Chinese herbs that improve energy can also improve your internal organ functions, strengthen your body and boost your immune system. Most Chinese energy herbs are considered qi tonics (pronounced "chee"). Qi is the life force energy within you that allows you to talk, walk, eat and breathe. Chinese herbalists prescribe energy herbs in raw, powder, tincture or pill form.
History
Around 500 A.D., the Chinese published "The Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica." This book lists Chinese herbs and their properties and categorizes herbs as either superior, middle or inferior herbs. Superior herbs are those that nourish life. Chinese energy herbs fall into this category. Chinese herbalists have been prescribing these superior herbs for centuries to reduce fatigue, improve memory and promote health and well-being.
Effects
Chinese energy herbs tonify your qi and nourish your blood, yin or yang. Herbs that tonify your qi can strengthen your internal organ functions, boost your immunity and strengthen your digestion. Herbs that nourish your blood can strengthen your spleen and liver and improve your energy in a way that is similar to taking iron for anemia. Yin is the cooling and moistening aspect of your body. Taking herbs that nourish your yin can moisten and nourish your internal organs, like watering a plant to nourish its growth. Yang is the warming aspect of your body. It invigorates, energizes and activates your metabolism. Taking herbs that tonify your yang is like giving a plant sunshine to keep it vibrant.
Types
Ginseng has a strong revitalizing effect and can help restore health after a chronic or debilitating illness. It may also strengthen your digestive system, improve appetite, benefit your lungs and treat cough and shortness of breath. In addition to boosting energy, ginseng may also have a calming effect, which makes it beneficial for insomnia.
Huang qi, also known as astragalus, can tonify qi and boost yang. It may reduce fatigue, poor appetite, diarrhea, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. Huang qi may also boost the immune system and treat spontaneous sweating. If you have edema, huang qi can encourage normal water circulation and promote urination to reduce mild swelling with a sensation of heaviness in your body.
Dong chong xia cao, more popularly known as cordyceps, can tonify the kidney yang. Cordyceps can improve your energy, reduce lower back and knee soreness and pain, treat frequent urination, ringing in the ears, forgetfulness and poor memory. It may also benefit your adrenal glands, stimulate the male reproductive system, strengthen the immune system and cardiovascular system and lower cholesterol.
Preparation
Chinese herbalists prescribe energy herbs for internal ingestion. You may take them as a tea, powder, pill, extract or liquid tincture. Making a tea involves soaking the herb in water, boiling it for 30 minutes or more, straining off the liquid and drinking the liquid twice daily. When you take energy herbs in powder form you simply dissolve the prescribed amount in a cup of warm water and drink the solution. Herbal companies manufacture pills and capsules, which makes them convenient and easy to travel with. Herbal manufacturers also manufacture extracts by soaking herbs for a long period of time in water or alcohol and strain off the liquid. Extracts have a strong taste but are potent and absorb easily.
Warning
Only take Chinese energy herbs under a Chinese herbalist's supervision. Although Chinese energy herbs are considered fairly safe, you may experience adverse reactions if you take an incorrect dosage, have a specific health condition or if you are taking certain medications. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine provides listings of qualified Chinese herbalists throughout the United States.
References
- "Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology"; John K. Chen, Ph.D. and Tina T. Chen, MS, L.Ac.; 2001
- "Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica: Third Edition"; Dan Bensky, Steven Clavey and Erich Stoger; 2004
- The Chinese Medicine Sampler: A Very Brief History
- The Chinese Medicine Sampler: Processing of Herbs for Use
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