Using Chinese Herbs

In recent years, Eastern medicine has grown increasingly popular as a viable medicinal alternative to standard Western medication. Western science has made grand strides developing effective medicines, but the side effects of many and the long term damage to liver caused by antibiotics can be a warning sign to many to try safer, time-tested remedies.

The herbs that form the crux of Chinese medicine have been around for more than 2,000 years, and the practice is a delicate and complex one. If you are suffering a substantial ailment and considering Chinese medicine, make sure to see a doctor licensed in phytotherapy.

Process

Typically, in Chinese medicine, acute ailments are treated for a period of 1-30 days by combination of herbs customized by a practitioner of Chinese medicine. Typically, one or two herbs are used as the substantial portion of the concoction, with several others mixed in to help treat milder symptoms.

Classification

Chinese herbs are derived from plant, animal and mineral substances. In the chinese tradition, herbs are boiled into a tea, but Western practitioners often pack them into pill form so patients can avoid the often unpalatable taste. Herbs are classified according to four properties:

Nature, or the herb's "energy." It can be the cooling or warming sensation an herb effects, or its relaxing, otherwise energizing, properties.
Taste, a simple categorization of five parts, herbs are sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, bland, or salty. Herbs that represent the different tastes are used to treat different ailments.
Affinity, used to identify the group of organs that a particular herbs affects most strongly.
Primary Action, or the effect or action that an herb performs such as purging, dispeling, tonifying or acting as an astringent.

Main Herbs and Their Effects

There are over 300 herbs that are currently being used by Chinese medicine practitioners, below are the most common and their uses:

Ginseng: There are two kinds of ginseng, red and white. Used to treat dry coughs, constipation and fevers.
Mushrooms: Mostly the Reishi and Shitake variety are used to regulate the immune system.
Astragalus: Used for immune deficiencies and allergies.
Atractylodes: Used to treat digestive disorders.
Bupleurum: For liver disease, arthritis, ulcers and mental disorders.
Ginger: Used as an internal cleanser, for purging, and neutralizing poisons in food.
Rehmannis: Used to treat disorders of the kidneys and adrenal glands.
Cinnamon: Used when peripheral circulation is poor.
Coptis: Inhibits infection and calms nervous agitation, skin diseases and insomnia.
Hoelen: Alleviates gastro-intestinal irritation.
Licorice: Neutralizes toxins, calms inflammation and aids digestion.
Peony: Regulates and nourishes the blood, promotes circulation.
Rhubarb: Reliable laxative, enhances appetite and reduces autoimmune reactions.
Salvia: Repairs damaged body tissue.
Tang-kuei: Nourishes the blood and regulates uterine blood flow and calms tension.

There are hundreds and hundreds of herbs in use and available around the United States, so this is a fairly reductive list. Combining herbs on your own can have adverse effects, so if you are interested in Chinese medicinal therapy, find a practitioner near you here.

On your own, learn more about the function, history, and nature of Chinese herbs here.

For a more complete list of herbs and their functions, check out this database.