By Jingduan Yang, M.D.
Chinese herbal medicine uses natural mineral, plant, and animal substances as medicine. These substances have minimum side effects when taken at the right time for the right condition; taken wrongly, they can be harmful.
For example, the herb astragalus (huangqi) taken alone should be used with caution by those who have high blood pressure or high fevers due to acute infections.
It is essential for anyone who wants to benefit from Chinese herbal medicine to consult a doctor of Chinese medicine for evaluation based on the theories and diagnostic techniques of Chinese medicine, including pulse and tongue reading.
When evaluating a patient, the Chinese medicine practitioner first has to identify which meridians and organ systems are out of balance. For example, liver and stomach meridians are often affected in indigestion. The practitioner has to determine the nature of the energy imbalance, such as too much or too little energy or energy that is stagnated, blocked, or moving in the wrong direction.
Take acid reflux as an example. It may be stagnated liver energy affecting the normal flow of stomach energy, which is now moving in the wrong direction. If it has been a chronic condition, the patient can get very tired and malnourished.
Emotional distress, anger, and especially resentment often cause liver energy stagnation. Patients with this type of imbalance may also suffer from migraines, depression, insomnia, irritable bowel, and chronic pain in deep tissues.
When the Chinese medicine doctor has gathered all the information and comes up with diagnoses of energy imbalance, an individualized Chinese medicine remedy is formulated.
Four Types of Herbs
In most cases, four types of herbs are included in the formula. The first is called “emperor.” The emperor represents the herbs that treat the main symptoms and their underlying causes.
The second is called “minister.” The minister helps the emperor to do a better job and also treats accompanying symptoms and their underlying causes.
The third is called “assistant.” The assistant is the herb that helps both emperor and minister but also harmonizes the formula and eliminates possible toxins and side effects.
The fourth is called “ambassador.” The ambassador is the herb that makes sure the formula will reach the targeted organs and meridians. Each type may consist of more than one herb.
Often for traditional herbal treatment, patients make a decoction (medicinal preparation) using a formula of raw herbs, following specific instructions and procedures, and drink the decoction twice a day, usually without food. Sometimes concentrated extracts of herbs are also made into capsules.
Patients are often advised not to eat cold, raw, spicy, or hot and spicy food.
Traditionally, acupuncture is often given daily, but it is used much less frequently in the United States. In treating complicated and chronic medical conditions and in treating patients who are very deficient in energy, the addition of Chinese herbal medicine to acupuncture can be invaluable.
Dr. Jingduan Yang contributed this article which was first published on EET. Dr. Yang is a board-certified psychiatrist and is a fourth-generation doctor of Chinese medicine. His website is: taoinstitute.com.
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