Herbal Medicine

A traditional Chinese medicine therapy which consists of burning dried mugwort (moxa) on particular points on the body. It plays an important role in traditional medical systems of China. Application of indirect heat using moxa (therapeutic herbs) and/or heat lamps to warm and relax muscles and energy meridians.

How is it promoted for use?

Chinese herbal medicine is different to Western (allopathic) medical diagnosis and treatment. The focus is placed on underlying causes of diseases rather than the main complaint or the patterns of their symptoms. Chinese herbalists attempt to prevent and treat imbalances of body, such as those caused by cancer and other diseases, with complex combinations of herbs, minerals, and plant extracts.
A variety of herbs such as ginkgo, ginseng, green tea, and Gouji berry are used in different combinations to restore balance to the body. Herbal blends are said to prevent and treat immune and endocrine system disturbances, infections, breathing disorders, and a vast number of other ailments and diseases. Some practitioners claim herbs have the power to prevent and treat a variety of types of cancer.

What is the history behind it?

Chinese herbal medicine is different to Western (allopathic) medical diagnosis and treatment. The focus is placed on underlying causes of diseases rather than the main complaint or the patterns of their symptoms. Chinese herbalists attempt to prevent and treat imbalances of body, such as those caused by cancer and other diseases, with complex combinations of herbs, minerals, and plant extracts.
A variety of herbs such as ginkgo, ginseng, green tea, and Gouji berry are used in different combinations to restore balance to the body. Herbal blends are said to prevent and treat immune and endocrine system disturbances, infections, breathing disorders, and a vast number of other ailments and diseases. Some practitioners claim herbs have the power to prevent and treat a variety of types of cancer.

What does it involve?

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM) makes almost exclusive use of herbal combinations. More importantly, these formulas are not designed to treat symptoms of a specific illness; rather, they are tailored specifically to the individual according to the complex principles of traditional Chinese medicine. For this reason, TCHM is potentially a deep holistic healing approach.

According to the philosophy of Chinese medicine, in an ideal state, yin and yang in all their forms are perfectly balanced in every part of the body. However, external or internal factors can upset this balance, leading to disease. Chinese medical diagnosis and treatment involves identifying the factors that are out of balance and attempting to bring them back into harmony. Diagnosis is carried out by means of “listening” to the pulse (in other words, taking the pulse with extraordinary care and sensitivity), observing and palpating various parts of the body, and asking a long series of questions.