Brigitte, Author at Health press

I’m ill, what should I do?

by Brigitte | 2929,Jan, 2024 | Health for everyone

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Illness as a warning signal

First of all, it’s important to understand what illness is. In fact, what we call illness in all traditional medicine, since Hippocrates, is an alarm sent by the body. Most of us experience these moments of alarm as tragedies. As a result, the tendency is to rush to medication to put an end to the disturbing symptoms.

However, if we regard this illness as a warning, then silencing the signal does not tell us anything about the disease or its origin.

What if this illness were the expression of a deeper, as yet unexpressed evil? This pain, which takes the form of physical ailments, is often psycho-emotional in nature. So, when we fail to express what ails us, or when we lead a life that doesn’t suit us, the body will manifest itself through pain, or even illness. And the longer we silence this signal, without trying to decode it, the greater the risk of serious pathologies appearing.

Illness invites us to listen to what our body wants to express!

First emergency

Although subjective, pain – like certain disorders – is a distressing, even unbearable experience for some people. So, when pain is intense, it’s justifiable to want to get rid of it. The quickest way is to take painkillers. But these drugs can only be taken for very short periods, at the risk of becoming ineffective or even creating side effects or dependency.

To avoid this, there are natural alternatives. The management of acute and chronic pain often requires multidisciplinary expertise. Acupuncture, touch techniques, massage, hypnosis, relaxation techniques and sophrology all work well. Homeopathy remains a preferred alternative for some.

Calm after the storm

As soon as the pain subsides and serenity returns, it’s time to investigate. What’s happening to me? Why have I reached this stage? etc. In some cases, the answer may come quickly to mind. In other cases, and particularly in the case of serious or chronic pathologies, this time of introspection will take time.

These questions, you’ll agree, require time and calm! So, first of all, let’s look at rest.

Resting

Generally speaking, the onset of illness invites us first and foremost to stop and rest. Whatever its origin, the body signals that it needs to restore itself, to recover its energy. For this energy is the guarantee of our ability to heal.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), rest belongs to the Yin movement. In periods of rest, and particularly during sleep, activity stops, body temperature drops and the mind finds rest, thus replenishing itself. Energy movements become more fluid.

An adapted lifestyle

Many factors can influence our daily energy: infectious disease, sleep disorders, overwork and, of course, repeated and unmanaged stress.

Not forgetting, of course, an unbalanced or unhealthy diet, as well as excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption. Overeating is also to be avoided. They cause fatigue due to the digestion process: the transformation of food into nutrients by the body consumes enormous energy resources.

A lighter diet

This is especially true when we’re ill. Just as we need to rest, we need to adapt our diet. And while adapting may seem complicated to many people, there’s an extremely simple technique that’s particularly well-suited to alarm situations (illness): fasting.

Fasting has existed in every culture in the world. Today, it is very fashionable in the West and an integral part of Chinese medicine. Even science is discovering that its effects are miraculous. In fact, regular fasting is an excellent tool for preventing disease.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been using fasting for thousands of years to treat specific illnesses such as digestive disorders, mental disorders and so on.

Fasting is said in Chinese: Bìgǔ (Bì (辟) meaning “to avoid” and Gǔ (谷 ) meaning “cereal”. Simply avoid eating. Bìgǔ fasting has existed in China for 5000 years, and is one of the tools of Chinese medicine, and is also found in Daoism, Confucianism and Buddhism.

The aim of Chinese spirituality – and of all spiritual paths – is the purification of body, mind and soul. Thus, fasting requires rigorous work against the ego, which is responsible for bringing out the “inner demons”. But the results on health are spectacular.

The Chinese derived the following maxims from their observation:

“Those who eat meat are brave and fierce；
Those who eat grain are wise and skillful (of mind)；
Those who eat Qi have clear minds and longevity；
Those who don’t eat don’t die and become spirits/immortals.”

In view of these maxims, it’s easy to see the point of seriously lightening our bodies in general, and especially when those bodies are crying out in pain. So we can stop eating for a few days. For those who find this difficult, it’s important to eliminate at least all sugars and foods that are heavy to digest, and to reduce their quantity.

It’s best to eat a few vegetables, or even a few fruits, preferably just once a day. As your health improves, you can gradually return to a more regular diet.

By fasting, whether completely or partially, we leave as much of our energy as possible at our body’s disposal, enabling it to repair itself. This energy is not taken up by the digestive process.

