More on Chinese Herbology By: Trishie

Chinese Herbology


Herbology is the art of combining medicinal herbs and in the Chinese people have mastered this art really well. Herbs have been relied upon for the healing of ailments for thousands of years. The focus of the use of these herbs is to not to cure the body of ailments but to power up the body’s healing ability, to strengthen the immune system. As we intake these herbs, the Chinese believe that their essences enter our acupuncture meridians thus adjusting the flow of vital energy of our body. Herbs are very nutritious too, so by eating them, we get a lot of nutrients essential for good health. The effects of these herbs have been refined in over its 3000 year existence and they continue to adjust with modernization of diseases as well.

Chinese Herbology dates back dates back to the writings of the Yellow Emperors Inner Classic ( Huang Di Nei Jing). His writing were a debate he had with his physician named Qi Bo, which discussed the spectrum of Chinese medicine in other fields such as Acupuncture, Yin-Yang, Five Elements pathology, diagnosis, and etiology of disease. This Inner Classic was considered the foundation for the theory and philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and was used by the very first Chinese herbalist by the name of Shennong.

Shennong was a tribal chief who resided in China along the great Yellow River Plateau (2700B.C.). He became famous for ingesting the substances himself and recording his finding first hand. He was able to record 365 substances and had written the first book on Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (The Classic of Materia Medica- Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing).

Shennong’s tradition was followed by a lot of other herbalist including the most celebrated one, Zhan Zhong Jing. Zhan Zhon Jing had published two compilations, Shang Han Lun-Discussion of Cold Induced disease and Jin Gui Yao Lun-Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber, both of which are still used as reference until today.

Chinese Herbs are said to possess qualities which are The Four Natures, The Five Tastes and The Meridians.

The Four Natures are Hot, Cold, Warm, and Cool. The Four Natures is highly affected by Yin Yang, ranging from cold (extreme yin), cool, neutral to warm and hot (extreme yang).

The Five Tastes are sour, salty, pungent, sweet and bitter, each of which has its own characteristics. Sour herbs are drying, detoxifying, antibiotic, and drain Qi downward. They nourish the liver and the Gall bladder. Herbs in this category consolidate Qi and secretions. Salty herbs serves to soften hard masses building up inside the body. Pungent herbs stimulate, warm, and raise Qi from the interior to the exterior. They also strengthen the Lungs and Large Intestine. The sweet herbs harmonize and tone the bodily systems. The bitter taste is tonic, nourishing, relaxing, and slow Qi down. They also strengthen the heart and the Small Intestines.

The Meridians refer to which organ the herbs act upon. As mentioned above, each taste of the herb corresponds to a specific part of the body.


SOURCES:
http://www.acupuncturecare.com/chinese.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbology