Mistakes in herbal therapy
There are some major mistakes in the TCM
herbal therapy. The mistakes are still affecting the herbal
therapies among TCM doctors in
China. We point them out here
for the aim not to let you repeat the same mistake.
(1). The herbs introduced in <<Shang Han
Lun>> should be used in large dose
We have mentioned again and again in
this website that <<Shang Han Lun>>, the book, is very much
important in the history of TCM and it is the greatest manual in
practice of TCM. Whereas the common mistake in use of the herbal
formula of the book is that current TCM doctors use only one
fifth of the amount of dose introduced in the book. One of the
reasons for this result is that the weight unit has been changed
many times from the history of China. Each dynasty has its own
weight unit, different from previous. Finally, the same unit,
say, one Liang in the time when the <<Shang Han Lun>> written
(2000 years ago) should be 15.625 gram whereas one Liang in
current time measures only 3 gram. In another words, doctors
nowadays use one fifth of the dose to repeat the clinic effect
of the Shang Han Lun. No strange they fail.
Realize this and we use the larger dose
(the amount recommend in the Shang Han Lun), the clinic effects
are much better. If you are TCM herbalist, you should know this
difference.
(2). Fuzi is not very toxic
Fuzi is one of the most important herbs
used in Shang Han Pai (or called Jing Fang Pai). It works to
improve the Yang Qi in the body so it is commonly used in Yin
conditions. Fuzi is the side root of another herb, named Wu Tou,
which is also a Yang herb. It has been indicated in one of
famous herbal book, Ben Cao Gang Mu, that there will be big
toxic reason is the Wu Tou is used together with other herbs,
such as Ban Xia, Gua Lou, Bei Mu, Bai Ji, in the same formula.
Since the Fuzi and
the Wu Tou is from the different part of a root of the same
plant, it is believed that the Fuzi should not be used with
these herbs either. This is wrong. Wu Tou might not be used with
these herbs, but the Fuzi can.
This have been supported by various
famous herbal formula used in history and even commonly used by
some doctors in current times. In their experience, the co-use
of Fuzi with these herbs did not show any side effect or toxic
effect at all. Our own experience also support this conclusion.
(3). Xi Xing can be used in larger dose
Xi Xing is another Yang herb. It works
to remove Cold from all meridians. It improves the function of
other Yang herb, such as Fuzi, Mahuang, Guizhi, to warm body,
and release pain. In the history and in the TCM textbook, you
may learn that the amount of Xi Xing should not exceed 3 gram
per day. This is wrong.
From our experience and others, the dose
of Xi Xing can be used more than 15 gram or even more,
especially if it is used to release pain in the legs or feet.
The most important to use it is the correct diagnosis: the
patient should be in a Yin condition.
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