An Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine

Medicinal substances have been used in China for millennia, and Chinese Herbology is a complete system of diagnosis and prescription that is powerful in its ability to address complex health issues.  When I prescribe herbs for my patients, I often get asked many questions about the composition of the formulas as well as about how they work.  In this Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine, I’ll be introducing some of the basic concepts used in Chinese Herbology to help demystify the complex process of herbal prescribing.

Chinese Herbology has its roots in four primary historical texts that all date back to about the third century.  The texts are the Yellow Emperor’s Classic (Nei Jing) that outlines the basic theoretical principles of Chinese medicine, the Divine Husbandman’s Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao) that is credited with being the first compendium of Chinese herbal knowledge, the Discussion of Cold-Induced Disorders (Shang Han Lun) and the Essentials from the Golden Chamber (Jin Gui Yao Lue) both of which go into great detail about diagnostic pattern differentiation and prescribing of Chinese medicinals. 

One of the most basic things to keep in mind about Chinese herbal formulas is that they are not merely a mixture of random herbs that is haphazardly put together.  Each formula is a carefully crafted blend of herbs that work synergistically to balance and enhance each other to bring about the best therapeutic results.  This balance can take many forms such as one herb strengthening the effect of another, one herb counterbalancing an undesirable property in another herb such as toxicity, or one herb working to harmonize all the herbs in the formula to make it easier to process and digest.  Additionally, specific therapeutic strategies and methods underlie the formulation and application of herbal combinations. 

The herbs in formula combinations are divided into four categories: chief, deputy, assistant, and envoy.  The chief herb is the main herb(s) in the formula that is directed toward the principal pattern of disharmony.  The chief is an indispensable ingredient and has the greatest effect upon treating the pattern.  The deputy herb(s) aids the chief herb in treating the principal pattern of disharmony and also serves as the main ingredient to treat any coexisting patterns.  The assistant herb(s) reinforces the effect of both the chief and deputy herbs, and also directly influences a less important aspect of the main pattern.  The assistant herbs also moderate or eliminate the harsh nature of other ingredients and reduce the toxicity or side effects of other herbs in the formula.  The envoy herb(s) focuses the action of the formula on a certain channel or area of the body.  The envoy also harmonizes and integrates the actions of the other ingredients in the formula.

The formula for allergies, Jade Windscreen (Yu Ping Feng San), that I mentioned in my last blog post is a good example.  The chief herb in this formula is Astragalus.  This herb is directed against the primary pattern of disharmony, which, in the case of allergies, is an imbalanced immune response.  Atractylodis, the deputy, reinforces the action of the chief herb by helping to normalize immune response, and also goes a little further by strengthening the lung and spleen energy, thereby addressing the root cause of the immune imbalance.  Ledebouriellae, the assistant herb, helps both the chief and deputy herbs stabilize the immune system while also protecting the body from invasion by wind.  (See my last blog post for more information about wind and allergies.)  This formula does not include an envoy, illustrating the fact that not every formula has every component.  Likewise, many formulas have multiple deputy and assistant herbs.

It is this multi-layered treatment approach that allows Chinese herbal formulas to be so effective.  Each formula is designed carefully to not only address symptoms, but to also go deeper to address the cause of the symptoms.  The formulas, therefore, not only provide symptom relief, but they also help to correct the body’s imbalances to prevent the symptoms from recurring.  The complexity behind each formula is why it is always best to consult with a formally trained Chinese herbalist to make sure that you take the most appropriate formula for your specific condition.        

Traditionally, herbal formulas were decocted by boiling raw herbs and drinking the resulting liquid.  This form is known as a tea.  Because raw herbs require a good bit of time and effort to cook, granules are an easier way for a practitioner to have the same ability to modify a formula for a specific patient without requiring the patient to cook herbs.  Granules are decocted herbs that are then dried into a powder form.  The powder is then reconstituted with boiling water and taken as a tea.  Many classic formulas are also available in tablet or tincture form, and these are also wonderful choices.  Herbal formulas work best when patients take them, so it is always best to give patients a choice about how to take their herbs to see which form will fit best into their lifestyle.

Ah - Choo!!!

