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How do they work, and what should you be aware of
The healing methods of the east
The methods of the western allopathic medicine and the eastern
healing plants are distinct from each other.
Where the western medicine focuses on the symptomatic pathological picture, the
eastern healing methods supports the body through concentrated organ nutrition,
to adjust the pathological picture through
selfhealing. |
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Li Shih-chen (1528 - 1593)
The greatest herbal
specialist of China |
The five tastes of sour, bitter, sweet, spicy and salty
have an important part here.
The fundamental effect of the chinese healing works through the
energy of the body, which reaches the organs through the meridians.
Before it reaches them, there can appear some effects on the way. For example the
treatment of knee pain is performed with the stomach meridian,
because it passes this specific area.
 The herbs
basically harmonize the mind.
Using the western method to eliminate the causes of an illness, often distubrs
or even destroys the natural matters and functions simultaniously, which causes unwanted
sideeffects.
The principals of the prescriptions
The Principal of the herb prescription means the theory of cooperation between the herbs, which
appear as the king-herb, the minister, the assistant and the leader, combined in
one prescription.
The king directly works at the cause or main symptom of an illness, and takes
control of the combined prescription. The main assignment of the minister is
to help and reinforce the effect of the king. Furthermore he treats symptoms
caused by the king.
The duty of the assistant can be divided into three areas:
1. To assist the king and minister, thereby
reinforcing the therapeutical effect,
or to take care of other symptoms.
2. To reduce the eventual irritating effects of the
king and minister, without
removing their therapeutical effects, and to avoid eventual unwanted
sideeffects.
3. In serious cases to prevents an outbreak caused
by the other herbs.
The leader of the herbs can be divided into two types:
1. As a medical leader it leads the other herbs to
the inflicted areas.
2. As a communicating leader it coordinates the
effects of the other herbs.
This explains the parts of the king, the minister, the assistant and the leader
in the effect, strongness and dosation of the herbs, which must be coordinated, in the
prescription.
An overdose of chinese herbs is, compared with the western allopathic
medicine, under these circumstances
almost impossiple.
What should
you be aware of ?
The chinese herbs are usually taken with warm water about half an hour before or after
eating.
If there appear stomach problems, you can use warm potatoewater.
Should the herbs cause strong reactions like stomach trouble etc., the dose
should be reduced
to 1/4, and gradually brought up again to the prescribed dose.
An aggravation of the illness is not nessecarilly a sign of wrong treatment, but means
that the body is treating the illness.
If strengthening drugs are used, you should abort them immediately if you get a flu, a cold, or
an allergy, as this kind of medicine could lead such illnesses deeper
into the body, because it also strengthens the acute disease.
In pregnancy some herbs cannot be used!
If a chronical illness is treated, which is replaced by an acute disease, the new
illness has precedence, and the herbs of the chronical disease should be cancelled,
while treating the new disease.
Just as the different seasons etc. the phase of the moon influences the effect of the
herbs. F.ex. are strengthening herbs more effective during an increasing moon, whereas
sedimentary herbs work better during a decreasing moon.
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Li Shih-Chen, statue in front of the Hangzhou TCM
Hospital, Hangzhou, PR China |
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Email:
mail@center-of-chinese-medicine.com