Lugen Rhizoma Phragmitis -Traditional Chinese Medicine

The source is from underground rhizomes of perennial herbaceous plant, Phragmites communis Trin, family Gramineae, and the producing areas are in all parts of China. The medicinal material is collected in the end of spring and early stage of summer or in autumn, cut into segments, the fresh or the dried can be used.
Medicinal Properties Sweet in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the lung and stomach meridians.
Actions Clear away heat and promote the production of the body fluids, stop vomiting and relieve restlessness.

Application
1. For the treatment of febrile disease consuming the body fluids marked by fever with restlessness, thirst, redness of the tongue and shortness of the tongue fluid, it is often combined with Tianhuafen (Radix Trichosan-this), Maimendong (Radix Ophiopogonis), etc. to clear away heat and promote the production of the body fluids together.

2. For vomiting due to stomach-heat, it can be decocted alone into thick juice for oral use; or used together with Zhuru ( Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam ) and ginger juice so as to strengthen the action of stopping vomiting.

3. It is used for cough due to lung-heat and pulmonary abscess and can resolve phlegm and drain pus as well as clear away lung-heat. For cough due to exogenous wind and heat, it is usually combined with Jiegeng (Radix Platycodi ), Sangye ( Folium Mori ), and Niubangzi (Fructus Arctii), etc. to expel wind and heat, such as Sang Ju Yin (Decoction); For cough due to lung-heat with yellow and thick sputum, often combined with Gualou ( Fructus Trichosanthis ) , Beimu ( Bulbus Fritillariae), and Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae), etc.. For pulmonary absess with pus sputum, combined with Yiyiren ( Semen Coicis ), Dongguaren ( Semen Benincasae) and others that can clear away heat and disperse pus, such as Weijing Tang (Decoction).

In addition, it has certain action of clearing away heat and promoting diuresis, so it is also used for oliguria with brownish urine and pyretic stranguria with pain.
Usage and Dosage 15 30 g is used in decoction for oral use. 30 -60 g of the fresh is effective in clearing away heat and promoting the production of body fluids and diuresis.
Notes Used with caution in the patient with deficiency and cold of the spleen and stomach.

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Tianhuafen Radix Trichosanthis-Traditional Chinese Medicine

Its source is from the root of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim., family Cucurbitaceae, the medicinal material is produced in all parts of China and collected in autumn and winter, the fresh one is used or cut into pieces, dried in the sun for medication.
Medicinal Properties Sweet and slightly bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature and attributive to the lung and stomach meridians.
Actions Clear away heat and promote the production of body fluids, resolve swelling and drain pus.
Application
1. It is used for febrile disease with thirst, diabetes and frequent drinking, since it is sweet, cold but moistening in properties, and can clear away heat and promote production of the body fluids. For febrile disease with thirst or diabetes due to consumption of the body fluids, it is often combined with Lugen ( Rhizoma Phragmitis ), Maimendong (Radix Ophiopogonis), etc.. For diabetes with frequent drinking due to deficiency and interior heat, combined with Gegen (Radix Puerariae ) and Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae), such as Yuye Tang (Decoction).
2. It can clear away lung-heat and moisturize the lung, so it is used for dry cough due to lung-heat. For damage to the lung due to dry-heat with dry cough and scanty sputum, it is often combined with Tianmendong (Radix Asparagi ), Maimendong ( Radix Ophiopogonis), and Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmanniae), etc. to clear away heat, moisten the lung to stop cough.
3. It can be used for pyocutaneous disease of heat type whether the infection is ulcerous or not. It can relieve carbuncle for the nonulcerous and can drain pus and promote the production of muscles for the ulcerous, often combined with Jinyinhua ( Flos Lonicerae), Baizhi (Radix Angeticae Dahuricae ), etc., such as Xianfang Huoming Yin (Decoction).
Usage and Dosage 10 -15 g is used in decoction for oral use.
Notes Contraindicated in pregnant women and it is incompatible with Wutou (Radix Aconiti).
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Danzhuye Herba Lophatheri -Chinese medicinal Herbs

The source is from the entire plant of a perennial herb, Lophatherum gracile Brongn, family Gramineae, and its producing areas are mainly in the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hunan, and Hubei, etc.. The medicinal material is collected in summer, dried in the sun and the crude herb is cut into segments for medication.

Medicinal Properties Sweet and bland in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the heart, stomach and small intestine meridians.

Actions Clear away heat to relieve restlessness, clear away heart-fire and promote diuresis.
Application

1. It is used for febrile diseases with dysphoria and thirst, since it can clear away fire and heat from the heart meridian, and relieve restlessness and thirst. It is often combined with Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum ), Lugen (Rhizoma Phragmitis ) , etc..

2. It is used for excessive heart-fire and heat involved in the small intestine manifested as tongue sore, dysuria, edema and oligria. It is combined with Huashi (Talcum), Baimaogen ( Rhizoma Imperatae ), and Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmanniae ) , etc.. Usago and Dosage 6 - 9 g is used in decoction for oral use.

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Juemingzi Semen Cassiae-Chinese medicinal Herbs

It is the ripe seed of Cassia obtusifolia L. or C. tara., family Leguminosae. Its producing areas are mainly in the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Guangxi, and Sichuan, etc., the medicinal material is collected in autumn, dried in the sun, the crude or the stir-baked one can be used as medication.
Medicinal Properties Sweet and bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature and attributive to the liver and large intestine meridians. Actions Clear away liver-fire to improve eyesight, moisten the intestines to relax the bowels.
Application
1. It is used for liver-heat or wind-heat syndrome with redness, swelling and pain of the eyes. It can also clear away and purge liver-fire, accompanied with replenishing kidney-yin, and improve eyesight; therefore asthenic or sthenic syndromes of eye disease can all be treated with it. For liver-heat syndrome with redness, swelling and pain of the eyes, and tears running, it is often combined with Xiakucao ( Spica Prunellae ), Zhizi (Fructus Gardeniae ) and others that can clear away liver-fire. For syndrome of the deficiency of liver-yin and kidney-yin with blurred vision, often used together with Gouqizi ( Fructus Lycii ) and Juhua ( Flos Chrysanthemi) to nourish the liver and improve eyesight.
2. It is used for liver-heat or hyperactivity of liver-yang with headache and dizziness. It is often combined with Gouteng (Ramulus Uncariae cure Uncis ), Shijueming (Concha Haliotidis) and others to clear away heat and suppress liver-yang. It is now often used for hypertension due to hyperactivity of liver-yang.
3. For constipation due to dryness of the intestine, it is often used together with Huomaren ( Semen Cannabis), Gualouren ( Semen Trichosanthis) and others.
Usage and Dosage 10 -15 g is used in decoction for oral use or it is made tea for drinking.
Notes It is not suitable for the patient with loose stool due to qi deficiency.
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Administration-Chinese medicinal Herbs