Here in the Triangle, if you suffer from seasonal allergies, you’ve probably already started to notice that familiar tickle in your nose and throat that signals the arrival of spring pollen.  Maybe you’ve been sneezing, have been mildly congested or had a runny nose, or perhaps you’ve even noticed some mild burning of your eyes or itchiness of your skin.  All these symptoms, from a Chinese medical point of view, point to the climactic influence of the spring season – wind. 

Chinese medicine views seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms as being primarily caused by the pathogenic influence of wind.  Wind is qualified by symptoms that occur quickly, are rapidly changeable, affect mostly the upper part of the body, and occur at a very surface level – for example, mucous membranes and skin.  From the perspective of Chinese medicine, those of us with underlying deficiencies, often of the spleen, kidney, or lung, are especially susceptible to invasion by wind, and, therefore, conditions like seasonal allergies.

Luckily, there are many natural options to help relieve allergy symptoms.  One of the best choices for effective and side effect free treatment is acupuncture.  Acupuncture works incredibly well because it not only relieves current symptoms, but also balances the immune system and corrects underlying deficiencies to help prevent symptoms from recurring.  Regular treatments are most effective during allergy season, ideally starting acupuncture therapy a few weeks before symptoms hit their peak. 

Chinese herbal medicine is another very effective choice, and can be combined with acupuncture for faster results.  One of the most basic formulas used during allergy season is Jade Windscreen (Yu Ping Feng San).  This formula is incredibly simple and elegant, comprised of only three herbs – one that expels wind (Ledeboureilla root), one that supports the lung system (Astragalus root), and one that supports the spleen system (Atractylodes).  The simplicity of this formula also makes it highly adaptable for each individual patient’s presentation.

Using a neti pot can also be of great help during allergy season.  Nasal irrigation with saline can be extremely effective at washing allergens out of the nasal passageways and preventing an immune response.  Additionally, the saline helps to moisturize the nasal membranes and control swelling.  Goldenseal and/or grapefruit seed extract are great additions to the traditional saline wash.

Supplements can also be of great support to your system this time of year.  Quercitin can help to normalize the histamine reaction, Bromelain thins mucous and reduces nasal passage swelling and inflammation, and good quality probiotics help to normalize large intestine and gut function and, therefore, support the immune system as a whole.

Remember, there’s no reason to suffer this season.  Try some of the many natural options available to you to find relief from allergy symptoms!

Winter, a Time to Rest

In our western culture, we are very “production oriented.”  Time is money, right?  We place a lot of value on being industrious and getting things done.  We don’t, however, see the flip-side so easily, often neglecting to take time to rest and rejuvenate, often seeing these things as being a “waste of time” since we can’t easily measure tangible or material benefits from taking time off.  The effect this type of behavior has on our body is cumulative, and, over time, we start to experience health problems because of our unwillingness to slow down and rest.  What we experience in this regard varies greatly from person to person, depending on each individual’s constitution.  Some people may be able to push themselves harder for much longer without seeing any detriment, and for others, this type of behavior may take a more immediate toll.  Either way, the body’s energy reserves are being taxed and used up at a greater rate than they are being replenished, and this, eventually, will lead to a health related issue of one sort or another – lowered immunity and autoimmune disease, insomnia and poor sleep, thyroid and adrenal dysfunction, digestive upset, migraines, chronic muscular tension, and menstrual issues just to name a few.  On the extreme end of the spectrum, this type of over-taxation on the body can even end up expressing as cancer.  The burden of chronic overwork can show up absolutely anywhere in the body, depending, again, on where a particular individual has a tendency to fall out of balance or a constitutional weakness. 

According to the Five Phases (also called Elements) in Chinese medicine, to prevent this kind of deep depletion of our reserves, we need to support and take proper care to nourish Water.  The Water phase/element is associated with the kidneys and the urinary bladder, and I’m sure this makes intuitive sense, as these are the two primary organs that are responsible for physiologically processing much of the water in the body.  Water is also associated with the deep endocrine and glandular processes of the body, the production and regulation of hormones, and the bones.  The kidneys, in Chinese medicine, are where the root yin and yang (the root energy) of the body is stored.  In addition, the kidneys store the precious substance called jing, which is our body’s deepest core essence, akin to measurable physiological substances that trace our ancestral inheritance like our DNA.

As most of the processes governed by the Water phase/element are at the deepest level of our being, it is easy to understand the significant importance of taking care to nourish this system well and provide it with proper maintenance.  In the case of Water, proper maintenance equals REST.  

