The Power of Chinese Tonic Herbs
Having been trained as a Western Herbalist, I have developed a special relationship with the plants of the American West and all over the continent. Having been trained to become familiar with the medicinal and spiritual qualities of the local flora, I prematurely dismissed the value of learning other foreign herbal healing traditions, thinking it was Mother Nature’s wisdom to place Her herbs in specific places. Although this is true, I’ve come to recognize that many foreign healing traditions are rich in ancient wisdom that has been passed down for generations. Chinese herbs had seemed especially foreign and complicated to me, making it a subject too intimidating to approach.
One day, one of my mentors, also being a Chinese Herbalist, insisted that the Chinese tonic herbs are an essential part of any spiritual practice. I didn’t think too much of his suggestion at first, based on my aforementioned opinion. Yet, the more he started talking about these tonic herbs and explaining their use and power that many sages had used for millennia, I agreed it was worth seeing if these plants did, in fact, possess some secret. A secret that many sages and other century old beings felt was a crucial aid to health and longevity.
He was right. It did not take long for me to notice an obvious difference in my energy and awareness after a few short weeks of taking the herbal tea blends he gave me. I shortly began to notice my increased stamina, a feeling of inner stillness, a sense of joy and well being, and an underlying foundation of strength in my body, mind and spirit. My entire feeling towards these foreign herbs transformed. Just being in the presence of the tonic herbs I feel an ancient wisdom that commands respect. I understand why the sages considered the tonic herbs an essential part of their repertoire.
Tonic herbs are unlike other varieties of plants because they are adaptogenic, meaning they can be taken in increasing doses without little if any side effects. The body regulates the beneficial properties of the herbs through the hypothalamus. That is why with tonic herbs, the more one takes, the better, so we can adapt to whatever situation we may be in. The beneficial qualities of the herbs become exponential. Most other plants have specific medicinal or toxic properties and can only be taken in very specific recommended doses.
Tonic herbs grow and are also cultivated all throughout America. Such herbs that you can find in your local health food store are licorice, American ginseng, peony or astragalus. Some of the great tonic herbs that do come from overseas you might recognize are panax ginseng, goji, he shou wu, reishi mushroom or schizandra. With their power and simplicity, tonic herbs will benefit your lifestyle in a variety of ways.
-Peter Berv
Articles
