The Concept

The concepts behind Chinese herbal teas and their healing effects

I remember as a small boy smelling herbs brewing in the kitchen when I was sick with hives and having to drink herbal teas.  My mother would boil herbs for 45 minutes in water an hour before breakfast.  I could smell the herbs permeating throughout the house. I had to drink a bowl full of herbs before eating my breakfast; I eventually stopped getting hives. 

My grandmother was told she had intestinal inflammation which required surgery.  At the time no one knew it was called Crohn’s disease.  Crohn’s disease is a disorder that causes swelling in the intestine.  My grandmother began drinking Chinese herbal teas after her surgery and months later she was fine again. 

There are many stories of the healing properties associated with Chinese herbal teas being used to help the body heal itself.  Traditionally, Chinese herbs have been used to assist organs function better.

The concept behind Chinese herbs is that everything in the body occurs in layers or chains of events.  Take for example the following scenario: a non-working enzyme may lead to a gland malfunction.  Because the non-working enzyme is putting more stress onto the body, the working enzymes have to compensate (do more work), and pretty soon the whole body is coping and compensating. 

The concept of layers is also used in nutrition.  In nutritional practices, different symptoms are associated with a layer of the problem.  For instance, when a patient comes in with irritable bowels, the first action (first layer) is to reduce inflammation of the irritated bowels.  Once the bowels are no longer swollen the healing actions begin (second layer).  The next step (third layer) is to stop the agent that is causing inflammation which is a key to natural healing. 

Natural healing recognizes parasites, fungus, bacteria, heavy metals and environmental chemicals as a reasons that cause the body to go amiss.  Research indicates that these external pathogens can cause illnesses. Medical practitioners however, do not recognize that parasites can live in the heart or that fungus can live in the kidneys.  Complementary and alternative health practitioners understand the basic underlying mechanism of how external pathogens work.

 In fact, because of the research conducted, we can better understand how microorganisms enter the body and predict the type of damage that can occur.  Natural remedies help the body deal with the damage that occurs by these microorganisms, also known as pathogens.

Herbal practitioners use natural remedies and take into account how the body works.  Based on this information, an herbal tea formula is recommended depending on the specific problem the patient has been experiencing.   In my office, I use ready to drink herbal teas. The herbs in the formulas are traditionally known to help the body stimulate enzyme production; support the immune system, among other uses.

Nutritionists also use natural remedies and they work under the assumption that the body stops working properly because of a deficiency (a deficiency in vitamins and minerals). However, what the nutritionist fails to take into account is that enzymes could also be creating a problem by not working optimally. 

What are the main differences between nutritionists and herbalists? The nutritionist uses nutrition in the form of capsules, pills and tinctures.  The theory behind nutrition is that an increase in certain nutrition is required in specific healing.  Nutritionists use antioxidants to decrease inflammation.  Herbalists use herbs that contain antioxidants and steroids to decrease inflammation.  The nutritionist uses amino acids and carbohydrates are derived from plants.  Herbalists use herbs that contain amino acids, carbohydrates and hormones to increase enzyme production.

My research in herbs has enabled me to use traditional Chinese herbs to help the body heal itself. Although, traditional Chinese formulas have been used for thousands of years, I have discovered that combining different herbs in formulas can enhance their individual properties and actions. In my office, the formulas come as ready to drink teas. Based on the symptoms and signs of each patient, I recommend the right program that will aid with the symptoms.

Charles Kwang, D.C