The common administration of Chinese medicinal herbs may be oral, external or local. Forms of decoction, pill, powder, soft extract, and wine, etc., are prepared for oral use, while application, moxibustion, pigmentum, lotion, laryngeal insufflation of medicinal powder, eye drops, thermotherapy, and suppository, etc, are used exteriorly. Whereas the form of decoction is still most widely used at present, which are generally prepared by patients. Therefore doctors should tell their patients or patient's relatives how to decoct medicinal herbs in order to ensure achieving desired effects in clinical application of medicinal herbs.
5.2.1 Methods of decocting Chinese medicinal herbs
Stewing utensils available are a clay pot or earthen jar or a piece of enamelware. The water available must be clean and without peculiar smell. First put Chinese medicinal herbs into the enamelware and add water to it, the water being usually over the surface of the herbs. Before being decocted, the Chinese medicinal herbs need immersing in water for half an hour so as to make their medicinal components easily dissolve in the solution. Fire used in decocting the herbs should be controlled in the light of medicinal properties and qualities. The medicinal herbs with aromatic smell should be decocted with strong fire until the solution is boiled for several minutes, then a small fire is followed until the decoction is done, otherwise the medicinal effects will reduce nourishing medicinal herbs, since their qualities are greasy, should be decocted with a small fire for a long time or the effective factors are not easily decocted out. A dose of Chinese medicinal herbs is taken daily, which is usually decocted twice while nourishing ones may be decocted three times, the decocted juice being about 250 - 300 ml.
Since their qualities and properties are usually obviously different, different medicinal herbs should be given different treatment in decocting method and time. When a prescription is made out, the methods should be noted, so as to be followed by drug store or patients when the solution is decocted. The chief methods are shown as follows. Being decocted first: some kinds of minerals and shell medicines, such as Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Cishi ( Magnetium ), Shijueming ( Concha Haliotidis ) and Biejia (Carapax Trionycis ) must be decocted first for 10 - 30 minutes, then the other kinds are put in, since they are hard in qualities and their effective components are not easily decocted out. The method is also indicated for decocting or boiling poisonious medicinal herbs, such as Wutou ( Radix Aconiti ) and Fuzi ( Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata) thus their poisonous effects may be lessened or eliminated.
Being decocted later: Some aromatic medicinal herbs such as Bohe (Herba Menthae), Sharen (Fructus Amomi ) , Gouteng (Ramulus Uncariae cure Uncis ) and Shengdahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei ) with volatile components must be added after the solution of the other medicinal herbs has been boiled 10 - 30 minutes, and then boiled another 5 minutes or Boiling of wrapped herbs: Some medicinal herbs must be wrapped in a piece of cloth or of gauze, and then put together with others in an enamelware to which water is added. The method is mainly indicated for the following medicinal herbs; the herbs, if decocted directly in water will make their decoction turbid which is difficult to be taken orally; some small seed medicinal herbs, after boiled, will float on the decoction and not be removed easily; some downy herbs, if decocted directly in water, will make their decoction mixed with soft hairs, which can not be removed easily and can irritate the throat when the decoction is taken. For instance, Chishizhi (Halloysitum Rubrum ), Feihuashi ( Talcum ), Cheqianzi ( Semen Plantaginis ) and Xuanfuhua ( Flos Inulae ).
Decocting or boiling singlely: The Chinese medicinal herbs, such as Renshen (Radix Ginseng) and Lingyangjiao (Cornu Saigae Tataricae ) must be decocted or boiled separately, which is mainly indicated for some precious medicines in order to prevent them being absorbed by other ingredients when they are decocted or boiled with other medicinal herbs.
Melting: Put the medicinal herbs to be melted into the decoction that has been boiled well and hasn't contained dregs of decoction and the medicinal herbs being stirred together until they are melted well for oral use. Besides, the medicines can also be melted by steaming in the container with water, and then the melted ones are mixed with the decocted juice without dregs for oral use. The method is mainly indicated for the medicine containing a lot of mucilage and easily soluble ones, such as Ejiao ( Colla Corii Asini ), Guibanjiao ( Colla Plastri Testudinis) and Yitang (Saccharum Granorum ). If decocted directly together with other herb medicines in water, they will be deposited at the bottom of the pot or stick to the other ingredients and not be easily filtered.
Infusions for oral taking: Some medicines that are dissolved as soon as they are put in water, such as Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas). Some kinds of juice medicine such as Zhuli (Succus Phyllostachydis Henonis ), Fengmi (Mel) and Yitang ( Saccharum Granorum), and those that are got by grinding such kinds of medicines as Lingyangjiao ( Cornu Saigae Tataricae ) , Chenxiang (Lignum Aquitariae Resinatum) with water do not need decocting and are suitable to be mixed directly with water or the decocted juice for oral use.
5.2.2 Methods of taking Chinese medicinal herbs
Generally speaking, decoction must be taken warm. Chinese medicinal herbs in a prescription or a dose may be decocted twice, and the decocted juice is mixed together, being divided into two parts for daily use. An acute case must take two doses a day or even three doses, that is, once for every four hours. A chronic patient may take a dose a day or two days. Those used for stopping vomiting should be taken frequently in small amount; a patient with unconsciousness or trismus may be fed through his nose; diaphoretics should be taken warmly so as to promote the medicinal actions until sweating; purging Chinese medicinal herbs are taken until reducing diarrhea or vomiting. Pill or powder may be taken with warm water. As far as treatments are concerned, Chinese medicinal herbs warm in nature should be taken in cold or those cold in nature should be taken in warm.
As for the time of taking medicine, tonics should be taken before meals, paraciticides and purging medicinal herbs should be taken when stomach is empty, those for calming the mind should be taken before sleeping and those for stopping malaria should be taken two hours ahead when the disease has an attack. Those irritant to the stomach and intestine should be taken after meals. A patient with an acute disease may take medicine as soon as the disease attacks without limits of time.
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General Introduction to Chinese Materia Medica-Dosage

