Herbal Medicine
Throughout human history up until current century, herbal medicine has served as primary form of medical care. Herbal medicine is a highly powerful method used to treat specific pathological conditions. Each individual herb has different properties (hot, cold, sweet, bitter, sour etc.) and enters into different channels. Herbal preparation is usually composed of 6-14 herbs which work together. For example a formula for a chronic dry cough condition will contain herbs which will act to stop the cough as well as strengthen & moisten the lungs.
There are more than three hundred herbs that are commonly used today in herbal pharmacies and most of them have a history which goes back at least 2,000 years. In China & Japan a great number of scientific studies have shown and documented the effectiveness of the herbs analyzing their active components. There are several modern drugs which have been developed from herbs, such as treatment for hepatitis made from schizandra fruits and licorice roots.
Herbal preparations are prescribed according the unique individual Chinese medical diagnosis for each patient. Very often the formulas may change over the course of treatment as symptoms and conditions are changing. The herbs can be used in conjunction with acupuncture treatments or alone. The herbs come in different forms and can be taken as pills, capsules, powders or decoctions (teas).
