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HISTORY OF HERBS The art of practicing and dispensing herbal products and medicine goes back over more than 5000 years embracing all types of natural elements that constitute the universe. There is a list of over 2000 varieties of herbs which have been widely used by many people of the world playing an important role in traditional medical therapy. Contemporary Chinese Medicine represents an accumulation of these theories and experience practiced by traditional Chinese physicians and by the usage of treatises and the compilation and application of various "formulas." Traditional Chinese Medicine is the world’s oldest, safest and comprehensive treatment of medical care. Chinese herbology is not merely an ancient and intact tradition. It is a growing and changing tradition, having survived by many centuries through the flexibility and adaptability of the yin-yang principle. The Chinese herbal wisdom also extends to a new cultural sphere with new conditions and requirements; rooted in the herbal legacy, yet sensitive to the needs of contemporary people. While in modern times various chemicals are identified and isolated from plants, it is important to recognize that in experiencing the "power of plants" we are dealing with something more basic and universal than chemicals. That is ENERGY; and when we experience it, we do not know what it is.
CHARACTERISTICS OF HERBAL MEDICINE In Traditional Herbal Medicine, diagnosis and treatment is a product of a direct relationship between symptoms and "formulas." Thousands of years ago, the Chinese began to recognize the imbalancing effects resulting from the use of single plants and their derivatives. To counteract such imbalance, they began to perfect the methods of herbal synergism. They had found that each herb has many active ingredients and multiple potential effects. With these experiences the Chinese learned to combine herbs synergistically, thus creating specific formulas for various ailments to enhance the energy potentials of plants while avoiding numerous side effects.
A SHORT HISTORY OF MEDICINE Healthy & Natural Journal
HOW SAFE ARE HERBS? Many of us came out from the doctor's office with a prescription and no questions asked. We trust that doctor with our health, and believe that the medicine is best for us. However, when we think about trying herbal products, we worry that they may harm us. Here is the bottomline:
COMPARATIVE CAUSES OF DEATHS - ANNUAL AVERAGE* Adverse Drug Reaction 60,000 - 140,000 deaths per year Automobile Accidents 23,856 deaths Food Contamination 9,000 deaths Boating Accidents 1,064 deaths Railway Accidents 574 deaths Agricultural Machines 562 deaths Lifting Machines/Appliances 97 deaths Carbon Monoxide 34 deaths Household Cleaners 24 deaths Power Tools 16 deaths Hair Dryers 10 deaths All Plants (house, ect.) 1 death Commercial Herbal Products 0 deaths
Source Information: Sources of statistics/calculations based on data from the American Association of Poison Centers, National Center for Health Statistics, Journal of the American Medical Association, Center for Disease Control, US Consumer Products Safety Commission and National Highway Traffic Safety Commission.
All information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional. |
