Brief History of Chinese Herbs and Medicine

by LEONARD CHAN¹

Modern Western medicine, though still occasionally hampered by tradition and custom, is largely a product of experimental research. Contrasted with this is the Chinese system of medicine which is the product of untold generations of experience and which, despite the invasion of Western ideas and customs into other phases of Chinese life, is extensively practiced today just as it was thousands of years ago.

Since several ancient Chinese drugs have been adopted by American and European doctors, and since many Americans, especially in California and other Pacific Coast states, have been helped by Chinese "herb doctors," it seems of interest to briefly investigate the origin of their art. The science and art of medicine in China go back to such remote antiquity that only legends exist to tell of the first medicinal use of herbs and other products. The study is complicated further because fact and legend are sometimes almost inextricably interwoven. According to some of the more authentic sources, Shen Nung,- who lived about 2700 B.C., discovered that different kinds of vegetables and plants reacted differently in his body, and he is credited with having tested the medicinal action of some 360 varieties of plants on his own system. He found that some of these could be used to cure, or at least to allay the discomfort of certain bodily disorders. He discovered that by mixing different plants in one preparation, it was possible to accentuate or modify certain qualities of the plants. Altogether, he compounded and recorded 113 different prescriptions, some of which are used today. Legend has it that his system was transparent and that by observing the path that herbs took when he ate them, he was able to tell the specific part of the body to which the particular herb was directed. Thus he could list a specific use for each plant. Because of the transparent system, an abnormal condition following the use of a poisonous drug was readily detected, and before the poisons could affect him he counteracted their action by drinking a concentrated extract of licorice as an antidote. This is still used among the Chinese as an antidote for many poisons.³

One of the most important laws set down by Shen Nung was the method of compounding prescriptions. He based the method on four characters, "emperor," "premier," "assistant," and "guide," respectively. He believed that when compounding a prescription, the proper kind of herb must be selected to act in the proper capacity according to these four characters: thus, there must be the "emperor" or the main herb which has full control of the disease concerned, the "premier" which advises the main herb as to the way it is to act, the "assistant" which will help the main herb so that it will be able to act better, and the "guide" which will prepare the way for the main herb. The philosophy of Shen Nung still lives, and this method of compounding drugs is universally employed by Chinese herb specialists.

Another important doctrine of the Chinese herbalist is the "pulse law." This too is of ancient origin. After becoming premier in the court of the emperor, Huang Ti, about 2205 B.C., Chi Pai became perturbed over the sickness and suffering of his subjects. In an effort to find means to relieve the suffering and to prevent the spread of disease he held daily conferences with the emperor to discuss methods of accomplishing these ends. The results of these conferences were recorded in nine volumes, known as Ling Shu. It is in these that first mention of the "pulse law" is found. According to the "pulse law," all sickness may be diagnosed by feeling the pulse. In feeling the pulse, the physician uses three fingers, each of which pertains to a different organ. When feeling the patient's right hand, the speed of the pulse when felt by the second finger pertains to the lung; the third finger to the stomach and the fourth finger to the spleen. When taking the pulse from the patient's left hand, the second finger pertains to the heart, the third finger to the liver, and the fourth finger to the kidney. It is believed that the pulse felt with light pressure of the fingers pertains to the system in general, that felt with moderate pressure pertains to the internal organs, and that felt with heavy pressure pertains to the lower part of the body. The pulse itself is based on four definitions. If it has a floating effect- i.e. feels like the touch of a piece of wood floating on water, it means that the patient is feverish; if the pulse has the effect of sinking, as if a piece of iron were to sink, it means that there is slow circulation and there is weakness throughout the whole body; if it is slow yet regular, there is merely slow circulation of the blood, and if the pulse is rapid, but regular, the blood is circulating too fast. After the diagnosis, suitable herbs are prescribed to counteract these different conditions.

To Be continued

Footnote.

1 The author accepts full responsibility for the authenticity of the statements in this paper, but appreciatively acknowledges the criticisms of Dr. Robertson Pratt in the preparation of the manuscript.

