Herbs

I can’t imagine a nutritional program that doesn’t contain herbs.

When I think of taking a nutritional supplement I think of the herb products I use.  This is how herbs are looked at in China.   Here in the USA it’s all about isolated nutrients as opposed to whole food supplements in the form of herbs.

Isolated nutrients are useful and highly beneficial in the right formulas but they lack something you can only find in a whole food product—life force!

This is what clearly distinguishes herbs from isolated nutrients. Both are substances the body uses to correct an imbalance or to fulfill a need caused by a diet lacking in energy dense food. Nutrients work the best in people who are of good general health and just missing a few things. Herbs can actually work well for those people too, but where they really shine is people who are run down, worn out and can’t seem to keep up. I know, I was one of those people.

Herbs vs Supplements

I didn’t get into Chinese herbology because I thought it was fascinating….I discovered an herb shop picking up a few remedies for my chronic fatigue.  After finding out the owner also used to teach a certain form of acupressure I loved, I became an apprentice in hopes of learning more about acupressure. I didn’t think the herbs could really help me that much but it was fun and gave me something to do.

Herbs helped me regain my energy.

The best part was that the store had an elixir bar, a place to make tonic drinks for customers.  That gave me access to all kinds of herbs without the restriction of having to pay for them.  Within weeks I noticed a change in my level of energy and started to take my position more seriously.  Instead of waiting out the summer and moving out of town, I hunkered down in the shop learned all I could about why I was beginning to actually feel good.

It was a long process to learn about how herbs worked so well but after being an herbalist now for almost 20 years it’s real easy to see why.  The type of herbs I began using are tonics or food grade, herbs that are used as supplements to rebuild strength and vitality.  Different from medicinal herbs, tonics strengthen internal organs and gland so they work at optimum function. Perfect herbs for worn out people—like me.

That’s why I specialize in stress and rebuilding health as opposed to taking the medicinal route.  All the years of working in Los Angeles with thousands of people taught me a very important lesson—people are worn out and when their defenses are down the experience health problems.  Focus on the present problem and they might feel better for a while before they breakdown again.

Simply focusing on medicine is like using duck tape—it works for a while but ultimately you find out it’s a cheap imitation of real health.

Tonic/Superior herbs

Tonics are classified as Superior herbs and there aren’t a large number of them.  Considering Chinese medicine is made up of close to 6,000 herbs, tonics are rare indeed.  Although the class includes about 100, the really great ones are much fewer.

The best are reishi, astragalus, cordyceps, ho shou wu (polygonum multiflorum), lycium, ginseng, eucommia, morinda, american ginseng, deer antler, epimedium, rhodiola, cistanches, dendrobium, asparagus, codonopsis, gynostemma, schizandra, eleuthero,ligustrum, rehmannia, licorice, albizzia, longan, cuscuta and cinnamon. The list fluctuates a little between herbalists depending on personal experience and bias.

Each one of these herbs is used for a specific function in a formula and have complimentary properties as antioxidants.  Remember, herbs are plant food just like vegetables.  Herbs are just more concentrated.  Vegetables have a very short growing season and a limited amount of chi.  Tonic herbs have to be grown for years before harvesting and contain much more energy.  Eucommia has to be over 8 years old to be harvested.  Ginseng doesn’t get useful until it’s about 8 years old.

A good way to see the difference between tonic herbs and nutrients is using the analogy of a car.  When it’s running well all that’s needed is a constant supply of fuel.  If it runs out of gas, you just fill it up.  This is kind of like eating and taking some vitamins–the vitamins making it a higher-octane food.  However, if the car has broken down it needs to be fixed. Filling up the gas tank won’t fix a broken engine.  It has to be repaired to be able to utilize the fuel again.  Tonic herbs fix the engine so it can utilize fuel and taken preventively they can be the oil and lubrication that prevents the engine from wearing out.

If your looking at a formula and you see a large part of it is made up of these herbs you know it’s about rebuilding energy and vitality.  It’s probably safe to take for a long time, as a food, and if you have any questions or concerns please see an herbalist.

The most important formula that I have made to date is TianChi which means “Heavenly Energy”.