Book Review: The Way of Chinese Herbs by Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.D.
Written by Michael Tierra, The Way of Chinese Herbs is an important book for herbalists and their clients. In his work he takes the reader through the important philosophies of Chinese Medicine. Beginning with the very nature of disease, Mr. Tierra explains key points such as Qi, Yin and Yang, The Five Elements, methods and systems of diagnoses, and treatments utilizing nutrition and herbs. He completes his work with an herbal and recipes.
“Chinese Medicine is founded on the principle of qi as the absolute energy of all phenomena.”[1] Qi is probably the most important feature of Chinese Medicine. The flow of qi determines the health of an individual. When qi is blocked, illness and disease develop. Yin and Yang are elements of qi. Yin and Yang are opposing aspects of energy. Chinese Medicine seeks to do one of three things with this energy: reduce, tonify, or regulate. All living things contain both Yin and Yang, two parts of a dynamic whole, and therefore imbalance of these qualities is an underlying cause of illness.
Practitioners of Chinese Medicine use observation, listening and smelling, interrogation, and palpation to diagnose Yin~Yang constitution. They use herbs and food therapeutically to balance Yin and Yang. Herbs and food also have yin~ yang qualities and are classified by their taste or flavor, how they affect the body, and their warming or cooling affect. There may be imbalances of Yin and Yang, deficiency or excess, and the level is unique to each individual. The deficiencies affect certain organs or systems of the body. Herbs and food are also classified for their usefulness for specific organs.
The organs and systems of the body are further classified by The Five Elements. The Five Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The elements relate to the energy and relationship of natural cycles. This includes the relationship between diet and exercise with the body systems and organs. Essentially the relationship between being healthy and developing illness. There are many aspects of each, Yin ~ Yang organs, seasons, senses, secretions, and flavors to name a few. “In Chinese herbalism, the heating or cooling energies, flavors, textures, and colors are of utmost importance”[2]
Disease may be caused by deficiency or excess in another area of the body or element, therefore treating a corresponding area may calm the symptoms. To discover where a deficiency or excess exists a diagnoses must be made. In Chinese Medicine it is a process of Observation, Listening and Smelling, Interrogation, and Palpation.
The practitioner will observe everything from a patient’s emotions and expressions to posture. They will look at the patient’s eyes, ears, and throat just like a doctor would in the west. They will check bodily discharges as well. The second process is Smelling and Listening. A patient’s odor and voice can indicate deficiency of qi. Next in the process is Interrogation, which is an interview of the patient which is similar to a Master Herbalist’s intake questionnaire. The last process is Palpation in which a patient’s pulse is evaluated. These processes are used in conjunction with systems of diagnoses.
There are many diagnoses systems that are used as indicated by what is most suitable to a patient and are not entirely exclusive of one another. There are three main diagnoses systems that are discussed in the book. These are The Eight Principles, Symptom Sign Organ Diagnosis, and Three Humor Diagnoses. The first seems to be the foundation all the others are built upon. The second is just a more in depth diagnoses. The Three Humor Diagnoses is involved with body fluids and gets even deeper into the cause of illness or qi deficiencies.
Chinese Medicine classifies herbs based on yin ~ yang, hot~cold, external~internal, eliminating or tonifying. A single herbal formula may very well work for numerous illnesses. “one disease, many formulas, one formula many diseases”[3] Herbs with many properties tend to be more therapeutic. There are eight methods of herbal treatment and four categories. Chinese herbalism is formula based some of which date back over 2000 years.
Hippocrates said “Let your medicine be your food and your food be your medicine.”[4] Food therapy is also utilized in Chinese Medicine. The belief that the energy food provides sustains all life is the basis for Food therapy. Unhealthy eating habits can lead to imbalances. Also monitoring food cravings can allude to certain deficiencies. Certain foods can rob you of good health.
Chinese herbalism and Food therapy are closely related and may be best integrated. Many foods can be used therapeutically and many herbs can be used as a food source. However, care must be taken, if a patient who is using an herbal therapy eats foods that are not synergistic with the therapy, it can cause the therapy to be less effective, take longer to work or be ineffective. Food therefore becomes a vital part of the therapy and can either help or hinder the healing process.
Chinese Medicine is about treating the whole person. Using seemingly simple methods such as Observation, the underlying cause of illness can be diagnosed. Through nutrition and herbal therapy optimum healing can be found. I agree that all illness begins as a blockage or deficiency of vital life force or qi. It makes sense to use nutrition as part of the healing process.
In conclusion The Way of Chinese Herbs should be in every herbalist’s library. The author explained in great detail the process used to diagnose illness in Chinese Medicine and the role of herbs and nutrition.
