Chinese herbal medicine
is the oldest continually-practised
system of herbal medicine in the world. It uses the traditional Chinese system
of pathology, diagnosis, and treatment strategy. The language by which herbs are
described and the way in which herbs are combined are very different from other
herbal medical systems.
Herbs
Most
of the substances used in Chinese herbal medicine originate from China, but many
also come from other areas of Asia. The Chinese pharmacopeia lists over 6,000
different medicinal substances. There are currently over 600 different herbs in
common use today.
Chinese herbs are categorized at many different levels and
described in much detail. Herbs are used for their abilities to treat specific
Chinese diagnoses and to alleviate specific complaints. For example, there are
assortments of herbs which can alleviate coughing, but each one is appropriate
for a cough due to a different Chinese diagnosis. This degree of detail to which
herbs are prescribed, makes Chinese herbal medicine very complex and also very
precise.
A great deal of research into the chemical nature of Chinese herbs
has been conducted. Modern study has time and again validated the traditional
uses of Chinese herbs. Chemical insight into these herbs has also given us new
understanding as how to best use them.
Formulas
The
one characteristic of Chinese herbal medicine that most sets it aside from other
types of herbal medicine is the degree to which formulation is done. In other
forms of herbal medicine, especially Western herbal medicine, herbs are often
delivered singly or combined into very small formulas of herbs with the same function.
Chinese herbalists very rarely prescribe a single herb to treat a condition, instead
they create formulas. The creation of an herbal formula can be a quite complicated
process requiring a high degree of skill and experience. A formula usually contains
at least four herbs, but sometimes may contain more than twenty herbs. The creation
of an herbal formula is done with the individual patient's complaints and Chinese
diagnosis in mind. In this manner, an herbal formula is tailor-made to suit a
particular patient. It is uncommon for two patients with the same complaint to
receive the exact same formula.
Herbal formulas can be delivered in all manners
of preparation. Pre-made formulas are available as pills, tablets, capsules, powders,
alcohol-extracts, water-extracts, etc. Most of these formulas are very convenient
as they do not necessitate patient preparation and are easily taken. However,
the concentration of the herbs in these products is low and don't allow the practitioner
to adjust the contents or dosages. These products are usually not as potent as
the traditional preparation of decoction.
Decoction is the traditional method
of preparing herbal medicine. A decoction is a concentrated form of tea. The practitioner
weighs out a day's dosage of each herb and combines them in a bag. A patient is
given a bag for each day the herbal formula will be taken. The herbs are then
boiled in water by the patient at home. The boiling process takes from 30-60 minutes
and the resulting decoction will be consumed several times during the day. This
method of preparation requires more time on the part of the patient and practitioner
and the formulas can be difficult to drink.
Another modern way of delivering
herbs is becoming quite popular. Granulated herbs are highly concentrated powdered
extracts. These powders are made by first preparing the herbs as a traditional
decoction. The decoction is then dehydrated to leave a powder residue. Practitioners
can then mix these powders together for each patient into a custom formula. The
powder is then placed in hot water to recreate the decoction. This eliminates
the need to prepare the herbs at home, but still retains much of the original
decoction's potency.
Quality Issues
The quality
and safety of Chinese herbs has repeatedly come into question after media coverage
of rare events. It is important to remember that Chinese herbs are used by millions
of people worldwide each day without incident. Occasionally, certain herbal products
have been singled out because of poor manufacturing or unethical behavior on the
part of the manufacturer. These products are almost exclusively manufactured in
mainland China.
Some of the concerns have been over heavy-metal contamination,
adulteration, and use of endangered animal species. Heavy-metal contamination
has been seen in several Chinese herbal products, usually as a result of poor
manufacturing. Adulteration of herbal medicines with prescription drugs has been
found in a few herbal products. The use of endangered animals in Chinese herbal
medicine is very rare. This is in largest part due to the expense of procuring
these medicines. Even those herbal products which are labelled as having endangered
animals inside, rarely do. There are many government agencies which routinely
test Chinese herbal medicines. Practitioners have access to this information and
quickly remove them from their shelves.
For the most part, acupuncturists
now purchase their herbal products from reputable companies operating in the United
States due to quality issues with imported Chinese herbal medicines. Many companies
are also manufacturing their own herbal medicines here in the United States. Chinese
herbal stores often still import their products from mainland China as opposed
to acupuncturists. Your acupuncturist is a much more reliable source for herbal
medicines and product information. Please ask your acupuncturist any questions
you might have about the products he/she carries.