Chinese Herbs Bring Oriental Flavor to Natural RemediesThe practice of Chinese Medicine dates as far back as 300 BCE. The point of reference for Chinese herbal remedies was the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic Medicine which was compiled at around that same time between 200 BCE and 100 ACE. A pharmaceutical system was established in 600 ACE. Chinese herbal remedies were established around 3494 BCE during the era of Emperor Shen Nong. However, records on herbal discoveries weren't put into writing until 2,000 years later. Using Chinese herbal remedies became a widespread practice approximately 5,000 years ago. It is considered to be the oldest practiced medicine anywhere in the world.
One Chinese herb, Chinese cinnamon bark, is derived from a medium-sized evergreen tree that is native to Chinese cinnamon bark is traditionally used as a spice, is known as a popular flavoring in many cuisines and has been noted for its delicious aroma. Its name actually derives from the Greek word “kassia” which means, “strip off the bark”.
Dong Quai, Angelica sinensis, is an aromatic herb that is most commonly found in Asia, specifically in countries like China, Korea, and Japan. The reputation of Dong Quai (Angelica) as a powerful herbal drink is second only to ginseng. It is considered by most as the ultimate all-purpose woman’s tonic herb. Asian women have used dong Quai (Angelica) for thousands of years as a tonic. It is derived from the gnarled root of the perennial plant, Angelica sinensis, which is native to China and the root of the Japanese A. acutiloba. Both of these plants have hollow stems that are about eight-feet long and graced with several clusters of white blooms, forming a shape that resembles an umbrella. The herb is sometimes called Chinese angelica, dang gui, and tang kuie.
Gingko biloba is another popular Chinese herb. Nicknamed as the “Tree of Life”, the Ginkgo tree is considered to be the oldest living tree species. According to geological records, this plant has been growing on earth for the past 150-200 million years. The first people to discover the many uses of the ginkgo biloba were the Chinese monks who revered it as a sacred herb and cultivated it on temple grounds. The species was later brought to Europe in the 1700s where it became a commonly prescribed drug used and was used in countries such as France and Germany. Today, the ginkgo tree is one of the most well researched herb sources in the world.
“Ginseng” is a familiar term in Chinese herbal medicine. In fact, it might even be the most popular of all herbal remedies. What we might not know however, is that the herbal remedy that is ginseng actually comes from the roots of several distinct species of plants. These plants include the Korean or Asian ginseng (Panax), Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), and the American ginseng (Panax quinqefolius). For thousands of years, Ginseng (Panax) has been used as a remedy in traditional Chinese medicine. The ancient Chinese used it primarily as a treatment for weakness and fatigue.
Explore the other Chinese herbs in this section of www.naturalremedyfacts.com.
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