These are some of many herbs the herbalist uses for the prescription package. One package of herbs usually contains about 25-30 different herbs.

 

About the herbalist, Juliana Chin

Diagnosis methods used by Chinese Herbalist

When the Herbalist is confronted with a new patient, he asks himself one question; “What is the cause?”, “Of five organs, which one(s) is causing the illness, and what is causing the organ(s) to become imbalanced?”

Through diagnosis, the Herbalist hopes to balance the patient’s system by first cleansing it, then soothing it, and finally by building up the patient’s system and entire condition. However, without the patient’s cooperation in maintaining a proper diet and life style, which coincides with the Chinese theory on balance, the Herbalist and the patient will be running in a circle.

It is not only herbs which will restore one’s health, but an overall maintenance program on the part of the individual. One’s life style and diet must as well be maintained, following upon Chinese thought. This does not mean a complete adherence to Chinese philosophy and cultures. What it does mean, is for the Herbalist to be successful in his treatment, the patient must learn to know his/her personal limitations and guidelines. If one is aware that certain foods aggravate his/her system, one must learn to know his/her personal limitation and guidelines. If one is aware that certain foods aggravate his/her system, one must learn to stay away, or limit and moderate the amounts of such foods. If one knows that certain clothes will not be warm enough out in the cold, one must be aware that he/she may weaken or aggravate their system. If one knows certain situations bring emotional tension, anxiety, and worry, one must learn to avoid those situations as much as possible. In essence, you are responsible for the well being of your own condition. Learn how to balance your system, and then, maintain it.

The Herbalist uses a very set pattern for diagnosing patients. Keeping in mind Chinese medical theory, the diagnostic process should appear logical. The basis of diagnosis is that from the outside, we can learn about the inside. Consequently, the Herbalist follows four principles in patient diagnosis: Looking, Listening, Asking and Feeling (pulse taking).

Looking

Looking at the patient involves noticing every outward detail possible. From the time the patient walks in the office, his/her posture, mannerisms, movements, and dispositions are noted. The severity of the problem(s) can be seen from the patient’s complexion: changes and different degrees in coloring of the skin reveals the functioning of the inside processed. For example, if the patient shows redness on the sides of the nose, we know that the lungs are having problems. The degree of redness in comparison to the rest of the face reveals the severity.

As the eyes are associated with the liver, they show a patient’s emotions. The look of the eyes can reveal a lot about the whole system as well. The type of sparkle or fire in the eyes, as well as the shape, color, and texture of the skin around the eyes reveals aspects of the inner condition.

The patient’s lips and mouth can tell us about the patient’s condition. This is especially true in reference to the stomach, since the lips and mouth correspond according to Chinese principles. For example, when the stomach is having digestive problem, it reveals itself by the lower lip becoming swollen upon the sides underneath. The appearance of the swollen under-lip can tell us something about the severity and length of the stomach problem.

Tongue is an extremely important diagnostic tool in Chinese medicine; the Herbalist can learn a lot about the functioning of the inner system from examining it. The line down the middle of the tongue reveals how long a patient has had an illness; the deeper the center crack, the longer the patient has had the illness. The Herbalist says everyone in America has a little bit of a sandy and coated tongue. This is from a diet of too much rich foods and eating too much. A healthy condition shows itself in a “pink” even colored smooth tongue. From my own observations, I could see that with Chinese medical treatment, the appearance of a patient’s tongue was changing along with changes in the patient’s illness. I was also amazed at the wide variance in tongue appearances: Some were coated in colors of black, green, yellow, white, red; some tongues were bumpy, dotted with holes, lined, and cracked all over. In Chinese medical diagnosis, there are 36 categories in which the appearance of the tongue can be placed.

For children under five years of age, the veins of the hands are used as the diagnostic indicator of the body’s condition. By looking at the length and color of the veins, especially of the index finger, a lot can be learned of a child’s condition. After this age, the body develops to the point where the veins can no longer be seen adequately.

Listening

Listening to the patient is the second diagnostic principle. A patient’s expression and attitude can reveal a great deal. A good example is the case of a 19 year old Black American man. The patient was suffering from mental confusion; he couldn’t think straight. As a result, speech, visual and hearing orientation was affected. The tone of one’s voice, the emotional state, the reaction on follows, and the attitudes on brings forth are as much tied to the functioning of the system as are the body’s attributes. Emotions can give the herbalist and indication of severity, length, and areas of casualty.

