We would like to introduce you to Chinese Herbal medicine. One of the longest continuously used systems of herbal medicine known to humanity; it has a tradition of use of 2,500 to 5,000 years.

While Chinese Herbal Medicine is effective as an independent treatment method, it is ideally one part of a larger system and may be easiest to understand via looking through the principles of Chinese Medicine in general. It is one of six primary branches which when looked at together offer a whole lifestyle or healthcare approach. Other branches are 1) acupuncture, 2) massage (tuina), 3) exercise (Tai Chi, Qi Gong), 4) dietary therapy and 5) Feng Shui. Herbs are rarely used singly, but usually are combined to provide optimum therapy needed for a person's particular imbalance.

These concepts are radically different from western thought and western medical theories. The Chinese use what is called a system of correspondences. Balance is ideal and herbs are used based on how they will reharmonize a pattern of disharmony -- how they will bring balance - alive and always-in motion - to the system.

The concepts of Yin and Yang, the Five Phases, Meridian theory, the Eight Principles, and the Six stages are all things that are important parts of this whole. In Chinese medicine signs and symptoms are pieced together to form ones "pattern of disharmony". This process takes into consideration the whole patterning presented, giving equal importance to body, mind and spirit. Usually there are a number of factors, "internal" such as stress, nutritional and emotional factors, and "external" such as wind, damp, heat, dry, cold. If the person is able to maintain a state of internal balance, they are not likely to contract illness from external factors. What follows are some of the concepts that are important in the use of Chinese herbs.

The principle of Yin and Yang are one of the most important concepts in Chinese medicine and thought. Yin and Yang express opposite situations which exist in context one with the other -- sun/shade; negative/positive. The symbol below called Taiji or the Great Polarity always includes a small circle of yin within the drawing of yang and yang within yin to demonstrate that each contains the other. The black represents Yin and the white represents Yang. Yin nourishes Yang and Yang motivates Yin. This tenet represents the Chinese idea that all organs have both phases -- within their functioning will be each exquisitely interwoven. Thus, disease is seen as occurring when the balance skews markedly toward one and will be described as disturbances of yang or yin or both. Yin and Yang polarity exist on all levels of phenomenon in the universe. Below is a list of some general Yin/Yang correspondences:

Earth / Female / Night / Moon / Low / Heaviness / Falling / tendency / Movement inward / Relative stasis / Interior / Front / Lower section / Bones / Inner organs / Blood / Inhibition / Deficiency / Solidness / Lung / Kidney / Liver / Heart / Spleen / Pericardium.

Heaven / Male / Day / Sun / High / Lightness / Rising tendency / Movement outward / Clear action / Exterior / Back / Upper section / Skin

Outer organs / Qi / Stimulation / Excess / Hollowness / Large intestine / Urinary bladder / Gall bladder / Small intestine / Stomach / San Jiao (known as the 3 metabolisms)

Literally the Chinese word "Wu xing" means five & movement -- that which causes action, motivating activity or reactivity. These phases or elements are seen as describing the interactively between the different energetic areas of the body. The five elements are metal, wood, water, fire and earth. In the diagram below you see corresponding areas that are part of this figurative picture of a living being.

(Place further information in diagrams so that it is visual as well as in words.)

French translation of jing-luo, "to go through" or "thread in a fabric" and "something that attaches" or "a net". Channels that carry blood and Qi through body. Invisible network, links all Fundamental Substances and Organs. Cannot see but has physical reality. Is the highway for all functioning; the connection for inner and outer. This theory assumes that a disorder in one area of a particular meridian may create imbalance and thus symptom in a distant (but flow connected part of ones body.