Rest becomes especially important this time of year, as the Water phase is associated with the season of winter.  We can liken Water energy to a seed buried deep in the frozen ground.  The seed, like our kidneys, holds within it all the requirements for it to germinate, sprout, push up through the soil in the spring, grow tall and full and vibrant, and eventually release new seeds to go through the same process of birth and growth.  However, none of this can manifest if the seed, during the winter, is not given the proper time to mature within itself and rest within the soil before beginning its emergence into the warm sun of springtime.  The same is true for us as humans.  Winter is the time of year that we should be resting and rejuvenating – storing our energy for the spring when it will be time for us, like the seed, to burst forth with our creative energy for all the new projects we want to accomplish in our lives.  If we don’t take the time to let our energy consolidate and our ideas coalesce, then we won’t, ultimately, have much to offer once the energy is there in spring to support our growth. 

The evidence of this is all around us in nature.  In winter, the atmosphere is quiet and still, the days are short, and the climate is cold.  The cues we are getting from nature are to stay inside, stay warm, and rest well.  So make sure to slow down this winter, take some time off, and let your body restore its deep level energy to support you to be even more productive in the coming months once the weather warms and the days grow long again.  Take a nap, curl up with your favorite book and a nice cup of hot tea, have a soak in the tub – whatever helps you to relax, unwind, and be still.      



Replenish Your Reserves with Bone Broth

One of the easiest and most healthful ways to nourish our bodies is to follow the tradition of our ancestors of utilizing the whole animal when we cook.  One wonderfully economical and nutritious way to do this is by making bone broth. 

Broths are ideal food for us as they are very easy to digest, and our body has to expend very little effort to utilize the nutrients contained within them.  Bone broth, in particular, contains an astounding assortment of beneficial factors such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur, collagen, the building blocks for glucosamine and chondroitin, essential amino acids, and many other highly absorbable nutrients and trace minerals.   Additionally, the nicest part about getting our nutrients from a natural source, such as bone broth, means that we are also getting any supplemental, perhaps as of yet unknown, co-factors needed to support the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of the primary nutrients.  This is especially true for bone maintenance and regeneration.   

Another unique aspect of bone broth is that it contains marrow, a very nutritious substance rich in omega-3 fatty acids.  In Chinese medical theory, marrow is considered to be an extraordinary substance that nourishes our deep development, growth, and our jing.  Jing, in Chinese medicine, is akin to our life essence – the reservoir from which we draw energetic sustenance during our entire lives.   By supporting our jing with smart dietary choices, we can make sure our reserves don’t easily run low, and that we always have the energy we need to take care of everything that’s required of us in our busy lives. 

BONE BROTH

Ingredients:

• Marrow Bones – use only organic, free-range, hormone-free animal bones such as beef knuckle bones or a chicken carcass
• 1 – 2 tsp. rice wine or apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (the vinegar/acid helps to dissolve the calcium and other minerals out of the bone)
• Root vegetables and/or any other vegetables for flavor (optional)

Place bones (and vegetables if you are using them) in a soup pot and cover with water by two inches.  Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to simmer, and let the broth simmer from 12 – 24 hours for chicken bones and 24 – 72 hours for beef bones.   As the broth cooks, scrape off the foam that rises to the top.  Once cooking is complete, remove the bones and vegetables with a slotted spoon, and refrigerate the broth so the fat separates and solidifies at the top.  Scrape off some of the fat, but not all, as saturated fats help the body to assimilate minerals and vitamins.

The broth can be refrigerated for several days or frozen for several months.  I like to freeze the broth in ice-cube trays, making it extra easy to use in recipes throughout the next several months.  Bone broth combines really well with miso for an extra nutritious soup or stew, but you can season this broth however you like.

You may also use a crock pot to make this recipe even easier!

Remember, when you take the time to make this broth, you are nourishing and supporting yourself at the deepest level possible!

Jingui Golden Shield Qi Gong FREE Lecture and Demonstration

Tuesday, November 2nd at 6:30pm
Held at: Ancient Elements Acupuncture
2600 Fairview Road, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 

Space is limited so you must register for this presentation!  To register call 919.260.7023 or use the contact form to register online.

Please visit the Upcoming Events page for more details!