The use of the Herbs in the Oriental Medicine has history as long as that of Acupuncture. It has been at least 3,000 years or more just like the Acupuncture. There are over 2000 "Herbs" in the Oriental Medicine alone. The Oriental Medicinal Herbs are used to promote health by being combined with others Herbs to be decocted, powdered, and made into a plaster to be put on the skin.
Different type of the Herbs will affect the body differently. There are Herbs which have Cold characteristics. There are herbs with Hot characteristics. Some of the Herbs will promote more excretion. Then there are Herbs which will retain excess moisture if the body seems dehydrated. There are Herbs which will Tonify (Strengthen) the organs or the body. There are Herbs that will calm the Mind. Then, there are types of Herbs that will awaken the senses.
And then there are different level of the Herbs. There are the Upper level of Herbs which are considered to be of utmost healing properties that will lengthen the life span and prolong one's health. Then there are Herbs which will maintain your health from the sickness but are not considered as same level as the Herbs of the previous type. Then there are Herbs that follow the last mentioned type that can eliminate disease when you are sick which are considered as the low class.
The usage of the Herbs were also documented in the Western worlds. In the Dark Ages and even in the Industrial Age, there were a lot of "Holistic and Healthy" cures and remedies using the Herbs. Most of the Modern Pharmaceuticals have been derived from the Nature (i.e. Herbs). As an example, it is estimated that remaining Rain Forest in the Brazil can produce thousands of different Western Pharmaceutical formulas that can benefit the man- kind but man can not duplicate them in the laboratory .
Even though the Western Pharmaceutical companies are in opposition to most of the Herbs. Their products have origins in the Nature just like any other industry. One of the most noticeable example would be Pseudoephedrine (i.e. Sudafed) which is a derivative from Ma Huang , Herba Ephedrae, that treats nasal congestion due to cold or flu. Another example would be the Digoxin or Digitalis which is a derivative from the common Fox Glove plants, Digitalis Purpurea, to treat symptoms of Heart Failure.
The Herbs of the Oriental Medicine are not limited to the plant materials. Sometimes, the practitioner will use non plant "Herbs" such as Animal Parts, Shells, Insects, and even Stones and Minerals. The Stones, Minerals, and Shells are used typically for Sedation type of formulas to calm the patients. While the Animal Parts are usually to Tonify or Move the Qi, Xue, Yin , or Yang. The Insects are used typically to Break through the Stagnation or the Blockage of Qi or Xue.
The Oriental Medicine Herbology is one of most versatile Herbal system due to having diverse kinds of the Herbs and also having over 2000 number of the Herbs. The formulas of the Oriental Medicine Herbology can be modified indefinitely to accommodate the patients. By adding different Herbs or subtracting a Herb, the patient's formula can be changed dramatically. Also by adjusting the dosage, the Herbal formula can be modified to increase the strength of a Herb while decreasing the strength ot the other Herb.
Oriental Medicine Herbology formulas can be modified further by utilizing different methods of preparing the Herbs. Some of the preparation of the Herbs are done by frying with Wine, Vinegar, Honey, and Dry Frying the Herbs. Each different method produces different characteristic Herb. For example, cooking or frying with the Wine will increase the dispersion and the ascending quality of the Herbs. These Herbs can be used to bring the Qi up or move Qi or Xue more vigorously. And by cooking or frying with Honey will increase the Tonification aspect of the Herbs and protect the digestive organs.
The diversity, the complex interactions, and the variability of the Herbs can be seen in many examples. There are Herbs which has great Tonification properties such as Ren Shen, Gin Seng. However, what most people do not know that there are at least 3 different kind of Ren Shen. There is a Chinese Ren Shen which has mostly Qi tonic effect and little bit of Yang tonification effect. There is a Korean Red Ren Shen which have Qi tonification and a lot more Yang tonification property than the Chinese counterpart. Then there is the American Ren Shen which is used for the tonification of the Yin aspect of the body.
Like the Ren Shen, there are Herbs which have different properties even though they are of same name. And if the Herbs were from different areas the properties are also affected by the climate and the soil and ...... As an example, there is a Herb called Fang Ji in Pin Yin and there are two different kind of Fang Ji. One is called Guang Fang Ji and the other one is Han Fang Ji. Their latin names are Radix Aristolochiae seu Cocculi and Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae respectively. Typically in the Raw Herbal Pharmacies will carry both but they may not have separated them. One can cause number of side effects if taken without proper preparation. And the other is fairly harmless even without proper preparation.
For formulas combining just two different Herbs, you can stop severe Menstrual or back pain. And by using a Single Herb, you can increase the level of the Qi or the Blood Count. Some of the Herbs can be used to eliminate Toxins in the body. Some of the Herbs can be used to treat Psychological / Emotional Problems. But, regardless of the "Great Formulas" if the Diagnosis is wrong then all the "Good" Herbs will become nothing or worse harmful to the patient.
The formulas will be a good one if they are balanced to have eliminated all possible unwarranted interactions and has taken everything ( patient's constitution, season, weather etc) into a consideration to benefit patients. The formulas of the great Masters of the Oriental Medicine are still being used almost 1,500 years after they were written for the modern mankind without any modifications or changes.
As in the examples above, the diversity of the Herbs and different Herbal preparation makes it vital for the prospective patients to seek qualified practitioners. Mankind have been and will be using the abundant source of Natural healing properties of the Herbs.
If there is any questions and if requiring more information please find them in the Links site or contact me.
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Contents copywrited 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. David Hongjune Jeon, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac/CH., MSOM. All rights reserved.