China has over 30 thousand species of plants and as many as 5000 of them are used for medicine and food. Due to these plants being a part of the Chinese herbal tradition, it is hard to separate the food types from the medical types. However it is said that of the 5000, five hundred of them are used as drugs while the remaining 4500 are used for medical and consumption purpose. In Chinese medicine, the roots are the most important part of the medical element followed by the seeds then fruits, and leaves are the least important. Though a lot of times leaves are used as topical ointment and roots are more for consumption.
Herbs are categorized into four main properties namely hot, warm, cold and cool. Illnesses like fever are treated with cold aand cold illnesses are treated with warm properties. Taste elements include sour, bitter, sweet cold and salty so common colds are treated with the hot taste to expel any disease. Likewise each treatment uses the opposite taste element to expel or neutralize the illness. Herbal treatment is known to lift, lower, float and sink an illness so the easiest way to explain would be to use a herb which demonstrates the opposite effect.
While western herb treatment is known to use simple or a single herb, the Chinese herbal treatment includes a minimum of three herbs with some including up to 50 herbs. The medicines are prepared based on ancient journals and guidelines. People who are interested in the Chinese herbal treatment should consult with a professional since it will be harder to put together most of these drugs due to its complex nature. If prepared at home the result may not be the same as it is quite difficult to find and put together the correct dosage and the result may vary compared to medicine from professional practitioners.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