2 The Chinese characters are translated in Mandarin, the official Chinese dialect.

3 Of course, the author does not recommend this as a generally applicable antidote for poisons. It is merely mentioned as a traditional use among Chinese

Heal Yourself From Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids in the Anus

This article will show ways that help in treating or curing yourself from hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids are caused by increased abdominal pressure. This pressure may be due to production of gas, being overweight, overeating, tight clothing (even a tight band on panties can interfere with circulation), or the habit of slumping the shoulders or crossing the arms over the abdomen. Hemorrhoids are dilated and congested veins from the meshwork of veins that surround the rectum and anus. The vein walls become weakened and thinned when they remain widely dilated due to long-sustained pressure which blocks the return of blood to the heart. The dilated veins press on the skin and lining of the rectum and eventually push a "hemorrhoid" into the skin or rectal lining. To treat the hemorrhoids, first reduce the pressure, then heal any irritation on the skin or rectal lining caused by stretching, infection, or thrombosis.

If someone is suffering from hemorrhoids advise him to use the following remedies to heal or cure himself from hemorrhoids :-

• Give a hot bath or Shower or a sitz bath.
• Sitz Bath: There are a number of differing opinions on sitz baths. The common sitz bath is merely sitting in a tub, wherein just the buttocks, the lower back into the sacroiliac and the upper thighs are immersed, though the feet should be in another tub; or where the buttocks would be in cold water, the feet should be in hot water; or vice versa. The most important part of the sitz bath, of course, is soaking the anal area in herbal aids to give relief. This is used for itching, piles, hemorrhoids, acid burning from urine and rectal discharges, or toxic conditions wherein the flesh is raw. If you are suffering from hemorrhoids, a sitz bath of strong oak bark tea will help, as well a Sitz of witch hazel tea. 
• Thoroughly rub one or more dropperfuls of cayenne pepper oil, or cayenne powder into the affected area of the body.
• Alternate very hot , then very cold water over the affected area for 1 minute each for 7 - 10 times.
• If pain persists, give 5 - 60 drops 3 - 4 times daily of an equal amount of Valerian Root Tincture to the Lobelia Seed Pod Tincture.
• Use your common sense on the hot and cold shower and do what you can afford until you are able to take the hottest and coldest water. If the water is not cold enough you can use ice cubes from your freezer.
• Use a very mild laxative or a bulb of cold water to stimulate easy bowel movement. The laxative may be prune juice, mild senna tea, or very mild licorice tea.
• Avoid standing for long periods.

Testimony on the Use of Cayenne to Treat Hemorrhoids or Piles and High Blood Pressure From the Famous Medical Herbalist  Late Dr Christopher

Dr. Christopher tells this story. I traveled with a man younger than myself several years ago all over the western part of the United States on business. He marveled at the stamina that an older man could have on long drives without displaying the usual fatigue. Each morning I would get up and have my cayenne and my wheat germ oil (I don't pay attention to anyone else, I just take them, regardless). Finally he got curious and said, "What's that stuff?" So I gave him an illustrative lecture, and he responded, "Well, I have hemorrhoids; my mother died of high blood pressure, and I have high blood pressure; and with the hemorrhoids I have to wear a belt, as you probably noticed, to keep my hemorrhoids up in place. Do you think that (meaning cayenne) will help?" "Not unless you take it," I replied. "Well, I will start taking it." Then I added, "I don't think you're man enough; I don't think you are brave enough," and I turned and walked away. Now, he was well-proportioned and a weight lifter, so after I left, he went over and got into my can and started using the cayenne along with the wheat germ oil, and by spring he did not have to wear a
belt any longer as his hemorrhoids were cleared. Then he had an amazing surprise when he went to his doctor for a regular check-up; the doctor took his blood pressure three or four times and said, "This is supposed to be progressively worse. I don't know what has happened; your systolic and diastolic are near perfect. You don't need to come back any longer --I don't know what happened!" Well, he did not have to go back, and today this gentleman who lives in the Salt Lake City area has no high blood pressure, for he kept on taking his cayenne.



Dr Christopher was a famous medical remedies expert who assisted many people with incurable diseases and and there is a book on the formulas he used to treat his patients, Herbal Home Health Care . Dr Christopher is someone who for a number of years treated his patients with these formula and therefore speaks from experience. He is not like any other author who write on the basis of some theories and not realities on the ground.