Chinese Herbology
What are Chinese Herbs?:
Herbology is the Chinese art of combining medicinal herbs. Herbs have been relied upon for the healing of ailments for thousands of years. The focus of herbalism is to support the body's self healing ability. Herbs nourish us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. When we take herbs the essence enters the acupuncture meridian and adjusts the vital flow of energy in the body. Herbs are strong foods, so by eating them we enrich ourselves with a vast array of nutrients. The energetic classification of herbs is a science which has been refined over the last 3000 years. Today, we see further refinement due to the changing profile of disease.
What is the history of Chinese Herbs?:
Chinese herbs have been used for centuries. The first Chinese manual on pharmacology, the Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong Emperor's Classic of Materia Medica), lists some 365 medicines of which 252 of them are herbs, and dates back somewhere in the 1st century C.E. Han dynasty. Earlier literature included lists of prescriptions for specific ailments, exemplified by a manuscript "Recipes for 52 Ailments", found in the Mawangdui tomb, sealed in 168 B.C.E.
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Dried herbs and plant portions for Chinese herbology at a Xi'an market
Ginger is consumed in China as a food and a medicine
