xChinese Herbs
Dr. Chunyan Teng and Dr. James Kan use Chinese herbs, in addition to acupuncture and acupressure, to help heal their patients. They maintain an extensive pharmacy of Chinese herbs and granules which they mix for their patients. Dr. Teng and Dr. Kan constantly re-evaluate the effectiveness of the formula and make adjustments in the types and proportions of the herbs to achieve optimal and quick results. In addition, Dr. Teng and Dr. Kan may recommend that a patient use moxibustion at home to treat a variety of problems.
Chinese herbal medicine is a healing art which has survived and progressed for several thousand years. Hieroglyphics of both acupuncture and moxibustion date from the Shang Dynasty three thousand years ago. Chinese herbalists spend lifetimes carefully observing and cataloging the nature and medicinal effects of thousands of individual plant, animal and mineral substances. Modern research has substantiated much of their effectiveness. Herbs vs. Drugs The value of modern drugs is well documented. There are many life-saving medications without which many patients would not have survived. However, the initial successes of "miracle cures" such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatories has been often misinterpreted as meaning all people and all diseases can be treated though one approach. The strength of modern drugs is also their weakness. Their potencies can provide for dramatic, if not immediate results. Yet they can also cause numerous side effects which many patients cannot tolerate well. A brief look into The Physician's Desk Reference reveals many medications which have potentially worse side-effects than the malady which they treat. On the other hand, herbs contain many active constituents which tend to "balance" their overall effect. This tends to make them safer overall. When isolated, the apparently active main ingredient may not be as effective or as safe as when issued in balanced combination with other herbs. However, herbs can vary in strength depending upon the methods of processing, time and area of cultivation, and the actual plant genus. For instance, not all ginsengs are alike. They vary greatly depending upon whether they are Chinese, Korean, American or Siberian. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of modern drugs have herbal origins. Vincristine comes from the African periwinkle and treats childhood leukemia. Ephedrine comes from Chinese Ma Huang and treats asthma, as well as life-threatening allergic reactions. Aspirin comes from white willow bark which was used by the American Indian. Taxol is perhaps the most promising anti-cancer drug to date, and is found in the bark of the yew tree. Many more examples exist. Unfortunately, drugs are so powerful that they often have severe side effects. Herbal medicine is often just as effective, yet generally lacks the harsh side effects. Most Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors have had extensive training in the use of herbal medicine. While some minor conditions are self-treatable, it is best to consult with someone trained in the refined use of herbs before administering them for any chronic condition or for any prolonged period of time.
The use of herbs as health aids is now becoming re-established in the United States. In fact, it may be only a matter of time before herbs become integrated into the primary health care system. Although there exists an "American" herbal tradition (primarily from Indian lore), by far the greatest impact on our growing use of herbs comes from the Chinese system of herbal medicine. This system is far more sophisticated than any other herbal tradition in the world, primarily as a result of the depth of Chinese medical philosophy and the longevity of its traditions. The primary focus of Western herbology has been the use of one herb at a time. This is called the "art of simpling". By contrast, the Chinese have taken a completely different approach by combining herbs into formulas. These formulas traditionally contain 4 to 20 herbs carefully integrated to address the patient's "pattern of disharmony" and their unique constitution. The selection process is governed by long-standing rules which emphasize the synergistic action within the formula. These combinations have a distinct hierarchy of herbs which establish the focus of the formula and any secondary aspects which may need to be addressed. Today, TCM doctors use many herbal formulations which have been studied and clinically applied for hundreds of years. Herbal preparations come in the form of tea, powder, or pills. These herbal formulas are prepared from plants, tree branches, leaves, flowers, seeds, and/or vegetables. They are designed to treat specific health problems or correct imbalances in the body. Foods used in herbal treatment include rice, beans, carrots, ginger, scallion, and onion. The "emperor" is an herb which serves to direct the primary action of the formula. "Minister" herbs support the primary focus, and broaden or modify the emperor. "Assistant" herbs help to make the formula suitable for the individual being treated. For example, the emperor herbs may be ideal for the ailment being treated, but may be too stimulating for the individual. Thus, the assistant herb(s) may be added to modify the stimulating properties of the emperor. "Servant" herbs are then added to aid absorption and harmonize effects. This system takes years to master and is best left to trained professionals. Initially, we might prescribe a mixture of various medicinal roots, barks, leaves, and/or minerals as needed. You take the formula home and brew a strong tea. This is the ideal method of using herbs because each formula is tailored for the individual. However, it takes up to an hour to brew the mixtures. This is inconvenient for most people today. Fortunately, we can also provide you with herbal preparations in concentrated powdered form that are easy and convenient for you to use. These granules are about 80% as strong as the raw herbs, but are much easier and faster to prepare. You mix a small amount with hot water and drink it as tea. Instead of 60 minutes, it takes about 60 seconds. This results in the best of traditional medicine, enhanced by modern technology. Complementary Medicine Herbs and drugs are often incomplete therapies by themselves. They are a means of making a change in our condition. A pharmaceutical drug may take away the pain or inflammation which causes discomfort, while an herbal formula may actually strengthen the body. One of the most promising integrations of Chinese herbal medicine with Western medicine is their combined use in the treatment of many conditions. Over the past several decades the Chinese have evolved a medical system which emphasizes the balanced use of both approaches. They refer to it as "walking on two legs". For example, in manycases of cancer, the patient may undergo chemotherapy and radiation, both of which have a relatively high efficiency in destroying cancer cells, but can be highly toxic to the system and leave the patient weak and vulnerable. Concurrently, the patient will take Chinese herbs to reduce the side effects, bolster the immune system and strengthen the patient's mind and spirit. In many Chinese clinics, both medical approaches are available side by side. Western medicine is now increasingly adopting a similar Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) or integrated medical approach.