The amount of medicinal herbs to be taken is called dosage, which signifies the daily amount of one particular herb by adults, and secondly shows the comparative measurements of medicinal herbs in the same prescription and is also known as relative dosage. Generally speaking, the amount following each herb refers to the daily amount of one dried raw herb by adults in making decoction or the daily amount of powder by adults, which is ground from dry raw herbs. As to the amount of Chinese medicinal herbs to be taken, we mostly take weight as the unit of measurement, and take quantity and capacity as the unit for the special ones. Now we take the metric system (g) as the unit of measurement, which is now stipulated in the mainland of China.
As the dosage of a medicinal herb has direct relationship with its therapeutic effect, a medicinal herb when used below its level of effective dosage, will not achieve desired results the dose of a certain herb when used beyond its limit, may often damage the healthy qi and is also wasted. Since most Chinese medicinal herbs are generally crude plants with fairly moderate nature and a wide-safety range of dosage, their doses may not be used so strictly as those of chemicals. But some of them are also drastic or extremely poisonous, so their doses must be used properly to get the best therapeutic effects and meanwhile prevent patients from poisoning.
The dosage of Chinese medicinal herbs is yet affected by the following factors, and it is used flexibly.
5.1.1 Properties of medicinal herbs
The medicinal herbs moderate in nature can be used in a large amount; those drastic or poisonous in nature must be used in a small amount; those light in property should be used in a small amount; those heavy in property, such as mineral and shell but without toxin can be used in a large amount; fresh plant medicinal herbs, since they contain water, should be used in amount about twice as much as dry ones.
5.1.2 Compatibility and dosage
The amount of a singly used herb is usually large than that applied in a prescription; the amount of a main ingredient in a prescription larger than that of an accessory one; the amount of a medicinal herb in making decoction larger than that in pills or powder. For instance, Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi) used in decoction usually weights 3 g, but if used in pill or powder, it is only needed 0.5 lg.
5.1.3 The condition of illness, the patients' physique and age
The amount of a medicinal herb used in the treatment of serious and acute disease must be fairly larger while the amount used in the treatment of the mild or chronic comparatively smaller. The amount used for those with strong physique must be larger while for those with weak physique, the old and children, the dose generally smaller. For children over 6 years, half the dose of an adult's is used; for the children below 5 years, 1/3 - 1/2 dose of an adult's is used; for an infant, the dose should be much smaller.
Besides, the dose of expensive medicines under ensurance of medicinal effects should be small, such as, Shexiang ( Moschus Artifactus ), Niuhuang ( Calculus Bovis) etc., that we should avoid waste of medicinal materials and economic burden on the patients the dose must be used flexibly according to the differences of patient's physique and areas, climates, and seasons, etc.
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Contraindication of Chinese Medicinal Herbs-Chinese medicine

Herbal medicine can not only produce actions of treating and preventing disorders but also have the harmful effect to human beings. When learning medicinal properties, we should not only know their therapeutic effects but also grasp their harmful actions produced after taking. For instance, cool or cold Chinese medicinal herbs having the effect on clearing away heat may be likely to damage yang; warm or hot ones having the effect on dispersing pathogenic cold may damage yin; drastic ones having the effect on removing pathogenic factors may damage healthy qi£»tonics having the effect on invigorating healthy qi may linger the pathogenic factors; ones with lifting yang used in the patient with exuberance of yang may produce the side-effect of lifting yang seriously; ones with the action of lowering the adverse-rising qi can make it worse for the patient with qi-collapse, etc.. For example, Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis) cold in nature and bitter in flavor is indicated for diarrhea due to damp-heat, but it is not suitable for diarrhea due to spleen-yang deficiency. Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis) hot in nature and pungent in flavor is indicated for cough due to lung-cold, but contraindicated for dry cough due to lung-heat. In a word, the preponderant properties of these medicinal herbs which have an unfavorable aspect on human body should be corrected or avoided, which is essential to understand the contraindications of medicinal herbs. The contraindications are divided into caution and abstention from some disorders according to their degree. Some herbs are not suitable for some cases as for their medicinal natures, but when they are processed, combined with other or given improvement of their administration, they can also be used. Besides, the contraindication in pregnant women and in compatibility should be known well.
4.1 Prescription incompatibility
Prescription incompatibility refers to that some medicinal herbs can not be used together in a prescription, otherwise the toxic effect will be produced harming the patient's health, and even his life. Incompatibility also denotes incompatible medicinal herbs, especially denotes "the 18 incompatible medicaments", and "19 medicaments of mutual antagonisms".
In the 18 incompatible medicaments the following herbs are believed to be incompatible in their actions if given in combination: Wutou (Radix Aconiti) being incompatible with Banxia ( Rhizoma Pinelliae ), Gualou ( Fructus Trichosanthis ), Beimu ( Bulbus Fritillariae), Bailian (Radix Ampelopsis ) and Baiji ( Rhizoma Bletinae ); Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae ) incompatible with Haizao ( Sargassum ), Daji ( Radix Euphorbiae Pekinensis), Yuanhua ( Flos Genkwa) and Gansui (Radix Euphorbiae Kansui ); Lilu ( Rhizoma et Radix Veratri ) incompatible with Renshen (Radix Ginseng), Shashen (Radix Aclenophorae Strictae ) , Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae ), Xuanshen ( Radix Scrophulariae ), Kushen ( Radix Sophorae Flavescentis ), Xixin ( Herba Asari) and Shaoyao (Radix Paeoniae). Nineteen medic-aments of mutual antagonisms include Liuhuang (Sulfur) being antagonistic Qianniuzi ( Semen Pharbitidis ), Dingxiang (Flos Caryorphylli ) antagonistic to Yujin (Radix Curcumae ) , Chuanwu (Radix Aconiti ) and Caowu ( Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii) to Xijiao ( Cornu Rhinocerotis Asiatici), Yaxiao ( Crystallized Mirabilite ) to Sanleng ( Rhizoma Sparganii ) and Guangui ( Cortex Cinnamomi ) to Wulingzhi (Faezes Trogopterorum ). It must be denoted that "being antagonistic" here means "being loath" or "being dislike", which is different from "Mutual Restraint" in the compatibility of Chinese medicinal herbs.
As to the 18 incompatible medicaments and 19 medicaments of mutual antagonisms, they are regarded as ingredients which are incompatible, but some of them were still used in combination by some physician in various dynasties. The conclusion of the 18 incompatible medicaments and 19 medicaments of antagonisms got in modern experiments and research is not completely similar. Therefore, the conclusion has not been confirmed and further research will be made. So we should use them cautiously and generally we should avoid using them in combination.
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Compatibility of Chinese Medicinal Herbs-Chinese medicine- Chinese Medicine

