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addictions to osteoporosis,
also obesity and insomnia |
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beyond health, wellness
at
work, nutrition |
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| a-z wellness
professionals:
Chinese Herbal Medicines |
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Chinese herbal medicine is part
of a larger healing system called Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM), which also includes acupuncture, massage dietary advice
and exercise. TCM is a popular method of treatment, with nearly
three million Australians visiting TCM practitioners every year.
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The underlying principles of TCM
are very different from traditional Western notions about health,
illness and the workings of the body. Chinese herbs are prescribed
to normalise imbalanced energy, or Qi (pronounced ‘chee’), that
runs through invisible meridians in the body. Whether or not
the philosophy is believed, studies have shown Chinese herbal
medicines to be successful in treating a range of disorders,
particularly gynaecological and gastrointestinal disorders. |
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A range of disorders
Chinese herbs are commonly used to treat disorders such as:
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digestive problems |
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eczema and
psoriasis |
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fatigue |
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gynaecological
disorders |
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hepatic (liver)
disorders |
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cardiovascular
disorders |
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stress |
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allergies and autoimmune disorders.
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Yin and Yang
The ancient Chinese proposed that every living thing is sustained
by a balance of two opposing forces of energy, called Yin and
Yang. Together, they make up the life essence, or Qi - a type
of energy that flows through the body via invisible channels
called meridians. Half of certain organs and meridians are governed
by Yin and the other half by Yang. When Yin and Yang are out
of balance in the body, this causes a blockage of Qi and a subsequent
illness. Yin and Yang imbalances can be caused by stress, pollution,
poor diet, emotional upsets or infection. For diagnostic purposes,
Yin and Yang are further subdivided into interior and exterior,
hot and cold, deficiency and excess.
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The five elements
The TCM philosophy proposes that everything including organs
of the body - is composed of the five elements: fire, earth,
metal, water and wood. The herbs are similarly classified into
the five tastes - sweet, salty, bitter, pungent and sour - which
correspond to the five elements, for example, since the skin
is a metal element Yang organ, it would be treated with a pungent
herb.
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The five elements
The TCM philosophy proposes that everything including organs
of the body - is composed of the five elements: fire, earth,
metal, water and wood. The herbs are similarly classified into
the five tastes - sweet, salty, bitter, pungent and sour - which
correspond to the five elements, for example, since the skin
is a metal element Yang organ, it would be treated with a pungent
herb.
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Herbs
Chinese herbal medicines are mainly plant based, but some preparations
include minerals or animal products. They can be packaged as
powders, pastes, lotions or tablets, depending on the herb and
its intended use. Different herbs have different properties
and can balance particular parts of the body. Prescribing a
particular herb or concoction of herbs means the practitioner’s
diagnosis has to take into account the state of the patient’s
Yin and Yang, and the elements that are governing the affected
organs.
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find Chinese
Herbal Medicine practitioners |
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