Ancient Cha Herbal Formulas: Enhancing the 24 Effects, Part Three
Brenton Harvey, LAc, CH;
Hong Ji
Editor's note: The effects of cha herbal formulas are numerous and well-known. This three-part article discusses 24 of the most well-known effects of cha herbal formulas, including ingredients, dosage, preparation and functions. Each part discusses eight effects from cha formulas. For a description of the first 16 effects, please see part one and part two of this article.
Effects of Cha Herbal Formulas
17. Subdue Wind (Qufeng Jie Biao) Effect
A. Wu Hu Tang (Five Tiger Soup)
Dosage: Makes one dose, decocted.
Function: Exterior pathogenic wind attack without sweating and labored breathing.
18. Strengthen Teeth (Jian Chi) Effect
Green tea contains fluoride. Gunpowder variety of tea is exceptionally high in fluoride.
19. Stop Epigastric Pain (Zhi Xin Tong) Effect
A. Ying Tong Wan Fan
Preparation: Grind into powder. Mix with vinegar and rabbit blood and form into pills the size of a chicken head.
Dosage: One pill per dose dissolved in warm vinegar.
Function: Treats acute pain caused by heart qi and blood stagnation.
20. Treat Skin Fungus (Liao Cang Zhi Lou) Effect
A. Jing Yan Fang
Wash affected area with concentrated gan cao decoction.
Use green tea powder mixed with vinegar to make a poultice.
Apply poultice to affected area.
Function: Damp wind heat of genitalia with itching, discharge, and so on.
21. Fight Hunger (Liao Ji) Effect
A. Cha Salad
Preparation: Steam tea leaf to remove bitterness. Add oil, salt, sheng jiang, vinegar and toss.
22. Increase Qi (Yi Qi Li) Effect
Cha in general treats mental fatigue.
23. Longevity (Yan Nian Yi Shou) Effect
An old story from the Song Dynasty (A.D. 960 - A.D. 1279) tells about a 120-year-old elder being asked what herbs he took on a regular basis. He replied, "I have no knowledge about herbs, but I drink tea daily (40-50 cups per day)." Lu Yu, referred to as the "Sage of Teas," regarded the Lu Shan Yun Wu variety of green tea as longevity tea.
24. Other Uses (Qi Ta) Effect
Mosquito repellant - tea burned to produce smoke.
Mouth sores - decoct roots of tea plant.
Promotes menses - chewed with sugar.
Three Yin Malaria - a disease in TCM causing shao yang fever and chills occurring at night during the fall and winter seasons.
A. Yi Fang Ji Lun Fang
Preparation: Steep in a large amount of boiled water. Drink before bed (before chills attack).
Pelvic pain has a prevalence of >25% in women and >15% in men, and up to 50% of cases are undiagnosed, demonstrating that there is a definite need for pelvic care awareness among health care practitioners. As holistic practitioners, acupuncturists offer a safe space for clients and are often the practitioners clients seek out when nothing else has worked. Thus, acupuncturists are presented with an opportunity to serve an underserved population.
Though the creation of a financially sustainable, health-promoting model feels far away today, we are casting a vision for a full return on health, believing that this compels us to keep one foot firmly rooted in caring for the sick and the other foot firmly founded in maintaining health. Shifting from a fee-for-service model to value-based care using a phased approach is paramount.
Traditional Chinese medicine and the Vedic traditions both offer rich frameworks for understanding human health, emphasizing the balance of physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. The concept of "souls" or spiritual components in TCM, namely Hun, Po, Shen, Yi, and Zhi, bears significant similarities to the yogic concept of koshas. Their similarities and differences provide insights into how these systems contribute to holistic health practices.
