The history of Chinese herbs used for medicinal purposes dates back to sometime between 800 and 200 BC with the publication of Huang Di Nei Jing – The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. At this time, a combination of 28 separate Chinese herbs had been discovered to have great healing power and the combination of many of these are still in existence today.

By around 500 AD, Chinese herbs had been sorted into a classification system that helped guide their use depending on the particular situation. Superior herbs were used to help sustain health – much as we use herbal and vitamin supplements today; middle herbs were used to treat illness; and inferior herbs were used to cure disease. Chinese herbs have been credited with successfully treating everything from acne to infertility.

In today’s world, where traditional medicine tends to focus on the methods employed in Western medicine, much of the uses of Chinese herbs are largely passed over. But for those who look towards non-traditional medicine as a means of recovering health or even as a supplement to traditional medical care, they will find the benefits of Chinese herbs to be rooted in ancient knowledge and a history of success.

Chinese herbs can be found in a variety of places including medical offices following the Eastern practice of medicine, Asian markets, and even online. But the use of Chinese herbs, while most often safe, should be used under the guidance of a medical professional and after extensive research has been performed.

If there is an interest in using Chinese herbs to help supplement health or treat an existing condition, it is best to research those herbs that have shown success in these particular instances. Seek out a medical professional or someone well-versed in the use of Chinese herbs to determine the best way to proceed.

When Chinese herbs are used in conjunction with education, preparedness, and medical supervision, they can be a fantastic tool to achieving overall, natural health.

Thanks to Michelle Bery for contributing this article to our Ginseng blog:

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The Chinese have been using ginseng tea for their health for thousands of years. Ginseng has been revered in the Orient as an almost magical natural supplement with amazing benefits for those who use it regularly. It is the most famous Chinese herb, and it is the most widely recognized plant used in traditional medicine ? with a legendary reputation as an overall body tonic, rejuvenator and anti-aging supplement.

Oriental medicine sees ginseng as an essential element in a wide range of prescriptions, and regards it as both a preventative and a cure. Although ginseng is usually thought of as a Chinese remedy, the ginseng that grows in America was independently discovered by Native Americans, who also used it for its medicinal properties.

It was discovered that the weather and soil conditions of the United States and Canada are suitable for growing ginseng. Korea possesses all the prerequisites to produce the best quality ginseng in the world: climate, soil and cultivation technology handed down from generation to generation that serve to obtain and maintain worldwide reputation. Experts agree that in order to get the best results, people must know how to make the best choice by analyzing their body’s characteristics and needs first before purchasing any type of ginseng.

There are many ways to eat and drink ginseng: the most popular is tea, but it is also possible to make soups, put it in food, or even just eat the plant’s leaves as it is. Commercially, ginseng is taken as tea, in capsules, in liquid form from viles, or even by eating the root itself. Eleutherococcus can be taken as an herbal tea, dried root extract, tincture, or water extract.

American Ginseng is not a drug and should not be taken as such. Now, this is where a group of herbs that are utilized throughout the world can help us?they have been called “adaptogens”, and are normally herbs that are taken to aid the body adapt to and endure stress. All forms of ginseng are said to aid in reducing stress, improving vitality and boosting the immune system.

Function of American ginseng can boost the immune system, and therefore increase resistance to disease. Siberian ginseng, “Eleutherococcus senticosus” is described as an adaptogen, a compound thought to be able to normalise the functioning of the body whatever form of disease is present. Eleuthero, formerly Siberian Ginseng, (Glandular) is a member of the ginseng family, though it is of a different genus than other popular ginsengs such as the Panax variety.

Due to Korean ginseng’s unique appearance, ancient herb doctors interpreted this perception to mean that ginseng was a cure-all for the entirety of human illness. History of American ginseng Native American people may have considered this herb a means to increase female fertility. This is considered the most stimulating type of ginseng.

There have been reports that Asian ginseng may possibly decrease the effectiveness of the blood-thinning medication. Siberian ginseng contains remarkable compounds that favorably affect the adrenal glands, the small glands that rest atop the kidneys and secrete stress-fighting hormones. A double blind study on 93 people suffering from recurrent herpes infections indicates that 2g of Eleutherococcus per day may limit or reduce the frequency of herpes infections.

Spread cleaned roots on a piece of old plywood or screen rack in the shade for drying. 4 Ashwagandha roots when used regularly helps to improve the conditions like emaciation of children, senile debility, rheumatism, in all cases of general debility, nervous exhaustion, brain-fag, low of memory, loss of muscular energy and spermatorrhoea. Effects on mind: As it balances vata and kapha, it improves memory, counteracts the effects of stress and calms mind.



