The study of healing herbs lies at the center of traditional Chinese medicine. Chinese herb specialists often prepare prescriptions by combining selected herbs in proportions designed to address a specific patient's ailment. The healing mixture can be given to the patient in the form of a drink, pill, powder, or ointment. Descriptions of some Chinese herbs can be found at this site.

What are some of the medical effects of Chinese herbs?
Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that the sour mountain date promotes long life because the fruit itself is so hardy. While the flowers of the sour mountain date blossom in May, its fruit remains unripe until November. Its fruit also survives icy weather that would kill other plants. Modern research suggests that the traditional explanation for the link between the sour mountain date and long life may be more than a legend. The National Peking Research Institute has studied the fruit of the sour mountain date and discovered that the fruit lowers blood pressure.

According to legend, an herbalist disappeared while making house calls. Concerned about his patients who needed treatment, the wife of the herbalist decided to experiment with different herbs. She sampled sour ones, bitter ones, salty ones, strong-tasting ones, and sweet ones. One sweet herb, licorice, tasted best, so she prescribed it to all of her husband's patients. When the herbalist returned, he was puzzled to find his business booming. The licorice had boosted his patients' energy and reduced coughing, pain, and exhaustion. So, the herbalist decided to continue prescribing the sweet herb. Modern research has found that licorice protects the liver, produces important hormones, blocks the flu, kills some cancer cells, and decreases fat levels in the blood. Large doses of licorice, however, can cause high blood pressure.

Besides being ingested, herbs can be used as part of other treatments. Moxibustion is a treatment that employs small cones of the herb moxa, or mugwort. The cones are placed directly on acupuncture points and burned. Most patients relax in response to the feeling of penetrating heat. The moxa cones are removed before they can burn the skin.

Credits: Licorice, sour mountain date, ephedra, mugwort The LuEsther T. Mertz Library of The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York; foot being treated by moxibustion © T. J. Florian/Rainbow/PictureQuest.

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