There are 14 primary meridians on the body surface. They are the Lung Channel of Hand-Taiyin, the Large Intestine Channel of Hand -Yangming, the Stomach Channel of Foot-Yangming, the Spleen Channel of the Foot-Taiyin, the Heart Channel of the Hand-Shao-yin, the Small Intestine Channel of the Hand-Taiyang, the Urinary Bladder Channel of Foot-Taiyang, the Kidney Channel of Foot-Shaoyin, the Pericardium Channel of Hand-Jueyin, the Sanjiao Channel of Hand-Shaoyang, the Gall Bladder Channel of Foot-Shaoyang, the Liver Channel of Foot-Jueyin, the Du Channel and the Ren Channel.

Qi and Blood are one the most primary yin/yang polarities. In this relationship Qi is considered more yang. Qi governs function. Blood is considered more yin and has more to do with essence. Qi and Blood have a very close relationship. Qi is considered be the ruler of Blood because Blood is formed from air and food and Qi is needed to activate Blood and keep it in its vessels. Blood is considered to be the source of Qi since Blood is needed for nutrition and the moisture carried in the Blood. Clinically, lack of Qi often leads to lack of Blood and lack of Blood leads to lack of Qi. Also the circulation of Blood depends on the ability of Qi to circulate and the circulation of QI depends of the ability of blood to circulate.

One of three: wai yin -external factors mostly natural occurrences (like weather); nei yin -internal factors; and bu nei wai yin -injuries, invasions, infections of all sorts (bacteria, virus, any parasitic condition). 1) external, 2) internal, & 3) fatigue and food.

Two important traditional methods of diagnosis are looking at the tongue and palpating the pulse on the radial artery.

Looking at the tongue is a very important way to get information about whether an imbalance is mild or severe. In general the changes in the shape, tongue coating, and the condition of the body of the tongue are observed. Specific regions of the body of the tongue represent different organs. A healthy tongue has no restriction in movement, is light red color, has a thin white coat, without being overly dry or wet, and not swollen or too thin.

Palpation of the pulse at the radial artery is a very important traditional diagnostic tool. Use of the pulse requires a great deal of sensitivity and experience. It takes a long time to develop this ancient art for the practitioner. Practitioners who take the time to develop this art are able to uncover a great deal of information that is difficult to acquire by other methods. Three fingers are placed on the wrist to feel the pulse. There are three positions that are palpitated with deep and superficial pressure. The yin organs are felt upon deep pressure and the yang organs are felt with superficial pressure. The index, middle and the ring finger are the fingers that are used. They are placed consecutively proximally from the wrist crease.

These are descriptions of body conditions, descriptions of imbalances. These atmospheric conditions are considered to be the main external causes of disease and descriptions of disease. When we are in a state of balanced health we are free from these conditions. When we are out of balance we can be susceptible to one or more of these conditions, depending on one's individual constitutional factors and outside environmental conditions.

WIND (Spring/Yang) Conditions that are caused by wind are characterized by sudden onset and may change rapidly. Wind can be experienced from both external causes and internal causes. Wind can be experienced combined with other factors such as cold or heat. Influenza and colds are described as either wind cold or wind heat. Arthritis is often descried as wind damp with heat or cold. Symptoms that can be related with wind are spasms, tremors, vertigo, headache, sore throat, cough, fever, chills, nasal congestion, itching, or pain that moves around. Wind of an external origin will usually affect the head, throat, skin and lungs first. Wind is the factor that carries other factors into the body. Wind that is generated internally is usually related to imbalances in the Liver meridian. Often it will manifest as an uprising energy. This is described as hyperactive Liver Yang. Symptoms that occur with it are dizziness, convulsions, headaches, shaking in the hands and head, numbness of the limbs, hypertension and apoplexy or stroke. These usually originate from insufficiency of Blood and or Yin. Wind is treated by using agents that release wind or in the case of internal wind, tonifying blood or Yin and sedating Wind.

