|
Facts about Chinese Medicine
By Dr Mohammed Sarwar Khan.
History and Development
Chinese medicine is a complete medical system, similar to Allopathic or Homeopathic medicine. Chinese medicine has many different branches like pediatrics, Genecology, dentistry etc. Over the centuries, Chinese Medicine has evolved methods of diagnosis and treatment tailored to the individual's subtle patterns of disharmony. These methods not only treat the disease, but also assist in maintaining health and balance to prevent illnesses from occurring.
Treatment consists of three main modalities:
By far the major component of Chinese medical therapy is herbal medicine. There are several thousand different medicinal substances used by Chinese herbalists, most of which are derived from plants, minerals and animal parts.
Combined Chinese herbal and Allopathic drug therapy has proven to be an extremely successful approach, with remarkable results being achieved in such areas as cancer care, recovery from stroke, arthritis, skin diseases, heart disease, chronic degenerative diseases, post operative care, etc.
Commonly Asked Questions About Chinese Medicine
Q: How effective is Chinese herbal medicine?
A: Chinese herbal medicine is a natural form of therapy that does not have the dramatic impact of Allopathic drugs, which often lead to side effects. Chinese herbal medicine acts in a more gentle and gradual manner, assisting the body to heal itself, so that the root cause of the problem is treated along with the symptoms.
Q: What is Chinese Medicine good for?
A: Chinese Medicine is effective in treating a wide range of diseases and ailments, and complements the weaknesses of orthodox medical treatments. One good example of this is the Chinese use of tonic medicines to strengthen and supplement parts of the body that have become weak or are not functioning at full capacity. In this way, Chinese Medicine successfully treats many chronic and degenerative conditions, boosting the immune system and restoring normal function.
Q: How are herbal medicines different from conventional medicines?
A: Each herb contains dozens of active chemicals that occur in a natural form. To separate one form of active from the other would be upsetting a natural balance, of which human beings are also a part. The modern scientific approach is to isolate the directly effective actives and manufacture them synthetically, producing powerful drugs that may also have unwanted side effects.
Q: How is Chinese herbal medicine different from other forms of herbalism?
A: Over its long history, Chinese herbalists have discovered how to combine herbs so that the beneficial effects are maximized and the unwanted effects are minimized. This has lead to the development of a large number of traditional herbal formulas that are designed to treat a wide variety of common imbalances. When prescribing, a Chinese medical specialist will base his prescription on one or more of these traditional formulas, making minor adjustments for each individual.
Q: Are there any side effects?
A: Chinese herbal medicine has evolved in such a way as to minimize unwanted side effects. Those that do occur are usually mild and are easily dealt with, such as stomach upset or diarrhea. Very rarely there may be an allergic reaction, so you should make sure to inform your doctor if you have a history of any type of allergy.
Q: How long does a course of treatment take and what can I expect?
A: As a general rule, the longer you have had the problem and the older you are, the longer the time of treatment that is required. Simple ailments such as a common cold or flu can be treated in three to five days, whereas a chronic degenerative condition such as rheumatoid arthritis may require a continuous low dosage of herbal medicines for life. Usually a course of treatment with Chinese herbal medicines is two to three months. In the early stages there may be a temporary worsening of the symptoms as the body goes through a cleansing and rebalancing process. This usually passes within a week or so, after which there is a steady improvement as the body comes into balance and healing takes place.
Q: How do I take Chinese herbal medicines?
A: Herbal medicines can be prescribed in many forms. It can either be taken as concentrated pills or tablets, water-soluble granules or raw herbs that are brewed like tea. Generally, the formulas are made into pills and the single herbs come as water-soluble granules.
Q: Does it interfere with other medicines?
A: No, Chinese herbal medicines will not interfere with the effects of any other medicine or vitamin and mineral supplements.
CHINESE Herbal Formulas
The CHINESE HOSPITAL buy Chinese herbal medicines, acupuncture needles and accessories from Mainland China. The CHINESE HOSPITAL policy is to provide the best products that China has to offer with the widest range.
|
