The reason people seek alternative approaches to their health conditions is because they’ve found unsatisfactory results with orthodox (i.e., biomedical) medicine. This may involve positively no results or side-effects. There is no small number of individuals who seek assistance because orthodox medicine has no conceptual or diagnostic means by which to detect problems that individuals experience.
“Acupuncture” is a generalized term referring to Chinese medicine as a whole. “Chinese medicine” is a traditional medical system predating modern biomedicine bearing some similarities to traditional medicines before biomedicine, like that innovated by the Greeks, Aegyptians, and Hindus.
Over the course of this past year, I’ve encountered a few prevailing conditions that are likely to help many more patients. Below, I break down the three most popularly used herbal formulations for the previous year 2018. Herbal formulations constitute a significant aspect of treating a range of conditions. They are a complex combination of Chinese herbs that have been used for at least 2000 years. None of the below contain animal products, though in some cases animal products, sometimes deer antler but usually mollusk shells, are necessary. Here goes. . .
#3 Xiao Yao San–
The translation for this formula is “Free and Easy Wanderer.” The name is a reference to a Classical philosophical text, Zhuang Zi (Chuang Tzu). Free and easy in the Chinese medicial context usually refers to liver function, which is correlated to a number of emotional imbalances, from depression to anxiety.
Few formulas in the Chinese medical canon have been as well researched as Xiao Yao San. The interesting thing is that “depression” from the Chinese medical perspective is almost wholly focused on the gut, the dynamics between the liver and other organs. The liver is considered the generalissimo in Chinese medicine. This has to do with how it manages the blood and all of the hormonal activities related therewith, in addition to such hormones’ effect on the activity of other organs, particularly digestive but also heart, lung, and kidney function.
The caveat about Xiao Yao San is that it is not a panacea. Problems that may initially present as liver problems may unfold to be originating elsewhere, such as the heart or kidney. What this formula allows is for the relieving of liver function so deeper organ dysfunction can be uncovered.
Benefits: Depression, anxiety, palpitations, ADHD, sugar and alcohol craving, weepy PMS, PMS cravings.
#2 Pumpkinseed Pills
Pumpkinseed pills are nominally used to address male problems, particularly those related to the prostate. However, pumpkin seed has wide ranging benefits hormonally and for the heart for both men and women. This includes menopausal symptoms, sexual disinterest, impotence, insomnia, and frequent night urination.
Pumpkin seed pills are an excellent anti-aging formulation. They not only contain pumpkin seed but also herbs that balance metabolic factors that get out of whack as one advances in age.
Pumpkin seed pills are a modern formulation based upon the scientific findings on the benefits of the 10 plus herbs taken together. It is a surprisingly effect natural intervention for many age related complaints.
Benefits: insomnia, menopause, frequent night urination, symptoms that fire at night.
#1 Heart and Haw
Heart and Haw is simply a beautifully written formula that was originally produced by a reputable Chinese producer that subsequently changed the formula as a means of saving costs. I’ve preserved the original and slightly modified. This modification involved swapping out safflower for Japanese knotweed, the latter possessing high levels of resveritrol, an antioxidant that possesses antibiotic and antiviral properties.
There are four chief herbs among the 12 that have been selected for this formula. Haw is the common name for hawthorn, a crab apple type fruit that is not only renowned for benefitting digestion of fats (i.e. cholesterol) in Chinese medicine but also for markedly benefitting heart strength and pace in traditional Western herbology.
Whereas Xiao Yao San regulates the middle aspect of the body and Pumpkin pills regulate the lower, Heart and Haw manages the upper part of the body. Haw not only strengthens the heart but also the lung. Lung and heart are mutually related and a problem with one often affects the other. To be honest, all organs are mutually related, which accounts for the difficulty of practicing medicine, but the discerning the most proximate relations in respect to imbalance is key to desired effects. In this regard, as it relates to the abovementioned, kinesiology serves a useful approach.
Wrap Up
A breakdown of the most popular herbal findings of 2018 has been offered in order to help those who’ve found little benefit with biomedicine. Interestingly, the three cover three aspects of the three sectors of the body itself. This discussion has related primarily to organ function and its ranging effects. Problems with the limbs or other more musculo-skeletal matters arriving from trauma can require a different approach. Only an individualized diagnosis can reveal this. Individuals interested in learning more will only be benefitted by scheduling an appointment.