One of the biggest differences between conventional Western pharmaceuticals and Chinese herbal medicine, is that the Chinese herbal medicine tradition contains many herbs that help strengthen and boost the vitality of the body. These are called tonic herbs.
One of the major uses of tonic herbs is to strengthen the immune system.
And as Stephen Buhner, a well-known herbalist, reminds us, human beings used to eat about 200 species of plants over a given year, many of them herbs. Now we eat about 20 species. Our bodies are missing out on the supplementation given by the many phytonutrient structures, vitamins and minerals contained in those 180 extra species.
Reishi also is a prominent anti-stress herb, used to help calm the mind, relax tension, and calm the spirit in cases of insomnia and anxiety. Since stress is one of the major causes of immune depletion, Reishi mushroom is a helpful herb on two levels.
Consistent use of astragalus over time helps the body to generate an abundance of “wei qi”, thus protecting the body’s initial defense system from outside attack. One of the most famous immune building Chinese herbal formulas, Jade Windscreen Powder, uses astragalus as the main ingredient. This formula can also help with allergies.
Cordyceps is specifically used to help boost the immune system, recover deep energy reserves after long-term illness, increase sexual energy and libido, and strengthen the respiratory system, especially in cases of chronic asthma.
Like Cordyceps, Schizandra is used to replenish the body’s basic energy reserves. As an antistress herb, Schizandra regulates the response of the nervous system to stress. It is also used to sharpen concentration, improve memory, and increase sexual energy. And last but not least, it is one of the major herbs for beautifying the skin and protecting it from sun and wind damage.
The herbs mentioned above are all mild, gentle, and safe in low dosages, so many people find that the best way to use them is to just purchase them and discover which herbs and dosages work the best for them. Your body knows best what works for it, and what doesn’t.
One of the major uses of tonic herbs is to strengthen the immune system.
Tonic Herbs – the original dietary supplements
Tonic herbs are meant to be taken in small doses over long periods of time, to build up the body’s energy. In this way, they are more like a supplement to our diet. Dr. Stephen Chang, an herbalist in San Francisco, refers to these herbs as “forgotten foods”.And as Stephen Buhner, a well-known herbalist, reminds us, human beings used to eat about 200 species of plants over a given year, many of them herbs. Now we eat about 20 species. Our bodies are missing out on the supplementation given by the many phytonutrient structures, vitamins and minerals contained in those 180 extra species.
4 Major Chinese Tonic Herbs for Building Immunity
There are a wide variety of tonic herbs that are used to build immunity. I will mention 4 of my favorites here:1) Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma Lucidus):
Reishi is a medicinal mushroom, with long history of usage in Asia. Reishi falls under the category of an immune system modulator – when the immune functions are deficient, it strengthens them, and when they are excessive, in auto-immune problems like allergies, it decreases immune activity.Reishi also is a prominent anti-stress herb, used to help calm the mind, relax tension, and calm the spirit in cases of insomnia and anxiety. Since stress is one of the major causes of immune depletion, Reishi mushroom is a helpful herb on two levels.
2) Astragalus Root (Radix Astragalus):
Astragalus is one of the most popular tonic herbs in Asia. Astragalus is considered to be the premier tonic herb for strengthening the “wei qi”, which is a Chinese medical concept that refers to a protective shield of energy circulating around the surface layers of our body. When this energy is weakened, we are more susceptible to disease.Consistent use of astragalus over time helps the body to generate an abundance of “wei qi”, thus protecting the body’s initial defense system from outside attack. One of the most famous immune building Chinese herbal formulas, Jade Windscreen Powder, uses astragalus as the main ingredient. This formula can also help with allergies.
3) Cordyceps Mushroom (Cordyceps):
When factors like stress, overwork, lack of sleep and other factors deplete our basic energy reserves, our immune system is left in a vulnerable position. Cordyceps is a major herb in the Chinese tonic herb system for replenishing the body’s basic energy reserves.Cordyceps is specifically used to help boost the immune system, recover deep energy reserves after long-term illness, increase sexual energy and libido, and strengthen the respiratory system, especially in cases of chronic asthma.
4) Schizandra Berry (Fructus Schizandrae):
Ron Teaguarden, one of the experts on the usage of Chinese tonic herbs, considers Schizandra to be one of the premier adaptogenic herbs. Adaptogenic herbs help several systems of the body, notably the nervous and immune systems, adapt to stress while maintaining normal function.Like Cordyceps, Schizandra is used to replenish the body’s basic energy reserves. As an antistress herb, Schizandra regulates the response of the nervous system to stress. It is also used to sharpen concentration, improve memory, and increase sexual energy. And last but not least, it is one of the major herbs for beautifying the skin and protecting it from sun and wind damage.
How You Can Build Your Immune System With Chinese Herbs
At this point, you might be asking yourself how you can start building your own immunity with Chinese tonic herbs. The short answer is: start taking them!The herbs mentioned above are all mild, gentle, and safe in low dosages, so many people find that the best way to use them is to just purchase them and discover which herbs and dosages work the best for them. Your body knows best what works for it, and what doesn’t.
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