The wild tonic herbs found in the mountains were treasured by the emperors of china and they were thought to posses magical powers that brought immortality, martial artists back then thought that they gave them superior strength by which to beat their opponents and women among the royalty took them religiously to help them maintain beauty.

Chinese herbs have been widely used throughout the years for a diverse range of problems and medical conditions with one herb in particular being coveted more than most, Ginseng. Ginseng is perhaps the most illustrious of all tonics and is used throughout the world by people of all ages, unlike many medicinal herbal remedies that target specific illnesses the Chinese herbal tonic is used to enhance the overall general health and can be used on a regular basis.

Chinese massage therapy follows very closely to acupuncture in that is focuses on the meridian channels and is very similar in the conditions that it can help, however it shouldn’t be substituted for acupuncture as Chinese massage therapy has its own merits and benefits. It is a very effective form of therapy and is used alongside other traditional forms of Chinese medicine such as herbal remedies, Qi gong and diet.

Massage therapy stems back as far as 722 BC when it was seen in ancient medical texts and during the Tang dynasty in 1907 AD when there were thought to be around 56 massage Doctors in the Imperial hospital which was more than the total amount of acupuncturists and herbalists combined. The Chinese methods of massage were imported to Japan and this eventually become what is know today as Shiatsu massage in Japan.

Chinese cupping therapy has long since been an ancient part of traditional Chinese medicine and involves causing local congestion; it is performed by placing cups onto the skin by way of either heat or suction. Underlying tissue is then drawn under the cups when they are left on the skin for a few minutes and blood stasis will form and this is when healing takes place.

Cupping therapy was taken one-step further as a way in which to open up the meridian channels, the meridian channels are channels through which the life energy is able to flow freely throughout the body and through all organs and tissues. There are five meridians on the back and if these are properly open then energy is allowed to travel the full length of the body. It is thought that cupping is an excellent way in which to open these channels to ensure the energy can flow freely.

To the practitioner of Chinese medicine the tongue is a tool which they can use to aid in making a diagnosis when using a traditional form of Chinese medicine such as acupuncture or herbal remedies. The tongue is supplied by both the nervous system and the circulatory system and is constantly bathed in saliva; it contains water, mucous, enzymes and electrolytes.

Due to this, the tongue is a very sensitive organ and is one organ which can change depending on how we feel and the state of our health. Therefore, the Chinese believe that by observing the tongue we can find a great deal out about our body and our health, when the practitioner asks you to stick out your tongue they check the appearance of it in three different areas.

The Ginkgo tree is perhaps the oldest tree in existence throughout the world and the Chinese have used the ginkgo trees seeds dating back hundreds of years in their practice of herbal medicine. Common names for the ginkgo tree are maidenhair tree, silver apricot and Kew tree and the trees leafs and seeds are now widely used in a variety of herbal remedies.

Remedies which have the ginkgo tree extract as one of the main ingredients are now thought to be the number one best selling remedies in the UK and is in the top 5 of all prescriptions written in France and Germany.