Compatibility of Chinese medicinal herbs refers to the combination of more than two herbs with purpose in the light of the clinical requirement and medicinal properties and actions. It is the main method of medicinal application in clinic and also the basis of making up formulae of Chinese medicinal herbs.
During clinical practice, we only use a single to treat a disorder and fulfill its therapeutic purpose if the case condition is simple and light. But on occasions when a disease is accompanied by other diseases, or it is due to invasion of both superficies and interior by pathogenic factors, or asthenic syndrome is complicated with sthenic syndrome, or cold syndrome accompanied by heat syndrome alternatively, a single formula can fail to achieve desired effects. Furthermore, some medicinal herbs used in single form may produce toxic side-effects or may be harmful to a patient. Therefore several Chinese medicinal herbs must be used in combination according to their specific properties so as to extend the circulation of their treatment, decrease their toxic side-effects and gain better therapeutic effects.
Chinese medicinal herbs may have complicated changes by combination. Some may reinforce or decrease their effects, moderate or eliminate their original toxic side-effects, whereas others may produce toxicity and poor reactions. The relationship between a single and the compatible ingredients was generalized previously by ancient physicians as seven aspects, namely, singular application, mutual reinforcement, mutual assistance, mutual restraint, mutual detoxication, mutual inhibition and incompatibility. Except that singular application means using a single medicinal herb, the other six aspects mainly denote the relationship of compatibility between Chinese medicinal herbs.
Mutual reinforcement: That is, two or more ingredients with similar properties and effects are used in combination to reinforce each other's action. For example, Dahuang (Rhizoma et Radix Rhei) and Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas) which are both purgative, after they are used in combination, can reinforce each other's original purgating action; Honghua (Pros Carthami) and Taoren (Semen Persicae) of blood invigorating herbs used in combination can reinforce their action of invigorating the blood and removing blood obstruction.
Mutual assistance: That is, Chinese medicinal herbs that are not certainly similar but have some relationship in the aspect of medicinal properties and actions are used in combination, in which one herb is taken as the dominate factor and the others as its assistants to raise its therapeutic effects. For example, Huangqi (Radix Astragati) with the effect of tonifying qi and promoting the flow of water is used in combination with Fangji (Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae) with the effects of promoting the flow of water and permeating the dampness, the latter reinforcing the former's action of promoting the flow of water, so their combination can be used for edema due to spleen-deficiency; Shigao ( Gypsum Fibrosum) with the effect of clearing away heat and purging fire in combination with Xixin (Herba Asari) can purge fire to relieve pain and treat toothache due to stomach-fire.
Mutual restraint£ºThat is, mutual restraining effect of different medicines to weaken or neutralize each other's harmfulness, such as toxicity or side-effects. For example, the poisonous action of Banxia (Rhizoma Pineliae ) or Nanxing (Rhizoma Arisaematis) may be decreased or eliminated by Shengjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens ), therefore we say there is mutual restraint between Banxia (Rhizoma Pineliae ) or Nanxing ( Rhizoma Arisaematis ) and Shengjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens ).
Mutual detoxication: That is, one medicinal herb can relieve or remove toxic properties and side-effects of the other. For instance, Shengjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) can be used to relieve or eliminate the toxicity or side effects of Banxia (Rhizoma Pineliae), Nanxing (Rhizoma Arisaematis), etc., therefore it is said that Shengjiang ( Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens ) can detoxicate the toxicity or eliminate the side effects of these medicinal herbs. From the mentioned above, we can see that mutual restraint and mutual detoxication actually refer to same thing, yet each one is putting its constraint into the others.
Mutual inhibition: That is, when two herbs are used together, one herb and the other act on each other, resulting in their original actions being weakened, even lose of their medicinal effects. For instance, the qi-tonifying effect of Renshen (Radix Ginseng) can be weakened by Laifuzi (Semen Raphani). So we say there is mutual inhibition between Renshen (Radix Ginseng) and Laifuzi ( Semen Raphani ) .
Incompatibility: That is, toxic reaction or side-effects may result when two incompatible ingredients are used in combination. For instance, there are eighteen incompatible medicaments which are believed to give rise to serious side effects if given in combination.
In clinical application of medicinal herbs, we should make the widest possible use of the two kinds of ingredients with the relation of mutual reinforcement or mutual assistance so as to make full use of their coordination and rein-forcing each other's action and to raise their therapeutic effects and extend the range of their treatment. When we use medicinal herbs with toxicity or severe side-effects, we should choose the herbs with the relation of mutual restraint or mutual detoxication with the purpose of weakening or eliminating each other's toxic action or side-effects. The medicinal herbs with the relation of mutual inhibition and incompatibility should be avoided as much as possible to use in combination so as to prevent the therapeutic effects from decreasing or losing, or to stop producing toxin and side effects.
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Compatibility of Chinese Medicinal Herbs-Chinese medicine- Chinese Medicine