Time for introspection

The other advantage of these fasting periods is that an empty stomach is also an invitation to inner listening or introspection. Fasting increases our capacity for perception, and makes us more available to ourselves. As a result, we’re more likely to understand the origin of the signal that is our illness.

We’ll then be able to listen more closely to our emotions, an essential step. In TCM, body and mind are closely linked. Emotions are directly linked to the functioning of our organs, and therefore to our energy balance. Good energy balance means good health. Without going into detail – which you can explore here – you’ll find an overview in the box below.

Seeing illness as a signal enables us to adopt a different attitude towards it. So, instead of being a victim, we become actors in our own healing. And, even if we have to seek the help of a therapist, our healing will be all the more effective and profound.

Listening to our emotions

Poorly managed emotions, as well as feelings linked to wounds such as rejection, guilt, abandonment, etc., have a major impact on our health. Here are a few examples as seen by TCM.

Stress and frustration can obstruct the energy of the Liver meridian. Liver energy stagnation means that it can no longer circulate freely. We then diagnose Liver Qi stagnation or Liver overpressure. This is the source of many pathologies, and in particular of many depressions according to TCM.

Anxiety and worry, for their part, can damage the energy of the Spleen meridian. Weak Spleen energy can lead to obstruction of energy circulation through lack of strength. The Spleen meridian is also a source of Blood production. In traditional Chinese medicine, Blood belongs to Yin. It is needed to anchor spirit and Yang in the body.

For TCM, this means that every emotion can influence the quantity of energy or the circulation of energy in the various acupuncture meridians. Conversely, a disorder in a meridian will also make us more sensitive to emotions.

Ba Duan Jin: Supporting the Sky

by Brigitte | 2929,Oct, 2023 | healingArt

Eight Pieces of Brocade Qi gong, No. 1

This article is the first in a series of eight, each dealing with an exercise from the suite known as Ba Duan Jin or Eight Pieces of Brocade, one of the best-known and oldest forms of qi gong (see box below).

The form of Ba Duan Jin we teach is widely practised around the world today, and is accessible to all ages. It is an excellent complement to our therapies. Practised every day, it significantly improves health. To begin with, we recommend practising with a Qi gong master to avoid any energy imbalance. Qi gong is extremely powerful.

雙手托天 – Supporting Heaven with your hands

The first exercise in the Eight Pieces of Brocade is called Liǎngshǒu tuō tiān lǐ Sān Jiāo” (两手托天立三交), which literally means “Supporting Heaven with the hands regularizes the 3 warmers”.

This exercise improves the circulation of Qi as a whole. Raising the arms helps to unblock the meridians and promotes a smoother flow of vital energy, which in turn contributes to improved health.

Concentrating on raising the arms opens and stimulates the San Jiao (Three Warmers) meridian. Thanks to its action on this meridian, this exercise normalizes the functions of breathing, digestion and elimination.

In fact, the three warmers, or three foci, that give this meridian its name are:

The upper warmer, located in the ribcage, which includes the Heart and Lung;

The middle warmer, located between the diaphragm and the navel, which includes the Spleen and Stomach;

The lower warmer, located between the navel and the pubis, which includes the Liver, Kidneys, Large Intestine, Small Intestine and Bladder.

Health benefits

Here are some of the medical aspects of this practice. Qi gong in general relieves physical fatigue and soothes the mind.

Strengthening arms and shoulders:
By regularly raising the arms, this practice can help strengthen the muscles of the arms and shoulders, which can be beneficial for people suffering from pain or stiffness in these areas.

Relaxation and stress reduction:
Qi Gong is known for its soothing effects on the nervous system. Controlled breathing and slow movements promote relaxation, which can help reduce stress and anxiety.

Improved posture and alignment:
This form of Qi Gong encourages upright posture and correct body alignment, helping to alleviate postural problems and associated pain. For example, it can help correct dorsal kyphosis.

Stimulation of the lymphatic system:
The gentle, slow movements of Qi Gong stimulate the lymphatic system, promoting the elimination of toxins and waste products from the body.

Promotes blood circulation:
By increasing the activity of the arms and shoulders, this form of Qi Gong can also contribute to better blood circulation.

“Supporting the Sky: practical

Preparation:

We recommend starting with simple movements and practising them regularly to learn to feel the flow of qi circulating in the body.

To practice Qi Gong well, you need to be regular, relaxed and not block the Qi. Breathing is slow, regular and abdominal. Loose-fitting clothing is recommended.

