Traditional Chinese Herbs Tea, Pills and Oils
Chinese herbs, by the name itself, are those herbs that originated from China and are used not only in cooking but more popularly for their medicinal properties as well. The earliest known documentation of Chinese herbs dates back from 2700 BC. This manuscript contains at least 300 medicinal plants along with instructions on how to use them. The key to Chinese herbal medicine is in individuality. Each Chinese herbal concoction is designed specifically for an individual patient depending on the symptoms and ailment.
Ways to Use Chinese Herbs
Medicinal herbs are used by the Chinese in different ways. Depending on the illness of the patient, a combination of applications may be selected by the Chinese healer. Here are the three most commonly used applications of Chinese medicinal herbs.
As a tea – This is done by simmering one kind or a combination of various kinds of herbs in water for an hour or more. The water with the extract of the herbs will then be drunk by the person with illness. Drinking the strong tea is usually prescribed to be taken several times a day until the patient feels better.
As a pill – This is mostly done when a combination of more than two kinds of herbs are needed to cure the sickness. The required herbs are sun dried and crushed, and with the help of honey, the crushed dried herbs are bonded together to form a round pill that can be taken with water.
As applied externally – This is mostly done personally by the Chinese doctor or healer. Herbs are placed on the injured or ailing body part of the patient using oil or water and sometimes using bandages to help it stay in place.
Three Major Kinds of Chinese Herbs
Even before, there were a lot of herbs listed as medicinal by the Chinese, and these herbs have different healing effects on sick people depending on the herb’s properties. There are three major categories of Chinese medicinal herbs, namely:
- Superior Herbs – Those aimed to nourish the person’s life or health.
- Middle Herbs – Those that correct or remedy body constitutions.
- Inferior Herbs – Those that drive out a person’s illness or disease.
Today, in the practice of the Chinese Traditional Medicine (CTM), herbs are chosen based on their properties and are mostly used in combinations. This is because certain herbs compliment other herbs and most illnesses affect different organs. Very rarely is an herb used alone.
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