Chinese herbal medicine has been around since the 3rd Century BC, and while still largely untested by modern science, this ancient form of medicine continues to gain popularity in the West.
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The Therapy
The Chinese believe that illness and chronic conditions occur when the body becomes unbalanced. Rather than treating the symptoms directly, Chinese herbal medicine aims to encourage the body to heal itself by re-storing the harmonious balance of the body, mind and spirit.
There are several reasons why the Chinese believe the body can become deharmonised.
Chi, the body’s natural energy, travels round the body through channels or meridians. If these get blocked, then the chi becomes disrupted causing an imbalance in the body which manifests itself in illness.
Yin and yang are two opposing, but complementary, naturally-occurring qualities - such as light and darkness. To function perfectly, they need one another and if one gets knocked off course, then your body can’t take the strain and you become ill.
Another concept that’s important in Chinese medicine is the idea of the Five Elements – fire, earth, metal, wood, water. These Five Elements exist in everything, including the organs of the body, and while they usually interact with each other in perfect harmony, if one becomes overly aggressive an unbalance is caused, which can lead to pain or illness.
A Chinese herbalist will look at all these elements and devise the best formula to help restore your body’s balance.
Traditional formulas sometimes include animal and mineral ingredients, but use of these is illegal in this country. To qualify as a herbal remedy the medicine must be 100% plant based. A formula is usually mixed from 10 to 15 herbs, with each herb having a specific role. The herbs are classified by its qualities (hot, cold, damp, dry,) and by its taste (sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, salty).