Mushrooms can be used to help cure ailments.
Unlike Western medicine, Chinese medicine is rooted in the belief that all diseases and ailments manifest from an imbalance in chi, or energy. For a person to be healthy, the opposing yin/yang forces must be in balance. Natural Chinese remedies seek to restore this balance, either through herbal remedies, specific foods, or natural physical cures.
Herbal Remedies
There are literally hundreds of different Chinese herbs, known as tonics, which can be used in combination with one another to restore the proper energy balance. The particular herbs are chosen based on an individual's malady, which is divided into the exterior or the interior of the body, an absence of heat or cold, or a need to move upwards or downwards, such as in the case of a laxative. Popular herbs include Siberian ginseng, which is excellent for treating stress, and reishi mushrooms, which boost immunity, according to Leslie Tierra in "Healing with Chinese Herbs."
Food Remedies
Part of maintaining a healthy energy balance is getting proper nutrition. There is no one generalized diet that will cover an individual's needs; each person must find the foods that best suit him. However, eating specially formulated soups and protein at regular intervals is recommended. Bone marrow soup, for example, strengthens the bones and the kidneys, while Chinese Yam and Lycii Berry Soup is an excellent treatment for diabetes states, reports Tierra. Anemia Congee is a remedy for weakness and dizziness, and is composed of berries, dates, rice and barley.
Physical Remedies
Chinese exercise forms such as tai chi and qi-gong remedy pain and suffering in the body by restoring a proper flow of energy through the muscles. Both exercises emphasize attaining an appropriate form, which fully exercises all the tissues of the physical body. The forms are not rigorous in comparison with Western forms of exercise, but they are demanding, and take great discipline to execute properly.
Tags: energy balance, Natural Chinese