COLD (Winter/Yin) Cold is the principal environmental factor in the winter. Cold is most damaging to the Yang energy. Cold causes things to accumulate or contract. Cold can cause cramps, spasms, and pain due to the obstruction of the flow of Qi or Blood. When a cold disease is present body excretions are clear or white, such as mucus, phlegm, urine, stool etc. When cold is present the person may experience, fear of cold or a dislike of cold, lack of perspiration, headaches, body ache, cold feet, cold hands, intestinal rumbling, diarrhea, abdominal pain, low back pain, impotence and severe joint pain that stays in the same joint. Also some hernias are caused by cold. The treatment would differ depending on where in the body the cold resides. Cold has its most adverse affects on the Kidney meridian.

HEAT (Yang) Heat is the principal environmental factor of the summer. Heat is most damaging to the Yin and body fluids and especially the Heart Yin. Heat can cause the Blood to travel outside of the meridians causing rashes or hemorrhage. Heat can cause hyperthyroidism, dry stool, thirst, boils, insomnia, bad breath, fever, high fever, carbuncles, severe headache, sore throat, vomiting of blood, cough, ringing in the ears, redness in the eyes and toothache. Heat will cause body secretions to be dark, yellow, sticky and foul smelling.

DAMP (Long Summer/Yin) Dampness is the principal environmental factor most common in the late summer. Dampness tends to cause stagnation and slows the body function. Damp conditions can be difficult to treat and take a long time to resolve. When there is dampness the patient will sometimes feel pent-up, heavy limbs swollen head, difficulty with movement, numbness, edema, swelling, pain that is fixed in one place, sensation that the legs are too heavy for walking and a sensation that the entire body is sinking. Dampness may combine with heat or cold, combining the nature of the two influences. The Spleen meridian is the channel most affected by dampness. When the Spleen is affected by damp the person may experience, edema, poor appetite, chronic diarrhea, a congested chest and in general a heavy lazy feeling.

DRY (Fall/Yang) Dryness is the principal environmental factor in the autumn. Dryness usually enters the body though the nose and mouth. The Lung meridian is the channel most affected by dryness. Dryness manifests as the depletion of body fluids. Smoking will aggravate this kind of imbalance. Usually people will experience dry skin, dry nose, thirst, scanty urine, dry and sore throat, chapped lips, constipation and hacking cough. Excessive consumption of alcohol and spicy foods, excessive perspiration, chronic diarrhea, excessive bleeding, chronic illness and vomiting will all deplete the bodily fluids.

Zang Fu literally refers to the organs themselves. But also it relates to the physiological functions as well. The Zang organs are considered the solid or the Yin organs. Their main function is the manufacturing and storing of vital essence, Qi, blood and body fluid. The six Zang organs are the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney and pericardium. The Fu organs are said to receive and digest food, absorb nutrition and dispose of waste. The six Fu organs are the small intestine, gall bladder, stomach, large intestine, urinary bladder and sanjiao. The brain and the uterus are also considered Fu organs. These organs are considered functional complexes rather than merely anatomical structures. Over many hundreds of years of clinical observation of patients, these organs have been connected with certain functions and processes.

LUNG The functions of the lung are dominating Qi (through the energy of the breath) and controlling respiration. It brings in fresh air and expels stale air. The lung is said to be the master of Qi due to its controlling of respiration. The lung has a descending action; it tends to have downwards pushing in its energy. The lung regulates the water passages. It promotes water metabolism by turning a part of the body fluid into sweat and directing part down to the kidney and on the urinary bladder. The lung is also responsible for regulating the opening and closing of the pores and delivering nutrients to the skin and the hair on the surface of the body. Symptoms common to weakness or imbalance in the Lungs are, coughing, shortness of breath, weakness of voice, fever, low-grade fever, red cheeks, dry throat and mouth and many kinds of skin problems.

