Chinese Herbology is an ancient discipline which compliments Acupuncture treatments. Each herb in the Chinese pharmacopeia often has many attributes or properties and are associated with different organ imbalances. The vast number of herbs included in the pharmacopeia are attributed to four natures, five tastes and the meridians. The four natures are related to the state of yin and yang, ranging from cold, cool, neutral, warm and hot. The five tastes are sweet, sour, pungent, bitter and salty. Chinese herbal medicine is derived from all parts of the plant. The leaf, stem, flower, root, bark and rhizome are used together to create a formula. Minerals, shells, and animals are sometimes also as well. Herbal medicine may be consumed in pill form, a patent formula, granules dissolved in tea , tinctures, or as raw herbs. Raw herbs, which are the most potent, can be combined in a formula, concocted into a tea and consumed several times a day.
