Chinese herbs have been used for thousands of years to treat medical conditions.
Chinese herbal medicine is the term for using herbs to treat medical conditions or restoring a person's energy, body and spirit. With more than 3,200 herbs and 400 formulas, Chinese herbology relies on numerous herbal combinations, in the form of pills, powders, tonics and teas, to relieve medical conditions, notes the American Cancer Society. Traditional Chinese medicine treats the symptoms of an illness, rather than the causes.
Asian Ginseng
Asian ginseng, an herb native to China and Korea, has been a staple in Chinese herbal medicine for centuries, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Ginsenosides are the chemical agents in ginseng, which herbal practitioners believe are responsible for the herb's health benefit. Asian ginseng is used for a number of conditions, including the relief of menopause symptoms, erectile dysfunction, emotional imbalances and low stamina. The ginseng's root is normally dried before use, and may be brewed into tea, added to creams or placed inside capsules. Typical side effects from Asian ginseng use are disrupted sleep patterns, headaches and gastrointestinal problems.
Wolfberry
Wolfberry, a deciduous perennial plant native to the northwest region of China, produces a reddish-orange fruit considered very important in Chinese herbal medicine, based on information from Phytochemicals. Acknowledged for its health benefits for thousands of years, wolfberry is often used in teas, soup or as a general tonic to improve vision, reduce leg weakness and maintain liver health. Additional medicinal applications include anti-aging properties and increasing the health of the immune system. The wolfberry fruit may be consumed fresh or dried, and the leaves of this herb are sometimes eaten as a vegetable.
Ginger
While ginger is known for its use as a spice in many food recipes, it is also used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat several conditions. The underground stems of the herb can be used dried or fresh, brewed as a tea or made into a liquid extract. Ginger is an ingredient in various cold, flu and nausea supplements sold in the United States, and the stems are used to treat stomach aches, rheumatoid arthritis and diarrhea. Short-term medicinal use of ginger is proven to relieve nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy, indicates the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Tags: Chinese herbal, Chinese herbal medicine, herbal medicine, Asian ginseng, medical conditions