History
One of the oldest books on Chinese herbal remedies, the Shennong Materia Medica, was written around 100 BC. It classifies 252 plants, 67 animals and 46 minerals into three types of healing – Upper, Middle and Lower.
- Upper: Herbs that can be used for many different illnesses and diseases, are considered gentle with no side effects (Upper) and can be used for a long period of time.
- Middle: Remedies that should only be used for a short period of time or gradually to cure illnesses
- Lower: Substances that can only be taken in small amounts to treat a specific disease, usually in combination with other substances.
The book also discusses over 170 diseases and contains information on the origins and identification of various remedies, their properties, and dosage recommendations. It is still considered a key Chinese medicinal herb reference.
Types of herbs
Chinese medicinal herbs can be found throughout China, from the desert in the north and wet farmland in the south to the desert mountains in the east and coastal areas in the west.
Every region has unique plants based on the area’s temperature, water and soil quality. It’s like driving through the desert, where you see cactus and sagebrush and then going up to a higher elevation with grass and trees. Different regions, different plants.
Chinese medicinal plants include herbs that eliminate toxins, eliminate inflammation, repair the immune system, and restore organ functionality.
Harvesting
Chinese medicinal herbs are harvested after reaching maturity when they have all the compounds needed for healing. Some plants reach maturity during the spring after experiencing snow, while others are harvested in the summer or after they bloom. After the herbs are harvested, they are dried and packaged.
Dried herbs can be used to make tea, turned into pills, or put into capsules. You can also make herbal infusions by boiling the herbs in water or create tinctures by soaking the herbs in alcohol for several months.
Processing
The biggest problem working with medicinal herbs is extracting the compounds so they can be easily absorbed. This is why basic teas, pills, and capsules aren’t usually effective.
The best method is high-pressure extraction (HPE). It removes everything that is needed without introducing chemicals.
“…the HPE process is faster, gives higher extraction yields, fewer impurities and as it is performed at room temperature, avoids thermal degradation and loss of bioactivity of the extracted components.” – sciencedirect.com.
Treatment
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have used herbs to successfully treat many different types of illnesses and diseases, including:
- Inflammation
- Parasites
- Viruses and bacteria
- Digestive problems
- Lung problems
- Heart issues
- Circulation
- Nerve damage
- Skin conditions
- Tumors
- Kidney damage
- Prostate problems
- Thyroid problems
Herbal formulas
Chinese herbs are commonly used together in formulas. Different herbs are mixed in various portions to create synergy. For example, a Chinese herb that detoxes yeast is made stronger because it’s mixed with other herbs. If you use these herbs individually, they won’t get rid of the yeast. However, if you mix them properly and then extract all of their compounds using a high-pressure process, the yeast detox will be effective.
Finding the synergy between the herbs takes time, and the extraction process must be done correctly each time.
Chinese medicinal herbs and cellular activity
All food comprises carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, also called macronutrients. Macronutrients are broken down during the digestive process, which converts carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into glucose (sugar), oils, and amino acids—substances that cells can utilize.
Every cell’s surface contains receptors. Substances in the body that bind to these receptors can change the cell’s activity.
Glucose attaches to a receptor, which binds to the glucose and brings it into the cell. Amino acids attach to another receptor, which binds to the amino acid and brings it into the cell. A glucose receptor only recognizes glucose and an amino acid receptor only recognizes amino acids. There are 20 different types of amino acids and 20 individual amino acid receptors.
An oil will be absorbed by the cell without a receptor. This is what makes oils work faster than amino acids.
Chinese medicinal herbs are phytonutrients. A phytonutrient is a natural substance produced by plants that keeps them healthy. They are also beneficial to human health and can help prevent disease.
The phytonutrients in Chinese medicinal herbs are not amino acids or oils. Instead, they contain sugars, oils, and amino acids. This means the phytonutrient can be absorbed by a receptor or go directly into a cell. Once in the cell, it binds to parts of the DNA to activate a specific function.
DNA is our body’s blueprint. It contains all the codes to make enzymes and other cell parts. When DNA is activated, cellular activity increases—more enzymes and cell parts are made. More enzymes mean chemical reactions can happen faster. The body’s ability to fight germs increases when chemical reactions increase.
Fighting a germ means activating the white blood cells (your immune system) to create more germ-fighting enzymes. You want to fight the germ faster than the damage it’s creating. The faster new cells are created, the sooner you see normal organ function.
A nutritionist will try to heal the body by adding more supplements. A more effective method is using medicinal herbs to activate DNA, restore cellular activity and functionality, and let the body heal itself.
Summary
- Herbs have been used for many centuries of years to treat illnesses and diseases
- There are thousands of Chinese medicinal herbs, each with unique properties.
- The most effective way to remove compounds from Chinese medicinal plants is high-pressure extraction.
- Chinese medicinal herbs have phytonutrients that a cell can easily absorb.
- Once the phytonutrient has been absorbed, it binds to DNA and activates the cell.
- Activating DNA is a more effective way of healing because it restores cellular activity and functionality and lets the body heal itself.
Do you have a chronic health condition? We use specially formulated Chinese medicinal herbs to detox and repair the body. Our herbs are 100% natural, non-GMO, and have been processed using high-pressure extraction for maximum potency and effectiveness. This is a custom program tailored for your specific health needs and concerns. Contact us today at (213) 999 – 5577 or schedule a free consultation with Dr. Kwang.
