When you consult a practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine, he or she will first of all ask you in detail about your presenting condition—when it first appeared, your symptoms, what makes it worse or better. You will then be asked about your past medical history and your general health, for example:
your appetite, diet, digestion, stools, and urination
your sleep patterns, any pain—headaches, backache—ear, nose, and throat (ENT) problems
intake of drugs, alcohol, nicotine
body temperature (more hot or cold), circulation, and perspiration
energy levels, mental, and emotional states
gynecology—menstruation, pregnancies, menopause
Finally, your practitioner will take both radial (wrist) pulses and look at your tongue, in order to help him or her to make a diagnosis according to Chinese medicine. The practitioner may search through some books to check on the herbal prescription most suited to your condition, and will then write down a prescription. This will include anything from 4 to 20 herbs, and their dosages in grams or in qian (Chinese measurements). The names of the herbs will be in English, Latin, Pinyin (anglicized Chinese), or in Chinese characters. Your practitioner will then make up the prescription for you or refer you to a herbal supplier to have it made up elsewhere.
Chinese herbs are mostly made of plant parts—leaves, flowers, fruit, or fruit peel, twigs, roots, bark, or fungus. There are some minerals, such as gypsum, but these are less commonly used. There are also animal parts in Traditional Chinese Medicine, such as snake, mammal bones, or deer horn. However, their importation has now been forbidden, and herbal practitioners find alternatives to prescribe.
PREPARATIONS AND TREATMENT
There are many different ways of taking herbs. Individual herbs can be added to foods or taken as a tea, but Chinese herbs are rarely taken singly—they are much more effective when made into a composite prescription.
Decoctions Packets of dried herbs are boiled for around 30 minutes, down to 2 cups, and then often boiled again to last two days. They smell worse than they taste!
Powders One teaspoonful of cooked, freeze-dried herbs is taken two or three times a day, mixed with a little cold water to a paste; then a little boiling water is added. This is somewhat unpalatable but easy and effective.
Tinctures One teaspoon of liquid taken two or three times a day. These are more palatable but not as strong as decoctions or powders.
Pills and capsules These are used-for patent remedies (prescriptions which have not been changed to suit the individual). They are easy to swallow, but you have to take a lot more than with Western drugs—sometimes eight tablets at a time.
Syrups These are patent remedies, mainly good for coughs or children’s tonics.
Plasters These are used for rheumatic ailments (Wind-Damp); they are very effective for relieving local pain and stiffness. Treatment generally means taking herbs two or three times a day until the problem is gone.
At first you will need to see your practitioner every one or two weeks so that he or she can alter the prescription as your symptoms improve. You may experience slight nausea, diarrhea, or digestive upset as your system becomes used to the herbs. In this case, you will need to halve your dosage and build it up again slowly; your practitioner may add more digestive herbs in order that you may tolerate it better. After that, you may be able to see or even telephone your practitioner once a month in order to report on progress, and so that the prescription can be changed accordingly. Herbal medicines should not be taken without review for more than 30 days.
THE HERBS USED
PATENT HERBAL PREPARATIONS
These are sold as over-the-counter remedies for colds and flu, coughs and phlegm, even strep throat infections, as well as for rheumatic ailments, pain, and bruising from trauma. Patent remedies used for anything else must be diagnosed by a herbal practitioner, even tonics; for instance, do you need to tonify the qi, blood, yin, or yang? It is important to consult a herbal practitioner if you intend to use a patent remedy over a long period of time, such as a long-term tonic for an elderly person. Tonics should not be taken during an episode of cold or flu (Wind Invasion), as they tend to drive Wind deeper into the body.
Chinese herbs are hardly ever used singly—they are used mainly in combination with other herbs to make a balanced prescription. Some of the most commonly used herbs involved in those prescriptions follow in the next section. Each herb also has a particular range of dosages assigned to it—when comparing it to other herbs in a prescription, one can see whether it is used in an average dose, or whether one would use a smaller or larger dose in that prescription. Both these features mean that it is important to consult a qualified herbalist before using the herbs, either in a herbal pharmacy or privately through your state’s Chinese Medicine Association.
CHILDREN AND BABIES
Chinese herbal medicine can be very effective for children and babies. Children’s dosages are usually half or a quarter of those given for adults. There are ways of encouraging children to take the herbs, either by involving them in the preparation of the prescription, or by sweetening it with honey, or by offering a cookie afterward! There are certain herbal powders especially formulated for babies.
PREGNANCY
Many herbs are expressly forbidden in pregnancy, whilst some are especially good for pregnant women. There are several which may help to prevent miscarriage. Take only herbs prescribed by a qualified practitioner when pregnant.
CAUTION
Some patent remedies containing animal products may still be sold. They are now illegal in this country, so please check with the pharmacy first. Always go to a reputable practitioner (consult your state’s Chinese Medicine Association). Some herbal patents for insomnia and mental disturbance contain mineral substances, such as oyster shell or magnetite. In excess, these can cause indigestion, so use them for a limited amount of time and find alternative prescriptions.
SAFETY NOTE
If prescribing herbs over a long period of time, it is important that the practitioner pays particular attention to any liver or kidney symptoms which may arise during the course of the treatment. A very few individuals may experience idiosyncratic reactions to herbs—these are usually due to genetic abnormalities and the herbs would not cause a reaction in most other individuals. Regular liver function tests are sometimes advised by practitioners, but their value in these cases is still a matter of debate.
HERB TASTES AND FUNCTIONS
A BRIEF NOTE ABOUT TASTES
In the next section, we will mention the taste of each herb. In TCM, taste partly determines therapeutic function, so it is important to know what it signifies:
ACRID—Pungent or acrid substances disperse and move qi (energy).
Acrid herbs mainly affect the Lung functions.
BITTER—These herbs reduce excess qi, drain and dry excess moisture.
Bitter herbs mainly affect the Heart organ.
SALTY—These herbs purge (drain through the bowels) and soften.
Salty herbs mainly affect the Kidney organ.
SWEET—Sweet substances tonify, harmonize, and strengthen qi, and may sometimes moisten.
Sweet herbs