KIDNEY The functions of the Kidney are storing essential substances and controlling human reproduction, growth and development, controls and produces marrow, which includes the brain, controls the bones and manufactures blood. The Kidney has dominion over the body fluids and it also receives Qi from the lung. The kidney is said to open into the ear. Hearing is dependent on the proper functioning of the Kidney Qi. The Kidney is considered to be the root of Yin and Yang in the body. The Yang of the Kidney gives fire to the Spleen and is the source for the yang for the whole body and the Yin of the Kidney nourishes the Yin of the Liver specifically and body in general. The Kidney is the source of ancestral Qi or Yuan Qi. The Qi that we inherit from our parents and pass on to our parents is stored and governed by the Kidney. The Kidney also controls the hair on the head. Symptoms common to weakness or imbalance in the kidney are weak and or sore low back, ringing in the ears or hearing loss, darkness under the eyes, dark complexion, dizziness, thirst, men with little semen and or premature ejaculation, women with scant or no menstruation. There can also be weakness of the knees and lower extremities, copious clear urine or incontinence, asthma, edema, fatigue, night sweats, fractures that are slow to heal, and feeling cold or low-grade fever.

LIVER The functions of the Liver are storing blood and controlling the tendons. The Liver is in charge of the smooth and free movement of Qi in the body. The dysfunction of the circulation of Liver Qi has an important influence over emotional balance and emotional well-being. Imbalances of this nature can cause depression and general emotional stuckness. The Liver has an important influence over the lower abdomen and women's reproductive health. The blood and Yin of the Liver are important for the tendons. When there is enough Yin and blood the tendons will be strong and flexible. The Liver is said to open into the eye. Healthy and normal vision depends on normal Liver function. Symptoms common to weakness or imbalance of the Liver are depression, frustration, prone to anger or foul temper, pain and or swelling in the rib cage area, irregular or spotty menstruation, pre-menstrual distress or tension, breast discomfort or swelling, restlessness, red face, red eyes, weak vision, vertigo, dizziness, and headaches located at the top of the head.

HEART The functions of the Heart are controlling blood and the vessels and the heart houses the mind. The Heart stores the spirit and is very important with mental processes. The Heart is called the ruler of blood and maintains and controls the circulation of blood in the body. The Heart opens into the tongue. The sense of taste is dependent on the normal functioning of the Heart. Symptoms common with weakness or imbalance of the Heart are palpitations, shortness of breath, insomnia, restlessness, dizziness, certain kinds of emotional upset, inappropriate behavior, lack of mental clarity, incoherent speech, feeling hot in the palms and face, irregular pulse, delirium, red face, pain and redness in the tongue and frequent nightmares.

SPLEEN The functions of the Spleen are to transport and process nutrients, governing digestion, appetite, and transmission of fluids and absorption of nutrients. The Spleen is in charge of keeping the blood in its normal course. When blood leaves the vessels there is a Spleen imbalance. The QI of the Spleen holds and maintains the organs in their normal position. Proper tone and strength of the flesh and muscles is dependent on the function of the Spleen. Weakness in the upper limbs is especially related to the Spleen. The Spleen opens into the mouth. When the Spleen is functioning normally the lips will be red and bright and the appetite will be good. Symptoms common to weakness or imbalance of the Spleen are fatigue, pasty complexion, diarrhea, loose stools, prolapse of anus, uterus or urinary bladder, pent-up feeling in the chest, bloat in the abdomen, feeling cold in the limbs, yellowish skin color, and excessive contemplation.

PERICARDIUM The function of the pericardium is to protect the heart from negative influences. It is considered to be very closely related to the heart, and not to have functions of its own. Most imbalances of the pericardium are evidenced as meridian blockages caused by emotional stress. These are very effectively treated with acupuncture.

LARGE INTESTINE The function of the large intestine is to receive waste from the small intestine and transport it to the anus. It absorbs part of the liquid to transform it into feces.

URINARY BLADDER The function of the urinary bladder is to store and discharge urine after it leaves the kidney.

GALL BLADDER The function of the gall bladder is to store bile and excrete bile into the large intestine. Bile is essential for the digestion of fats. The gall bladder also assists the liver in its function of promoting the smooth flow of vital energy.

SMALL INTESTINE The function of the small intestine is to receive partially digested food from the stomach. The small intestine is an important site for the absorption of nutrients and the further digestion of food before the residue is sent to the large intestine.

