Traditional Chinese herbal medicine has been developed throughout a long history of medical practice in China. As each herb has its own specific characteristics, different herbs are used to treat the disease, by rectifying the hypoactivity (negative Yin) or hyperactivity (positive Yang), to help restore the body to its normal physiological functions.

There are many different kinds of herbs, each having its own properties and flavour:

• Properties refer to the hot, warm, cold or cool nature of the herbs. • Flavour refers to the taste of the herbs, namely pungent, sweet, sour, bitter, Salty, taste-less and astringent.

Most diseases and illnesses present a core set of recognisable signs and symptoms, but the actual presentation of a particular disease or illness will vary from person to person. For this reason, people with similar health conditions may be provided with different Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions.

A qualified practitioner is able to prescribe a Chinese herbal prescription that specifically matches and treats your individual health problem. As your condition changes and improves with treatment, the Chinese herbal treatment is also adjusted and modified until the desired health outcome is achieved.

Chinese herbal medicines are prescribed either singly, or made into formulae which take into account the individual therapeutic action of each herb as well as the effects when combined together. A well constructed formula maximises the effectiveness for treating a particular condition, while counteracting and minimising the unwanted effects of an individual herb.

In addition to providing effective treatment for a wide range of health disorders, Chinese herbal medicine may also be used as a general health supplement and disease prevention. By strengthening and enhancing normal body functions, the immune system is boosted and a general sense of well-being promoted.

During the ancient times, Chinese Herbal Medicine was an experiential medicine. This means that it has been learned and perfected by practice rather than theory.

Over the past 3000 years, Chinese have been meticulously experimenting with thousands of herbs and documenting the effects that they have on the body. Chinese Medical doctors have been testing how herbs work in combination and looking at how different herbs have different reactions to different people depending on their physical and psychological make up. It is through this endless trial and error, the medicinal value of herbs were learned, and the complex theories of the medicine were developed slowly over time.

In a nutshell, the basic principle of Chinese Herbal treatment is about all balance.

Each food or herb, is classified according to the properties it has in terms of effect of the body’s temperature, does it make you warmer or colder? The affect it has in regards to taste, is it bitter, sour, sweet pungent etc? (Taste refers less to the flavor and more to the action, for instance sour tastes causes the body to gather in and hold things – think of what happens if you bite into a lemon, your mouth sucks itself in and shrivels), which part of the body does it affect, and how fast does it take action.