There are over 5,000 traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, but only about 235 are commonly used. In Japan, the national health insurance system recognizes 148 traditional Chinese medicine formulas and 118 herbs.

Below are eleven of the Chinese medicinal herbs that are commonly used in the United States today. .

1. Ginseng (Panax ginseng, ren shen). Ginseng root is highly valued as an adaptogen, which helps the body adapt to change, and thus prevent stress-related illness.

2. Tang kuei (Angelica sinensis). Tang kuei is considered as an outstanding herb for women, but in complex formulas can also be used by men to nourish the blood, improve circulation, calm nervous tension, and relieve pain.

3. Ma huang (Ephedra sinensis). Ma huang is used as a stimulant; it opens the breathing passages, relieves lung congestion, and enhances weight loss. The herb also has alkaloid components, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which have both been made into modern drugs.

4. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis; gan cao). This root is used to neutralize toxins, relieve inflammation, enhance digestion, and to treat hepatitis, sore throat, muscle spasm, and other ailments. It is used in about one-third of all Chinese herbal prescriptions, and is thought to enhance the effectiveness of many herbal formulas. However, excessive consumption of this herb over an extended period of time can cause a sodium-potassium imbalance, with symptoms of fluid retention or rapid heartbeat.

5. Ginger (Zingiber officinale; shengjiang). Spicy ginger root is a wonderful aid to digestion. In addition, it neutralizes toxins in foods, increases circulation to the limbs, clears the lungs, and soothes nausea.

6. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia; kuei pi). Cinnamon is used to warm the body, invigorate circulation, and harmonize upper and lower body energy. In large quantities, however, it can irritate the liver, and should not be used by people with inflammatory liver disease.

7. Coptis (Coptis chinensis; huang lian). This herb is rich in alkaloids. It is used to combat infection and calm the nerves. One of its active ingredients, berberine, has broad antimicrobial activity. Coptis is closely related to the bitter American herb goldenseal.

8. Peony (Paeonia albiflora; pai shao). Peony root is used to regulate the blood. It regulates blood vessels, reduces platelet stickiness, and helps promote circulation. Peony is also often used to help balance the female hormonal system.

9. Bupleurum (Bupleurum chinense). One of the most frequently used herbs in Japanese herbal medicine, it has been used in Japan for treating liver disease, skin ailments, arthritis, menopausal symptoms, corticosteroid withdrawal, ulcers, and mental disorders.

10. Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus; huang ch’i). Probably the most commonly used herb today in China. This herb normalizes immune functions and has applications in immune deficiencies, autoimmune disease, and allergies. It is also beneficial to digestion, and to the skin, and is included in many formulas to promote the function of other herbs. Astragalus has also been used in the treatment of hepatitis and AIDS.

11. Salvia (Salvia miltiorrhiza; dan shen). Salvia is used in coronary artery disease, and in other cases where there has been damage to body tissues, including after a stroke or a traumatic injury. It is also used for chronic inflammation, infection, and degenerative diseases.
In addition, Salvia promotes circulation in the capillary beds, reduces blood pressure and cholesterol, and helps liver function.

The use of Herbal medicine is the most dominant traditional Chinese medicine intervention all over the world. However, it is important for patients to review the research and work with a certified Chinese medicine clinician before using traditional Chinese medicine or any other herbal medicine. Herbal medicine is very potent. In purchasing any herbals, including traditional Chinese medicine, it is crucial to go to a reliable manufacturer, preferably one in or subject to U.S. regulatory oversight.

The California Department of Health Services, Food and Drug Branch, studied 260 such preparations collected from California retail herbal stores. The department found that at least 32% contained undeclared pharmaceuticals or heavy metals, while 23 of the 260 had more than one contaminant. Although the majority of the products were tested as accurately labeled and safe to use, the large percentage of contaminated herbals requires the utmost caution.

About 85% of Chinese herbs are derived from plants, about 12% are from animals, and about 3% come from minerals. Traditional Chinese medicine herbal materials are generally processed in much the same way as Western herbal medicines. The active part of the plant is separated from the rest of the plant and is cleaned, freed of toxins, dried, and prepared for use. These herbs are then employed in one of the following four forms:

1. Crude herbs are boiled to make herbal decoctions or strong teas. This is the preferred method of administering herbs among native Chinese practitioners.

