herbal administration

[Guest guest]

On the subject of granules and bulk herbs, how many of you have

worked with non- decoction based herbal preparations- san (powders),

wan (pills made from ground herbs), etc. ?

 

Isn't it that the predominance of decoctions for everything arose

relatively late in the history of Chinese hebalism? I have been

experimenting with grinding up raw herbs and taking them in various

formats, and it seems to be much more effective economically and

ecologically- as much lower quantity of herbal material needs to be

used per dose, and is closer to the natural state of the herb than an

extraction.

 

So many formulas are named " ___ san " or " ___ wan " , or " yin " etc.

Wouldn't those forms of administration be advantageous for patients

who can't boil herbs every day?

 

In Ayurveda, herbs are much more often given as ground up powders that

then are decocted or administered, etc. and only rarely as whole

herbs. True, the shelf life is shorter and adulterants can be

introduced, etc. but for TCM we have the ability to prepare the

materials ourselves.

 

Eric

 

 

 

On Jul 27, 2009, at 11:03 AM, wrote:

 

> On a quick follow-up note - In very busy patients (when appropriate)

> I will

> graduate them to granulars after they are stabilized and symptoms are

> reduced or eliminated. This is one reason I am clear on the effect of

> granulars versus bulk. It is amazing how many people will demand

> back the

> bulk herbs. Some though, have no problems with the transition.

>

> -Jason

>

>

> On Behalf Of

> Monday, July 27, 2009 11:43 AM

>

> RE: Re: California Acupuncture Board Decreases Herb

> Portion

> of Exam

>

> John,

>

> Yes there are many factors. However I do see people from all over,

> not just

> Boulder. Many are just average mid-west folk that drive (or fly) 1-2

> hours

> to see me. Just 3 weeks ago, I saw someone that had not prepared a

> meal by

> themselves in years. Now they are taking / cooking herbs and feeling

> better

> (after 1 week). Granulars, IMO, would not have gotten the quick

> results. Now

> going on three weeks, she is happy to keep cooking. I see this over

> and

> over. I am confident I can get patients to take bulk herbs in any

> city.

>

> Obviously if you present a patient with 2 options, and you say 1 is

> easy and

> 1 is hard, but both are equally effective, what do you think they

> will say?

> But in my clinical experience, as well as all practitioners in my

> office

> such as veterans like Chip Chace, bulk herbs are more effective than

> granulars. We have both.

>

> However if you find something that works great, but I have a very

> hard time

> believing that patients won't do it. Actually most practitioners

> here in

> Boulder tell me the same thing that you do, patients just don't have

> time.

> So it is clear that it is the practitioners issue, not the patients,

> if I

> can get them to do it. For the record, I went to school in San Diego.

>

> -Jason

>

> 70.13.32/2266 - Release 07/27/09 05:58:00

>

>