Basic Healing Approaches of Chinese Medicine (27)

Learning Chinese medicine requires good understanding of its basic approaches. The materials to be discussed here are related to my previous videos entitled "Balance", "Modern Adaptation", and "Hot and Cold" (Parts I and II). You may like to review those videos first.

The basic healing approaches have been developed according to the nature of the herbs discovered, and the understanding of various kinds of ailments. There are six distinct approaches as follows:

1. Expel Heat. Heat is absorbed into the body due to hot weather, or by eating too much Hot food. Heat may also be generated due to infection resulting in a fever, or overwork leading to an overactive liver. The body feels it when the heat reaches an excess level. Excess Heat is usually a short-term problem unless being constantly created. Symptoms: fever, pimples/skin rash flare up, agitated state, mouth sores, sleeplessness, hemorrhoid flare up. Heat is expelled by resting, Cold food, or Cold herbs.

2. Expel Cold/Wind/Damp.
These are absorbed into the body after too much exposure to the weather. Once absorbed, they cannot be easily expelled, and can only
be done effectively by enhancing the blood circulation. This becomes a long-term problem when the individual reaches 40 or over. Symptoms: joint/muscle pains, swelling, headaches, or fatigue. Cold/Wind/Damp are mostly expelled by enhancing blood circulation through exercise, massage, or Hot herbs. Hot food or rest will help.

3. Cleanse "Undesirables".
Undesirable materials can be absorbed through excessive eating, or exposure to polluted environment. These include hard-to-digest food or fat, cigarette smoke, or various toxins. Symptoms: indigestion, bloating, gases, constipation, toxins, fat, Cholesterol, or high sugar in blood.

4. Strengthen.
This is a unique feature of Chinese medicine. A variety of herbs are used to address long-term general body weakness or localized weakness related to a specific organ. Blood circulation can be enhanced as well. Strengthening herbs are also used for recovery from long illness.
Symptoms: low energy, slow recovery from illness, weak body, low immunity, low fertility, cold/sweaty hands and feet.

5. "Run" 潤
This is a mild strengthening feature also unique to Chinese medicine.
"Run" means to soothe, to moisturize, and to nourish. This approach is used where too strong a strengthening package may produce negative results. Many Chinese women employ this approach to beautify the skin and to promote the Yin.
Symptoms: cough, phlegm, dry throat, nasal allergy, dry skin, unhealthy nails, sleep difficulty.

6. Balance
This is another unique feature of Chinese medicine. The balance
approach is also a mild form of strengthening. The herbs employed have the ability to heal from either direction. The best example is menstrual irregularity. Whether it's early or late, too much or too little blood, pain or no pain, the same kind of menstrual herbs can be used to normalize the menstrual condition. For instance, "Four Treasures 四物" (Chuan Xiong 川芎, Dang Gui 當歸, Di Huang 地黃 and Chi Shao 赤芍) are commonly used with other herbs added. After taking the regimen for a few weeks, the body will reach a balance point when the herbs can be discontinued for a sustained period.
Symptoms: menstrual irregularity, emotional problems, conditions with ups-and-downs irregularity.

The following examples illustrate how to apply the basic approaches. In many case, a combination of them are required to produce better results:
• Skin rash: cleanse, expel Heat, and "Run".
• Joint/muscle pains: expel Cold/Wind/Damp, and strengthen.
• Fertility: strengthen and balance.
• Sleep: balance and "Run". Depending on the patient's condition, either strengthen or expel Heat may be combined too.
• High blood pressure: "Run", balance, and expel Heat.
• Diabetes: cleanse, balance, and strengthen kidneys.
• Cholesterol: cleanse, balance, and strengthen digestive system and blood circulation.
• General prevention: cleanse, strengthen, "Run", and balance.
• Cancer recovery: cleanse, strengthen, and balance.

For further information, go to www.herbsandtea.com
Raw herbs or capsules can be tailor-made for your conditions.

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• herb
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• natural
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• healing
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• basic
• approaches

[psmith333]

Thanks for your reply, I live in Toronto, therefore difficult for me to come to San jose, but here there are many chinese herbs store therefore which herbs would you recommend to boost blood and Qi circulation

[askjohnfung]

@psmith333

Everybody wants to know which herb cures what. This is the conventional wisdom you get by asking anybody, your friend or someone at the herb store. You don't need to ask me. There's plenty of advice out there.

My videos are for educational purpose, not for spreading conventional wisdoms or rumors. When you ask me which herb cures what, you have shown that you have not understood the basic ideas of my videos.

[KiranTaker270]

i have really bad skin rash since my operation on the 5th march 2010 how can i heal from it

[askjohnfung]

@KiranTaker270

It's a long story.

Please see my other videos to understand your skin problem.

Search for "skin" and "hot and cold".

[psmith333]

@askjohnfung

what is cause and reason for chronic fatigue, and pain. where r ulocated

[askjohnfung]

@psmith333

The exact cause for chronic fatigue and pain is hard to determine. One Chinese explanation is the lack of blood and Qi circulation in the body. This leads to the prescription of herbs that boosts the blood and Qi circulation.

I am located in San Jose, California.

[buzzaw77]

Yes I have watched vid #10. I was wondering about the two types of Di Huang not because of name confusion, my local herbal shop ran out of Shu Di Huang but had Sheng instead, they said it would be the same, but I'm not so sure they are telling the whole truth.  I'm going to gradually make my way through your vids, the cartoons are cool :)

[askjohnfung]

Most people learn Chinese herbs by asking which herbs cure what? This is only the starting point. If you are serious, you should view my videos from #1 onward in sequence. To understand better, you should apply your common sense, see how I rationalize a prescripton, and learn all those theories I explain.

[askjohnfung]

The question you asked about Shu Di Huang and Chi Shao is all about naming convention, Video #10. If you don't know the convention, you'll have 1000 questions to ask because there are over 1000 herb names. That's what I mean by learning it systematically. There is a way to name Chinese herbs by adding adjectives to a key word. Have you seen my video #10?