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Q&A:
Mysterious Chinese Herbs for Liver Disease
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Hello,
I have been taking a Chinese medicine (herb) that my TCM
doctor prescribed. It is supposed to be treating my liver.
However, I have never been able to find ANYBODY who has
heard of it. That includes 200+ people in a group that discusses
just such topics. Can you illuminate this mystery? The name
is "Cing Yeh Tan" tablets. I'd like to know what
I'm taking.
Thanks,
Naman S.
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Jump To:
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Naman,
You should ask your TCM doctor about the contents of the pill.
Of course, most health care professionals are busy, and those
for whom English is a second language may not communicate as clearly
as they'd like to. The patent formula you mention isn't familiar,
not even as a misspelling of another; that doesn't mean it isn't
right for you - ask your TCM doctor for more details. But first...
Are Chinese Medicine Practitioners Doctors?
Your practitioner may not be legally allowed to be called a big-D
"Doctor." There are some practitioners from about 15
years ago who did work for and earn a Ph.D. in it, but that was
phased out... Chinese Medicine Practitioners have been able to
get Ph.D.'s in other things, like Psychology for example, and
some of them are M.D.'s too. Two colleges just received approval
for their Ph.D. programs in Chinese Medicine (Bastyr and OCOM),
and Columbia is integrating CM into their medical programs, so
eventually this discussion will be unnecessary.
The average Chinese Medicine practitioner is educated (at least
3 years, usually 4 years) and legally licensed to practice (some
states, like Ohio, are proving to be the behind-the-times backwaters
of modern medicine... they don't allow acupuncturists to practice
herbal medicine). In any case, Chinese Medicine is medicine, and
what we do is 'doctoring' in a general sense. Some patients call
their practitioner 'doctor' out of respect for what they've done
for them.
Chinese Medicine Practitioners and the Herbs they Recommend
Variation in Herbal Education
All Chinese Medicine practitioners are not educated equally in
Chinese Herbal Medicine. Regulations vary by state. Some states
license acupuncturists but do not allow them to practice herbal
medicine. Many states utilize the NCCAOM's (The National Certification
Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) testing standards
for both acupuncture and herbal medicine. Other states like California
have their own board and test (which is much more difficult).
Even those who are licensed in California do not all practice
herbal medicine to the utmost (personalized modifications of classical
formulas/ideas, different for every patient, changed every visit,
taken in raw boiled tea or granulated powder forms).
Chinese Patent Medicines
Patent medicines like the one you described are a convenient,
simplified version of Chinese Herbal Medicine. Sometimes they
are more appropriate than the teas/powders; for example, if the
taste of the medicine is a greater priority.
Knowing What You're Taking
'Knowing what you're taking' is not as simple as it sounds. Many
people take OTC (over the counter) remedies and pharmaceuticals
all the time without really knowing what they are or what they
do. We are taught to ask if there are studies, or science behind
what is being prescribed. We hear words (chemicals, etc.) that
we don't really understand, tune out and then assume that the
healthcare professional (or marketing department) knows what it
is and that it's safe.
But when we hear Chinese medical terms for diagnosis and its
pathomechanisms of disease and treatment, we doubt it... partly
because it sounds weird! When a pharmaceutical is only 40% or
50% effective (and it's also relatively safe), the FDA may pass
it. When an herbal remedy is 40% or 50% effective, it's not good
enough. Can you say 'double standard'?
The point is: to explain what the herbs do, we use Chinese Medical
terms... not pharmaceutical terms. The language of Chinese Medical
pathology is just as specialized and obscure as biomedical pathology.
For example, a person might have long-term anger has led to a
stagnation of qi that transformed into heat. This heat combined
with dampness engendered by Spleen deficiency (which in turn came
from irregular eating and excessive worry) to form damp-heat,
which poured downwards into their lower jiao. This damp-heat in
the lower jiao may obstruct the Kidney system, leading to a Kidney
deficiency, which can lead to the floating of yang to the upper
jiao. This is an example of Chinese Medical pathomechanisms. Different,
isn't it? That's why Chinese Medicine doctors often don't go into
it. If you want to understand it, you'll have to go to school,
just as you'd have to go to school to understand biomedical pathology.
Do I have Liver Disease or Liver Damage?
Probably not! A lot of misunderstanding can result from a Chinese
Medicine practitioner telling their patient just a little bit
of the Chinese Medicine diagnosis without explaining more.
When a western medical doctor says "liver," he is referring
to a very specific organ, a collection of tissues tucked behind
your ribs on the right side of your upper abdomen. When a Chinese
medical practitioner says "liver," she is referring
to the organ as well, but also to all of the manifestations of
its functions throughout the body, including particular emotions
and senses influenced by the liver's energetic system. In Chinese
medicine, the Liver (capitalized) system includes the eyes, the
proper flow of qi throughout the body, the fingernails, and the
tendons and sinews. It partners with the Gall Bladder, and is
associated with emotions of irritability, frustration, anger and
rage.
The actual liver organ may or may not be involved. Usually it
is not except in extreme situations like chronic alcoholism, hepatitis,
acute gallstones, cholecystitis, etc. where there is liver damage.
Many of us in modern civilization have what we call 'qi stagnation'
which always involves the Liver system. When we get emotionally
'stressed out,' the liver qi stagnates. This can also happen with
certain foods (greasy and fried). As an example: Xiao Yao San
is a common patent formula used to move the Liver qi (but that's
not all it does, and there are hundreds of possible Liver formulas).
Why Hasn't Anyone Heard of These Herbs?
Unless there are licensed Chinese Medicine practitioners in your
discussion group, no one will have heard of them! These are not
vitamins, or the latest-greatest-health-product... these are classic
medical formulas (most 200+ years old, some formulations are thousands
of years old). They are too specific in their application to be
sold in drug stores (at least until the public learns more about
Chinese Herbal Medicine). They are meant to be recommended by
trained professionals like your Chinese Medicine practitioner.
Hope that clears up some of the confusion,
B
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