[1] Chapter 1, page 3 [2] Chapter 2, page 27 [3] Chapter 5, page 64 [4] Chapter 6, page 80
Written by Michael Tierra, The Way of Chinese Herbs is an important book for herbalists and their clients. In his work he takes the reader through the important philosophies of Chinese Medicine. Beginning with the very nature of disease, Mr. Tierra explains key points such as Qi, Yin and Yang, The Five Elements, methods and systems of diagnoses, and treatments utilizing nutrition and herbs. He completes his work with an herbal and recipes.
“Chinese Medicine is founded on the principle of qi as the absolute energy of all phenomena.”[1] Qi is probably the most important feature of Chinese Medicine. The flow of qi determines the health of an individual. When qi is blocked, illness and disease develop. Yin and Yang are elements of qi. Yin and Yang are opposing aspects of energy. Chinese Medicine seeks to do one of three things with this energy: reduce, tonify, or regulate. All living things contain both Yin and Yang, two parts of a dynamic whole, and therefore imbalance of these qualities is an underlying cause of illness.
Practitioners of Chinese Medicine use observation, listening and smelling, interrogation, and palpation to diagnose Yin~Yang constitution. They use herbs and food therapeutically to balance Yin and Yang. Herbs and food also have yin~ yang qualities and are classified by their taste or flavor, how they affect the body, and their warming or cooling affect. There may be imbalances of Yin and Yang, deficiency or excess, and the level is unique to each individual. The deficiencies affect certain organs or systems of the body. Herbs and food are also classified for their usefulness for specific organs.
The organs and systems of the body are further classified by The Five Elements. The Five Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The elements relate to the energy and relationship of natural cycles. This includes the relationship between diet and exercise with the body systems and organs. Essentially the relationship between being healthy and developing illness. There are many aspects of each, Yin ~ Yang organs, seasons, senses, secretions, and flavors to name a few. “In Chinese herbalism, the heating or cooling energies, flavors, textures, and colors are of utmost importance”[2]
Disease may be caused by deficiency or excess in another area of the body or element, therefore treating a corresponding area may calm the symptoms. To discover where a deficiency or excess exists a diagnoses must be made. In Chinese Medicine it is a process of Observation, Listening and Smelling, Interrogation, and Palpation.
The practitioner will observe everything from a patient’s emotions and expressions to posture. They will look at the patient’s eyes, ears, and throat just like a doctor would in the west. They will check bodily discharges as well. The second process is Smelling and Listening. A patient’s odor and voice can indicate deficiency of qi. Next in the process is Interrogation, which is an interview of the patient which is similar to a Master Herbalist’s intake questionnaire. The last process is Palpation in which a patient’s pulse is evaluated. These processes are used in conjunction with systems of diagnoses.
There are many diagnoses systems that are used as indicated by what is most suitable to a patient and are not entirely exclusive of one another. There are three main diagnoses systems that are discussed in the book. These are The Eight Principles, Symptom Sign Organ Diagnosis, and Three Humor Diagnoses. The first seems to be the foundation all the others are built upon. The second is just a more in depth diagnoses. The Three Humor Diagnoses is involved with body fluids and gets even deeper into the cause of illness or qi deficiencies.
Chinese Medicine classifies herbs based on yin ~ yang, hot~cold, external~internal, eliminating or tonifying. A single herbal formula may very well work for numerous illnesses. “one disease, many formulas, one formula many diseases”[3] Herbs with many properties tend to be more therapeutic. There are eight methods of herbal treatment and four categories. Chinese herbalism is formula based some of which date back over 2000 years.
Hippocrates said “Let your medicine be your food and your food be your medicine.”[4] Food therapy is also utilized in Chinese Medicine. The belief that the energy food provides sustains all life is the basis for Food therapy. Unhealthy eating habits can lead to imbalances. Also monitoring food cravings can allude to certain deficiencies. Certain foods can rob you of good health.
Chinese herbalism and Food therapy are closely related and may be best integrated. Many foods can be used therapeutically and many herbs can be used as a food source. However, care must be taken, if a patient who is using an herbal therapy eats foods that are not synergistic with the therapy, it can cause the therapy to be less effective, take longer to work or be ineffective. Food therefore becomes a vital part of the therapy and can either help or hinder the healing process.
Chinese Medicine is about treating the whole person. Using seemingly simple methods such as Observation, the underlying cause of illness can be diagnosed. Through nutrition and herbal therapy optimum healing can be found. I agree that all illness begins as a blockage or deficiency of vital life force or qi. It makes sense to use nutrition as part of the healing process.
In conclusion The Way of Chinese Herbs should be in every herbalist’s library. The author explained in great detail the process used to diagnose illness in Chinese Medicine and the role of herbs and nutrition.
[1] Chapter 1, page 3 [2] Chapter 2, page 27 [3] Chapter 5, page 64 [4] Chapter 6, page 80
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