Traditional Chinese Medicine uses Chinese herbs to restore the balance between Yin and Yang. It is often used in conjunction with acupuncture, massage, exercise and dietary advice from our Chinese Medicine Practitioners.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and the use of Chinese herbs has become a very popular choice in treating a vast number of health and well-being problems in Australia, with around 3 million Australians visiting Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners every year!
The Principle of Chinese Herbal Medicine:
Balance the body's energy, known as Qi (pronounced "chee"), that runs the bodies meridians, or channels.
Ancient Chinese proposed that every living thing is sustained by a balance of two opposing forces of energy, called Yin and Yang. Together, they make up the life essence, or Qi - a type of energy that flows through the body via invisible channels called meridians. Half of certain organs and meridians are governed by Yin and the other half by Yang. When Yin and Yang are out of balance in the body, this causes a blockage of Qi and a subsequent illness. Yin and Yang imbalances can be caused by stress, pollution, poor diet, emotional upsets or infection. For diagnostic purposes, Yin and Yang are further subdivided into interior and exterior, hot and cold, deficiency and excess.
Chinese Herbs can assist with the following (but not limited to):
These conditions are treated with the herbs by strengthening and restoring the body and its energies helping it recover quickly, assist in killing bacteria and viruses.
Chinese herbs can be used to treat a wide variety of diseases and conditions. Chinese herbal medicine is safer and gentler than tradition western medicine, because it is made of natural herbs. Most of Chinese herbs do not cause side effects. Most of the side effects caused by the use of Chinese herbs, can usually be reversed with the prescription of other Chinese herbs!
Chinese herbs are becoming a more common choice for many people to use instead of chemically produced western medicine. Knowing that they are naturally sourced, and safer to use, with less implications than the tradition western prescribed medications such as antibiotics, they have become the first and only choice for many Australians, and people world-wide.
Five elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine
The philosophy of Tradition Chinese Medicine proposes that everything including organs of the body are composed of five elements:
Chinese herbs are similarly classified into the five tastes
These tastes then correspond to the different elements.
Chinese herbal medicines are mainly plant based, but some preparations include minerals or animal products. They can be packaged as powders, pastes, lotions or tablets, depending on the herb and its intended use. Different herbs have different properties and can balance particular parts of the body. Prescribing a particular herb or concoction of herbs means the practitioner's diagnosis has to take into account the state of the patient's Yin and Yang, and the elements that are governing the affected organs. In China, people have been using natural herbs to treat a wide variety of diseases and conditions for over 3000 years. These herbs are composed of roots, bark, flowers, seeds, fruits, leaves, and branches. There are over 3000 different herbs that can be used for medical purposes. However, only around 300 to 500 of these herbs are commonly used.
To benefit from the power of Chinese Herbs, it is very important to use herbs only grown in China. This is because they are grown in their native environment and are not altered at all.
Herbs can act on the body as powerfully as pharmaceutical drugs and should be treated with the same caution and respect. Some herbs can be toxic in high doses; others can cause allergic reactions. Make sure your practitioner is fully qualified. Never abandon your regular medication or alter the dose without the knowledge and approval of your doctor.