Herbal medicine has been a part of the written history of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 4000 years. There are over 3000 different herbs that can be used for medical purposes. Only 300 to 500 of these herbs are commonly used. It is important to use herbs grown in China rather than outside of their native environment. One must use the right herb from the right resource to get the full benefit.
Every herb is said to have the property of being either cool, cold, warm, or hot.
Cool and cold herbs treat hot symptoms, such as fever, thirst, sore throat or constipation. Warm and hot herbs treat cold symptoms, such as cold hands and feet. Each kind of herb affects a particular channel and organ. Herbs perform different actions in the body. These are known as lifting, floating, lowering, and sinking.