the underlying causes.

The aim here is to prevent and treat imbalances with complex combinations of herbs, minerals and plant extracts.

Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine is one of the oldest types of medicine known to man and has actually been around for almost as long as mankind. The underlying principles here are very unique and innovative and Chinese herbal medicines have proven to be incredibly successful in treating a range of disorders both physical and mental.

Chinese herbs are commonly used to treat disorders such as digestive problems, fatigue, hepatic disorders, cardiovascular disorders, stress, allergies, and autoimmune disorders. The philosophy of Chinese herbal medicine proposes that everything including the organs in the body is composed of five elements, which are fire, earth, metal, water and wood.

This is why the herbs that are used in Chinese herbal medicine are also divided into five, but here the divisions are in terms of taste - sweet, salty, bitter, pungent and sour. All of the herbs used in Chinese medicine are plant based and can be packaged as powders, pastes, lotions, and tablets. Each herb offers its own benefits and healing properties, and it is important to determine which particular herb is going to work best for your condition before trying it out.

Aloe Vera, for instance, works great for skin conditions including redness and itchiness, while ginger is most recognized for being a remedy for appetite loss, indigestion and motion sickness. It is also effective for loosening phlegm, relieving gas, and tightening the tissues of the body.

If you are interested in using Chinese medicine yourself then you will first want to do a bit more research on it so that you can make yourself more educated and find out more about it before including it as a major part of your life. Talking to an herbalist is also ideal, as they are specifically trained and knowledgeable in the area of Chinese herbal medicine and related forms of treatment and will be able to work with you to come up with the most suitable herbal medicine plan.