Healing through Qi and Earth
(Niranjani A M)
Aromatherapy refers to the use of traditional Chinese medicine with an aromatic smell. Aromatic Chinese medicine has been used to fight pestilence for thousands of years. On November 4th, 2024, our class had the opportunity of hands on experience in making aroma sachets on our own using different herbal powders.Our teachers introduced us to different set of herbal powders like rose ,Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (orange)- regulate QI and tonify the spleen ,clove ,mugwort,mint, moxa grass and Eupatorium fortune,sandalwood,basil, Ramulus Cinnamomi ( cinnamon)- warms and moves meridian,Herba Ephedrae,Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens(ginger)- promote sweat to release the exterior....
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) sachets are made by cutting up fragrant Chinese medicine or powder and then putting it into a cloth bag and hanging it on the body or indoors. We carefully examined the colour and smell of each herbal powder,after a long and tedious selection process,each of us made a mixture of our own herbal powder sachets .It was a unique and fun-filled experience to us. Everyones favourite was rose and sandalwood powder.Rather than handing out pre made sachets ,the fact that our professors took out their time to give us a chance to make our own herbal sachets will always be an unforgettable memory.
Under our professors guidance we got to learn about the medical properties of each herb like peppermint has a cooling effect and can be found in a formula used to address symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, cinnamon bark is warming and may be found in a formula to warm the body and increase circulation.
Chinese herbs can be used successfully, as part of a well-rounded healing plan, for ailments ranging from muscle and joint pain to digestion and to noticeably improve the quality of sleep, immunity, and more. The long list of benefits that we gain exemplified the synergy between plants and human wellbeing .Chinese herbs that double as wellness remedies includes multiple parts of plants, including roots, flowers, and bark, all treated and processed with care so each individual patient can reap the most benefits from these TCM ingredients.Herbal remedies are one of the most important modalities in the ancient Chinese tradition of treating illness – and proactively promoting wellness.
We learned that the simplest way to use these herbs is as supplements, swallowed with a glass of water like our daily vitamin. This TCM session gave us a tranquil escape from our academic pressure and left us with quality time with our professors . This class has instilled in us a profound respect and appreciation for the ancient practice of TCM and art of healing.
