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Product Description
How to prepare herbal decoctions or tea, and when to take the herbal decoction may have significant influence on the ultimate treatment results. Each herb has its own features. These features illustrate how herbs act on the human body, and their therapeutic effects. It is critical to understand these features of herbs before using them. This issue emphasizes on the preparation of herbs, different formats of using herbs, and energies and tastes of herbs. More than ten different ways of using herbs are described. Interactions among herbs, and among herbs and foods, as well as precautions and contraindications in using herbs are also discussed.

Table of Contents

1. How to Use Herbs in Different Ways
2. How to Make Herbal Tea and Decoctions for the Best Effects
3. Different Energies of Herbs in Chinese Medicine: Cold and Hot Herbs
4. Spicy, Sweet, Sour, Bitter, and Salty: Five Tastes of Chinese Herbs
5. Interactions, Precautions, and Contraindications in Using Chinese Herbs

Excerpts from “How to Use Herbs in Chinese Medicine: The Basics and Practical Guides”:

“In Chinese medicine, herbal wine has been popular for thousands of years. Herbal wine can be made through soaking herbs in wine for some time to get certain effects. The wine can usually improve the effect of the herbs, such as for arthritis. It can be taken orally, or used externally….”

“Add water to the pot to submerge all the herbs. Soak the herbs for about 30 minutes before placing the pot on a fire.
Usually the properties of the herbs decide the amount of water to be added and the cooking time….”

“Incorrect applications of herbs on patients may cause severe problems and strong toxic effects. For example, using herbs of the hot nature on a patient with hot syndromes will only cause the disease even worse. Herbs are safe and effective only when they are used correctly with appropriate properties applied to the corresponding ailments….”

“Herbs with different tastes or flavors have different pharmacological and therapeutic effects. Here the “tastes” do not refer to their real tastes in the mouth, but indicate the actions they have on the human body….”

“Ancient Chinese medicine classics recorded many herb-herb interactions, precautions, and contraindications in the application of herbs. These include the eighteen incompatible medicinal herbs, and the nineteen mutual-restraining medicinal herbs….”

How to Use Herbs in Chinese Medicine: The Basics and Practical Guides

Product Description
The first book to exclusively use Chinese medical theories and terminology to guide practitioners of Chinese medicine in the use of Western herbs

• Written entirely according to the theory, diagnosis, and treatment paradigm of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

• Explains how to combine and modify the standard TCM formulas to non-Chinese herbs suitable for Western practitioners

• Includes 58 monographs of common Western healing herbs, detailing how each plant is used clinically

The ever-growing number of Chinese medicine practitioners in the West has brought about an amalgamation of many styles of Chinese medicine and various other forms of medicine from around the world. This book addresses the increasing demand for knowledge of how to integrate plants from outside the standard Chinese materia medica into the fold of Chinese medical practices in the West. It is the first in-depth guide to using Western herbs exclusively according to the theories, diagnoses, and treatments of traditional Chinese medicine that harmonizes the unique terminology and theories of TCM with other botanical medicines.

The book contains 58 monographs, illustrated with full-color photographs, of herbs commonly used by Western herbalists. Each herb is grouped by the basic categorization for medicinals in Chinese medicine, such as Herbs that Resolve the Exterior and Herbs that Regulate Blood. The monographs detail the energetics, function and indication, channels entered, dosage and preparation, and contraindications of each plant. The author also explains how to use the herbs to modify standard formulas used in everyday Chinese herbal medicine, based on his own clinical experience. An appendix of Western Analogs for Chinese Herbs further highlights 40 Chinese medicinals that have related species growing in the West.

Western Herbs according to Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Practitioner’s Guide

Natural herbs can be used to cure many health problems. Here are a few ways in which you too can improve your health and increase your energy level using only natural herbal remedies.
Many uses of natural herbs
People use herbs differently to improve their ways of life. For instance, you may find diet herbal supplement, as well as body creams and lotions with medicinal herbs.
Most commonly natural herbs are used to combat:
- high blood pressure
- acne
- arthritis
- difficulties with menopause
- hair loss
- anxiety
- depression
Medicinal natural herbs are mostly found in Asia. One reason is climate – warm and humid it promotes plants growth. It is also traditional way of living, using healing herbs as natural remedies. Recently the Western world has also caught on the usage of medicinal herbs, as being better than the use of traditional medicines. Most commonly use natural herbs are Aloe Vera, Tee Tree, chamomile, Rosemary, Sage and St John’s wort.
Why people prefer alternative herbal treatments to conventional drugs?
Many of us trust healing plants in place of common medicine, because using herbal medicine is a safer alternative to ordinary drugs. Natural herbs almost always will give you the results desired however, it will not work as fast as strong conventional drugs. This happens because healing herbs work for your entire body, making it stronger, not just fight one problem. However, natural herb medicine is still medicine which means that a doctor should prescribe your herbal remedy. Also remember to finish the course even after you started to feel better, otherwise you will not gain the full benefit of herbal treatment.
Finding the right natural medicinal herbs for you
Many people with serious chronic diseases turn to natural remedies for cure, relief and a generally better life. Even though natural herbs are harmless, selecting the right herbal remedy is important, because there are no magical “cure all” herbs. For herbal medicine to work best it should be taken at the right dosage and at the right time of day, usually morning is recommended.
And how will you know what herbs you need? The only way is to check with a doctor if there is an herbal treatment for your condition and whether it will help you. Don’t just go to a Chinese herbs shop and buy whatever remedy they recommend, it might not work for you.
Taking any medicine including medicinal herbs without doctor’s advice is really not a good idea, because healing plants are still medication. Never forget that you will not gain any benefits if you administer the wrong herb, quantity or treatment.
Locating your natural herbal remedies
Visit a clinic that specializes on alternative medicine, they can give you qualified advice. They will fully check your health. Be prepared to go through a full examination, because for holistic medicine it is very important to cure all diseases as a complex. After that the doctor will tell you what natural herb or combination of herbs you need, to cure or relief to your suffering as well as help you live longer and healthier.
You can find very many herbs that have medicinal properties. So all you really need to do is to determine which herbs to use for which situation. Than discuss it with your doctor and you will be on the path to curing your diseases with natural herbs.