On the other hand, certain emotions can cause illness, or trigger off an illness already present. As in the case of a 35 year old Caucasian woman, suffering from stomach problems, she got severely upset emotionally. This directly affected her liver, the liver in turn, upset her stomach. Her liver in turn, directly affected her temperament and energy level. I she did not tell the herbalist that something had upset her, the herbalist could eventually tell by listening and looking at her, the upsetting event would reveal. The Herbalist had noted earlier in her case her psychological and physical disposition. Thus, the emotional upset was revealed in the change in her physical appearance and psychological temperament and energy level.

Asking

To ask questions is the third principle the Herbalist uses for diagnosis. The Herbalist asks questions concerning the description of the illness. The patient is asked how bad or deep set the symptoms have been, how long the patient has had the illness, and how often the symptoms occur. The exact areas of the problem(s) are asked to be pointed out.

The herbalist not only asks questions concerning the illness symptoms, but of the functioning of the body’s system as well. Hence, we see questions directed at the patient’s digestive condition; “How are your bowel moving?”, “Any gas?”, “Bloated stomach?”, “Any burping?”. Questions directed towards the body’s balance are also asked. For example, the Herbalist may ask if the patient is hot and/or cold. He may ask if the patient is worried, under stress, is tired easily, has a low energy level, and so forth.

A few general questions are asked and considered. Previous treatments and medications, perhaps given by other physicians, must be considered and dealt with. Usually a patient is asked to stop taking other medications while he/she is on herbal treatment. This is because other medical treatment could alter or stop the effectiveness of the herbs. A patient’s age, weight, and occupation are generally asked, for these could have some bearing on diagnosis and treatment.

Feeling

The patient’s pulse is needed by the Herbalist for a proper diagnosis. The Herbalist does not however touch the patient when seeking his/her pulse. He says that through experience he can read pulse by the patient’s appearance; there are different expressions related to one’s pulse. I did observe him take the pulse of a patient from Vietnam. She mentioned to him about having her pulse taken, since her grandfather, who was a physician, had taken the patient’s pulse during diagnosis. The patients place their wrists on a pillow, and the Herbalist feels the pulse of each wrist, one at a time. The Herbalist checks for the strength of the pulse, how fast it beats, and the type of pauses (jumps or skips) between beats.

When all the diagnostic principles have been examined and considered, previous cases of similarity are referred to. The Herbalist then adds up all the variables and possible causes, and explains his conclusion to the patient.

The following remarks and instructions should be
carefully read and observed by anyone who desire to
benefit from our herbal treatment.

This system of herbal medicine is different from any other, and its efficiency depends on certain simple and logical principles. If these are fully understood and carefully followed, the benefit received in any case will be greatly increased. In fact, such observance is essential to satisfactory results.

We do not make the absurd claim, advanced by physicians or at least indicated in their lack of attention to diet and simple laws of health, that herbal treatment will work miracles. Herbs, if properly used, assist the nature in one’s constant effort to throw off disease.

It is natural for people to be well. But herbs cannot make them well if they oppose the process of cure by late hours, narcotics, overeating, dissipation in any form, or other practices that tend to lower vitality and hinder recuperation from the effects of disease.

The first essential is to pay attention to diet which should be restricted. We prescribe a dietary regimen to each patient, which should in all cases be strictly followed. When a person’s system is clogged with impurities and the vital organs are hindered in their functions, a larger amount of food can’t be assimilated. It is simply so much more foreign matter which must be thrown off before the vital organs can resume their customary duties. These impurities clogging the system not only slow down the function of vital organs but actually does harm. Furthermore, the remedies which we prescribe are in themselves foods, and take the place of other articles of diet. For This reason, the patient requires less food than he would otherwise.

These remedies sometimes cause patients pain and dull, ill-defined uneasiness for periods varying with the different conditions of different cases. These indication that the herbs are working in the system, should cause no alarm. They are simply proofs that herbs are ridding the system of the obnoxious elements which oppose a cure.

Sometimes the pain is felt in the head, resulting in headaches and giddiness. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Our patients are herby advised of the fact that these circumstances are not unfavorable. On the contrary, they indicated that the remedies are producing the desired effect. They will gradually wear away and will be followed by a reaction which will finally result in increased energy and a restoration health.

Our herbs are neither tonics nor purgatives. They are simply assistants to the vital organs in a resumption of their proper duties. Purging is an effort of nature to rid itself of obnoxious elements and not a direct result of the herbs.