Thanks to Tsuyoshi E. Suzuki for contributing this article to our Ginseng blog:

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Phytochemicals are generally the compounds that can be extracted from different plant parts. Whether the plant organ is edible or not, there exists several chemicals in these roots, leaves, stems or fruits that may be of use in pharmacology and in the pharmaceutical industry as a whole. Some of these phytochemicals have well-known chemical properties and have been manufactured synthetically. Some other botanical components  have been harvested from the plants themselves and used as is as decoctions, powders or dried herbs.

Herbal Blue Pill is the popular term for medicines that exhibit similar effects as the popular drug, sildenafil, but with one striking difference; the herbal drug contains pharmacological elements from medicinal plants that have been proven to improve sexual behavior and potency in humans (under traditional medicine and ethnobotanical systems) and in animals (in laboratory studies).

The phytochemicals contained in herbal blue pills include extract elements from Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), damiana plant (Turnera diffusa), guarana seed (Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis), saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and others. Siberian ginseng has been used traditionally as a performance enhancer, while damiana has been used as a libido booster. Saw palmetto is an inhibitor of testosterone breakdown, while guarana is used by Amazonians as an aphrodisiac.

Medicinal plants have been present for ages, and most of these have been used by traditional people who did not have the resources to make the wonders of these drugs known to the public. With modern technology and media, more and more people are getting to know the benefits of using these herbal components, and the drugs developed using these phytochemicals.



Thanks to Frank Silva for contributing this article to our Ginseng blog:

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There has been a surge in recent years of people looking to alternative medicine for treatment of illness. It is a practice that generates a great deal of controversy both inside and outside of the traditional world of medicine, and an issue that some experts say does not receive enough attention.

What Is Alternative Medicine? The most commonly accepted definition of alternative medicine is a treatment or substance that is untested or unproven using accepted scientific standards. Common types of alternative medicine include herbs, supplements, therapies and activity programs that fall outside of traditional medical practice and are questionable in terms of safety and effectiveness. For example, acupuncture, massage, meditation, herbal teas, and plant extracts are quite popular forms of alternative medicine that many medical doctors say are ineffective at best and dangerous at worst for some conditions.

Why Is Alternative Medicine So Popular? Alternative medicine has grown in popularity as more and more people face the inevitable aches, pains and illnesses that come with aging. In some cases, traditional medicine has failed to produce a cure and patients go in search of other options for treatment of their illness. In other cases, patients believe strongly that natural methods of treating illness are superior to traditional medicine so they seek treatment from alternative practitioners rather than medical doctors.

The Risks Of Alternative Medicine Some of the greatest risks associated with alternative medicine come from the use of substances that are untested, ineffective, and sometimes unsafe. The makers of such substances often make exaggerated claims of effectiveness and/or misrepresent the science associated with the substance in order to convince consumers to buy their product, even if use of the product may endanger the consumer’s health or well-being.

For example, some herbal remedies are promoted as having the ability to improve memory, increase metabolism, or even cure diseases like cancer and heart disease. In practice, though, some remedies may actually cause physiological harm when taken in excessive amounts, ephedra being one well-publicized recent example. Another risk is that a person with a serious condition such as cancer, heart disease or some other chronic illness will forego more traditional treatments that have been proven effective in favor of alternative treatments that are of questionable value. They may be literally risking their lives by treating illness with unproven alternative medicines rather than scientifically validated traditional medicines. Another common risk associated with alternative medicine is when a patient uses both traditional and alternative methods of treatment but does not disclose this to their medical doctor. It is very common for prescription medications to produce negative interactions when taken at the same time as alternative medicines like herbs and plant extracts. These interactions may range from diminished effectiveness all the way up to and including toxicity that causes serious harm. If the medical doctor is not made aware of any other substances the patient may be taking, he or she may unknowingly prescribe a medication that produces and unwanted or harmful interaction.

How To Recognize Potentially Risky Alternative Medicines A good rule of thumb to follow is that if a product, substance or therapy sounds too good to be true then it probably is. While you may already be familiar with this cliché, it is worth repeating because it is often true when it comes to alternative medicine. Beware of any product that claims to be “miraculous”, “a scientific breakthrough”, “amazingly effective”, “an ancient remedy”, “a secret formula” or possess some other attribute that supposedly makes it superior to more traditional medicines.

If you are considering an alternative form of therapy, such as reflexology, acupuncture, biofeedback or the like, carefully check the qualifications of the therapy practitioner before undergoing treatment. What kind of training has he or she received, and is that training from a reputable source? Research the treatment itself to determine if it is something that has been scientifically tested, evaluated, and found to be effective. Don’t take the practitioner’s word for it, and don’t accept at face value the claims of anyone who stands to make money or benefit in some way if you choose to undergo the treatment.

Finally, ask your doctor about any form of alternative medicine that you are considering. If you don’t feel comfortable doing so then find a doctor with whom you feel more at ease and discuss the alternative treatment you are considering. Remember that a trained medical professional has the education and experience to help you make good, safe decisions about whether or not to use alternative medicine.



Thanks to Emanuele Allenti for contributing this article to our Ginseng blog:

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