TRADITIONAL CHINESE HERBS
“There are three categories of drugs; the lowest one of which is poisonous, the second one is a little poisonous, the highest one is no poison. The lowest drug cures 6 out of 10 sicknesses, leaving poisons in the patients. The middle one cures 7 out of 10 sicknesses, leaving a small amount of poison. Even the highest medicine cure only 8 or 9 out of 10 sicknesses. The sicknesses that medicine cannot cure can be cured only by foods.” Nei Ching
The second tier of Asian medicine, after Food Therapy, is traditional chinese herbs – therapy chosen because of its relevant affective strength on the human body. Herbal therapy is applied to open the channels with specific influence on the underlying cause of imbalance and related symptoms. Comprehensive knowledge of herbal medicine is necessary or harm may be done. Herbal medicines have the same strength as food except that it does impacts the body directly. When reduced to an extract level which equals about 4-5 times the strength of the basic herbs, the effect is quicker and stronger. Natural herbs do not heal any better than synthetic medicines but they can help the body to fight disease, strengthen the body’s immune system, and help to harmonize the body’s functions. After a master herbalist learns about individual herbs then a herbalist will proceed to herbal formulas which make a greater impact to energize, reduce or harmonize more body parts in the restorative process. Traditional Chinese herbs deserve respect because harm can occur if not applied correctly. Though not as dangerous as synthetic medicines, imbalances can occur if rendered inappropriately. On the positive side, they can achieve freedom from imbalances and pain, quickly, while rooting health.
THE 4 NATURES, 5 TASTES, 4 ACTIONS & THE MERIDIAN ATTRIBUTION
These characteristics are found in food and herbs and influence the body’s reception of the herb’s medicinal qualities.
FOUR NATURES OF HERBS
The four natures of herbs are:
|
· Hot |
· Cold |
· Warm |
· Cool |
The “Nei Jing”, an ancient book of Chinese herb wisdom, says, “if the body is cold, heat it; if the body is hot, cool it”. The herbs that are used to treat hot type dysfunction are typically cold or cool. Herbs that are used to treat cold type conditions are generally warm or hot in nature. There are some herbs with a more subtle nature. They are categorized as neutral in impact on the body. Essentially every neutral herb may be deemed slightly warm or cool, so we can refer to the basic four natures.
The FIVE TASTES OF HERBS
|
· Spicy |
· Sour |
· Sweet |
· Bitter |
· Salty |
Herb tastes affect different body functions. Every herb has its unique nature and taste. Herbs with the same nature may have the same taste. Or herbs with their similar tastes may have different natures. Therefore, the study of tastes and natures can be very complicated.
The Nei Jing says:
“spicy and sweet tastes move fast so they, characteristically, belong to yang constitution types.
Sour and bitter tastes move body functions downwards so they reflect the yin body types.
Salty taste moves energy downward too, so it also is yin in quality.
Bland (a subtle sweet taste) permeates so it belongs to yang.
Additionally spicy, sweet, and bland attributes are distinctively yang.
Sour, bitter, and salty attributes are yin in their affect on the human body.”
The FOUR ACTIONS OF HERBS
The four actions of herbs are:
|
Ascending |
Descending |
Floating |
Sinking |
These four actions are directly related to the human body. The great Herbalist Li Dong-Yuan said, “herbs have the properties of ascending, descending, floating and sinking, transformation, giving birth, growth, harvesting, storing, and completion”. It so happens, these same actions match up with the four seasons – spring/ascends, summer/floats, autumn/harvests, winter/stores, central earth/transforms.
Herbs, whose taste are weak, will ascend and rise (give birth).
Herbs, whose natures are weak, will descend and restrain (harvest).
Herbs, whose natures are strong, will float and grow.
Herbs, whose taste are strong, will sink and store.
Herbs, whose nature are neutral and tastes are bland, will transform and complete.
Yang ascends, Yin descends, Yang floats, and Yin sinks. Spicy, sweet, and bland have the yang characteristics of the earth. Sour, bitter and salty have yin traits. Yin and Yang descriptions aid the TAM practitioner relative to understanding the affect a herb will have on the body.
YANG characteristics are related to:
|
High Energy |
||
|
Light |
Upper |
Dry |
|
External |
Hot |
Excess |
Yin attributes will be associated with:
|
Low energy |
||
|
Darkness |
Lower |
Wet |
|
Internal |
Cold |
Deficient |
Additionlly, herbs that are light will usually ascend or float and herbs that are heavy will usually sink or descend. Flowers and leaves will float while seeds or roots will descend or sink. Keep in mind that Chinese Herb Medicine also includes the mineral and animal products, which have their own properties.
The MERIDIAN ATTRIBUTION OF HERBS
There are 12 channels in the human body. These clearly defined channels are influenced by historically beneficial herbs that are known to impact a specific channel. Additionally, The various herbs can affect the functions of the body with multiplicity. For instance, when a person has a hot type imbalance, the herbs recommended must be cool or cold, and if the person suffers from a cold type disease the herbs that should be taken are warm or hot. A hot type disease may be liver-heat or stomach-heat; a cold type disease may be lung-cold or spleen-cold conditions. Here is where a thoughtful practitioner shows their value. Herbs that can purge liver heat may not be able to rid stomach heat; herbs that can warm a cold spleen may not be able to warm cold lungs. Therefore, different herbs have been assessed for their multiple affect on the functions of different organs. The functions of the herbs and the 12 meridians can be interrelated and this is what is meant by the meridian attribution of herbs. Herb have been researched, observed for centuries and well documented for their specific influence on the channels. In particular, well trained master herbalists will know which channel and at what point along the channels, the herbs impact. Below are common Traditional Chinese herbs used by a herb master.
Common Traditional Chinese Herbs include the following:
|
American Ginseng |
Chinese Scullcap |
Licorice |
Shiitake |
|
Asian Ginseng |
Corydalis |
Ligustrum |
Fo-ti |
|
Astragalus |
Dong Quai |
Maitake |
Chinese Ginger |
|
Bitter Melon |
Eleuthero |
Reishi |
Ginkgo biloba |
|
Bupleurum |
Green Teas |
Schisandra |
Longan fruit |
Herb therapy when combined with compatible food therapy can be extremely valuable in aiding an ailing person towards normal balance. When you add exercises (Tai Chi & Qi Qong) that wake up the natural restorative energies of the body then the potential for optimal health is achievable.
Mark Hammer C.M.H. Master Herbalist Longevity Mountain 5/09
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Tagged with: 12 Meridians • Alternative Medicine • Asian medicine • Chinese Herbs • herb medicine • Nei Jing • traditional chinese herbs • traditional herbs • yang • yin
Filed under: Wellness
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