2. Dried decoctions. For convenience, herbal teas can also be made from dried powder. These powders are imported to America from Taiwan, and are also manufactured in the United States by Taiwanese companies.

3. Patent medicines. Herbs are often combined in complex formulas, known as patent medicines. Patent medicine pills are usually relatively inexpensive and convenient. Some also contain Western drugs. However, there is no American quality control over imported products.

4. American pills and extracts. Several American companies now make Chinese herbal formulas. They tend to be more expensive, but are more uniform in quality, accurately labeled, and do not contain Western drugs. However, little clinical research has been done on these preparations.

Traditional Chinese medicine herbs are not prescribed on the basis of their chemistry, as we would understand it in the West. Instead, they are used to introduce certain influences into the body in order to balance and harmonize the patient’s vital energy. This energy is considered to be the primary healing force in Chinese Medicine.

Chinese herbs are also prescribed on the basis of the Five Elements. Each of the elemental qualities is associated with a characteristic flavor. For instance, wood is associated with a sour taste. In addition, medicinal herbs are also said to have the four natures of hot, cold, warm, and cool. Moreover, a fifth characteristic is identified as bland, which mediates between the others.

Traditional Chinese medicine herbs are believed to be particularly effective when used in combinations, or formulas. A formula often consists of a main herb, also termed as King herb; the associate, or Minister; the aid, or Assistant; and the guiding herb, or Messenger. A King herb focuses on the main symptoms and dominates the formula. A Minister herb is applied to strengthen the effect of the King herb. An Assistant herb has a variety of different actions, including the treatment of less important symptoms, and helps to reduce the toxicity or irritating properties of the King herb. A Messenger herb coordinates the effects of the other herbs and delivers the herbs to a particular site in the body.

The Chinese herbal medicine operates on an very different principle from the reductionist approach of Western biomedicine, including Western herbalism. Modem Western medicine generally seeks to find a single active agent to address a specific complaint, whereas traditional Chinese herbal preparations utilize a combination of medicinal substances with complementary qualities. With combinations of herbs, the overall impact of the formula is less drastic, and the goal is to harmonize the function of the organs.

Different kinds of berries offer vital substances to our health. Almost all berries taste sour, and many people believe they increase blood acidity, because it is generally thought that whatever tastes sour to the tongue is an acid, chemically speaking. But this opinion is wrong, because all berries, with the exception of cranberries, have an excess of alkaline.

Blueberries: Considers by many to be the new fountain of youth. Blueberries contain chemicals that act as antioxidants. Scientists and researchers believe that antioxidants protect the body against “oxidative stress,” one of several biological processes that cause aging. Blueberries as well as strawberries were tested high in their ability to subdue molecules called oxygen free radicals, which are created when cells convert oxygen into energy. In normal amounts, free radicals help rid the body of toxins, but they can also harm cell membranes and DNA, which results in cell death.

Currants: The large amount of potassium found in red and black currants surpasses that of phosphorus and sulphur, which are also contained in great quantities, so that the excess of alkaline is still quite high. The vitamin C content of these berries is very important. Its benefits not only in taste but also in value is to be recommended as an excellent whole food. In addition, black currant leaves make a good, aromatic kidney tea.

Gooseberries: We all know that ripe gooseberries are delicious. We usually eat them by sucking out the flesh, the tough skin being difficult to chew and swallow. Gooseberries are not only very rich in vitamins, they also contain high amount of potassium, calcium and magnesium. It surpasses most other berries in being easily digestible, and abundant.

Raspberries: The raspberry is known to be rich in calcium and magnesium, surpassing even the strawberry which is specifically a calcium-rich food. The same applies to blackberries. When fasting or when one is feverish, fresh raspberry juice, diluted with mineral water, is an ideal, thirst-quenching drink that at the same time fortifies because of its content of vital substances. The rich content of vitamin C in raspberries is highly valued.

Strawberries: Those who suffer from lymphatic disorders should learn to appreciate the healing benefits of strawberries. A low calcium level in the blood increases one’s susceptibility to infection, but this can be eliminated by regularly eating strawberries.

Most berries are rich in vitamin C. Their alkaline minerals are also beneficial. Their vitamin content, vital substances and coloring are all sources of nourishment that is also remedial.

When the liver or pancreas is sluggish or even worse, bilberries are not only acceptable but can even bring about a cure. Wild berries are also good for people who suffer from arthritis, rheumatism, cancer and multiple sclerosis.

