Name _______________________________
Tao of Health – Chinese Herbal Medicine Cabinet
2-1-3
Name _________________________________
2-1-3
Tao of Health – Chinese Herbal Medicine Cabinet
by Eyton Shalom
In America, when we think headache, we think of aspirin,
Tylenol®, or Motrin®; when we think indigestion, we think of
Alka-Seltzer®, Mylanta®, or Tums®; and
when we think cough, we think of
Robitussin®. Or do we?
Things have changed. In the global village
more and more Americans have abandoned
their traditional isolation and traveled to
the Far East. More and more Asians have settled in the U.S.,
especially the West Coast. At the same time, Americans searching
for more control over their lives and for natural alternatives to
synthetic drugs have opened their eyes to ancient methods of healthcare.
Since approximately 403 B.C.E., the Chinese have developed their healthcare to include
the use of medicinal herbs. Chinese medical doctors prescribed herbal formulas to be
boiled at home into strong teas and soups. They decocted herbs in alcohol to make
cordials and lotions. And they mixed aromatic herbs with various pastes such as beeswax
to be applied as plasters and liniments. Today many Americans have heard of Tiger
Balm, a muscle liniment made in Singapore and hawked on television by all-American
quarterback Joe Montana. You can even find Tiger Balm at most major supermarkets!
In addition to the above methods of consumption, Chinese doctors and pharmacists
learned that it would be easier for busy mothers to give herbs to their children that were
formulated into pills or wan. These pills, produced by combining powdered medicinal
substances (the Materia Medica includes mineral and animal substances in addition to
plant material or herbs) with water, honey, rice powder, or wax as binders, and are known
as Zhong Cheng Yao or "Ready-to-be-Taken-Medicine." In America, these prepared
herbal pills are commonly referred to as "Patent" medicine. In fact, the majority of
prepared formulas are based on well-known classical formulas and can be produced by
any manufacturer meeting the strict quality control standards of China’s Drug Control
Act, 1985. The history and development of Patent medications parallels that of Chinese
herbology itself. By 1155, the first Imperial formulary describing over 700 prepared
medicines was published and the first formal pharmacological manufacturing facility
established. By 1368 during the Ming dynasty, smaller, privately-owned pharmacies were
developed, and through the Qing dynasty the production of medicine in pill form was
accelerated. The oldest herbal pharmaceutical manufacturer in China today, Tong Ren
Tang, established in 1669, is located in Beijing and has been at the same address since
1702, 74 years before George Washington and Paul Revere!
The great advantage of Chinese herb pills, of course, is their ease of use. Preparing and
drinking teas and decoctions is time-consuming and difficult to swallow for those with
taste sensitivities. The disadvantage of the prepared herbal pills is that they fail to take
advantage of the true skill of the herbal physician. The Patent medications although based
on the classical formulas, generally are only the basic formulas that the herbalist would
modify to meet the specific needs of an individual patient’s pattern of disharmony at a
particular time. Nevertheless, there are certain Patent remedies with a fairly wide range of
safe application. Typically in Chinese communities there were certain "home remedies"
kept in the medicine cabinets which people knew how to use without necessarily
consulting the herbalist. The following discussion introduces some of these commonly
used Patent medications.
Common Cold or Flu
In the earliest stage of a cold (first 6 - 12 hours), there are several remedies which if taken
early enough actually can assist the body’s resistance to the viral invasion and avert or
minimize symptoms. The most frequently used is Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien. This formula
should be taken at the very first signs of cold or flu: sneezing, slight sore throat, cough,
runny nose, chills, and body ache. Avoid the sugar-coated variety of this formula that
also contains western pharmaceuticals.
After a cold or flu is in progress, use of this remedy is ill advised. This is a formula to
"expel wind-heat from the surface" and after a day or two the "evil pathogen" is no longer
at the surface, but has gone deeper. Many students overuse this formula and actually end
up weakening their "Spleen/Stomach Qi" that is needed to fight the "wind-evil."
If by day two, one’s symptoms are primarily flu-like — chills, fatigue, sore muscles, mild
headache, and sore throat, then Zhong Gong Ling often is used. An American
manufactured formula called Isatis Gold, which mixes western and Chinese herbs is
excellent if sore throat and swollen glands are a primary symptom. If there is dry cough
with thirst, there are numerous herbal cough syrups based on the herbs Loquat Leaf and
Frittilariae Bulb mixed with honey. These formulations often are referred to as Pei Pae
Mat. If the cold deepens into the lungs and there is copious yellow phlegm, then Pinellia
Expectorant Pill (Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan) can be appropriate.
Digestion
Asians generally are more conscious of their digestion than Americans. Simply drinking
a little hot water or tea after meals is an excellent aid to improving digestion. There are
many teas in herb stores such as Bojenmi tea and others that promote digestion and
assimilation of fats. Good Japanese green tea or twig tea will do the same. Indians are
very fond of cardamom and ginger as digestives. Health food stores also have Ayurvedic
teas to balance Pitta, Vata, and Kapha; these teas also help digestion when matched to
one’s constitution. The brand I have tried, "Maharishi AyurVed," is quite good.
If one should experience sudden indigestion and suspect bad food, then Huo Hsiang
Cheng Chi Pien is the formula of choice. Traditionally, it was used for cholera. The smell
of Patchouli, one of its constituent herbs, is noticeable. The variety manufactured by
Tung Jen Tang in Beijing is the best. This formula also is great for stomach flu, or
common colds in the summer with diarrhea.
Curing pills, based on the above classical formula, along with a formula called Er Chen
Wan, are essential for the treatment of hangover, motion sickness, and nausea. Curing
pills alone, or Bo Chai pills, are useful for non-specific diarrhea and simple indigestion.
If you could not resist that extra pint of Häagen Dazs, and you are so stuffed that you
cannot move, then drink some fresh or dry ginger tea and take a handful of Ginseng
Stomachic Pill (Jian Pi Wan).
Allergies
For seasonal hay-fever with sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, and postnasal drip, Bi Yan Pian
is recommended. In acute attacks of repeated sneezing, double the dose given on the
bottle.
For sinusitis and sinus headache, Pe Min Kan Wan is very effective, especially in
conjunction with acupuncture and dietary therapy.
While the Chinese Patent formulas have been used safely by mothers and grandmothers
for generations, there are cautions and contraindications for herbal medicines just as for
western pharmaceuticals. The prepared pill formulas, while fairly palatable, nevertheless
are medicine. Moreover, the most effective application of herbal remedies is within the
context of a skilled, differential diagnosis. For example, in the treatment of colds and
flus, it must be considered at the onset whether it is attack of "Wind-Cold" or "WindHeat," and whether the patient’s constitution is in excess or deficiency. As the cold or flu
progresses, attention must paid to the appearance of "dry evil" or "damp evil" as
complicating factors. Finally, be it must be determined when to begin tonifying the
patient and assisting their body’s struggle against the pathogenic factor.
In California, those who specialize in Chinese herbal medicine are licensed
acupuncturists (L.Ac.) whose training includes three to five years of herbal study and
internship before licensure by the state of California.
Have fun experimenting with the Patent medicines, but play it safe too. If your
grandmother is not around, consult a licensed professional.