Traditional Herbs in China

A country of 1.3 billion people and still counting. A country with some 35,000 plant species, 5000 of them are used in its traditional medicine practice. A walk inside a Chinese medicine hall would make you either greatly impressed or utterly confused. You can feast your eyes with all kinds of dried herbs.

Herbalism in China has been long practiced since 5000 years ago. Some historians mentioned that the Golden Age of Chinese medicine was during the days of the Han Dynasty, incorporates with acupuncture, massage and energy therapy.

There's 2 'Bibles' on Chinese herbal medicine namely Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing. The 1596 book called Ban Cao Gang Mu are the most prominent recordings, which are still imparting their influences until today.

The two main system acting as its backbone, Yin and Yang and the 5 elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water). Yin denotes 'negative', 'passive' and 'internal' whereas Yang denotes 'positive', 'active' and 'external'. Yin organs are heart, liver and spleen. Yang organs are stomach, intestine, bladder nad gastrointenrinal. Besides organs, symptoms treatments based on Yin and Yang, herbs are prescribed on its effects on the Yin and Yang.

Additionally, herbs are categorized by its 5 tastes (sweet, bitter, sour, salty, acrid). Yet, it is not implying that these are the actual taste of the herbs. Instead, there represents their healing properties. Together with 'Temperature' of the herbs (warm, hot, cool, cold), all herbal prescriptions are administered by their specific taste and temperature (ie 'cold' conditions are treated using a 'hot' symptoms).

At Present, many universities in China are now teaching and researching in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It has also made its way across the world's continent. In 1995, the French government signed an agreement with the Chinese government to establish a hospital on Paris, offering acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine This shows the promising future and recognition of Chinese medicine in the health treatment system.

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