Guest guest Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 Here in Europe (at least in my country) the local herbs are easily accessible. You can buy herb teas or other herb products in every drugstore, pharmacy. They're produced by trusted local companies. On the other hand, Chinese herbs are more difficult to obtain and they're coming from China from companies I don't know and don't trust. I'm sure, the local, European herbs could also be used within the Chinese medical framework. Do you know any book or study that classifies the European herbs according to the Chinese principles? Tamas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 12:41 AM, yakenez <knz wrote: > Here in Europe (at least in my country) the local herbs are easily > accessible. You can buy herb teas or other herb products in every > drugstore, pharmacy. They're produced by trusted local companies. > I have many Russian friends who report that biomedical doctors regularly prescribed (local or European) herbs for their patients. I'm guessing that there may have been some Chinese herbs in there too, thanks to the cultural exchanges that the USSR and PRC had. My friends barely know what they took. Valerian comes up, but that's the only herb that I recognize. What is unfortunate is that here in the US, we lack the cultural legitimacy that herbalists enjoy in Europe (true?), and certainly in Asia. We're not " real doctors " here. I've never been told that to my face, but when I get a patient who's been taking some antibtiotic for six months with absolutely no change in their health concern, and then they turn to Chinese herbs, and give the formula a week or two to work before giving up, it seems like the cultural legitimacy that is lacking here is profound. > On the other hand, Chinese herbs are more difficult to obtain and > they're coming from China from companies I don't know and don't trust. > Fair enough. The premade formulas run the gambit from wonderful cures to scary adulterated drug-laced products with little quality control or ethically listed or included ingredients. > I'm sure, the local, European herbs could also be used within the > Chinese medical framework. Do you know any book or study that > classifies the European herbs according to the Chinese principles? > Yes there is a book that describes " western herbs " in Chinese medicine terms. However it is not really embraced by those with a deeper understanding of Chinese medicine. It is a decent place to start, but do not take this information as anything more than one person's opinion. The Energetics of Western Herbs<http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8 & tag=mozilla-20 & index=blended & link_code=qs & \ field-keywords=energetics%20of%20western%20herbs & sourceid=Mozilla-search>by Peter Holmes. If you look at each herb in this book, you'll find that each herb does about 18 things according to Chinese medicine. This is of course many more functions than most Chinese herbs as listed by the teaching texts in China or the West. The reason for this is that Peter amassed a bunch of source texts, looked at all of their functions, and applied each one to a specific taste, temperature, and channel in CM theory. As such each herb has too many properties to use the herb in any meaningful way. I use this book only to research Western herbs when I'm asked about a given herb. It helps to put it on to the map for me, but I never prescribed based on the content of this book. So, use with extreme caution. The content of this book has not been positively reviewed by those closest to the depth of Chinese medicine. But like I say, it does have its benefit as a starting place. I might add also that I had a role in the publishing of this book's second edition. I did some of the graphics and layout for the books, though I have no economic interest in its sale. Author Peter Holmes does mean well. He's got a good handle on herbalism globally, but amassing more data from global sources isn't the only process he should engage in to write a book such as this In my opinion, he didn't do a good job of cutting away the fat from the meat of herb functions. Too many sources give rise to too many functions that are not widely supported for a given herb. Had he prioritized the sources better, the book would be more clear and focused in my opinion. -al. -- , DAOM Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 These two sites do NOT do what you're asking but I've found them useful to check out what the herbs (if I can even find out what their Chinese names are!) I'm given do & what their English & Latin botanical names are. Perhaps it may be somewhat useful to you. If nothing more, it may be worth bookmarking them for future referencing. http://alternativehealing.org/chinese_herbs_dictionary.htm http://www.acupuncture-and-chinese-medicine.com/list-of-chinese-herbs.html Judy On Wednesday 01 October 2008 12:41:15 am yakenez wrote: > Here in Europe (at least in my country) the local herbs are easily > accessible. You can buy herb teas or other herb products in every > drugstore, pharmacy. They're produced by trusted local companies. > > On the other hand, Chinese herbs are more difficult to obtain and > they're coming from China from companies I don't know and don't trust. > > I'm sure, the local, European herbs could also be used within the > Chinese medical framework. Do you know any book or study that > classifies the European herbs according to the Chinese principles? > > Tamas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 I have a book titled " The Holistic Herbal Directory " by Penelope Ody. This ringbound hardcover book was published by The Ivy Press Limited in 2004. It may not be comprehensive enough for serious students of TCM or for practitioners, but it is okay for amateurs; I would say that it could serve to send you toward more detailed info elsewhere with a basic understanding. It discusses herbs, both eastern & western, in ayurvedic, western & TCM terms. It discusses these 3 styles of medicine generally, with western medicine getting a bit of negtive commentary (as I see it) compared to the other 2 systems. But the criticisms are deserved, also as I see it. All the herbs are accompanied by nice colour illustrations. Following are a couple of examples of the contents: #1. ACORUS CALAMUS - Sweet Flag/Shi Chang/puvacha Parts used: rhizome Taste: pungent, bitter, astringent Character: warm Meridians: heart, stomach, liver Actions: stimulant, rejuvenative tonic, antispasmodic, decongestant, diaphoretic, emetic ______________________ USES. Sweet flag is used in all herbal traditions as a cleansing stimulant and digestive remedy. In the West it is mainly considered an appetite stimulant and a remedy for stomach upsets. In China it clears " wind-phlegm " and " dampness " , which may be linked to depression and poor digestion. In ayurveda it is used for respirtory problems, including vata and kapha sore throats, nervous upsets, shock, and digestive problems, and is thought to improve memory and mental awareness. CAUTIONS. Do not use continuously for more than one month; use is restricted in some countries; avoid in excessive perspiration or bleeding disorders. #2. PAEONIA LACTIFLORA - White Peony/Bai Shao Yao Parts Used - root Taste - sour, bitter Character - slightly cold Meridians - liver, spleen Actions - antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, diuretic, sedative, hypotensive, analgesic ________________________ USES. White peony is traditionally used in China to balance liver functions and energy, nourish the blood, " consolidate Yin " , sooth liver Qi, and relieve pain. As a nourishing blood tonic, it figures in gynecological remedies. Bai Shao is sometimes roasted to reduce its cold nature or stir fried to enhance its pain-relieving properties. It is used for a number of liver syndromes, including " ascending liver Yang " (typified by headaches and dizziness) and " disharmonies between spleen and liver " leading to digestive upsets, when it is often used with licorice. It is combined with Dang Gui for menstrual problems with liver or blood deficiency. CAUTIONS. Avoid in diarrhea and abdominal coldness. ************ Some of the TCM terms used in describing the herbs are explained in the general information sections. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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