Chinese herbal medicine uses natural mineral, plant, and animal substances as medicine. These substances have minimum side effects when taken at the right time for the right condition; taken wrongly, they can be harmful.

For example, the herb astragalus (huangqi) taken alone should be used with caution by those who have high blood pressure or high fevers due to acute infections.

It is essential for anyone who wants to benefit from Chinese herbal medicine to consult a doctor of Chinese medicine for evaluation based on the theories and diagnostic techniques of Chinese medicine, including pulse and tongue reading.

When evaluating a patient, the Chinese medicine practitioner first has to identify which meridians and organ systems are out of balance. For example, liver and stomach meridians are often affected in indigestion. The practitioner has to determine the nature of the energy imbalance, such as too much or too little energy or energy that is stagnated, blocked, or moving in the wrong direction.

Take acid reflux as an example. It may be stagnated liver energy affecting the normal flow of stomach energy, which is now moving in the wrong direction. If it has been a chronic condition, the patient can get very tired and malnourished.

Emotional distress, anger, and especially resentment often cause liver energy stagnation. Patients with this type of imbalance may also suffer from migraines, depression, insomnia, irritable bowel, and chronic pain in deep tissues.

When the Chinese medicine doctor has gathered all the information and comes up with diagnoses of energy imbalance, an individualized Chinese medicine remedy is formulated.

In most cases, four types of herbs are included in the formula. The first is called emperor. The emperor represents the herbs that treat the main symptoms and their underlying causes.

The second is called minister. The minister helps the emperor to do a better job and also treats accompanying symptoms and their underlying causes.

The third is called assistant. The assistant is the herb that helps both emperor and minister but also harmonizes the formula and eliminates possible toxins and side effects.

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Understanding Chinese Herbal Medicine