How to Distinguish Different Chinese Herbs

Herbal treatments are perhaps the most recognizable of the contemporary practice of traditional Chinese medicine. There are currently about 600 different herbs used almost exclusively in combination with one another to treat physical maladies ranging from hypertension to muscle soreness. Chinese medicine proponents believe that herbal treatments restore the body's natural chemical balance. Follow these steps to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet connection

Understand How Chinese Herbs Are Classified

1. Know the two major classification systems of Chinese herbs: temperature and taste properties.

2. Understand the principles of herb temperature. There are four different temperatures--hot, warm, cool and cold--that are used to restore balance to the body. For example, a cold or cool herb would be used to treat a fever, which makes the body too hot.

3. Learn to distinguish between the five taste properties of Chinese herbs: sour, bitter, sweet, spicy and salty. As with the temperature principles, different-tasting herbs can be combined to restore a balance in the body that's been lost.

4. Visit your local health food store or an area herbalist to learn more about the temperature and taste properties that distinguish Chinese herbs.

Learn How Chinese Herbs Affect the Body

5. Recognize that ginseng is the only Chinese herb normally taken on its own. All 600 other herbs are administered, for medical purposes, in combinations with one another.

6. Find out how to distinguish between the four basic functions of Chinese herbs. They're used in medicine: ascending, descending, floating and sinking. A qualified Chinese medicine practitioner will be glad to explain the complex theory behind these functions.

7. Read about the six possible effects of combining different Chinese herbs: mutual accentuation, mutual enhancement, mutual counteraction, mutual suppression, mutual antagonism and mutual incapability. You can learn more about these effects by perusing the "Chinese Herbalist's Handbook" online (see Resources below).

8. Find a host of useful links by visiting Ability.org (see Resources below). Read about the practice of Chinese medicine and Chinese herbology.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're interested in trying Chinese herbal treatments, check with your health insurance provider to see if your prescription drug plan covers it. Comprehensive coverage packages sometimes cover alternative treatments. In general, Chinese herbs are inexpensively to moderately priced.
• Never self-administer any medications, even herbal medications, without professional guidance. Consult a qualified practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine before you undertake a treatment program for any ailment, no matter how minor it might seem.
• Before you start any alternative medical technique, be aware that many have not been scientifically evaluated. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about how alternative medicine practitioners can be professionally licensed. If you decide to visit one, choose one licensed by a recognized national organization. Consult your primary health care provider about your decision first. Keep your doctor informed about the alternative medical technique you undertake.

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