What are Chinese Herbal Medicines?

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries. Among the earliest literature are lists of prescriptions for specific ailments, exemplified by the manuscript “Recipes for 52 Ailments”, found in the Mawangdui tombs which were sealed in 168 BC.

The first traditionally recognized herbalist is Sheng Nong (神农) who is said to have lived around 2800 BC. He allegedly tasted hundreds of herbs and imparted his knowledge of medicinal and poisonous plants to Chinese Herbs in China and Asian Countries called Chinese Herbal Medicine.  Three fourths of the Worlds population uses these herbs as medicine every day. Shénnóng Běn Cǎo Jīng (神农本草经, Shennong’s Materia Medica) is considered the oldest book on Chinese Herbal Medicine, it classifies 365 species of roots, grass, woods, furs, animals and stones into three categories of herbal medicine.

Even though there are many ways to take Chinese herbs, Barbra prefers to use the herbs in their natural state, dried and then boiled into a soup.

Herbs used in Chinese medicine.

Shennong’s Materia Medica