Compatibility of Chinese medicinal herbs refers to the combination of more than two herbs with purpose in the light of the clinical requirement and medicinal properties and actions. It is the main method of medicinal application in clinic and also the basis of making up formulae of Chinese medicinal herbs.
During clinical practice, we only use a single to treat a disorder and fulfill its therapeutic purpose if the case condition is simple and light. But on occasions when a disease is accompanied by other diseases, or it is due to invasion of both superficies and interior by pathogenic factors, or asthenic syndrome is complicated with sthenic syndrome, or cold syndrome accompanied by heat syndrome alternatively, a single formula can fail to achieve desired effects. Furthermore, some medicinal herbs used in single form may produce toxic side-effects or may be harmful to a patient. Therefore several Chinese medicinal herbs must be used in combination according to their specific properties so as to extend the circulation of their treatment, decrease their toxic side-effects and gain better therapeutic effects.
Chinese medicinal herbs may have complicated changes by combination. Some may reinforce or decrease their effects, moderate or eliminate their original toxic side-effects, whereas others may produce toxicity and poor reactions. The relationship between a single and the compatible ingredients was generalized previously by ancient physicians as seven aspects, namely, singular application, mutual reinforcement, mutual assistance, mutual restraint, mutual detoxication, mutual inhibition and incompatibility. Except that singular application means using a single medicinal herb, the other six aspects mainly denote the relationship of compatibility between Chinese medicinal herbs.
Mutual reinforcement: That is, two or more ingredients with similar properties and effects are used in combination to reinforce each other's action. For example, Dahuang (Rhizoma et Radix Rhei) and Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas) which are both purgative, after they are used in combination, can reinforce each other's original purgating action; Honghua (Pros Carthami) and Taoren (Semen Persicae) of blood invigorating herbs used in combination can reinforce their action of invigorating the blood and removing blood obstruction.
Mutual assistance: That is, Chinese medicinal herbs that are not certainly similar but have some relationship in the aspect of medicinal properties and actions are used in combination, in which one herb is taken as the dominate factor and the others as its assistants to raise its therapeutic effects. For example, Huangqi (Radix Astragati) with the effect of tonifying qi and promoting the flow of water is used in combination with Fangji (Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae) with the effects of promoting the flow of water and permeating the dampness, the latter reinforcing the former's action of promoting the flow of water, so their combination can be used for edema due to spleen-deficiency; Shigao ( Gypsum Fibrosum) with the effect of clearing away heat and purging fire in combination with Xixin (Herba Asari) can purge fire to relieve pain and treat toothache due to stomach-fire.
Mutual restraint£ºThat is, mutual restraining effect of different medicines to weaken or neutralize each other's harmfulness, such as toxicity or side-effects. For example, the poisonous action of Banxia (Rhizoma Pineliae ) or Nanxing (Rhizoma Arisaematis) may be decreased or eliminated by Shengjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens ), therefore we say there is mutual restraint between Banxia (Rhizoma Pineliae ) or Nanxing ( Rhizoma Arisaematis ) and Shengjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens ).
Mutual detoxication: That is, one medicinal herb can relieve or remove toxic properties and side-effects of the other. For instance, Shengjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) can be used to relieve or eliminate the toxicity or side effects of Banxia (Rhizoma Pineliae), Nanxing (Rhizoma Arisaematis), etc., therefore it is said that Shengjiang ( Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens ) can detoxicate the toxicity or eliminate the side effects of these medicinal herbs. From the mentioned above, we can see that mutual restraint and mutual detoxication actually refer to same thing, yet each one is putting its constraint into the others.
Mutual inhibition: That is, when two herbs are used together, one herb and the other act on each other, resulting in their original actions being weakened, even lose of their medicinal effects. For instance, the qi-tonifying effect of Renshen (Radix Ginseng) can be weakened by Laifuzi (Semen Raphani). So we say there is mutual inhibition between Renshen (Radix Ginseng) and Laifuzi ( Semen Raphani ) .
Incompatibility: That is, toxic reaction or side-effects may result when two incompatible ingredients are used in combination. For instance, there are eighteen incompatible medicaments which are believed to give rise to serious side effects if given in combination.
In clinical application of medicinal herbs, we should make the widest possible use of the two kinds of ingredients with the relation of mutual reinforcement or mutual assistance so as to make full use of their coordination and rein-forcing each other's action and to raise their therapeutic effects and extend the range of their treatment. When we use medicinal herbs with toxicity or severe side-effects, we should choose the herbs with the relation of mutual restraint or mutual detoxication with the purpose of weakening or eliminating each other's toxic action or side-effects. The medicinal herbs with the relation of mutual inhibition and incompatibility should be avoided as much as possible to use in combination so as to prevent the therapeutic effects from decreasing or losing, or to stop producing toxin and side effects.
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Methods of processing medicinal materials- Chinese Medicine

