| "Sciatica and low back pain are the most prevalent | | | | Cook times for your Chinese herbal formulas will vary |
| conditions I treat," reported Colleen Blacklock, an | | | | depending on what's in the pot. The average cook |
| acupuncturist and expert on Chinese herbal formulas. | | | | time is 20-30 minutes, and aromatics like peppermint |
| At her acupuncture clinic, she inserts needles into | | | | or lemon balm should only be steeped 5 minutes. |
| acupuncture points in the arms and legs to provide | | | | Herbs like burdock or echinacea should be cooked no |
| instant relief for chronic sciatica sufferers. | | | | longer than 15 minutes. Chinese tonic herbs like |
| To aid recovery and healing, she prescribes a Chinese | | | | licorice, ginger or ginseng may require up to 50 |
| herbal formula that naturally increases blood circulation | | | | minutes of simmering. |
| and address the pain, rather than masking the pain | | | | After you finish cooking, strain the tea and try some. |
| with traditional medications like painkillers. "They can | | | | Some people find the initial brewing of their Chinese |
| give a false sense of relief and create more | | | | herbal formulas unpalatable, in which case they should |
| problems," she said, emphasizing why a more natural | | | | try adding more water (or a drop of honey if |
| approach is necessary. | | | | absolutely necessary) before nixing the whole brew. |
| Are you thinking of creating a Chinese herbal formula | | | | While the taste may be shocking at first, you'll find |
| at home? It is really very cost efficient and easy to | | | | that the body will warm up to it over time. |
| do once you have the basics down! Trade in those | | | | Some of their medicine books recommend putting |
| expensive cold medicines for a home brewed | | | | your tea in for a second steeping. The first steeping |
| echinacea elixir! Before you begin concocting a herbal | | | | will affect energy/Qi levels, while the second steeping |
| formula on your own, a visit to a herbalist is always a | | | | offers effects on the blood level. You can even split |
| good idea to determine your individual needs. | | | | the batch in half, putting one half in for a second |
| The best container for making your Chinese herbal | | | | steeping to combine both effects. |
| formula is preferably ceramic (but glass is ok too). | | | | You may feel like a mad scientist at first, just |
| You should avoid cast iron or metals because some | | | | throwing all these things together. But isn't that what |
| herbs create chemical reactions with those materials. | | | | cooking and culinary sciences are all about? |
| Your teapot should also have a lid, which you should | | | | At the end of the day, you'll be ingesting less toxins, |
| never lift while cooking, as it can allow the vital | | | | less free radicals and improving the body's natural |
| healing properties to escape. In ancient times, the | | | | processes through natural medicines. You'll feel more |
| preferred water used came from a spring, although | | | | invigorated, more relaxed and more balanced. This is |
| today you can fill your pot with whatever you prefer. | | | | what Chinese herbal formulas are all about! |