There is so much more to herbal medicine than just taking the herbs, although there are many ready-made medicines available. The Chinese herbalist uses various skills in order to make a diagnosis and so can suggest the treatment most suitable for the condition. The herbalist does this in many different ways; here are some tips on choosing a herbalist.

A well-trained herbalist will always insist of looking at and inspecting the tongue of the patient. The tongue can give many clues as to the condition of the person and this is usually where the herbalist will start. The persons pulse will also play an important role in the diagnosis; the herbalist will feel the pulse in both wrists before making a diagnosis. Pulse palpitation and assessment of the tongue are the two main procedures that the competent herbalist will always follow and this procedure has evolved over thousands of years.

Most herbalists choose to use dried herbs as their choice, mainly due to the fact that greater control over the herbs can be given, such as the freshness of the herbs and the quality of them.

The next thing the herbalist should ask during the examination is about the lifestyle of the patient, the person is treated on the whole in Chinese medicine and the person’s diet, environment, work and social habits should all be taken into account during the examination. The simple fact is that around 80% of the illnesses in Americans are thought to be caused by environmental factors or because of poor diet. As a result of this these factors are taken into account as very often the cure is as simple as changing the diet.

Certification often comes behind the experience of the herbalist as there is nothing to match experience, although many herbalists do have training in the medical field such as a physician or nurse. What you pay for treatment and diagnosis with an herbalist will often reflect on the experience and any qualifications that the herbalist holds. Depending on the type of the problem also depends on how much the herbalist will cost, if you have a chronic illness that needs many visits to the herbalist then of course treatment will be given over time, the average cost is around $200 to $300 per month. Despite the monthly bill, Chinese herbal medicine is still the cheapest and many believe the most effective form of medicine available when compared to Western traditional medicine.

What Hoodia does for weight loss is quite simple to understand. The P 57 molecule in it is 10,000 times as effective as glucose in the normal food you take. When you eat Hoodia, the part of your brain called hypothalamus senses this extraordinarily high glucose ‘level’ activity. It then sends a message through the nerve cells to make you get the impression that you have had your fill even when you have not eaten anything. In short, it suppresses or kills your desire for food. Clinical studies have proved that the people who have had Hoodia consumed 1000 fewer calories per day than those put on normal food. This fact translates into weight loss, because the more calories you take in, the more will be your weight. Hunger and the desire to satisfy it by eating are natural for all. Nevertheless, the reason for weight gain is taking in food that puts into your system more calories than those you shed through spending your energy. Now, when you eat Hoodia, it stifles your appetite so much that the calories that get into your system will be less than those that you lose through your normal daily activities. This reduction in calorie-intake will naturally result in your losing weight and reducing your obesity.

The basic advantage of Hoodia over the other weight-loss drugs or food supplements that are available in the market is that being a natural herbal product it is free from any side effects whatsoever. If you are looking for a miracle formula for losing weight, you will not find anything else that beats Hoodia in being at once effective and safe.

The different aspects that make up Chinese medicine all basically rely on the same principle, Yin and Yang. This is basically opposites attract, such as night and day, cold and warm, inner and outer. The basis behind it is to restore harmony and peace to the mind and body; the Chinese believe that by doing so we can eliminate many diseases and illnesses.

Qi is the life force that flows uninterrupted throughout the body, similar to blood throwing throughout the veins. It is when there is a disruption in this Qi that problems and illness occurs; restoring the flow of the Qi restores harmony and dissolves the symptoms of illness.

The two main components of Chinese medicine are acupuncture and herbal remedies.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture focuses on the Qi that flows throughout the body; it flows through points known as meridian points. While it is flowing freely we are healthy and happy, but if the channels should become blocked then the Qi stagnates and this leads to symptoms of various illnesses depending on where the Qi is blocked. It works by the acupuncturist restoring the normal flow of the Qi by stimulating certain points on the body.

Herbal medicine
Chinese herbal medicine is usually dispensed after acupuncture treatment although it can be used as a standalone. There are over a thousand common herbs that are used in combinations for various problems and illnesses. There are two main types of herbal remedies that are commonly used, these are “food herbs” and are generally eaten as part of the diet and are mainly used for prevention of disease and illness and maintenance. “Medicinal herbs” are usually prescribed by a Doctor of Chinese medicine and are specially prepared for the patient based on the individuals needs. The formula is made up from the patient’s medical condition, the environment and the constitution of the person. Medicinal herbs are usually given alongside acupuncture treatment and used in conjunction with the “re-balancing” effects of acupuncture treatment.

The benefits of Chinese medicine are numerous and is has been thought to have helped many physical conditions along with affective disorders and increases mental clarity, here are just a few of the conditions it has been known to successfully treat.

• Sinusitis, bronchitis and asthma
• Conjunctivitis and cataracts
• Stroke, sciatica and osteoarthritis
• Faster recovery from injury
• Improved circulation
• Relief from stress and anxiety
• Relief from pain
• Strengthening of the immune system
• Addictions, phobias and eating disorders