There are several commonly-used methods of processing medicinal materials which are listed briefly as follows.
2.2.1 Purifying and cutting
2.2.1.1 Discarding impurity: Taking away the mud and impurity and non-pharmaceutical parts, thus making the herbs clean and pure.
2.2.1.2 Breaking into fine pieces: Some medicinal materials should be pounded or ground into powder for convenience in decocting, making preparations or administrating.
2.2. l. 3 Cutting According to different requirements, cut medicinal materials into pieces, parts or tiny bit, etc., for convenience in decocting or further preparing, drying, and storing, etc..
2.2.2 Processing with water
Processing herbs with water is a kind of method of treating pharmaceutical materials for the purposes of cleaning, softening, or making them easy to cut or regulate medicinal properties, reducing their toxicity, or making mineral drugs pure, fine and smooth, etc.. The commonly-used methods are listed as follows.
2.2.2.1 Washing: Mud and impurity on the surface of the pharmaceutical materials should be washed with water.
2.2.2.2 Softening: Softening is a method for making the medicinal materials soft gradually through permeable actions such as sprinkling, washing, soaking-with-sealing with clean water so as to make them easy to cut.
2.2.2.3 Rinsing: Rinsing is a method for removing the salty elements, offensive smell, poisonous substances from the medicinal materials by putting them a certain time in a large container with water which must be running or changed frequently.
2.2.2.4 Powder-refining method with water: This is a method for refining and getting the fine powder by grinding the insoluble and mineral medicinal minerals in water. This method is first applied to crush the medicinal materials into particles, and then to grind them in a mortar which contains a certain amount of clean water (its level above the drugs). During grinding, the supernatant suspension is decanted and then water is added again. The procedures above may be repeated until all the coarse particles are ground into fine particles. The sediment of coarse particles will be left when the supernatant fluid of suspension is decanted, from which fine powder is precipitated, separated and then dried in the sun for use. The medicinal herbs through powder-refining method with water are pure, fine and smooth, easily absorbed and light stimulative when used exteriorly; during the process, the loss of medicinal materials can also be reduced.
2.2.3 Processing with fire
Processing with fire is a method which is used in treating crude medicinal materials by heating with fire. This method includes the following commonly used ones, such as parching, stir-baking with adjuvants, calcining, and roasting in ashes, etc..
2.2.3.1 Parching: By parching, some of the pharmaceutical components can be destroyed or eliminated, their properties and effects can be properly changed, their irritant properties and side-effects can be reduced and their side-nature of coldness or dryness may be moderated. Parched medicinal materials have the actions of checking offensive odor and tastes and invigorating the spleen, and they are easy to be pounded into pieces or powder and stored, and their effective components may be dissolved easily in decoction. Parching may be divided into two procedures with adjuvants or without adjuvants.
2.2.3.1.1 Simple parching: It is the procedure of stir-baking without adjuvants. According to the degrees required, parching may be divided into three kinds, parching medicinal materials until they become yellowish, burnt-color or carbonized. By parching them into yellowish we mean that they are stir-baked into yellow surface or till they bulge while there is no change in their interior. The medicinal materials parched into yellowish can reduce the coldness and check the tastes. By parching them into burnt-color we mean that they are toasted into burnt- yellow or burnt-brown surface and yellow interior with burnt odor. Mter they are parched into those with burnt-color, they can promote the action of invigorating the spleen and digestion. By parching them into carbonized one we mean that their surface becomes burnt black and the interior is burnt yellow while their medicinal proper-ties still exist. After parching, their effect of arresting hemorrhage can be reinforced.
2.2.3.1.2 Complex parching It is the procedure of stir-baking with certain amount of solid adjuvants until the degrees needed. The commonly-used adjuvants are mud, bran, rice, talc or powder of surf clam shell, etc..
2.2.3.2 Stir-baking with liquid adjuvants This procedure is a method for the purpose of correcting their pharmaceutical properties, increasing their therapeutic actions or reducing their side effects through gradual increase of permeation of the liquid adjuvants into the medicinal materials during processing. The commonly used liquid adjuvants include honey, wine, vinegar, salt solution, and ginger juice, etc.. The procedures are respectively known as stir-baking with honey, wine, vinegar, salt solution and ginger juice. Since the used adjuvants are different, their effects are also different. For example, honey-stir-baked Chinese medicinal herbs have better effects on moistening the lung and relieving cough, invigorating the stomach and spleen, or can moderate the pharmaceutical properties and reduce the toxic effects; wine-stir-baked ones can promote the blood circulation and reduce the side-effects of some pharmaceutical herbs; vinegar-stir-baked ones can exert more remarkable effects on soothing the liver and relieving pain and reducing the toxic effects; salt-solution-baked ones will strengthen the effects on tonifying the kidney, nourishing yin and lowering the fire, etc. ginger juice-stir-baked ones can get more obvious effects on relieving cold, vomiting and reducing the toxic effects.
2.2.3.3 Calcining: It is a method of treating crude medicinal materials by direct or indirect burning with strong fire. The purposes are to make them pure, clean, crispy, easy to be powdered and their effective components decocted out or their natures change to produce better therapeutic effects. Some crude medicinal herbs of hard minerals or shells may be burned directly till they are thoroughly reddish, then they are quickly put into vinegar or clean water, which is called tempering. Some medicinal herbs as Xueyutan (Cmni Carbonisatus), Zonglfitan (Trachycarpi Carbonisatus) should be burned and carbonized in a sealed refractory container till its bottom gets fully flushed.
2.2.3.4 Roasting in hot ashes: The process requires to wrap the raw medicinal materials with wet paper or dough and roast them in smouldering ashes till the coat becomes burnt black so as to eliminate some oil, irritant materials or reduce toxic side effects.
2.2.4 Processing with both fire and water
It is a method for treating medicinal materials with fire and water or sometimes with other adjuvants added. These frequently used methods are as follows.
2.2.4.1 Steaming: Steaming is a method of processing crude medicinal materials by putting them in a steaming pot or the like so as to heat them with steam.
2.2.4.2 Boiling Boiling is a method of treating the crude by heating them in clean water or other liquid adjuvants at boiling temperature.
2.2.4.3 Scalding Scalding is a method of treating the crude by putting them into boiling water, and stirring them for a short while before taking them out.
The medicinal materials through the above treatments can promote therapeutic effects, reduce their toxicity, change their nature and effects and are easily stored.
2.2.5 Other processing methods
There are some other special processing methods according to different requirement of pharmaceutical herbs, such as germination, fermentation, and frost-like powder, etc.. Germination means that pharmaceutical crude seeds are germinated to certain highness, which are then dried. Fermentation means that pharmaceutical crude materials are fermented at certain temperature with a series of procedures. Frost-like powder means pharmaceutical crude seed is frosted on the surface of defatted herbal seed with a series of procedures.
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Chinese Medicine-Purposes of processing Chinese medicinal herbs

The purposes of processing Chinese medicinal herbs are briefly summarized as follows.
2.1.1 Removing or reducing the toxicity, drastic properties and side effects of some Chinese medicinal herbs. For instance, the toxicity of medicinal herbs, such as Chuanwu ( Radix Aconiti ), Caowu ( Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii ), Gansui ( Radix Euphorbiae Kansui ) , and Tiannanxing ( Rhizoma Arisaematis ), will be reduced when they are processed; Changshan (Radix Dichroae), after taken, easily induce vomiting and if used to prevent recurrence of malaria, the side effects can be reduced after stir-baked with wine.
2.1.2 Promoting therapeutic effects. For instance, Baibu ( Radix Stemonae ) and Pipaye ( Folium Eriobotryae) roasted with honey can promote nourishing the lung to relieve cough; Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) and Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis ) stir-baked with wine can promote warming channels to circulate the blood; Yanhusuo (Rhizoma Corydalis) prepared with vinegar can strengthen the effects of relieving pain; the effect of invigorating the spleen to relieve diarrhea will be strengthened after Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) is stir-baked with earth; Xiangfu (Rhicoma Cyperi) prepared with vinegar can promote soothing the liver and regulating liver-qi
2.1.3 Modifying the natures and actions of Chinese medicinal herbs so as to make them suitable for therapeutic requirements. For instance, Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmanniae) cool in nature has the effect of eliminating blood-heat, but after processed, it can be warm and good at nourishing the blood; Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni) in raw form has moistening-purging effect, but after processed, it can be good at invigorating the liver and kidney; Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei ) in raw form has strong effect of purging, whereas after processed, its purging effect can decrease and after stir-baked into charcoal, it hardly has purging effect but is good at stopping bleeding.
2.1.4 Facilitating decocting and taking medicine, making preparation and storing medicine. Most botanical medicinal herbs after cut into segments or pieces will be easily decocted in water and their effective components will be easily dissolved out or the forms of medicines will be easily prepared. And most minerals and shells of Chinese medicinal herbs, after calcined or quenched with vinegar, will be easy to be ground into powder. Some medicinal herbs are to be stir-baked and fully dried so as to be kept for a long time from being moldy and rot.
2.1.5 Taking away the impurity, non-pharmaceutical parts and unpleasant tastes, thus making the medicinal herbs clean and pure, and convenient for patients to take. The pharmaceutical herbs which are generally mixed with mud and sand must be washed and the impurity in the plants must be cleared away, thus they are convenient for patients to take. Some pharmaceutical plants need to be softened so as to be easily cut or pre- pared. The hair of some plants must be brushed away; heads, feet or wings of some pharmaceutical animals must be taken out; and the salty or offensive taste or smell of some sea products must be eliminated by rinsing with water.
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General Introduction to Chinese Herbal Tea- Toxicity

