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defense and adaptation of the normal organism that can
lead to disharmony. In the Chinese system, the ability to
achieve glowing health and great vital longevity chiefly
depends on the ability of an organism to resist internal
and external challenges from within and to flourish by
maintaining dynamic balance, vitality and a steady spirit
even as circumstances change. Thus, “assisting the positive”
is primary and should be embraced by everyone, while
“eliminating the noxious” should be delegated to the care of
professionals.
Analogies for treating disease after one is already sick Life is just like a garden. For life to truly blossom to its full
– The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine potential, it needs our constant attention and conscious
– Continued from page 3 efforts. It needs a lot of nurturing, involving specific tools Rising
(attributed to Shen Nong in the 3rd and techniques.
century BCE), herbs are divided into three Gee, am I thirsty! Tonic Herbalism is a primary tool for average people to Floating
Better start
Introduction • Herbs for treating ailments after they are also other important tools such as an evolved clean diet, Descending
categories.
cultivate their lives so as to achieve glowing health. There
digging a well.
Sinking
correct exercise, acupuncture, massage and meditation.
have occurred are called “Inferior Herbs.”
Your life deserves cultivation and we are here to help.
• Herbs for prevention or early response
of specific transitory disorders are called
“General Herbs.” Knowing the Herbs
• Herbs for promotion of positive health For most products, we have a section called Traditional
and longevity are called “Superior Herbs” Functions that describe the herbs’ function using TCM
or “Tonic Herbs.” terminologies. The key concepts are presented below as
Shen Nong, the Divine Farmer, described the Superior well as in the section Introduction to Tonic Herbalism O-5
Herbs as follows: “If one wishes to lighten the body, on pages 99-113.
supplement the energies and prolong the years of life The channels (Organs) an herb enters
without aging, a person should base their efforts on the
superior (tonic) herbs.” Traditionally, an herb is said to “enter a channel” which refers
Only herbs that meet six specific qualifications are to the Organ meridian that this herb effects. An herb can
enter one or multiple channels. The channels, some of which
ranked as tonic herbs (or superior herb): are called “meridians,” are energetic and move throughout
1. Contain at least one of the Three Treasures (life’s three the body. The locations of various manifestations along
primary energies): Jing, Qi and/or Shen these channels provide important clues to you and the
2. Have anti-aging characteristics herbalists, revealing what herbs to use. For example, tension
3. Have broad and profound health-promoting actions on the forehead calls for herbs entering the Stomach
Meridian while tension in the back of your head may call
4. Help balance our emotional and psychic energy for herbs entering the Liver or Gall Bladder Meridians. Learn
5. “Do no harm.” Have no negative side-effects when taken more about the “Chinese Organ System” on pages 110-113.
continuously over a long period of time
6. Taste good enough to be consumed directly and are
easily digestible
In the subsequent 2000 years, the Chinese have created a
body of knowledge concerning the health-promoting tonic
herbs that no other society or system has matched while
other systems have generally emphasized the remedial.
The Chinese tonic herbs have always been associated with
the ideals of long life, slow aging, immunological vitality,
happiness, wisdom, physical vitality, adaptability, sexual
vigor and response, mental acuity and clear intuition, love
and compassion, and harmonious relations with nature and
with one’s fellow human beings. By achieving these goals,
one can be said to have attained true “glowing health.”

Respect Our Body Like a Temple and Cultivate Our Life
Like A Garden – Assist the Positive
Chinese tonic herbalism is fundamentally a proactive
approach to achieving and maintaining glowing health. It
is rooted in the principle known as “assist the positive, The “Four Directional Tendencies” of Herbs
eliminate the noxious.” The herbs’ influence on the body have four directional
Positive represents the functions of regulation, defense tendencies: rising, descending, floating and sinking. For
and adaptation of the organism. Noxious represents example, conditions with descending tendency can be
all the disadvantage factors that hinder the regulation, countered with herbs with rising tendency or descending
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