These lectures are intended as a basic introduction to Chinese Herbology for veterinary acupuncturists. So why use Chinese herbs? Chinese herbs can be used to treat conditions or diseases recognized by conventional medicine and many that aren't. Theycan be used to strengthen the body after illness, injury, chemotherapy and radiation, as a primary medical system when drag sensitivities develop or conventional therapy is ineffective, they can be used as part of an integrative approach to pet health care with conventional drags and as a preventative health system to strengthen and support the body before disease develops. Chinese medicine treats the pattern of illness; not a specific disease. Despite not having a diagnosis of a western defined disease, Chinese medicine can still be used to treat a problem based on pattern differentiation/recognition. Acupuncture points are selected and Chinese herbs are prescribed based on the pattern of disharmony diagnosed. In China, herbs have been combined with acupuncture for thousands of years to produce synergistic effects that produce a stronger healing response than either modality used alone. Herbal medicine is considered to be Yin compared to acupuncture that is Yang. Acupuncture moves Qi and Blood in thechannels whereas herbs provide the body with the building blocks it needs to treat deficiencies to repair the body. It is said in Chinese medicine that severe disease requires strong material treatment; that is herbal medicine. Most serious internal medicine conditions will not respond to acupuncture alone and the use of herbal medicine in these cases is essential. This is especially true of chronic disease conditions such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, osteoarthritis, immune disorders (pemphigus, arthritis, anemia), asthma and for failing organs systems especially kidney, liver and heart. For many of these disease conditions no effective conventional medicine treatment exists. In these situations the use of acupuncture and herbs together can be lifesaving. Many of these complex and chronic disorders require an integrative approach to the animals health care; the problem won't resolve without using a combination of Chinese and conventional medicine. An integrative approach is often needed to treat difficult diseases. Chinese herbs and acupuncture can help prevent and treat the side effects of pharmaceutical drags and or work synergistically with them to improve therapeutic effects to promote optimal treatment outcomes.What is the Difference Between Pharmaceutical Drugs and Herbal Medicines?Pharmaceuticals and herbs are both drugs. A drug is any chemical or combination of chemicals that has biological activity within the body above and beyond their purely nutritional value. Many pharmaceutical drugs are derived from herbs and before the advent of modern pharmaceuticals most native cultures used herbs as a primary modality to treat disease. Pharmaceutical drags isolate the active ingredients from plants or make synthetic ingredients to produce strong medicinal effects that makes them well suited for acute and emergency care. However this property also causes them to have adverse effects or side effects over time and can damage the body with chronic use. Herbs contain the "whole plant" and in addition to the active ingredients that providesa natural
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