Toxicity refers to a harmful effect of a medicinal herb to the human body, a poisonous medicinal material being known as a toxin. The medicinal herbs drastic or poisonous in nature, if used improperly, can do harm to the body for the light and can cause death for the severe. In order to ensure safety in the use of medicinal herbs, their toxicity must be thoroughly understood.
Dosage of poisonous medicinal herbs in the treatment is close or same to poisoning dosage, so the safety margin is small and poisoning is easily resulted. Whereas the dosage of non-poisonous medicinal herbs in treatment is much farther from the poisoning dosage, and the safety margin is also larger. But it is not absolute whether they can result in poisonous reaction or not. In order to ensure the safety in administration of medicinal herbs and bring therapeutic effects into play and avoid poisonous reaction, you should pay attention to the follows as you use the poisonous ones.
1.4.1 Strictly processing
The toxicity of poisonous Chinese medicinal herbs can be reduced by being processed. Therefore, you must strictly follow the process rules of preparing raw medicinal materials. For instance, Badou ( Fructus Crotonis ), a kind of drastic purgatives that is poisonous in nature, easily results in poisoning if not prepared into Badoushuang (Semen Crotonis Pulveratum ) which is taken orally. After Fuzi (Radix Aconiti) is prepared through soaking, its toxicity decreases and it can be widely used and mean-while does not easily cause poisoning.
1.4.2 Control of dosage
Poisonous occurrence is related to the excessive dosage of administration. So the dosage of toxic medicinal herbs, especially those with extreme toxin, must be strictly controlled and their dosage can not be increased at will. They should be used from small dose and increased according to patient's condition after they are taken. But they are not used for a long time in order to prevent the body from being poisoned due to accumulation of toxicity.
1.4.3 Notes of application
The poisonous medicinal herbs, their toxicity being extreme or mild, are not used in completely common way. Some can be applied exteriorly and can't be taken orally, such as Shengyao (Coarsely prepared mercuric oxide) and Maoliang (Herba et Radix Ranunculi ); some can b added to pill or bolus and powder, not to decoction, such as Chansu (Venenum Bufonis ) and Banmao (Mylabris); some cannot be prepared into pill or tablet with wine, such as Chuanwu (Radix Aconiti). If some are put into a complex prescription, their toxicity is weakened and if a single dose is taken orally, the toxicity is severer. For instance, Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata ) has an extreme toxin if taken singly and its toxicity will decrease if taken with Shengjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens).
In addition, TCM always holds that there is a theory of "treating virulent pathogen with poisonous agents", that is, some poisonous medicinal herbs with obvious therapeutic effects, under the safety of administration, may be used properly for such serious intractable diseases as malignant boil with swelling, scabies, scrofula, goiter, cancer tumor and abdominal mass.
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General Introduction to Chinese Herbal Tea-Meridian Tropism of Chinese Medicinal Herbs

Meridian tropism refers to that medicinal herbs may often produce their therapeutic effects on some portion of a human body in preference, in other words, their therapeutic action is mainly related to some viscus or channel or some channels in predominance but it may seem to produce fewer effects on or seem not related to the other viscera and channels. Meridian tropism takes the theory of viscera and meridians, and the indication of syndromes as a basis. For instance, Mahuang (Herba Ephedrae) and Xingren ( Semen Armeniacae Amarum ) effective to syndromes of the disorder of the lung meridian marked by cough and dyspnea are attributed to the lung-meridian; Qmgpi ( Pericarpium Cirri Reticulatae Viride ) and Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi) indicated for syndromes of the disorder of the liver-meridian marked by distending pain of breast and hypochondrium and hernia pain are attributed to the liver-meridian. So generally speaking, what meridian or meridians a medicinal herb is attributed to is just related to the certain meridian or meridians on which the herb may work. If certain medicinal herb can work on several meridians, which means the medicinal herb can be used widely to treat the disorders of these meridians. From the above, we can see that meridian tropism of Chinese medicinal herbs is summerized from the therapeutic effects through a long time of clinical observation, and being practiced repeatedly, gradually develops into a theory.
The theory of meridian tropism plays a certain role in clinical selection of Chinese medicinal herbs according to syndromes, giving a rise of direction and strengthening the therapeutic effects. For instance, medicinal herbs cold in nature have effects of clearing away heat, which also have the differences in tendency towards clearing away heat in the heart, liver, lung, or stomach; those hot in nature can all warm the interior to expel cold, but their effects also have the differences in warming the spleen, stomach, lung or kidney. Therefore, when you prescribe medicinal herbs, you should select those that work on the diseased viscus or meridian or some viscera or meridians in the light of their properties of meridian tropism to achieve desired therapeutic effects. In addition, you can take meridian tropism of Chinese medicinal herbs as a clue to probe their potential effects of some medicinal herbs and to extend their applying range.
The theories such as meridian tropism, four natures and five flavors, lifting, lowering, floating and sinking all explain the properties of Chinese medicinal herbs from various points of view, which jointly constitute their proper-ties and actions. Whereas pathological changes in the same viscus or meridian are different in cold, heat, asthenia or sthenia, and in adverse ascending or descending, and the medicinal herbs which are attributed to the same meridian also have the difference in cold, warm or cool, tonifying or reducing and adverse descending or ascending. For example, Mahuang (Herba Ephedrae), Huangqin ( Radix Scutellariae ) and Shashen ( Radix Adenophorae Strictae) are all attributed to lung-meridian and can all treat cough, but Mahuang (Herba Ephedrae ) pungent and slightly bitter in flavor and warm in nature tends to lifting and floating in actions, so it can disperse the lung to relieve cough and asthma and is indicated for cough and asthma due to exogenous wind and cold; Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae) bitter in flavor and cold in nature tends to sinking and lowering in actions, so it can clear away heat, and purge excessive fire and relieve cough and asthma due to lung-heat; Shashen (Radix Adenophorae Strictae) sweet in flavor and cold in nature tends to sinking and lowering in the action, therefore, it can nourish yin to promote secretion of the body fluids and is indicated for cough due to insufficiency of lung-yin. Therefore when you apply medicinal herbs in clinic, you must combine their various properties and effects to give them an all-round consideration so that you can select and apply them correctly and avoid one-sidedness.
But in clinical practice, owing to frequent occurrence of transmission of a disease between zangfu-organs or meridians in addition to the Chinese medicinal herbs only for one viscus or meridian, those for the other viscera or meridians are also usually used together. For instance, when treating lung disorders affects the spleen, both the medicinal herbs for treating lung disorders and invigorating the spleen should be used, which is called supplementing the spleen to nourish the lung. For the same reason, a syndrome with hyperactivity of liver-yang due to insufficiency of kidney-yin should be treated in combination with the medicinal herbs nourishing kidney-yin to have the liver nourished and deficiency of yang calmed, which is the method of nourishing renal yin to tonify liver yin.
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Nature Therapy -Chinese Materia Medica-General Introduction-Four natures and five flavors

