Chinese Patent Medicines
Are Still Potent Today
Ancient Chinese patent medicines were formulated over 2,000 years to successfully treat illness. The remedies that are prepared use standard formulae. The earliest records found that some of these formulae date to the Warring States Period (403 BC to 221 BC). Some are still being used to heal today dating from 219 AD. Chinese patent medicines are still very popular today, and they can be found all over the world in Chinese communities and being used by many holistic health practitioners. They come in many forms: pills, plasters, powders, tablets, tinctures and syrups and all have their place for various conditions. You can imagine that over the past 2,000 years, these medicines have gone through extensive trials on many generations of people.
Prescribing Of Chinese Herbs
A well-versed herbalist can use these formulations to treat very complex and subtle conditions. Diagnosis is made through the ancient principles developed by Taoist sages who observed the human body and behavior and how it related to nature. Their observations became the foundation of Chinese medicine.The patent formulae are a combination of herbs and other ingredients that are ground into a powder and held together by a binder, usually honey. This mixture is made into small black pills. Other medicines are in liquid, some in other forms like capsules or powders. These medicines are made commercially both in and out of China.
What Are Patent Chinese Herbs?
Unlike patents in the West, when the word 'patent' is used with Chinese medicine, it means the formula is standardized. So, whether a formula is made by a Chinese company or by a company in another country, the amounts of each ingredient are the same. The history of patent medicines in the West is dubious at best. Ingredients were often kept secret, and you never knew if they would work or not. In fact, the Chinese patent remedy lists all ingredients on the label, and it has been tested thoroughly over many generations of people for its efficacy. They are not usually the choice for customized treatment of an acute condition. They work better for general use when a patient is not experiencing a severe illness. These medicines are meant to be taken longterm. They have been formulated for every system in the body. There are specialized treatments for the circulatory system, digestive system, musculoskeletal system, reproductive system, urinary system, endocrine system, and so on. It is interesting to find specific remedies for men and for women as well.An example of Chinese patent medicines would be: For Anxiety - Xiao Yao WanThis remedy nourishes the blood and regulates the liver, promoting movement of Qi and blood within the body. This is the remedy for anxiety because anxiety and distress are caused by blood deficiency and emotional limitations of the liver, which controls the flow of blood in the body, according to Chinese medical theory. It contains Poria; Radix Bupleuri, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Angelicae Sinensis; Herba Menthae; Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae; Radix Glycyrrhizae; Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens. Chinese patent medicines are time tested and work well for moderate health problems like the common cold, anxiety and constipation. If you are looking for alternative medicines, these are definitely worth a try to see how they work for you.
Home
|
