How to Study Chinese Herbs

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Any herb which originated in China is considered a Chinese herb. For centuries, Chinese herbs have been used to treat a variety of disorders like depression, infection, heart conditions, viruses and even sexually transmitted diseases. There are many ways in which Chinese herbs can be used. Many are suitable for cooking and may be ingested in food, a practice which is extremely common in China. There are also numerous tablets full of Chinese medicinal herbs, which can be purchased at most grocery stores and health food markets. The most popular way use Chinese herbs, however, is in homemade teas. The herbs are usually boiled or simmered in 6 ounces of water and then immediately transferred to a cup, without draining. Teas made from Chinese herbs are generally mild and can be enjoyed several times a day. Follow these steps to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Money
Reference books
Computer with Internet access

Study Chinese Herbs

Step 1

Pick up a book on Chinese herbs for self-study at home. Try "A Handbook of Chinese Healing Herbs" and "The Way of Chinese Herbs" (see Resources below).
Step 2

Research Chinese herbs on the Internet. There are numerous Web sites, like the "Complementary and Alternative Healing University" (see Resources below), that are full of important information. You may even come across instructions for how to grow your own herbs or recipes that feature Chinese herbs.
Step 3

Sign up for a community class with a professional herbologist. More and more cities are including Chinese herb classes as a part of community enrichment courses.
Step 4

Enroll in a Chinese herb course at your local university. With alternative medicine subjects becoming increasingly popular, many colleges and universities now offer courses specifically about Chinese herbs.

Tips & Warnings

Most schools charge a fee to take courses on Chinese herbs. This fee can range from inexpensive to pricey, depending on the institution. Likewise, many community programs charge a nominal fee to register for courses.
Chinese herbs aren't meant to be a substitute for a physician's care, especially in a life-threatening emergency. Should you experience dangerous symptoms, like breathing difficulties, loss of vision, severe pain, sudden bleeding or chest pains, stop using Chinese herbs immediately and consult your doctor.

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