Legs slightly apart. Knees unclenched, arms hanging at your sides. The head is straight, in line with the trunk. This means that my posture allows me to remain relaxed on my feet, with the weight of my body distributed over the whole foot. I’m neither slightly forward nor slightly back. The gaze is frank and looks straight ahead, and far away (even if I’m in front of a wall).

Exercise:

Hands cupped below the navel as you exhale.
In a long, very slow inhale, the hands, palms up, rise in an extremely relaxed manner, as if they were being sucked upwards by themselves.
Once at heart level, the palms turn to continue their upward ascent, as if pushing the sky. The shoulders remain relaxed.
The gaze follows the palms without ever tilting the head up or down. Only the eyes move.
Finally, at the end of the inhale, the hands support the sky, the arms remain slightly bent. Then the hands are reversed again, as if to bring Heaven’s energy back to the abdomen. All in a delicate, harmonious movement.
Now begins a long, slow descent towards the abdomen, punctuated by the exhalation.
Once again below the navel, the palms turn harmoniously to begin the next cycle. At no point is there a break, or a change of rhythm.

At the beginning, the practitioner can practice the ascent of the arms on an inhale plus exhale, and the same for the descent. Over time, the practitioner slows down his breathing and thus the rhythm of his routine. In Qi gong, slowness and harmony are the key to efficiency!

Ba Duan Jin, or the Eight Pieces of Brocade

Ba Duan Jin is one of the oldest and best-known forms of Qi gong. It consists of a series of eight exercises. There are over a hundred versions, including the Shaolin temple version. Ba Duan Jin is also known as the Eight Pieces of Brocade, in reference to the long brocade coats – a silk fabric embellished with gold and silver brocade designs – worn by dignitaries of the Chinese empire. They are a symbol of good health.

The exact origin of Ba Duan Jin is unknown, although legend has it that Bodhidharma developed it in the 5th century at the Shaolin monastery. The Northern form is known to have been practiced by the famous general, calligrapher and poet Yue Fei (岳飛), who lived in the 12th century under the Song dynasty. He developed the 8 pieces of brocade to strengthen the will, courage and health of his soldiers. This practice improves immunity, and develops inner calm and the strength to act in life. The posture of the rider, which is found several times in Ba Duan Jin, is particularly conducive to the development of this strength, self-presence and determination.

Dietetics in Chinese medicine

by Brigitte | 2424,Sep, 2023 | Health for everyone

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Balancing vital principles through food

Chinese dietetics is an essential component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is based on thousands of years of observation and understanding of the relationship between food and health. “Let your food be your medicine”, said Hippocrates, the founding father of Western medicine, in the same spirit as Huang Di, one of the major figures of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The overall aim of Chinese dietetics is to ensure the proper functioning of the Jing. Jing is the basic energy inherent in every individual, and is considered one of the “Three Treasures” of Chinese medicine, along with Qi and Shen.

As a reminder, yin represents tissues and organs. If it is deficient, symptoms such as dryness, the production of abnormal internal heat and sleep disturbances may result. Yang, on the other hand, refers to the functioning of organs and organic systems such as digestion… Insufficient yang can lead to symptoms such as diarrhoea, fatigue and even depression.

So food must be as alive as possible, at the height of its vitality, its “Jing”. It is this Jing from the plant that will nourish our own vitality, our own “Jing”.

In Chinese culture, food is considered by its energetic capital. It is a gift from Nature, which must nourish not only our physical needs, but also our mental and spiritual ones. A Chinese proverb says: “To eat is to reach for Heaven”.

Food must be as unprocessed and natural as possible, to fill us with its vitality and make us even more alive.

Chinese dietetics obeys the founding principles of Chinese medicine. Its aim is to readjust the energetic balance of the human being, according to his or her constitution and health. It’s a common-sense dietetic approach that encourages us to be in harmony with Nature, consuming fresh, locally-grown, seasonal produce.

The essence of the food and beverages consumed generates Qi, which supplements “acquired” Jing. For qi to supplement Jing sufficiently, it’s important that meals are adapted to each individual’s specific energy needs at any given time.

Food classification

In Chinese dietetics, foods are classified, among other things, by flavor and nature in relation to the theory of the five elements. The five elements are represented by their color in the table below: red for fire, yellow for earth, gray for metal, blue for water and green for wood.

This table quickly illustrates that, to maintain good health, human beings need to eat as varied and lively a diet as possible, as mentioned above in relation to Jing.

Digestion or Xiǎo Huà

Ingested food is transformed so that the body can draw from it the elements it needs. Xiǎo huà, digestion, literally means to disperse and transform. The food and liquids consumed break down, then transform through the process of digestion. Like a cauldron (the stomach), food and drink are first fermented, cooked, then broken down and transformed into food porridge.