Anyone desiring relief from chronic diseases must have patience to continue the herbal treatment. An impaired constitution cannot be restored in a day, and the remedial processes of nature are always slow. Many people show a childishly thoughtless anxiety to be cured at once. They forget that a demoralized body, which has been gradually deteriorating for months or years, cannot be restored in some instances, even in a few weeks. They failed to comprehend that the system must frequently be cleansed of a load of impurities and debris, the result of impaired nutrition, poisonous and mineral medication, imperfect circulation and derangements of bodily power, before a cure can be commenced. They want to discover a substantial improvement at once

We do not promise a cure but there will be certainly improvements. We cannot accomplish what nature never undertakes to do. A tree may sometimes be restored to health by care irrigation and cultivation; but it does not bear fruit the second week after it is watered. It first puts out its new buds upon the lower branches and afterwards upon those more distant from the roots, showing a gradual re-establishment of a circulation of the tree’s life juices. In due time the leaves follow, then the flowers and finally the fruit.

The restoration of a crippled and degenerate body, whose functions are abnormal, is a somewhat similar process, and depends upon laws which are as invariable as the laws of growth in the vegetable kingdom. Do not expect impossibilities and you will not be disappointed. Any physician who guarantees cures of chronic ailments in a brief period of time simply plays upon the credulity of his patients and soothes their aches and pains by powerful narcotics into a deceptive improvement. Diet, regimen and careful and continued herbal treatment are essential factors in any genuine and lasting benefit.

Bear in mind that what appears to be self-denial in obeying the rule is really an earnest effort on the part of the patient to help himself. It is a part of the treatment – cooperation – which is solely for the patient’s benefit and depends entirely upon his powers of will. Excessive sexual or other indulgence is always to be avoided. No medicine in the world will build up an impoverished body if its already exhausted vitality is still constantly drawn upon. Common sense and a little reflection on the part of the patient will show him at once the reasonableness of these facts. Three, six, or even nine months is a very short period in life of a man, and if self-denial and strict regard for a hygienic regimen during that time will restore a sick man to the priceless boon of health, which the united wealth of the world alone could not buy, sacrifice involved is certainly abundantly rewarded.

The Chinese system of medicine avoids the use of both designed to give a fictitious and temporary renewal of strength to a worn-out frame. Nor are they used to work sudden and violent effects such as the use of calomel and similar purgatives. Purging, when it follows the employment of these remedies, is simply the elimination of impurities preceding a gradual restoration of normal conditions. The value of diet is restoration of normal conditions. The value of diet is recognized emphatically and patients are usually place upon a plain and simple bill of fare, which, while sufficient for the maintenance of strength, is yet such as to reduce inflammation and to assist the remedies in their beneficial effects upon the stomach and other organs. These remedies are in themselves special foods, and the patient requires less of his ordinary meal and drink while taking them. Lack of care in this respect results in overloading the stomach and defeating the proper action of the remedies. Great care must also be used to avoid exposure to cold while using them.

These restrictions, together with certain phenomena which frequently attend the use of these remedies, are so different, from the “painless dentistry” methods of some physicians, that patients often become discouraged. They are sometimes troubled with a slight nausea, diarrhea, giddiness, ill-defined feelings of uneasiness or with actual pains in different parts of the body. These manifestations are simply indication that the remedies are performing their customary and proper work. But it is frequently difficult for the patient to believe this fact, which is at variance with his prejudices and preconceived notions of the objects of medical treatment. They sometimes become discouraged after a few weeks and discontinue the treatment just when they should cling most closely to it. As a rule, the alarming indications will pass away in a few days. In many cases they do not occur at all. Yet some of our best friends today are the ones who became discouraged and withdrew from treatment after following it for a short time. Fortunately, sufficient had been accomplished to have a decidedly beneficial effect after the system had time to resume what may be called a condition of equilibrium. With an improvement in health many of these people have seen their mistake and resumed treatment, but with loss of time and of the cumulative force of the remedies, and consequently with an increased ultimate expense.

We prefer to be perfectly frank with our patients, and we desire that these facts should be fully understood. We recognize that people in ill-health are entitled to a little consideration that we would not expect to accord to people in good health. And we find that men, as a rule, are more capricious than women, and less capable of enduring aches, pains and restrictions necessary to recovery. Of all classes, active business men are the most difficult to convince of the necessity of care and rest when sensations of illness are commencing to grow upon them. They think they cannot afford the time necessary for a cure, and they are so irregular, in respect to their meals and in taking of the remedies, that cures are very greatly hindered if not rendered impossible.

For these reasons, we are thus particular in making these explanations. We recognize the limitations of all medical systems, and know that medicine will not do miracles. We desire to warn our patients against probable discouragements and prefer to state the fact ourselves rather than to have them stated, with exaggerations, by some person who feels himself aggrieved because we have not performed more than what was promised. These remarks apply particularly to cases of long standing, or very severe diseases. In acute attacks and those of recent origin, a great benefit is often derived within a few days.