The Chinese are an ancient and knowledgeable race of people. Their rich history, rituals and teachings are in use in different part of the world for many different purposes. Chinese men and women have been involved in many kind of mystic arts since time unknown and it is because of these rich backgrounds of their culture that China has made quite a few breakthroughs in different fields through their ideas and teachings.

The Chinese have had a particularly peculiar and singular impact on medical and health related fields through their herbal sciences. Herbology or herbalism has always been a speciality of China and Chinese herbalism’s impact on everything related to healing (materia medica) like medicines made of natural herbs etc. have been particularly helpful and successful in the past and present and are expected to carry on to the future.

The ancient Chinese martial artists has exceptional amount of usage of such herbalism in order to treat injuries sustained from battles. Over the years, Chinese herbalism has been nearly perfected by experts and has become a popular source of natural medicines.

The history of Chinese herbalism begins from the Shennong, a mythical being who has been believed to have tried out a number of herbs and recognized and differentiated them for their useful and toxic qualities. He then passed this knowledge on to Chinese farmers thereby initiating what is being referred to as Chinese herbalism.

The original Chinese black book of medicines and drugs has a number of medicines equal to the number of days in a year written within it. Out of the medicines shown in the Shennong Bencao Jing (the name of the black book) more than two thirds are herb based medicines or even herbs and as such marks the beginning of what has now been improved and increased greatly by the following generations till date.

The first movement in this work which took it forward was perhaps the Yaoxing Lun which represented Chinese herbalism and herbal medicines in a systematic and organized manner. The most famous of all the Chinese dynasties that is the Ming dynasty also did a lot of work towards the improvement and upliftment of Chinese herbalism and their Compendium of Materia Medica is a much sought after work of herbal medicine.

Ancient Chinese medicines and their books on such topics are more than two thousand years old and have not only formed the basis for research of today but are still in use sometimes today. Linghzi is an example of a kind of mushroom which was first found in the Chinese teachings.

The idea of using mushrooms and their extracts for their medicinal quality and indeed even the discovery of those medicinal qualities was first carried out by the Chinese. While some modern research has argued against the truthfulness and fruitfulness or dangers of medicine, there is not concrete evidence to prove such a thing.

Chinese herbalists and Chinese herbalism are therefore the works of potentially some of the greatest men and women of the world. They are effective, natural and often even easy to make solutions for health problems or any other ailments you might be suffering from.

Donna Houston

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Many people claim that Chinese medicine is the best form of alternative medicine that helps cure a lot of chronic ailments. In a way many such claims are true. Now if you have been looking forward to giving Chinese medicine a shot for one of your ailments then you need to be informed that there are three different forms under this ancient alternative medicine. It would be best if you could read the following and choose one particular method that would best suit you.

The three popularly known forms of Chinese medicine are acupuncture, Qigong and the use of herbs. Acupuncture as a form of alternative medicine is practiced by inserting very slender stainless steel needles to various acupuncture points of the body. An acupuncture specialist would drive the needle into one particular point or area depending upon the type of ailment. With advancement in technology, such specialists also send low voltage electricity or heat waves through the needle for faster relief. Though the current practitioners of acupuncture place the needles either near the place of the ailment or near the symptom, traditional acupuncture on the other hand used a combination of more than one point in the patient’s body.

Qigong on the other hand is used to channelize the vital energy flow in and around the patient. Internally qigong was claimed to be channelized through relaxation and breathing techniques while the external qigong was taken care by an experienced master of qigong. Herbal usage in Chinese medicine was either accompanied with the above two forms or was independently used to cure ailments.

Though acupuncture is more popular, use of herbal concoctions or balm were proven to have a better effect on the patient. All these three forms of alternative medicine are still practiced in many parts of the world. Before you choose one of these forms, it would be best if you could talk to practitioners of all these three forms and then come to your own conclusion on what would suit you best.

Thomas Wolf

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Proposed Medical Benefits of Ginger

Ginger root is used today to provide relief for symptoms of motion sickness including sweating, vomiting, dizziness, and nausea. No conclusive results were found when studies compared commercial medications with ginger. Signs of similar results between the two did seem apparent in the studies.

Ginger has other uses including relieving arthritis pain, ulcerative colitis, menstrual discomfort, headaches, fevers from flu and colds, and sore throats. Gastrointestinal problems including heartburn and gas can also be treated with ginger. The muscles of the gastrointestinal tract can be strengthened by the use of garlic. Ginger is also used to treat arthritis, both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. It is thought that garlic can also provide relief for toothaches, but no scientific evidence exists to support this.