This process takes place under the action of food fire, which transforms food and drink to produce Qi.

To achieve this, the spleen and stomach work together in interaction to ensure the digestion process. More precisely, it is under the impulse of the spleen, associated with the energy of the kidneys, that our “cauldron” separates the “clear” from the “turbid”.

The clear corresponds to the nutritive energy of food, which serves as the basic material for the elaboration of energy and blood in the body. The turbid represents unassimilable substances that are eliminated as waste (in urine and feces).

Digestion or Xiǎo Huà

Ingested food is transformed so that the body can draw from it the elements it needs. Xiǎo huà, digestion, literally means to disperse and transform. The food and liquids consumed break down, then transform through the process of digestion. Like a cauldron (the stomach), food and drink are first fermented, cooked, then broken down and transformed into food porridge.

This process takes place under the action of food fire, which transforms food and drink to produce Qi.

To achieve this, the spleen and stomach work together in interaction to ensure the digestion process. More precisely, it is under the impulse of the spleen, associated with the energy of the kidneys, that our “cauldron” separates the “clear” from the “turbid”.

The clear corresponds to the nutritive energy of food, which serves as the basic material for the elaboration of energy and blood in the body. The turbid represents unassimilable substances that are eliminated as waste (in urine and feces).

A diet full of vitality

TCM therefore considers diet to be the first of all remedies. Along with breathing, it is the main source of our energy. A poor diet leads to low-quality energy, which is detrimental to health and vitality. In the Chinese tradition, foods are considered according to their impact on the body.

The table seen above enables us to understand the mechanism of Chinese dietetics, which classifies foods according to their color, nature and flavor, according to the 5 elements.

In principle, the plate should feature the 5 flavors and 5 colors (with a dominant color depending on the current season). Each flavor nourishes a specific organ. In this way, dietetics can be used to heal by directing the patient towards foods that will restore his or her energy balance.

If you’re in good health, and want to stay that way, make sure your diet includes a variety of flavors (acid, bitter, sweet, pungent, salty) and natures (hot, cold, fresh, lukewarm, neutral) to maintain energetic harmony in the body.

Some principles of Chinese dietetics

Adapt your diet to the seasons and climate. For example, choose warm foods in winter and cool foods in summer to maintain balance.

Choose fresh, local food, preferably grown naturally.

Take the time to eat slowly and savor every bite. Absolutely avoid eating while watching TV or using electronic devices.

Aim to balance Yin (cold) and Yang (hot) foods in your diet to maintain harmony between opposing energies.

Don’t overload your stomach. Eat until you are satisfied, but not too full.

Drink water at room temperature or lukewarm; avoid iced drinks, as they can extinguish the fire of digestion, and thus harm it.

Choose cooking methods that preserve the nutritional value of food, such as steaming, gentle steaming or slow cooking. Avoid raw foods, which are more difficult to digest, and can therefore exhaust the spleen.

Above all, pay attention to your body’s signals. If you experience digestive imbalances or discomfort, adjust your diet accordingly. Consult us to determine your individual constitution and adjust your diet accordingly.

Basics for maintaining a healthy diet

The five flavors – Foods are categorized into five flavors: sweet, bitter, salty, sour and pungent. Each of these flavors has specific properties that affect organs and emotions. The balance between these flavors is essential.

Harmony of the elements – According to TCM, the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) are associated with different organs. Eating foods in harmony with these elements helps maintain balance.

Seasonality – Chinese dietetics recommends eating seasonal foods, as they are thought to be more suited to the body’s needs at that time.

Food preparation – The way food is prepared is crucial. Steaming, gentle cooking and woks are preferred, while excessive frying is avoided.

Avoid excess – Overeating, eating too quickly or too slowly, or depriving yourself of food can unbalance the body. Moderation is the key.

Listen to your body – Chinese dietetics encourages you to pay attention to your body. Hunger and satiety signals must be respected.

Individualization – Each person is unique. Chinese dietetics takes into account individual constitution, specific imbalances and unique needs.

The importance of beverages – Hot beverages such as tea are favored, as they are considered beneficial for digestion.

Food hygiene – Cleanliness of food and the environment in which it is prepared is crucial to avoid illness.

Cupping therapy

by Brigitte | 2424,Aug, 2023 | medical, medicaltcm

Relax and detoxify with cupping

Cupping is an ancient technique adopted by the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese. Rediscovered and praised by Hippocrates, it was practiced by our grandmothers until the end of the First World War, before the advent of antibiotics.

