Herbal medicine is the art of recommending plant parts and other natural substances for therapeutic purposes. It is one of the world's oldest healing arts. In China herbal medicine dates back thousands of years where herbs were used for their medicinal value to remedy a wide range of diseases and disorders. Over 80 percent of the world's population still relies on herbs as their primary modality for the treatment of disease. Approximately 25 percent of all currently used pharmaceuticals, including aspirin, have their origins in plants. Herbal therapy can be a valuable, natural, complementary therapy for patients who are on drug therapies or as an alternative to over the counter treatments. It is beneficial for children of all ages and adults. Chinese herbal medicine is traditionally dispensed as herbal teas, with specific doses drunk daily. More modern formulations include herbs in pill or granulated form. This traditional form of healing has a long and revered history, treating both internal and external complaints, including the common cold, flu, bronchitis, asthma, nausea, ulcers, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, colitis, constipation, diarrhea, kidney and gall stones, urinary tract infections, skin diseases, anxiety, depression, headaches, arthritis, high blood pressure and diabetes. It is also used in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology.
Chinese herbalism, the use of plant, animal and mineral parts for healing, dates back thousands of years to ancient China where herbs were used to address a wide range of diseases and disorders. The practice of Chinese herbology is a precise science that represents a powerful healing tradition. There are 500 individual herbs used in Chinese Herbal Medicine. These single herbs are rarely used alone. Instead they are combined with other herbs into formulas consisting of two or more herbs. It is the careful combination of herbs that produces the desired effect for an individual patient. Ancient Chinese herbal formulas are as effective now as they were thousands of years ago. They treat a wide variety of symptoms while stimulating the body's natural healing process. An herbal treatment begins with an Oriental evaluation of the patient to diagnose imbalances, followed by an individualized prescription of herbs which is reassessed and readjusted at regular intervals. Teas or decoctions prepared by cooking the raw herbs allow the most individualized prescription. Modern techniques allow several simpler methods of delivery for formulas. They can be transformed into pills, capsules, granules, tinctures, or topicals making them easy and convenient to take and accessible to a wider audience. Today people are taking a much more active role in their health care. Pharmaceutical drugs don't work for everybody and many drugs prescribed have undesirable side effects. With no alternatives offered by conventional medicine, many consumers have begun to explore the world of herbalism. Hence the herbal industry has grown astronomically over the last two decades. This growth has drawn the attention of many in conventional medicine, calling for more studies measuring the safety and effectiveness of various herbs. The National Institute of Health's Office of Alternative Medicine has a research budget of 20 million, some of which will be funneled into herbal research. The National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) has established standards to practice Chinese herbology safely and effectively. The NCCAOM certifies individuals to practice Chinese herbology in the United States by national examination. Chinese herbology is considered most safe and effective when prescribed by a qualified practitioner of Oriental Medicine. |