Four natures and five flavors are also known as the properties and tastes of Chinese medicinal herbs.
1.1.1 Four natures
Four properties of Chinese medicinal herbs, cold, hot, warm and cool, are also called the four natures or four xing in TCM. Cold-cool and warm-hot are two completely different categories of natures, cold-cool belonging to yin, and warm-hot to yang, whereas cold and cool or hot and warm are only different, to some degrees, in their variance. Chinese medicinal herbs with cold-cool nature can clear away heat, purge fire and eliminate toxic materials, which are mainly used for heat-syndrome; Chinese medicinal herbs with warm-hot nature have the actions of expelling cold and restoring yang, which are mainly used for cold-syndrome.
In addition, there are also some Chinese medicinal herbs known as neutral ones whose cold or hot nature is not so remarkable and whose action is relatively mild. But actually they still have differences in the tendency to cool or warm so that they are still in the range of four natures.
The four natures -- cold, hot, warm and cool are summarized mainly from the body's response after Chinese medicinal herbs are taken, which are so defined in relation to the properties, cold or heat of the diseases treated. After Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis) and Shigao ( Gypsum Fibrosum) are taken, the manifestations of heat-syndromes such as high fever, dysphoria, thirst and profuse perspiration can be eliminated, which indicates that Huang-lian (Rhizoma Coptidis ) and Shigao (Gypsum Fibro-sum) are cold in nature. According to the same reason, after Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata ) and Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis) are taken, the manifestations of cold-syndromes such as aversion to cold and cold limbs, cold and painful sensation in gastric region and diarrhea can be relieved, which indicates that Fuzi ( Radix Aconiti Praeparata ) and Ganjiang ( Rhizoma Zingiberis ) are hot in nature. Treating diseases with Chinese medicinal herbs is to make use of their cold or hot nature to correct the phenomena of overabundance of heat or cold in the body to restore them as much as possible to the normal state. Therefore, on the base of syndrome differentiation, you must distinguish heat or cold nature of disease, and have a good understanding of the cold or hot property of Chinese medicinal herbs, and then selectively apply corresponding medicinal herbs so that you can achieve the desired results. Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis) and Huang-lian (Rhizoma Coptidis) can both be used to treat diarrhea but Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis) is hot in nature, therefore, used to treat diarrhea of cold type while Huang-lian (Rhizoma Coptidis) cold in nature is indicated for diarrhea of heat type. If you don't consider their proper-ties, cold or hot, when you apply medicinal herbs to treat heat or cold syndromes respectively with hot or cold medicinal herbs, you cannot achieve desired results of treatment and even bring about harmful results.
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Health-TCM-Life-Nature Therapy--Qigong: An Ancient Way to Balance Mind and Body

Qigong, also known as ch'i kung or ch'i gong, is an ancient Chinese discipline that involves the mind, breath, and movement to create a calm, natural balance of energy that can be used in work, recreation or self-defense.
Qigong exercises have a reputation in China for aiding in the treatment of heart disease, high blood pressure, pulmonary emphysema, arthritis, digestive disorders, arteriosclerosis, skin diseases, depression, cancer, and many other illnesses.
For those seeking physical fitness, qigong loosens the joints and increases flexibility and suppleness, while strengthening the sinews and tendons. It has been known to improve the function of the internal organs, delay aging, and prolong life.
Qi, or ch'i, is an intrinsic energy in the body that travels along pathways in the body called meridians. At certain points along the pathways, acupuncture points, acupuncturists may place needles to cure or alleviate a patient's conditions. The purpose is to restore the flow of qi to a natural, healthy balance.
Qigong exercises are intended to achieve the same goal through use of the mind, breath movement. There are thousands of qigong exercises, some for specific purposes. One of the best kinds of qigong exercises is T'ai Chi Ch'uan, which can also be used for self-defense. Treating people with qigong can be traced back 2,500 years in China to the Warring States Period. People found out by accident that when a man with qigong released his energy on an injury, the affected part would heal quickly. From then on, qigong was often used to treat war injuries. It was later extended to various diseases.
The book, "Wonders of Qigong,” compiled by China Sports Magazine and published by Wayfarer Publications, describes the discovery of ancient documents about ch'i Kung and another related fitness exercise called daoyin.
Daoyin exercises are a method that combines regulated breathing with body movements and it is good for all the joints in the body, particularly the shoulders, waist, knees and the respiratory organs. The daoyin exercises were merged into ch'i kung methods to form a body of techniques practiced today.
Qi is most often defined as life-breath, a vital force, or spirit. When used in connection with neo-Confucianism Li (the eternal principle), qi means matter-energy. Ch'i is said to come out of the Tao (a source that is itself inexpressible) to create Yin and Yang, which create Yin and Yang energies.
Qi is inherent in everyone and everything. It is a Chinese word for something that really is universal. So long as a person breathes, he or she has vital qi.
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Qigong-Sitting Exercise

Take a sitting position in practice with body still or in dong. There are various forms for sitting exercise such as sitting at ease with legs crossed, sitting with the lower part of one leg on the same part of the other leg, sitting with left foot tucked under right thigh and right foot under left thigh and sitting on a bed or a chair with feet flatly on ground.
Qigong-Standing Exercise
Take a standing position in practice with body still and motionless but your mind clear of distractions and breathe regulated. Points to remember: Keep joints slightly bent, crotch open, head erect, body upright, shoulders relaxed and elbows lowered so that you can enter a state of jing (still-ness). This position, seen of ten in health-keeping exercises and wushu practice, is used by various qigong schools as a basic method to build up qi.
More information From TCM Forum: Sitting Exercise Standing Exercise
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