In a time when there was less access to medical assistance, villagers of all nations needed to draw on the resources closest to them for help when they were ill or in physical need. This may have been a knowledgeable relative or villager who was versed in the properties of herbs and minerals for healing, the “medicine man” or woman, or a trial-and-error approach drawing on plants and minerals readily available nearby.

Img: chinese herbs, source

In ancient China, children were a great blessing and fertility and childbirth were areas that were given much attention. Methods to improve fertility – for both men and women – to help in pregnancy, to speed up labour and to manage pain were at the centre of these medical enquiries. Longevity and vitality were also held in high regard, and so it should come of no surprise to discover that many of the Chinese herbal remedies available today relate to these key areas. There are written records specifically about Chinese medicine and fertility dating back approximately 2000 years, although Chinese medicine itself is much older – about 5000 years. The Complete Book of Effective Prescriptions for Diseases of Women is the first Chinese medicine text devoted solely to gynaecology and obstetrics and it was published in 1237 A.D.

Many of the early herbal medicine practitioners are most likely to have been the mid-wives and older women who would help assist with births. They were also the custodians of other highly specialised knowledge about the body such as meridians. Some of these wise women were the early masters of certain martial arts, which were later taken over by lineages of men.

There are more than 150 Chinese herbs to help with reproductive health

There are more than 150 Chinese herbs to help with reproductive health, and these are generally prescribed in combinations and given to help the different types of problems such as menstrual irregularity, pain, quality of the ova (egg), thin uterine (womb) lining, lack of cervical mucus, hormone production and regulation, menopause, and the production of healthy blood. There are also combinations of herbs for other treatments such as recovery after exercise, digestive health, to increase energy and stamina, improve mental clarity, and cleanse the body and organs of toxins.

In fact, Chinese herbs are being recommended for assistance with a number of modern diseases including: hair loss, joint pain and inflammation, bacterial infections, respiratory problems, bad digestion, anxiety and insomnia, skin problems, male virility, even weight management. Nutrition, as well, is becoming an increasing area of focus in the quest for good health, so it is no wonder that herbs seem like a logical next step for many people.

A few modern herbalists will add specific purging herbs to a first mixture they prepare with a female patient’s first visits to help clean and nourish the female organs, as well as herbs for the specific other ailments although it is not very common in the western world.

Chinese herbs are not always easy to take, though. Some come in powder or liquid forms and can be very pungent, though pills and herbals teas or tinctures are also available.

About the Author: Katherine West is a health freak and freelance writer who in 2003 studied for a Diploma of Nutrition. She is also into yoga and pilates.