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Chinese herbal medicine, also known as traditional chinese medicine or TCM, is a very wide ranging tradition of experimentation and research tha date back several thousand years. On of the earliest sources is a tribal chief by the name of Shen Nong who would use his own body to record the effects and benefits of various herbs. They can be used for a variety of ailments both mild and severe including allergies, viruses, organ diseases and even cancer and HIV.

Chinese herbal medicine is part of an entire East Asian ethos of Chi energy, Ying and Yang, harmony and other similar themes. Whilst it has some shamanastic origins, the fact remains that it does work even though modern western education cannot always explain it.

As well as Chinese herbal medicine, these traditions also encompass accupuncture, massage, breathing techniques and Tai Chi. Whilst some may scoff at this type of medicine, the fact remains that it has evolved over 4,000 years whereas drug companies have only been making modern medicines for around 100 years.

Drawing from over 5,000 plant, mineral and animal substances, the usual method of ingestion for this type of medicine is in the form of brewing of a tea from the raw material.

If you are thinking about using this type of alternative medicine to supplement or replace your existing drug regimes, seek out a well qualified and educated expert as combining the two methodologies can in rare cases cause adverse complications.