Ancient Chinese Medicine Herbs for Healing and Strength
The use of Chinese medicine herbs goes more than 2,500 years back, during the time of the Zhou Dynasty. During this period, diseases were known to be works of the devil, and herbs were used to throw away the evil intruders of the body. The popularity of chinese herbs, however, did not weaken through time as many of our modern drugs have been developed from Chinese medicinal herbs and lately more and more people are slowly turning to alternative medicines for help in their afflictions.
How Chinese Herbs are Used
There are several different ways to categorize the use of Chinese medicinal herbs. They are through the “four natures,” “five tastes” and the “meridians.”
The Four Natures regard the balance of yin (cool) and yang (warm) which ranges from intense cold (extreme yin) to hot (extreme yang). Herbs are categorized as either infuser of coldness or hotness. The patient’s internal balance of yin and yang is considered when choosing the right herb to use. There are times when an herb is strong that another one is needed to offset the effect of the other.
The Five Tastes are pungent, sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Each of these tastes has their own function and quality which are considered in choosing the right herb for the person. Pungent herbs are generally used to generate sweat and revitalize the blood, while sweet herbs harmonize the body system. Sour-tasting herbs are often used as astringent, and bitter herbs are used to drive out heat, while the salty herbs soften hard bodily masses.
The Meridians refer to the organ the herbs are intended for to act upon. Organs are, as well, categorized depending on its use.
A good Chinese herbal healer considers all of the three types of Chinese herbs before prescribing the herbal concoction for the individual patient.
Common Chinese Medicinal Herbs
Most Chinese medicine herbs are used to strengthen the body. There are a lot of Chinese herbs that are still popularly used to this day. One of them is Ginseng which is used for well over 2000 years now. It is known to help boost energy, reduce stress and increase endurance. Another popular herb is the Licorice which is known to neutralize toxins, relieve irritation and help in digestion. Ginger is a highly spicy herb that aids in ventilation of the heart and neutralizes food poisoning among others. Rhubarb is not only an effective laxative but also helps in blood circulation.
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