Monica Bloch Kaderali,
M.S., L.Ac. |
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Chinese Herbal Medicine
The next great book of Chinese herbal medicine and theory was the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic (Huang Di Nei Jing), compiled by unknown authors between 200 BC and 100 AD. This book is the basis of theoretical and philosophical foundation of TCM. As early as the Inner Classic, a sophisticated system was developed to describe the herb, its affect on the body, and how the herb interacted with other substances in herbal formulas.
Chinese herbal theory is complicated and requires the memorization of hundreds of herbs, their individual use and their use in formulas, and how they intermingle with other herbs. Modern TCM students are also required to learn how these herbs interface with common pharmaceutical drugs.
It is for this reason that it is imperative that before taking herbal medicine, even if it is sold over the counter at health food stores or drugs stores, that you consult with a licensed herbalist. Herbs are a crude form of drugs, and many are contraindicated for various conditions like pregnancy or high blood pressure. Employees of health food stores are not usually licensed herbalists. Make sure you are getting the correct information from qualified people.
Hit Medicine These monasteries were not exempt from imperial dictatorship, and at times the emperor would deploy the monks to fight in territorial wars, specifically in the Ming dynasty against invasions by the Japanese. Detailed Chinese herbal formulas were prepared for the treatment of die da – injury due to fall and strike. As you can see, traditional Chinese medicine to treat bodily injury with herbs is not new. After an acute injury, your practitioner may give you powdered herbs and instructions on how to make a poultice. The base for a poultice is either an egg white, egg yolk, or rice wine, depending on your particular condition. Often herbs used in external formulas are toxic and should never be taken externally. Hit medicine formulas have been used to help strains, sprains, and even fractures. |
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Traditional Chinese Medicine
Monica Bloch Kaderali, M.S., L.Ac. Mill Valley Acupuncture Center | 295 Miller Ave., Suite C | Mill Valley, CA. 94941
Novato Acupuncture and Herb
Clinic | 1531 So. Novato Boulevard, Suite
E | Novato, CA. 94947 |
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The Chinese herbal pharmacy contains an upward of 400
herbs. Herbal medicine has been used for thousands of years in Asia in lieu of
drugs. Today, Western medicine is the dominant form of medicine practiced in
China. Herbal medicines are actually drugs in their crude forms. Many are
foods, like yams and berries. Like other early civilizations, Chinese medicine
began as a predominantly shamanistic practice. However, the recovery of eleven
medical works from a tomb in the Hunan province in 1973, believed to be written
in 168 BC, gave us a glimpse of herbal medicine as well. The most important
recovered work was the large manuscript called the Prescriptions for
Fifty-two Ailments (Wu Shi Er Bing Fang), which is mainly pharmacological,
and was written on silk. Over 250 medical substances are named.
Hundreds upon hundreds of years ago in China, the Shaolin and other Buddhist
monasteries were a lot like universities. They were think-tanks where the monks
postulated and studied science, mathematics, literature, calligraphy, music, and
martial arts. Many scholars believe that traditional Chinese medicine
originated at these monasteries, in particular basic Chinese medical theory of
yin/yang and five elements. In addition to a martial arts training to inflict
serious bodily harm, the study of how to heal the defeated opponent was also of
great importance. Therefore the practice was called “hit” medicine, literally
referring to the means by which the person was injured.