Internal formulas

What kind of internal remedies do you use to help with the stresses of training on your body? I've been doing a lot of reading lately and I am interested in this sort of thing, though a bit hesitant to actually try decocting my own formulas. I've been taking premade gecko tea pills lately as an internal supplement to aid in healing of training related sorenesses and injuries, but it is too soon to notice any benefits from them. Do you have and special formulas or premade remedies that you rely on? Have you ever tried things such as deer antler or chinese wolfberry. If you have any thoughts or experience with the subject please share (even if its been a long time since this posting).

self medicating is not a good thing at all.

OTC Patent medicines are not something to trifle with in the least.

People under 30 do not need to be taking sea horse pills or ginseng.

You need to get to an acupuncturist or herbalist and talk to them.

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Be well, train hard and heal quickly.

I think this can be a tricky subject, less of a line and more of a gradient... =)

I agree with Dale that self-medicating can be risky, but there are some real basic things that can be used in much the same way that you eat food. If every single herb produced a big risk factor, then we wouldnt be able to eat things like watermelon, honey, curry powder, culinaries like fennel seed or ginger, some soy products, etc ad nauseum without consulting an herbalist/acupuncturist. I have a habit of chewing on Astragalus and occasionally add Angelica head when I make tea in the Winter and absolutely love it--these are simple basic things and many people eat these types of things as part ofa healthy diet.

If youre interested in looking into this sort of thing, decide what it really is that you are wanting to accomplish and what yoru body is telling you, and do lots of diligent research. There are some good basic books out there on tonics and how to use them (check Teeguarden), and like Dale said, no need to touch things like ginseng until you are in your 30s; some even claim late 30s or early 40s.

If you insist on playing around with stuff, stick with small, simple, well understood classical formulas. The ingredients will be basic, smooth and easy to obtain, and the effects well studied and understood...

Most of all, listen to your body, and remember that your number one source for maintaining your body is from a good healthy, moderate diet and lifestyle over the long term! =)

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

Like I said, I'm a bit hesitant about self medicating. Though I do have an acupuncturist in the family that I can consult with. In case you are wondering, I don't take the ge jie pills regularly, though I do like to chew a small piece of ginseng root regularly. I just thought that this would be a nice topic for discussion. I also wanted to include in this topic-- things like honeywater and apple cider vinegar as my grandmother used to use daily into her 90's.

PD I noticed that you sell Royal Jelly, how do you feel about using that?

I like Royal Jelly a lot but its not as popular as some of the other things I sell. Its really really nutritious stuff though, and a good deal for what you get; I tend to take 1 vial 3 times a week before lunch versus the once a day that is recommended, and at that rate it lasts me over 2 months.

Im usually bouncing off the walls with energy and spend most of my day psyched for my evening training, but after about 6 hours at work, I tend to get a bit groggy and it can be hard sometimes for me to get up and do the hard work come 5pm...When Im using Royal Jelly, I dont feel *as* groggy towards the end of the work day. Being tonic and relatively dense stuff, it also makes me feel a bit more full after a light lunch.

Mileage may vary, were all a bit different. Its certainly worth a try though.

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

I agree with the above, self medicating can do serious damage - especially since mixing certain herbs together can totally change their original energy and properties. You're best off going to an accupuncturis, who has knowledge of TCM (a lot of them don't, at least most American one's) or asking a teacher or Sifu who really knows in depth about TCM. Though things like Wolfberry, if taken in moderation would seem to only have a benefit. But certain things are yin/yang, cooling/heating, and it depends on what is right for YOU, the individual, and not in general. Some blood tonics are general recipes, and might suit most, but that doesn't mean that if you have certain conditions, drinking the wrong one might not make you sick as a dog - and I've seen this happen many times.
Don't play around with herbs - most Western medicine is also derived from plants and herbs, people just forget that when they're looking at a little pill - if you mix the wrong things, you can pay a heavy price, especially if you do it repeatedly and don't realize what you're doing to yourself.
And this is just my opinion - I'm not a doctor, or medical professionl, or accupuncturist, just basing this on my observations and reading

So does that mean that you never use any ginseng, royal jelly or herbal teas?