The Chinese the term for acupuncture is "Zhen Jiu." "Zhen" means "needle," and "Jiu" means "moxa." So, acupuncture and moxibustion (or "moxa") have been closely associated for hundreds of years. This method of healing dates back to the Sui dynasty (AD 561-618.) Acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal medicine formed the basis of the curriculum of the first medical college in China, which was founded at this time. Through the centuries, techniques continued to grow and develop. Contact with Europeans in the 16th century opened the West to this ancient medicine. The Jesuits, in particular, collected and disseminated a great deal of traditional Eastern medical information to Europe, while also bringing Western concepts to China. Missionaries established Western medical colleges at the end of the 19th century in China, and acupuncture was briefly outlawed in 1929. However, under Communist rule, there was a return to traditional Chinese medicine, especially in the countryside, where the remedies were cheap, accepted by the people, and used skills. Throughout the 1950's, many new clinics were opened in China to provide, teach, and investigate traditional methods of Chinese medicine. Acupuncture and moxibustion have both been successful in curing internal disease through external means. Acupuncture is based on ancient theories of the flow of life force energy, qi (pronounced "chee"), along pathways or meridians, similar in concept to the nervous and circulatory system. According to acupuncture theory, disease or pain is caused by a blockage of qi at one or more organs or acupoints along the meridians. Needles are used to stimulate these points and facilitate the free flow of blocked energy. Moxibustion, frequently used in conjunction with acupuncture, places burning herbs near the skin or directly on the acupuncture needles, using heat to stimulate the same meridian points. There are over 300 points and fourteen channels on the human body which are used today in acupuncture. The resurgence in interest along with access to Western techniques, led to the development of many new methods of acupuncture, including ear, scalp and electro-acupuncture, which uses small electrical currents to stimulate the needles. Many Eastern and Western health practitioners seem to agree that acupuncture and moxibustion have the highest success rates when treating chronic conditions such as back problems and arthritis in adults, or asthma and ear infections in children. In addition, they have been found useful in treating migraine headaches, side effects from chemotherapy, and gynecological conditions. Recently, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study which showed moxibustion was an effective therapy for treating pregnant woman and reversing breech babies, (Cardini & Welxin, JAMA Nov 11, 1998-vol. 280, No. 18). When needles are in the body, indrect moxa heats them and the metal conducts the heat into the muscles where it is most needed. Moxibustion is an ancient form of heat therapy. Moxa uses the ground up leaves of the mugwort plant (Artemesia vulgaris), an herb that regulates circulation. These are either rolled into sticks (as shown above) for indirect moxa or the powdery substance is made into tiny cones and burned on ointment or a ginger slice for direct moxa. The dried leaves of the common mugwort plant, moxa, are either placed on the ends of acupuncture needles, or shaped into small cones and burned through herbal cake or ginger over the skin. However, moxa can be effective by itself, and is an inexpensive form of home therapy for many types of pain, including sore joints or menstrual cramps. Moxibustion is particularly effective in the treatment of arthritis, asthma, and chronic fatigue system. It is also used to boost the immune system, increase circulation, and improve sexual function. Home Acupuncture FAQs Chinese Medicine Dr. Chunyan Teng Dr. Jiusong Kan Our Office Testimonials Learn T'ai Chi
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