Used in China as a healing method for millennia, the technique has evolved over time to become part of the arsenal used by Chinese doctors. Cupping therapy aims to balance the flow of vital energy (qi) in the body. Cupping is used to stimulate blood circulation, lymph and energy in the body.

Cupping draws pathogenic factors such as wind, cold and heat to the surface, draining and eliminating them. This is what makes this technique so effective for colds and bronchitis. By drawing blood to the surface, cupping also helps relieve pain caused by muscular tension or stiffness; in fact, it frees the blood stases at the origin of such pain.

Once made of cow horn or bamboo, suction cups are now more often than not made of glass, plastic or Plexiglas.

How does a suction cup work?

According to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the appearance of pain at an acupuncture point is a sign of dysfunction in the corresponding organ. Suction cups are placed on the skin at acupuncture points along the meridians, and more precisely in the areas felt to be painful.

The application of one or more suction cups frees the organ from blockages, helping to relax and relieve congestion.

The vacuum under the glass bell is created by burning oxygen with a flame, or with a hand pump on more modern plastic suction cups. Suction cups can be fixed on the body’s points of tension, or mobile as a massage tool on oiled skin.

Cupping causes blood to flow upwards, generally indicating a high level of impurities. The hematoma will be visible for 2 to 4 days. As the sessions progress, the phenomenon will fade.

Cupping can be an effective aid, complementing ongoing treatment such as acupuncture. In the event of crisis or acute pain, they can be used more regularly.

Some patients like to receive a cupping treatment once a week as a preventive measure.

In cases of stress, joint or muscle pain, when waking up, before sleeping, before physical effort or after intense exertion, cupping will always have its place to relieve and make our patients’ days more comfortable.

The different cupping techniques

Techniques for using suction cups vary according to the suction method, suction power, area treated, other materials used with the suction cups… Techniques include suction cups:

Dry :
A vacuum is created inside the suction cups using fire or a hand pump. Dry suction cups are also known as static suction cups.
Mobile (massage):
Oil is applied to the skin and the suction cups are moved with gentle suction. Massage suction cups are also known as dynamic suction cups, sliding suction cups and mobile suction cups.
Eclair (or empty suction cups):
Suction cups are applied over a short period of time, less than 30 seconds at a time. This is also known as empty cupping.
Wet:
The skin is lightly pierced before the cups are applied. This method is also known as bleeding cupping.
Herbal:
The practitioner boils an herbal solution, soaks bamboo cups and applies the slightly cooled cups to the skin.

It should be noted that techniques are evolving towards magnetic or electrical systems. As far as we’re concerned, we’re committed to maintaining traditional techniques.

The benefits of cupping

Generally speaking, the influx of blood to the area where the suction pad is positioned will drain toxins.

The suction effect activates blood circulation where the suction pad is placed.

This localized congestion reduces pain, unblocks blockages, accelerates recovery of tired muscles and enhances tissue repair.

Cupping therapy has a reputation for relieving discomfort and improving quality of life. The following conditions can improve with this technique:

Low back pain. Cupping helps reduce pain and improve function in people with acute and chronic low back pain.

Fibromyalgia. Cupping therapy, alone or with acupuncture, helps relieve pain in patients with fibromyalgia.

Chronic neck pain. Cupping helps to relax neck muscles and make them more flexible.

Heavy menstrual bleeding. Dry cupping helps reduce menstrual blood flow in women with menorrhagia.

Cupping therapy also shows improvements in :

digestive problems,
lung and respiratory diseases, including bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia,
high blood pressure,
cellulite,
tendonitis,
sprains,
cramps,
sports recovery,
sleep disorders,
skin problems.

Traditional cupping therapy session

Pharmacopoeia

by Brigitte | 2929,Jun, 2023 | medical, medicaltcm

Powerful, tailor-made therapeutics

In China, medicinal plants are considered a “national treasure” and are widely used for both preventive and curative purposes. Indeed, in its country of origin, Chinese pharmacopoeia is used as a priority therapy. It is considered more powerful than acupuncture.

Chinese pharmacopoeia is a traditional medical system that has been developed in China for thousands of years. It is based on a holistic approach to health, aimed at restoring the balance between body and mind. It is used primarily to maintain health, but also to heal. It is a living discipline that continues to evolve over time.

