| Healthy living | |
| AUGUST |
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Dizziness Dizziness is a feeling that the body or the surroundings are moving or spinning around uncontrollably. The medical condition is called vertigo. People can suffer from dizziness due to many reasons: fainting, weakness caused by other illnesses, motion- or sea sickness, nausea, fatigue, etc. Sometimes, dizziness indicates towards a serious illness. It can be a sign for stroke, heart attack, anemia, internal bleeding, etc. In any case, when the dizziness is returning or with loss of consciousness, an urgent visit to the doctor is unavoidable. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), vertigo is often related to the liver organ system. There are four patterns:
Other diagnoses can be that phlegm is blocking the caves in the head (with nausea and concentration problems) or that there is a Qi energy and blood deficiency (with insomnia, anxiety and blurred vision) in the body. A Yin deficiency in the kidneys (with Tinnitus, weakness in knees and fatigue) might also be the reason for dizziness. As dizziness is a topic that is extensively examined in Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are many trustworthy and helpful medicinal herbs. We would like to describe the three main herbs (with a focus on the Liver disease patterns) that help to cure the occurrence of vertigo. Please do not use these herbs without consulting a TCM practitioner! Gastrodia rhizome (Tian Ma 天麻 )  Gastrodia belongs to the orchid family of Orchidaceae that grows in parts of Asia such as India, Nepal, China and Japan. The plant depends on a symbiotic relationship with two mushrooms, Armillaria mellea to prosper and Mycena osmundicola to sprout the seeds.
In TCM, Gastrodia has been classified as a superior herb as it can be taken over a long period of time to protect the health. It is one of the main herbs that are prescribed with dizziness. Tian Ma reduces internal wind and clears heat in the liver. It suppresses ascending Yang and has a calming effect on the body. The rhizome has an immune-enhancing property (partly due to the Armillaria mushroom), an anticonvulsive effect and relieves pain. The herb is further studied by several universities in China in order to find more health benefits and medical properties. Often Gastrodia is prescribed in a combination with stems and thorns of the gambir vine, the following herb. Stems and thorns of the gambir vine (Gou Teng 钩藤)  The gambir vine is native to a variety of regions in China and South East Asia. The stems and thorns are collected from late summer to early winter and undergo a long process of drying and cooking in order to be used as herbal medicine.
Gou Teng is primarily prescribed in TCM to treat hypertension as it clears wind and heat in the liver organ. It also prevents ascending Yang in the body. Generally, it has a sweet and warming effect on heart and liver. For the treatment of dizziness, the stems and thorns are used due to their sedative and antispasmodic properties. Gambir vine is often drunk as tea. Szechuan Lovage Root (Chuan Xiong 川芎)  As the name already reveals, the lovage root has its origin in the Chinese Szechuan province. Over time it has spread to other regions in China and become cultivated in many places. The root that can be used for medical purpose is collected in May.
Chuan Xiong has many applications. In the production of foods and beverages, it is a common flavor ingredient. In the cosmetic industry, it is used as a fragrance for beauty products. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the root of the Szechuan Lovage is known for the promotion of Qi and blood circulation. It also clears wind and heat in the body. The medicinal herb relieves pain, has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. With its warming effect on liver and gallbladder, it is often used as folk medicine to treat digestion problems, urinary tract infections, headache and dizziness. If you have questions about these herbs and the treatment with herbal remedies in general, please feel free to contact us. We are very happy to assist! |
