Traditional Chinese medicine states that the body has the potential to cure its own diseases if pushed (or needled) in the correct way. Acupuncture is just another medical system, with ideas that may be of benefit to the individual patient and Western medicine as a whole, but it cannot be promulgated as either superior or a cure all. The major disadvantage of Western medicine is that it has the potential to cause a great deal of harm. Acupuncture, on the other hand, is most unlikely to cause any serious damage as it is a particularly safe form of therapy; this is undoubtedly one of its main advantages.

The Balance of Nature
The Chinese believe that health is achieved, and disease prevented, by maintaining the body in a 'balanced state'. This concept was applied to both individuals and society at large. In individual terms the ancient Chinese physicians preached moderation in all things, such as alcoholic intake and gastronomic excess. They also stated that daily activities should include mental as well as physical tasks. The wealthier Chinese visited their doctor when they were well, paying a retainer to the doctor to keep them healthy. If they became ill the doctor lost his fee.

Such a highly sophisticated and personal system of health care is impracticable within the current limitations of Western society, but the concept behind such ideas represents a radically different approach to health and disease. The Chinese culture was also one of the first to grasp the potential within the broader field of preventative medicine. Many of these ideas were effected in the public health measures, which first began to be introduced during the Warring States period.

The body is a delicate balance of Yin and Yang. Yin represents water, quiet, substance and night, whilst Yang represents fire, noise, function and day. The state of the body is determined by the balance of Yin and Yang within it. Each of the organs of the body has an element of Yin and Yang, although one organ may be more Yang in its nature, whilst the other is more Yin. One organ may be more important in its substantive form (Yin) whilst another is more important because of its functional abilities (Yang). When the healthy body is examined as a complete functioning system the Yin and Yang properties within it are in a fluctuating balance.

Chinese herbal medicine is the oldest and most comprehensive form of internal medicine, and is one of the main components of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  The wealth of information handed down over the years about the healing properties of plants and other natural substances is one of China's greatest gifts to civilization.

Chinese herbs and Chinese medicines have been used for thousands of years to help people feel better and more vital. Many of them have also been used for treating various illnesses and restoring the normal body functions and have proved their effectiveness.

Herbology evolved into a healing art in China through observation and usage. This knowledge was compiled and passed down for refinement through the centuries. Herbs, like everything else in Chinese Medicine, are classified according to their energetic qualities and functions. They are defined with terms like warming, cooling, toning or purging which describes the overall energetic configuration of the herb. Western science and medicine on the other hand attempts to understand an herb by deciphering its component parts, for example — what essential oils, minerals or vitamins are contained in the herb?

The healing qualities of an herb depends on many things: cultivation, harvesting, storage, selection, discernment of quality, and the different processing methods used. Processing is done to increase potency. For instance, an herb can be decocted or made into a medicinal tea to draw out the medicinal qualities; substances can be sliced to increase the surface area and potency.

There are also different methods of combining herbs. Herb combining can increase or promote therapeutic effectiveness. Combined they have a synergistic influence that would be different or perhaps less potent if taken individually.

Many Chinese people are quite familiar with the use of herbal liniments that are used for bruises, sprains, strains, fractures, and other trauma, due to a blow or fall. These basic herbal formulas are usually used by weekend athletes and others who have to visit their sports medicine doctor.

Best Acupuncture & Herb Center offers Golden Flower Chinese Herbs in their many formulations. Beginning with the most advanced protocol for herb identification, this 5- step process ensures that you receive the highest quality herb tablets available.

1 Herb Selection and Identification
• Expert macroscopic inspection to weed out common substitutes
• Microscopic examination to ascertain species (and sometimes even variety) authenticity
• TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography), a chemical "fingerprint" unique to each species

2 Herbs Are Cooked
After each herb had been properly identified they are thoroughly cleaned and prepared. They are picked through, washed and agitated according to the specific protocol of each herb. After all foreign materials are meticulously removed the ingredients are assembled and cooked together in a vat called a rotary extractor.

3 Evaporation
Once extraction is complete, a valve is opened in the rotary extractor and the decoction flows directly into a state-of-the-art low temperature vacuum evaporation system. This low temperature system eliminates the damaging effects that high temperatures can have on formula potency.

4 Granulation & Tableting
Still in its airtight chamber, there is a 0% chance of cross-contamination as the flow coater (granulator) sprays the concentrate onto minute particles of base material and dries them to create concentrated granules.