Chinese Herbal Medicine

The subject of Chinese Herbal Medicine is probably the most intriguing and complex aspect of all Chinese Medical Theory and treatment. Chinese Herbal Medicine is regarded as the Internal treatment. It's premised on the knowledge that our internal organ system is balanced by recognizing the importance of combining the concepts of flavour, temperature and nature. The premise being that the Major internal organs have individual flavour characteristics to promote optima organ function:

• Kidney: Salty
• Liver: Sour
• Stomach: Sweet
• Lungs: Spicy
• Heart: Bitter

Chinese Herbal Medicine extends this body of knowledge into daily dietary habits eg. Sweet and Sour (flavours) sauce combination we all enjoy is actually there to promote Liver and Stomach function thereby enhancing the digestive process of the food we enjoy to eat. It gives a more profound meaning to the expression of "eating to live". Chinese Herbal Medicine has attracted the ire of the western palate for its propensity for bitterness and sourness (to stimulate Heart and Liver function).

In the contemporary western diet of excessive Saltiness, Sweetness and in more recent times Spicy (in the absence of Sour and Bitter to round off the flavours) is what Chinese Medical thinking lies behind the "unbalanced diet".

The Chinese believe this is the basis of many health related issues. Due to modern scientific processes Chinese Herbal Medicine has evolved, has entered a new age of freeze dried granule extract products which provide the patient with the essence of the 'flavours' without the necessity for the traditional boiling process and harshness of the Raw Herb taste.