HIERBAS BUENAS - From the Family of Good Herbs
CHRYSANTHEMUM: A SWEET HERB FOR DETOXIFICATION

The primary use of herbs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is for regulation and balance. Herbal tonics, which provide nourishment and gentle stimulation to the body, are regularly used for health maintenance.

For those of us who know health only in its absence, tonic herbs can also offer direct treatment benefits by balancing the body’s energy and building strength in the recovery process. Tonics, in the form of soups and teas, can be and should be

Herbs To Help Eliminate Excess
In dealing with a culture of excess, Western herbalists (including TCM practitioners) tend to advocate a more eliminative approach. Excessive consumption of meat, sugar, and fatty food creates and deposits toxins in our bodies. There are eliminative herbs that can help remove these toxins from our system, thus restoring its balance. This process is sometimes referred to as cleansing or detoxification. Ti applies to the excessive “heat” generated by cancer cells as well as the “empty fire” due to chemical dependency. The herbs are not disease specific. The same eliminative herbs can be used for conditions as varied as insomnia, infection and influenza.

The Simple Beauty of Chrysanthemum
An eliminative tea has been used daily since the inception of Pacific Complementary Medicine Center’s acupuncture-based chemical dependency treatment program in San Joaquin County, to gently remove the toxic build up in the liver. Recommended by PCMC’s licensed acupuncturists, the Chinese white (yellowish when dried) chrysanthemum is classified among herbs that are Yin and cooling, helping to eliminate “heat” from the internal organs and the body in general. It tastes somewhat like chamomile, but a little sweeter. A mixture of chrysanthemum and pu-er tea is a favorite beverage.

The chrysanthemum flowers are carminative and valuable in TCM for treating Yang ailments, such as inflammation, fevers, headaches, and dizziness. In TCM terms, chrysanthemum helps purify the blood, calm the liver, and brighten the eyes.

Herbs to Promote Recovery
Other acupuncture treatment programs in this country also use eliminative herbs for detoxification. For eighteen years, Dr. Michael O. Smith of Lincoln Hospital has been using a special mixture of herbs (chamomile, peppermint, hops, catnip, yarrow, and skullcap) in his cocaine detox programs that include acupuncture in the treatment plan. He later extended its use for insomnia, stress reduction, chronic anxiety, and hyperactive children. Dubbed “Dr. Smith’s Herbal Sleepmix Detox Tea,” it is now conveniently available in teabag form at PCMC Herb Center. The tea may be served hot or cold and may be used on a continual basis.

April 1999