Back to the Plants:
Chinese Medicine and Herbal Remedies
in their system.
In Chinese medicine everything has a place and a structure in order to help with healing. All of these are natural approaches to bringing holistic health in an individual. One of the concepts that Chinese medicine uses in relation to this is herbal remedies. By combining a variety of elements, there is the ability for the herbs to help in healing everything.
The basis behind herbal remedies is to combine a series of herbs in order to bring about the desired effect. Usually, there will be a formula of four herbs used in combination with each other. This is done in order to treat secondary illnesses that may have been affected by the primary illness. It also helps to balance and strengthen the body while it is healing.
When Chinese medicine begins to divide the various herbal remedies, they will do so by a hierarchy. At the top of this hierarchy is the emperor herb. This will be used to cure the major illness that is taking place. Underneath this is the ‘ministers’ of the herbal remedy. This is used to treat any secondary illnesses that are taking place. After this, herbal ‘assistants’ will be used to support the other two herbs. The last set of herbs will be the messenger herbs, which will tell the primary and secondary herbs where to go and how much of an effect to take on the body.
The herbal remedies that are placed together after this will be divided by the specific symptoms that are being seen. Like all other parts of Chinese medicine, these will first be found through the five elements and how they relate to the body. For example, some herbs will be spicy in order to relate to areas of the body that need this extra element to begin better flow of Qi.
The last part of herbal medicine from ancient Chinese remedies is to determine the type of energy that is needed by a person. This is found by diagnosis and examining the Qi that is in a person. After this, a specific mixture of these four hierarchies will be mixed together in order to help change the energy flow that is in someone.
By examining the Qi and finding respective remedies through herbs, one is able to find the best solutions using a holistic method. This allows one to benefit from the use of Chinese medicine and herbs in order to fight off an illness or loss of energy in their system.
Connecting the Dots:
Understanding Internal Organs through Zang Fu Theory
Traditional Chinese medicine is the idea that everything is interconnected in one’s body and in the universe. Through this concept, there was a development of the way in which the system could be divided. The understanding of this system is what allowed one to practice alternatives towards health and balanced energy.
The Zang-Fu theory is the concept that the functions of the different organs interact with each other. This interaction allows them to function in different ways, and also balances out the health of different individuals. When one’s internal organs are completely balanced, they have reached complete health because their energy is able to flow naturally and without any blocks.
From this major concept, the internal organs are divided into various categories. The first set of categories is the Zang, which are the Yin organs. This includes the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and pericardium. The Fu are the Yang organs and includes the intestines, gall bladder, urinary bladder and stomach. Each of these organs will be paired together; meaning that one Yang organ corresponds to one Yin organ.
Through each of these categorizations, the organs are able to correspond and function by relating to each other. When these organs are not functioning properly together, it will be the cause of dysfunction in the body. Beyond this, it is the functioning of these organs that directly link to the way that the mind and the spirit function together. The Zang organs will be directly linked with specific emotions as well as senses. The Fu system is the opposite of this because it is linked to the hollow system and digestion.
The combination of all of the elements of the body is the major concept in the Zang Fu theory. By combining the internal organs and discovering the relationships that they have between each other, one is able to find the necessary answers to healing. Chinese medicine, through combining all of the elements is able to work towards an internal healing that leads to external functions of health.
Developing a Connection:
Mind, Spirit and Body and Chinese Medicine
The idea of connectedness between the universe and the system of a human is at the basis of philosophies for Chinese medicine. If you have ever heard of the basics for any type of Oriental practice, you are also familiar with the idea of the connection between the physical, mental and spiritual ideas. If you want to learn how these can work together holistically and for your health, you don’t have to look any further than Chinese medicine.
The idea of connecting all of the elements in your body for optimum health is known as Shen. This comes from the idea that all of the elements in the universe are interconnected and related to one’s body. When taking the ideas of the elements of the universe and incorporating them into how a human is interconnected.
The first point of focus in order to connect Shen is the one that is related to waking consciousness. According to the Shen philosophy, this consciousness is in the heart. Everything that is related to heart health, under this method, is also linked with the consciousness needing to wake up.
