Guest guest Posted October 6, 2000 Report Share Posted October 6, 2000 In a message dated 10/6/00 4:31:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Cloudgate writes: << I am basically just wondering how you can tell if the herbs ain't good no more. Thanks, Peter Eschwey >> Dear Peter, I just smell them. Also, some roots become less dense and then you know their qi has left them. Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 6, 2000 Report Share Posted October 6, 2000 >>Only a school has enough turnover to really ensure fresh bulk herbs. No solo practice could possibly do that. I am curious about the criteria which one uses to determine whether a bulk herb is no longer useful as a medicinal. I definitely agree that a frequent turnover is desirable as it insures the freshest possible herbs. In the past few weeks, I have begun managing someone's bulk pharmacy which he has neglected for years (2-5 depending on the herb). It was up to me to decide which herbs had to go and which ones could still be used. Given the fact that storage conditions were relatively good (no exposure to sunlight or bright light, kept in jars with tight lids, kept at room temperature or slightly less), it was somewhat difficult to determine a protocol. I haven't encountered a text that gives cut-and-dried numbers regarding when to dispose of an herb. I proceeded as such: 1) All the minerals, bones, and fossils stay 2) Most dense roots stay 3) Sliced roots mostly stay 4) Most leafy medicinals and branches go My dilemma is this: I opened quite a few jars of green leafies that still smelled quite aromatic despite the long sit. They tasted fine, they looked fine. The only thing is that they've probably been there 2-3 years. Is it a waste to dump them? One of my teachers prescribed mainly bulk herbs out of his pharmacy. He regularly dispensed herbs which I knew to be at least 2 years old. Yet, they worked just fine. Where do you draw the line? Another case: Dr. Li, a master herbalist whom we both know, chooses to use bulk herbs in her private practice. To me, this is an indicator that the advantage of using bulk herbs is significant. Anyway, I imagine I've all but confessed my allegiance to the use of bulk herbs. I am basically just wondering how you can tell if the herbs ain't good no more. Thanks, Peter Eschwey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2002 Report Share Posted January 12, 2002 Definetely pickup the Eastland book about Wen Bing. You will learn more about Shan Hun in there than any other English text. I reviewed it on acupuncture.com. For the Shan Hun Lun itself there is only one good translation available, a dual language version, huge and expensive but worth it. Check Redwing Books online, they should have a copy there. > In other thoughts...has anyone practiced much in the Shan Han Lun tradition? > I'm just starting to study this in depth in school, and it is quite > interesting. Is there an English translation of the text available? > Thanks! > Lauren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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