Chinese pharmacopoeia is based on a set of principles and theories that form the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The most important of these are: Yin and Yang, Qi (vital energy), and the Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water). According to these principles, health is the result of a harmonious balance between these forces and elements. Any imbalance or obstruction in the flow of energy leads to illness.

Before prescribing a herbal preparation, the Chinese doctor will carry out a diagnosis to assess the imbalances at the root of the patient’s symptoms. Each prescription, even if it’s based on existing recipes called formulas, will thus be tailored to each patient’s individual terrain and temperament.

More than 100,000 formulas registered

Since the origins of Chinese pharmacopoeia, numerous formulas have been developed by great physicians. Some have been enriched, and new ones developed over time. There are many treatises listing these formulas. For example, Zhu-su’s Prescriptions of Universal Help, under the Ming dynasty, contained 61,739 formulas from Ancient China. More recently, the Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Prescriptions, compiled by the Nanjing University of TCM, lists all the formulas in existence since the beginning of TCM. It contains over 100,000 prescriptions!

A formula is always made up of several plants or substances. Indeed, Chinese pharmacopoeia relies on the combined effect of several plants to create a synergistic effect. This also minimizes the side-effects of taking a single plant in large quantities, or eliminates the toxic effects of a single plant. Different substances can act on different aspects of the disease or on different organs.

The formula thus treats the disease with the aim of balancing the whole body and correcting underlying imbalances. With this in mind, the formula will be tailored to each patient’s specific condition. Likewise, depending on the evolution of the disease or changes in the patient’s state of health, the proportions and herbs used can be adjusted accordingly.

Thousands of plants and substances

The Chinese pharmacopoeia contains several thousand substances, of which around 300 are commonly used. Most of these substances come from plants, but they may also include other elements. For example, we find mineral substances (cinnabar, sulfur, magnetite etc.), animal substances (bones, shells, birds’ nests, pearl powder etc.), insects (ants, silkworms, scorpions etc.). Medicinal preparations can also include other substances such as beeswax, honey and resinous substances. The list is not exhaustive.

Medicinal plants are selected on the basis of their specific properties, taste, nature and interactions with the body’s organs.

Chinese pharmacopoeia takes into account contraindications and potential interactions between different herbs.

A formula is elaborated by respecting “the particular combination of the Monarch, the Minister, the Assistant and the Guide”.

The Monarch remedy is the essential ingredient of the formula, holding the curative role for the main symptom targeted. The Minister reinforces the curative effect of the Monarch; the Assistant cooperates with the first two to enhance their therapeutic effects and enable them to be better tolerated. Finally, the Guide remedy directs the effects of the other herbs towards the organs to be treated and regulates the properties of the other herbs.

Chinese pharmacopoeia uses various methods of preparing medicinal herbs, such as decoctions (Tāng), infusions (Zhǒu), powders (Sǎn), tinctures (Jiǔ) and pills/tablets (Wàn). Decoctions are the most common.

A therapy not conducive to self-medication

In the light of what has just been said, this may seem obvious. But let’s not forget. Chinese pharmacopoeia is effective, but it must be prescribed judiciously, following a diagnosis of Chinese medicine. Indeed, an illness, according to the criteria of Western or allopathic medicine, may conceal different pathological pictures in the eyes of Chinese medicine. This is why each patient will be prescribed a formula adapted to his or her case.

Moreover, Chinese medicine considers that a disease evolves over time. This is why treatments vary rapidly with each course of treatment. From day to day, a patient’s condition evolves. Medicinal plants are then adapted to the patient’s evolving diagnosis. This is why, even if a patient took a formula a few weeks or months ago, and it was beneficial, it will not necessarily be appropriate if certain – apparently similar – symptoms recur. They are strongly advised to consult their Chinese doctor again.

Bitter-tasting remedies?

If pharmacopoeia is the most widely used therapy in Chinese medicine, it’s because it’s effective. The Chinese are pragmatic, and are not there to please themselves, but to heal themselves. Many Westerners are more sensitive to the comfort aspect of a therapy. Yes, it must treat effectively, but as pleasantly – or as unpleasantly – as possible.

If acupuncture scares some people, it’s often much worse with Chinese concoctions! Some don’t even feel brave enough to swallow them, while others throw them in the garbage can. Western noses and palates have undoubtedly become too fussy about their own health…

Over and above individual tastes and dislikes, the taste of a preparation varies greatly from one formula to another, ranging from rather sweet to very bitter. Decoctions are generally drunk twice a day. The preparation of a decoction requires a certain amount of time, which may also put some people off. But many Chinese pharmacies now cook them and deliver them vacuum-packed to their customers.