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Self-Prescribing Chinese Herbs There are many herbs from the Chinese tradition that are currently being marketed very aggressively by the supplement industry. Though all of these herbs have a place in the treatment of health problems by trained professionals, some of them are potentially harmful, and all should be thought about the same way one thinks about Western medicinal, where with the potential to do good, there is always the possibility of side effects, and the stronger the ability to do something, generally the more potential it has to cause a harmful effect as well. Well prescribed Chinese herbs are balanced against one another in formulas that are tailored to your complaints. This is one of the strengths of Chinese medicines, in creating a formula that addresses the problems of the patient without causing side effects. This is not meant to discourage people from using herbs, far from it. Understand what you take, and treat it like the medicine it is. Generally only drug abusers take cough syrup when they don�t have a cold, why should Ma Huang be any different. If you take a number of Western and Eastern medications at the same time, it is useful to sit down with your doctor, a good pharmacologist, or a well trained herbalist to discuss possible interactions, and decide what the best course of treatment is. Herbs that are currently in vogue with the supplement industry are: Dongquai (Dang Gui): Which is commonly recommended to help with the symptoms associated with menopause. It is a useful herb for these purposes, but it is better when properly combined in a formula. If taken on its own it can cause digestive difficulty and diarrhea. Gensing (Ren Shen): This has been heralded as an �adaptogen� which means it allows people to thrive in situations that would normally be to exhausting. It is a useful herb, but in a way too useful to be used as a �pep pill.� Now it appears in colas, and a wide variety of supplements. In Chinese medicine it is generally saved for situations where nothing less will do, and it appears frequently in formulas for those who are at the door of death. Gensing is very warming, according to Chinese medical theory, and can overheat the system, with effects like raising blood pressure, and causing headaches. For those who just feel tired or out of sorts, there are many other herbs, which can be used, in the proper context. Astragalus (Huang Qi): Used in a similar way to Gensing, with the same possibility of raising blood pressure, and causing insomnia. Generally a milder herb. Ephedra (Ma Huang): Used to suppress coughing and wheezing and promote sweating and urination for short periods of time, this herb, and its primary active ingredient, have been over used, and abused by many as a diet aid and a stimulant. Prolonged use seems to deplete the body, and the patients that I have seen who use it as a daily suppliment seem tired and listless, generally burnt out, with the Yin, nourishing, element of their body depleted. Don�t lose heart. Herbs really are quite safe and effective. Just be thoughtful about it and rely on good sources of information. Losing weight, having more energy, and getting over the symptoms of menopause are all possible with changes in lifestyle, diet and appropriate Western or Chinese herbal treatment. When in doubt ask a professional opinion as it can save time, money, and most importantly - your health. |
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