It is one thing to use something in moderation, such as some royal jelly every now and again as well as ginseng if you are older(30-40) and running around and not getting a good nights sleep as well as not eating right, etc...

Way too many people pop OTC patent medicines thinking its okay.

It is most definitely not.

Ginseng slices a few times a day is one thing.

Taking Sea Horse formulas are another.

You can injure your kidneys and your adrenals very easily with too much yang tonics.

Do Not Self Medicate.

Its more important to get enough sleep, enough protein, drink lots of green tea and water and stay the hell away from drugs and booze....

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Be well, train hard and heal quickly.

I hear what you're saying. I generally have a good diet and I am basically booze free. I usually drink at least one cup of tea a day, though I prefer oolong over green tea. But I was also using a much lower dosage (2 pills in the morning after a hard training) than the package suggested (8 pills 3x's a day) because that seemed a bit excessive. If I'm not mistaken, sea horse is hai ma which this formula does not contain.
The ingredients are:
Gou ji
Shu di huang
Huang jing
Nu zhen zi
Du zhong
Xu duan
Gu sui bu
Dang shen
Ge jie
Dang gui
Huang qi
Fu ling
Shan yao
Gou qi zi
Mu gua
Ba ji tian
Gan cao
Bai zhu

Personally, I have to wake up at 1am to go to work, so normally I'm pretty tired. I started taking Royal Jelly and some Low Grade Ginseng, and honestly I can definitly tell a diffrence. It was shortly after this I started getting really interested in TCM and Herb's. I've done plently of studing on my own and have barely even scratched the surface. My advice to you is if you find you have a interest, feel you need a little something extra, or just curious. Then follow that instict! Study, Research, Chat, Talk, Call, E-mail, Ect. Ect.

If a herb isn't posionious, then I wouldn't worry to much. Just stick with the premade stuff while you study, and once you feel a bit more adventerous create a formula and discuss it with someone knowledgeable.

Well that's my 2 Cents! Hope it helped!

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The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war. Therefore make your exercises bloodless battles, so that your battles are bloody exercises.

My herb professors both in the U.S. and China were in agreement that Xiao Yao Wan is a TCM formula that 99% of people (men and women) would benefit from.

Xiao Yao Wan is a well known ancient Chinese herbal medicine for liver Qi stagnation. Today, it is a commonly used herbal remedy for anxiety, irritability, stress, and depression due to the challenge of a daily life.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Qi is the vital energy whose smooth flow around the body keeps the body and its organs working in harmony. When a flow of Qi in meridians is stagnated the affected organs will malfunction. In the case of liver Qi stagnation, one typically gets anxious, irritable, stressed out and/or depressed. When there is pain anywhere in the body, is Qi flowing smoothly? No, of course not, because "pain = stagnation". Therefore, what organ should be treated when there is pain anywhere in the body? The Liver, you are right again!

Most martial artists understand the importance of the smooth flow of qi. Therefore, the significance of this formula should be understood--it helps to keep the body and organs working in harmony.

Now that you know the most needed TCM internal formula, do you know which herbal formula my herb professors in the U.S. and China said that everyone would benefit from using one week out of every month? For example, the first week of each month, every month.

With dignity and honor,
Robert

“	Originally Posted By: starguard1 everyone should be taking one week per month?	”

Is this a typo? I don't get it....

Anyhow, be very careful with patents and self-medicating is a nono. Of course people eat food grade herbs all the time, so the wolfberry (goji) for example is fine as a snack, and many others are very safe as well, but tread lightly with the more potent ones for sure.

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"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, than to open it and prove it so." KungFuTze
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel

“	Originally Posted By: bobblehead Is this a typo? I don't get it....	”

What I meant to say is "do you know which herbal formula my herb professors in the U.S. and China said that everyone would benefit from using one week out of every month? For example, the first week of each month, every month."

Sorry for the confusion!

With dignity and honor,
Robert

Has anyone used Tieh Ta Formula? They are pills by Golden Flower Chinese Herbs. I have seen bottles of them in my local herb store.

Ive used them, they are ok. I prefer Great Mender Dit Da Wan

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."