Many people take Chinese herbs, but there is much confusion as to how they actually work.
Fundamentally, Chinese herbal formulas restore circulation and build organ function. The way that a formula is composed includes combining specific herbs to cause a very specific outcome and having those herbs complement each other.
In fact, the original basis of Chinese herb formulation was patterned after the hierarchical governmental system in China:
- as an example there may be an “emperor” herb that has the most powerful effect,
- a “general” herb which directs the activities of the formula,
- and “envoy” herb that carries the herb to the correct location (for example if the person had knee problems this would drive the formula into the knee directly).
A typical Chinese herbal formula could have anywhere from three to twenty-five herbs in it, depending on the person and the complexity of their condition.