Since the endocrine glands, besides the liver, benefit greatly from the curative and vital substances of berries, they are considered as food for rejuvenation. By eating them regularly we can reduce weight, along with exerting a favorable influence on the ovaries, the thyroid gland and the hypophysis, in short, on all the endocrine glands.

There are thirteen vitamins and eighteen minerals that are essential to good health and life. Despite the fact that only small amounts of each vitamin are needed, vitamins are essential to all of the body’s biochemical processes. They are required to convert food into energy and to help the body manufacture hormones, blood cells, and nervous system chemicals.

Vitamins are obtained entirely from food, except for Vitamins D, B5 and B7, which come in part from other sources. Pantothenic acid (B5) and vitamin D can be produced by the absorption of sunlight through the skin. Ten minutes of exposure to the bright midday sun produces at least half of what adults require each day. The remainder must be consumed from fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna, and from dairy products. Some of the needed biotin (B7) and pantothenic acid is produced by normal intestinal bacteria, while remaining amounts are easily obtained from food.

Minerals are closely related to vitamins. They originate in soil and water and are found in all plants and animals. The major (or macro) minerals, those needed in relatively large quantities by the body, include calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Trace (or micro) minerals are needed in very small amounts. Iron, fluoride, selenium, and zinc are among the eighteen essential trace minerals. Vitamins and minerals work hand in hand, influencing how well the body absorbs both.

Vitamins and minerals have been studied for decades, and a great deal is known about the sources and roles of each, as well as about what happens when the body takes in too much or too little of a particular substance. Researchers and scientists continue the study in this area, working to gain more knowledge about the effects of vitamins and minerals on health and physiological functioning, or learning that a bit more or less of a nutrient can produce better results than had been assumed. This is why the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) are reviewed regularly by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences.

Vitamin supplements are purchased by up to 80% of U.S. households. Despite such widespread use, serious debate continues about the value of vitamin pills and other dietary
supplements for the general public.

Scientific studies indicate that the required nutrients should come from an average balanced diet, and that only certain groups of people need to take supplements. This group include pregnant women, young children, alcoholics, those with diseases that inhibit absorption of nutrients, post menopausal women trying to prevent osteoporosis, and people whose diets do not provide the necessary nutrients.

Recent studies, however, show that less than 1/3 of adults eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and many older people consume fewer calories than required to meet their daily nutrient requirements. In addition to vitamin supplements sold to compensate for less than ideal eating habits, supplements are promoted as insurance against inadequate intake of essential nutrients, including proteins. Other supplements focus on people’s special needs, such as to improve athletic performance or to lose weight.

Many products in the market today claim that they can reduce or cure problems such as depression, sleep disorders, cancer, indigestion, arthritis, and obesity. Still others promise to achieve anti-aging effects, rejuvenation, energy, and the elimination of toxins from the body. Literally hundreds of dietary supplements, nutritional aids, and similar products are widely promoted and generally available to the public. However, their promises are rarely substantiated in fact.

A dietary supplement act passed in 1994 removed dietary and nutritional supplements from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review. Therefore, supplements are not regulated. They are not evaluated for safety or purity, nor are they studied to see whether they live up to promoters’ claims. Many ads for special supplements do not list ingredients, so the buyer does not know what is contained in the capsules that promise results such as improved memory or greater stamina.

Many people live busy lives. They are constantly running around commuting to work, driving their kids all over town and doing chores. Many people suffer from lots of stress. Not only can stress make life uncomfortable but stress can also increase health risks for heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. If you are suffering from stress, here are some great tips.

Stress comes in many different forms. There is actually good types of stress that motivate people and inspire them to be successful and then there is bad stress which most of us experience. Stress can be extremely uncomfortable and drain us of precious energy. If you are experiencing stress then try the following.

Keep a journal to figure out where stress is actually coming from. You might be surprised that your stress comes from one or two activities such as commuting or rushing home to cook dinner. Focusing on what causes stress can help you conquer it by either removing that specific activity out of your life or taking steps to minimize the activity.

It is also important that you get a good nights rest each night. Many people are stressed out because they are not well rested and are doing too many activities without the necessary energy.

It is also a good idea to exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. Many people that work out use their exercise sessions as a way to release energy. If you are upset or mad, work out and release your frustrations. So if you are experiencing stress check out the above tips and cut down on your stress.