When we speak of Chinese herbs, we are technically referring to herbs sourced straight from China. Chinese herbs are commonly employed for Chinese cooking but may also have medicinal properties that make them ideal to use in Traditional Chinese Medicine too. There are a mind-boggling number of the known Chinese herbs (more than three hundred, at last count) which have reputedly been used in various ways for around 2000 years or so.

Generally, Chinese herbs might either be boiled as a hot tea for at least an hour for the patient to sip, or the Chinese herbs could be incorporated into honey bound pills. The most common purpose for using Chinese herbs is for their health benefits, since these Chinese herbs can reportedly make the human body stronger when the herbs are consumed. Chinese herbs which have developed a strong following are Ginseng, salvia, rhubarb, rehmannia, peony, ephedra sinica, licorice, hoelen, ginger, coptis, cinnamon bark, cinnamon, bupleurum, atractylodes, astragalus, and Dong Quai. Among this list of commonly used Chinese herbs, the one which many might be very familiar with is Ginseng (because of the many commercial products that claim to use this herb as an ingredient.) Much of the Ginseng being used for these commercial products would be made up of the Red Panax ginseng variety which is more affordable than the more highly prized Wild Ginseng variety.

Though not technically part of the Chinese herbs category, there is what is known as American ginseng too, which was employed by Native Americans for their own type of health care treatments.

Are Chinese herbs safe to use? Those who strongly believe in Traditional Chinese Medicine would probably be very convinced that Chinese herbs are very effective, but anyone who is trying out Chinese herbs for the first time (as part of Chinese cuisine or as part of a Traditional Chinese Medicine program of treatment) should always practice caution before ingesting any Chinese herbs. This is because the Chinese herbs that might work for one person might not necessarily work for another. More alarming is the prospect that certain Chinese herbs might even be dangerous for some individuals to use, especially if they happen to be allergic to those Chinese herbs, or if the person is on some commercial drug preparation that might contraindicate with some Chinese herbs. If you are planning to use Traditional Chinese Medicine to complement your conventional medical treatment program, you should always consult your physician first before taking any Chinese herbs on your own. This is for your own protection. Though admittedly various Chinese herbs (like ginger which even Westerners are very familiar with in these modern times) are probably safe to consume on a regular basis, many Chinese herbs are unfamiliar to Western medical practitioners so it is prudent to incorporate such Chinese herbs into your diet and medical treatment slowly – maybe even one at a time – to observe the effects on your body.

Product Description
Fully updated and authoritative, this revised edition of DK’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine makes this classic, completely illustrated reference guide even bigger and better than the original. Featuring more than 550 medicinal plants and the most current scientific research, this volume provides a comprehensive guide to healing with the world’s oldest form of medicine. A unique photographic index profiles over 550 plants, with detailed information on habitat and cultivation, parts used, active constituents, therapeutic properties, and traditional and current uses. A special section profiles 100 of the most common plants, featuring herbal preparations and recommendations for self-treatment. Guidelines on growing, harvesting, and storing medicinal plants also demonstrate making remedies for home use. In addition, accessible text offers fascinating insight into the chemistry of plants and their healing properties, explaining how and why they work as medicines within the body. The major herbal traditions of different cultures- Europe, India, China, Africa, Australia, and the Americas- are vividly described. A review of herbs from a historical perspective reveals the connection between medicinal herbs and cultural beliefs toward healing. Offering extensive coverage of all that herbs are- from cultural traditions to chemical components to self-treatments for common ailments-this Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine is the ultimate reference for anyone interested in exploring the healing benefits of medicinal plants.

Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive Home Reference Guide to 550 Key Herbs with all their Uses as Remedies for Common Ailments

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Product Description
For the first time, here is a detailed explanation and classification of herbs,using the ancient system of Ayurveda. More than 270 herbs are listed, with 108herbs explained in detail. Included are many of the most commonly used westernherbs with a profound Ayurvedic perspective. Important Chinese and specialAyurvedic herbs are introduced. Beautiful diagrams and charts, as well asdetailed glossaries, appendices and index are included.

The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine