RESPIRATORY ALLERGY REFERENCE RESOURCE

Learning Chinese medicine requires good understanding of its basic approaches. The materials to be discussed here are related to my previous videos entitled "Balance", "Modern Adaptation", and "Hot and Cold" (Parts I and II). You may like to review those videos first. The basic healing approaches have been developed according to the nature of the herbs discovered, and the understanding of various kinds of ailments. There are six distinct approaches as follows: 1. Expel Heat. Heat is absorbed into the body due to hot weather, or by eating too much Hot food. Heat may also be generated due to infection resulting in a fever, or overwork leading to an overactive liver. The body feels it when the heat reaches an excess level. Excess Heat is usually a short-term problem unless being constantly created. Symptoms: fever, pimples/skin rash flare up, agitated state, mouth sores, sleeplessness, hemorrhoid flare up. Heat is expelled by resting, Cold food, or Cold herbs. 2. Expel Cold/Wind/Damp. These are absorbed into the body after too much exposure to the weather. Once absorbed, they cannot be easily expelled, and can only be done effectively by enhancing the blood circulation. This becomes a long-term problem when the individual reaches 40 or over. Symptoms: joint/muscle pains, swelling, headaches, or fatigue. Cold/Wind/Damp are mostly expelled by enhancing blood circulation through exercise, massage, or Hot herbs. Hot food or rest will help. 3. Cleanse "Undesirables". Undesirable materials can be absorbed through excessive eating, or exposure to polluted environment. These include hard-to-digest food or fat, cigarette smoke, or various toxins. Symptoms: indigestion, bloating, gases, constipation, toxins, fat, Cholesterol, or high sugar in blood. 4. Strengthen. This is a unique feature of Chinese medicine. A variety of herbs are used to address long-term general body weakness or localized weakness related to a specific organ. Blood circulation can be enhanced as well. Strengthening herbs are also used for recovery from long illness. Symptoms: low energy, slow recovery from illness, weak body, low immunity, low fertility, cold/sweaty hands and feet. 5. "Run" 潤 This is a mild strengthening feature also unique to Chinese medicine. "Run" means to soothe, to moisturize, and to nourish. This approach is used where too strong a strengthening package may produce negative results. Many Chinese women employ this approach to beautify the skin and to promote the Yin. Symptoms: cough, phlegm, dry throat, nasal allergy, dry skin, unhealthy nails, sleep difficulty. 6. Balance This is another unique feature of Chinese medicine. The balance approach is also a mild form of strengthening. The herbs employed have the ability to heal from either direction. The best example is menstrual irregularity. Whether it's early or late, too much or too little blood, pain or no pain, the same kind of menstrual herbs can be used to normalize the menstrual condition. For instance, "Four Treasures 四物" (Chuan Xiong 川芎, Dang Gui 當歸, Di Huang 地黃 and Chi Shao 赤芍) are commonly used with other herbs added. After taking the regimen for a few weeks, the body will reach a balance point when the herbs can be discontinued for a sustained period. Symptoms: menstrual irregularity, emotional problems, conditions with ups-and-downs irregularity. The following examples illustrate how to apply the basic approaches. In many case, a combination of them are required to produce better results: • Skin rash: cleanse, expel Heat, and "Run". • Joint/muscle pains: expel Cold/Wind/Damp, and strengthen. • Fertility: strengthen and balance. • Sleep: balance and "Run". Depending on the patient's condition, either strengthen or expel Heat may be combined too. • High blood pressure: "Run", balance, and expel Heat. • Diabetes: cleanse, balance, and strengthen kidneys. • Cholesterol: cleanse, balance, and strengthen digestive system and blood circulation. • General prevention: cleanse, strengthen, "Run", and balance. • Cancer recovery: cleanse, strengthen, and balance. For further information, go to www.herbsandtea.com Raw herbs or capsules can be tailor-made for your conditions.