Ginger Constituents

Volatile oils in ginger are what cause the taste, smell, and medical effectiveness. About 1-4% of ginger is oil. Ginger contains pungent constituents, shogaols and gingerols, which make it effective for relieving vomiting and nausea. Bisabolene and zingiberene are the aromatic constituents of garlic.

Dosage and Administration

For treating and preventing motion sickness, ingest 500 mg of ginger powder (dried) between 30 to 60 minutes prior to traveling. 500 mg should be taken as needed every 2 to 4 hours. Pregnant women should not use ginger for a prolonged amount of time, but can take as much as 1 gram daily to treat nausea.

There are no recommendations for dosage in children.

Dong Quai is commonly used in conjunction with other herbs as a remedy for disorders of the menstrual cycle, like cessation of menstruation, pain that accompanies menstruation (also called dysmenorrhea), and bleeding from the uterus. Traditional Chinese healers do not use it, however, to treat menopausal symptoms. Chinese herbalists recommend it for both males and females to treat cardiovascular disorders like high blood pressure or circulatory problems. Dong Quai has been known to increase activity of the central nervous system, which gives increased strength and energy and soothes headaches which can accompany problems with menstruation. It is also beneficial to the reproductive organs, and is used to treat endometriosis, or internal bleeding or bruising. It can sometimes treat problems associated with menopause like hot flashes or vaginal dehydration. It is also used to purify the bloodstream of toxins, stimulate circulation, and is very beneficial to the blood in both men and women. Dong Quai is very rich in iron and so it is used to treat or prevent anemia. Research indicates it is also effective in evening out blood sugar amounts and reducing blood pressure.

Dong Quai can also be used as a mind sedative as it soothes nerves and helps people relax. It can also be used to help the uterus during birth. Other uses of Dong Quai include treating insomnia, constipation, and migraines.

Dosage Information

Dong Quai is a root that is usually crushed into a powder and is then taken as a pill. Females can take from 1-4 grams per day, though doses should be kept small and spread throughout the day. Alternately, a mixture that contains 3-5 ml of Dong Quai can be ingested up to three times daily.

Possible Side Effects

For fair-skinned people, Dong Quai may increase sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, so people who take Dong Quai often should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. Dong Quai is not recommended for use by pregnant or nursing women.

Dong Quai may interact negatively with other medications. Consult with a doctor before combining any medications.

Ashwagandha is a shrub that flourishes in India and North America. The roots of the ashwagandha plant have been employed for millennia by Ayurvedic healers. Ashwagandha has many beneficial elements, including flavonoids and members of the withanolide class. Numerous modern studies have found that ashwagandha is very effective in reducing inflammation, treating tumors, decreasing stress, increasing mental activity, invigorating the body, and as an antioxidant.

Health Benefits of Ashwagandha

Scholars at Banaras Hindu University, located in Varanasi, India, have conducted research that has shown that many of the elements of ashwagandha are antioxidants. The researchers looked at the effects these elements have on the brains of test animals and found that ashwagandha led to larger amounts of three different natural antioxidants: superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. The scholars conclude, “These findings are consistent with the therapeutic use of W. somnifera as an Ayurvedic rasayana (health promoter). The antioxidant effect of active principles of W. somnifera may explain, at least in part, the reported anti-stress, cognition-facilitating, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects produced by them in experimental animals, and in clinical situations.”

For years, Indians have prescribed ashwagandha as a treatment for cerebral disorders in the elderly, including memory loss. Scholars from the University of Leipzig looked at the effects of ashwagandha on the brain. They dosed rats with ashwagandha and then looked at their brains to see if ashwagandha affected neurotransmitters. The research showed that ashwagandha led to more acetylcholine receptor activity. The scholars concluded that the increase of activity in that particular neurotransmitter could account for the increase in cognitive ability and memory that is attributed to ashwagandha.

Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center also looked at the effects of ashwagandha. They found that extracts of the shrub had activity that was similar to GABA, which could explain why the plant is effective in reducing anxiety.

Another study, conducted in 2002, found that ashwagandha leads to increased growth of axons and dendrites. Another study in 2001 found that the plant can enhance memory. A 2000 project indicated that ashwagandha reduced anxiety and depression in animals.