Having a healthy lifestyle can help you in several ways. It allows for your energy to boost and gives your body a way to feel more balanced. Because of this, it is important to know what you can do to improve your health. Following are ten things that you can do to help with living a nutritious life.

1. Exercise. This should be done at least four or five times a week. This helps your body to build muscle in several different areas, helps you to lose weight and can prevent illnesses and disease.
2. Watch what you eat. Your daily meals should consist of a healthy balance of foods. Knowing what your body needs, and not going overboard, or eating too little can help in determining a more balanced lifestyle. There are several resources to turn to in order to find what your body needs.
3. Take vitamins and supplements. Paying attention to where your body doesn’t feel balanced is important as well. Once you have determined this, you can balance it out through vitamins and supplements.
4. Sleep. If you are sleep deprived, it causes your body to begin to shut down. Make sure that you feel rested and are getting the right amount of sleep. This will allow your body to work at a consistent and full speed every day.
5. Stay motivated. Often times, it is easy to work on improving our health for two weeks, then to stop once we don’t immediately see results. The major part of improving your health is remaining consistent and motivated in doing activities. Do what you have to do to make sure your health is an everyday concern.
6. Never stop learning. There are several different approaches to what improving health means. This doesn’t stop at diets, but also moves into holistic approaches that can be a part of your diet. Research and keeping up with studies about what works and what doesn’t, can help you in improving and maintaining your health.
7. Consult. There are several health care providers and nutritionists that can help you. If you are uncertain about the steps that you need to take, get in touch with the right person to see what you need to do.
8. Get the right body measurements. Getting your body mass index taken, as well as finding where you need to focus on in order to improve health can help you in staying motivated and focused for improvement with your health.
9. Build a network. A network not only includes those that can provide information for you, but also support that will help you in building and maintaining health.
10. Fight addictions. This is in relation to eating or not eating foods, as well as over consumption of different things. This can imbalance your body easily and cause problems.

Consistently being aware of, and working towards your health can help you to live a more fulfilled and balanced lifestyle. By knowing what you need to do and taking certain steps, it can be assured that you will be able to have a more nutritious and energetic lifestyle.

Many people constantly complain that they are not eating healthy but do very little to rectify the situation. If you would like to lose weight and eat healthier, here are some sure fire tips that can help you lose weight and eat smartly.

Losing weight can be temporary, but eating smart is a way of life. If you want to live a healthy lifestyle, you will undoubtedly need to watch what you eat. The good news is that the longer you eat healthy, the easier it is to stick at it.

Eating healthy means to eat healthier types of foods. Stick to fresh fruits and vegetables. You can�t do any wrong, eating fresh fruits and vegetables each day. Fruits and vegetables include plenty of great vitamins and minerals that can help your body and mind perform optimally.

Stay away from processed foods. While processed foods taste great, they are usually loaded with lots of salt, sugar and fats. It is easy to gain weight on processed foods, so stay away from them.

Stay away from empty calories. Soda is a huge culprit of empty calories. If you drink a couple of cans of soda each day, you are needlessly adding hundreds of calories with very little benefits. Instead choose to drink water.

Fast food should be avoided, but if you must eat fast food choose wisely. Don�t super size your meal and don�t add lots of dressing or special sauces to your meal. These dressings and sauces usually add hundreds of calories with little benefit. So if you want to live a healthy lifestyle, eat smart.

Looking to get healthy in the new year? There are two simple rules to increasing your health and you will be amazed at how easy they are to follow. If you want to be healthy, just follow these rules.

The two simple rules are eat healthier and exercise regularly. There is no magic to losing weight or getting in shape. Many people have stopped believing the hype of diet products and crazy exercise equipment that promises to zap your fat with electricity. If you want to lose weight and get into shape there is no cheating. Not only will you find it difficult at times but you will also require yourself to have some discipline as well.

There really is no secret to losing weight. Eat healthier foods and cut down on calories. Try to eat fresh fruits, delicious vegetables and lean meats daily. Cut out the processed food such as TV dinners, snack chips and fast food. They only add calories and artificial chemicals that your body doesn’t need. Stop drinking soda and start drinking fresh water and fruit juices.

To get into shape, join a gym and make sure you go. You make sure that you go to work everyday, so have the discipline to show up for a good, healthy workout. Many people don’t need to get big and bulk, but some toning can work wonders on your figure. Working out doesn’t show results over night, but you will start seeing changes in only a couple of months. So to get healthy, follow these two simple rules.