The next part of Shen is the spirit. According to this science, the spirit is located in the liver. In Chinese, this is referred to as the Ethereal Spirit. The next Shen is the soul of the body, also known as the corporeal soul. This resides in the lungs of one’s body. Intellect, or Yi is in the spleen and Will, meaning the urge to do something is in the Kidney.
The idea of this particular system is to combine the elements of the physical with the elements of the mind and the spirit. By doing this, one is able to find the physical elements and work on two approaches to healing a person through physical and spiritual at the same time.
Combining the mind, spirit and body together is the basis of all Chinese medicine and philosophy. By learning to combine these, one is able to find the best approaches to healing a person in a holistic method. Using Shen, the concept of elements of the universe, and seeing how they relate as a system to the body, allows one to find a way to become unified within themselves.
Finding the Right Method for Healing:
Chinese Medicine Hierarchy of Medicine
Chinese medicine is not based on the typical ideas and facts that you would see in every day doctor’s offices. The science of Chinese medicine is based on philosophies of the spiritual being in tune to the mental and physical bodies. When all three of these are aligned, it allows for Qi, or energy, to move through your body without having any trouble. If you are looking for your own method to using Chinese medicine, there are several approaches you can take.
There are typically eight different methods of Chinese medicine that are used for healing. Each of these methods can be used simultaneously with others, depending on a person’s Qi and what they need. Unlike Western medicine, none of these methods are invasive and have very low side effects. This means that you can try a variety of them on your own and find ones that work best for you.
The first types of category of methods that are used in Chinese medicine are self-administered methods. These are done by someone researching what they need and finding the necessary solutions. Meditation is a common method that can be used by anyone in order to facilitate healing. Practicing exercises with Qigong, an ancient form to move energy is also common. Exercise and changing your diet to balance out nutrition in a different form is also used as a self-administered method.
If you still are having trouble healing, you can use the second category of methods in order to get the proper alignment. These are the types of healing that are administered by a practitioner who has studied Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture is the most common type of healing that is done with the help of someone who is trained in the healing methods. There are also herbal medicine remedies that are used along with moxibustion. Moxibustion is the burning of herbs, instead of using them as a remedy, and is often associated with aromatherapy. Cupping, which is close to the practice of acupuncture or massage is also a common method that is done in order to get your Qi moving in the right direction again.
No matter what type of healing remedy you feel that you need, Chinese medicine can find an alternative and holistic approach to helping. If you are working towards better energy levels, feel ill or are looking for a new method to going to the doctor, than finding the right type of Chinese medicine as a method is an easy place to start without the side effects.
Getting the Body Back to Work:
Tuina and Chinese Medicine
If your body is out of sync with what it is supposed to be doing, it can cause endless amounts of problems. You may feel tired all of the time, or restless. For no apparent reason, you may get headaches or feel nauseous during the day. Beyond this, you can catch the viruses and colds going around all of the time.
According to Chinese medicine, this simply means that your flow of energy is off. If this is the case, and you want to find an alternative method to getting back in touch with what your body needs, you don’t have to look any further than Chinese medicine. One of the methods that can be used for Chinese medicine is Tuina, also known as Oriental bodywork therapy.
Tuina originated in 1700 BC in order to help with children’s diseases that were directly related to the muscles and skeletal system of children. The concept of Tuina was also developed for help with digestion for adults. After the year 600, the concept of Tuina was considered to be an art, and was banished by the government. It wasn’t until the beginning of the Communist regime in the 1960s that it became popular again as a method for medical arts.
Tuina is like a combination of acupuncture and a massage. A practitioner will work on changing the flow of your energy in your body by using various hand techniques. The hand techniques will first be used in order to massage the tissues and muscles of your body. Afterward, specific points, also used for acupuncture will be focused on. This added pressure is known to change the flow of Qi. After this, the practitioner will focus on realignment of the bones, skeletal structure and ligaments in order to realign them.
Beyond these basic techniques, practitioners may also choose to combine herbs, salves and ointments to enhance the Tuina. This will help to completely shift all levels of the energy systems that are in your body, allowing you to become more generated, balanced and healthy.
If you are looking for an alternative method to get to the depths of your health, Tuina is the method you will want to look into. This particular method is known to heal those that use it on all levels, with a combination of Chinese medicine techniques that are popular. By doing this, there is the ability for those using it to change their energy flow into better health.
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