STOMACH The function of the stomach is to receive food and break it down. After partially digesting the food it is then passed on to the small intestine. The Qi of the stomach normally has a downward action. When that is out of balance we may feel nauseous or experience things like hiatal hernias. The stomach and spleen are considered to be the roots of good health.

SANJIAO Sanjiao is also known as Triple Warmer or Triple Heater. The Sanjiao does not actually have a physical location of its own. The ancient Chinese literature relates to the Sanjiao as "having a name but no form". The function of the Sanjiao relates to metabolism. It is known as the three metabolisms or three burning spaces. It is divided into Upper, Middle and Lower Jiao. The Upper Jiao regulates the heart and the lungs, the Middle Jiao regulates the liver and spleen and the Lower Jiao regulates the kidney and large intestine.

Chinese herbs are looked at quite differently from western herbs. Western herbs are looked at by the way they affect the physiology of the body. Chinese herbs are looked at by the way they affect the body energetically. The following considerations are made properties and tastes, meridian affinities and functions.

The temperature characteristic is said to be the "Qi" of the herb. These are described as hot (re), cold (han), warm (wen), cool (liang), and neutral (ping). The Chinese classics state that "hot diseases must be cooled, cold diseases must be warmed". These are subjective designations based on the patient's health experience.

The other main property of herbs in the Chinese system is taste. Taste is an important factor that relates how an herb will act inside the body. The five tastes are acrid (xin), sweet (gan), bitter (ku), sour (suan), and salty (xian). Herbs that do not fall into any of these categories are considered bland or neutral (dan). In Chinese herbal medicine the taste or nature of the herb is an important factor for the therapeutic effect or action. In the Chinese literature it is stated, "spicy and sweet tastes move fast so they belong to yang, sour and bitter tastes move downwards so they belong to yin, salty taste moves downward too, so it also belongs to yin, bland taste permeates so it belongs to yang". Acrid taste moves and disperses, sweet taste tonifys, harmonize and sometimes moistens bitter taste drains and dry, sour taste is generally astringent and is used when there is a leaking of Qi or fluids. Salty taste is used to purge and soften and herbs that are bland or neutral are used to drain dampness and cause urination.

Ascending, descending, floating and sinking indicate the actions of the herbs as they are related to the human body. They are closely related to the nature and taste of the herbs. One of the great Chinese masters has said: "herbs have the properties of ascending, descending, floating, sinking, transformation, giving birth, growth, harvesting, storing, and completion. To match the four seasons; spring ascends, summer floats, autumn harvests, winter stores, and the central earth transforms. Hence, herbs whose tastes are weak will ascend and arise (give birth); herbs whose natures are weak will descend and restrain (harvest); herbs whose natures are strong will float and grow; herbs whose tastes are strong will sink and store; herbs whose natures are gentle and tastes are bland will transform and complete". Another master states: "nature is the heaven; warm and hot are the yang of heaven; cool and cold are the yin of heaven: yang ascends and yin descends. Taste is the earth; spicy, sweet and bland are the yang of the earth; sour, bitter, and salty are the yin of the earth; yang floats, yin sinks". On the other hand, herbs that are light usually ascend or float; herbs that are heavy will usually descend or sink. So in general flowers and leaves ascend or float, seeds or roots descend or sink.

Herbs are considered to have a particular affinity or to enter specific meridians. Different herbs affect the body functions differently. As mentioned previously, if one suffers from a hot type disease the herbs that should be taken must be cold or cool by nature. If one suffers cold type disease the herbs that should be taken must be warn or hot by nature. However, a hot type disease may be liver heat or the stomach heat. A cold type disease may be the spleen cold or the lung cold. Herbs that can purge the liver heat may not be able to purge the stomach heat. Herbs that can warm the spleen cold may not be able to warm the lung cold. That is to say different herbs will affect the functions of the different organs and meridians. The functions of the herbs and the 12 meridians can be closely related.