HERBAL MEDICINE
Herbal medicine, along with acupuncture is one of the largest components of Chinese Medical treatment. In fact, many modern pharmaceuticals are based on traditional herbal medicines. The greatest differences between these modern developed medicines and the traditional formulations is two fold. First, the more modern versions are typically a single, chemically isolated component that is concentrated for the medication whereas the traditional medicinals still come largely as whole components such as roots, nuts, or leaves. The second is that modern medicines are typically given one by one unlike the traditional formulations which are made up of anywhere between three to twelve herbal components selected to complement and augment each others functions, while minimizing any undesired effects.
In the end, herbal medicine is not a replacement for Western pharmaceutical medicine, because the pharmaceuticals are typically stronger and can act more rapidly on the body. There are times where this kind of aggressive intervention is necessary, however it is not always the best course. The body resists change with the same vigor that the change is created. This means that with their stronger actions Western meds often result in a wide range of unpleasant side effects and require constant administration to maintain their function, because the body never integrates the changes. Conversely, the more gentle TCM herbs work more slowly, to produce a gradual change over time in body function that will usually produce fewer side effects, and lead to an eventual and permanent functional shift.
Herbal medicine, along with acupuncture is one of the largest components of Chinese Medical treatment. In fact, many modern pharmaceuticals are based on traditional herbal medicines. The greatest differences between these modern developed medicines and the traditional formulations is two fold. First, the more modern versions are typically a single, chemically isolated component that is concentrated for the medication whereas the traditional medicinals still come largely as whole components such as roots, nuts, or leaves. The second is that modern medicines are typically given one by one unlike the traditional formulations which are made up of anywhere between three to twelve herbal components selected to complement and augment each others functions, while minimizing any undesired effects.
In the end, herbal medicine is not a replacement for Western pharmaceutical medicine, because the pharmaceuticals are typically stronger and can act more rapidly on the body. There are times where this kind of aggressive intervention is necessary, however it is not always the best course. The body resists change with the same vigor that the change is created. This means that with their stronger actions Western meds often result in a wide range of unpleasant side effects and require constant administration to maintain their function, because the body never integrates the changes. Conversely, the more gentle TCM herbs work more slowly, to produce a gradual change over time in body function that will usually produce fewer side effects, and lead to an eventual and permanent functional shift.
