Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is a
relative newcomer in the West compared to acupuncture, which has had a significant profile
since Nixon’s trip to China in the seventies.
However, the massive growth in popularity of this ancient therapy
over the last ten years is unprecedented, even within the burgeoning alternative and
complementary health sector.
A selection of herbs
About the Author
Stefan Chmelik MRCHM MBAcC is Vice-President of the
Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine.
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Chinese Herbal
Medicine (CHM) is a relative newcomer in the West compared to acupuncture, which has had a
significant profile since Nixon’s trip to China in the seventies.
However, the massive growth in popularity of
this ancient therapy over the last ten years is unprecedented, even within
the burgeoning alternative and complementary health sector.
When attempting to describe CHM as “alternative” we
should consider a few points:
Chinese Medicine (including the other Oriental offshoots
such as Japanese and Vietnamese Medicine) is the most widely practised system of medicine
in the world.
More of the world’s population relies on Chinese Medicine on
a daily basis than on conventional/Western medicine.
CHM is truly empirical: it has an unbroken 3-4000 year tradition
of continual use and development, with a wealth of documented experience over the
centuries from expert doctors.
However, the practice of CHM in the West is very different from
how it can be utilised in its country of origin. It has been necessary for Western
practitioners to adapt traditional Chinese theory and practice to the Western environment.
There are several areas in particular that have been worked on:
1) Dosage in
Western patients is generally much lower than used in China, sometimes by a factor of as
much as ten. This is because Western patients do not have a history of using most of the
herbs and also the Western digestion tends to be much weaker. It can take some time for a
practitioner newly arrived from China to adapt to this.
2) The climate,
environment and lifestyle factors are very different in the West. A lot of conditions in
the UK are caused by cold-dampness, which is relatively rare in China where heat is a more
common cause of illness. Therefore, a lot a the “cooling” herbs which would
commonly be used in China are usually inappropriate for this climate.
3) An
industrialised nation is more likely to exhibit illness on the mental-emotional level,
whereas the majority of problems in China are caused by external factors. It has been
necessary for practitioners in the West to “re-discover” some of the traditional
knowledge which helps with this and was lost or suppressed under the Cultural Revolution.
4) Exotic animals
have traditionally been prized as medicines in the Orient. This use is unacceptable to
Western sensibilities, and all registered practitioners are bound by a Code of Conduct
which forbids the use of any endangered species.
What can Chinese Herbal
Medicine treat?
CHM has a significant contribution to make in most health areas,
but there are several aspects which are particularly worth highlighting.
Immuno-compromised patients: there has been much success with people with Chronic Fatigue
Syndromes, asthma, arthritis and allergies as well as people diagnosed as HIV positive and
having AIDS.
Gynaecology: there
is a very long history of treatment of most “women’s diseases” using CHM,
ranging from infertility, PMS, fibroids and menopausal symptoms.
Dermatology: most
people will be aware of CHM’s success record in treating often intractable skin
disease, even in patients who have failed to respond to conventional treatment.
Paediatrics: herbs
can be used very effectively for common conditions such as glue ear, asthma, eczema and
hyperactivity, as well as developmental problems.
Drugs: Chinese
Herbal Medicine can be used to replace or reduce the required dose of some conventional
medication which a patient may be concerned about staying on for too long. This could
include hypertensive medication, insulin, HRT, pain killers, anti-inflammatories, asthma
drugs, sleeping pills and anti-depressants. Medication should never be altered unless you
have consulted both your GP and a qualified practitioner.
Digestion: as herbs
are taken in via the digestive organs, they seem to be especially effective in treating
the epidemic of digestive problems experienced by many Westerners, including candidiasis,
IBS and food intolerance.
Health and longevity:
there are a number of Chinese herbs and formulas that have been shown to have effects on
reducing cancer cell activity in the body and boosting the immune system.
Why it is important to see a
registered practitioner
Along with all other alternative and complementary therapies, CHM
is moving towards professional registration. However, at this point in time anyone can
call themselves a herbalist, regardless of training.
Always verify that a practitioner is fully qualified in the
therapies used for your treatment. The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) is
working with government departments to raise standards and protect the public. The British
Herbal Practitioners Alliance (BHPA), co-founded by the RCHM and The National Institute of
Medical Herbalists, is active in Europe to stop legislation which would restrict practice.
In the UK, the BHPA is in direct contact with the Medicines Control Agency over
Registration, safety and training.
Fully qualified practitioners are members of a professional
register, are fully insured and are bound by a Code of Ethics and Good Conduct. For a
members list of the following registers send a cheque/PO for £2.00 to The RCHM, PO Box
400, Wembley, Middx, HA9 9NZ; The Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 78
Haverstock Hill, London NW3 2BE; or The Registrar, College of Oriental Medicine, Prospect
House, Retford, Notts DN22 6NA. |
