One patient takes Ginseng and it works for them, gives them lots of energy, makes them
feel great. Another person takes Ginseng and they feel awful, they get aggravated, they
get palpitations in their heart, just doesn't work right. So what gives? What's the difference
between Eastern herbs and Western herbs? Or the way that they're used? Hi my name is Mark
Brinson, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Physical Medicine Specialist, and International Seminar
Provider. There's a big difference between the way that Eastern and Western herbs are
used and the philosophy that's behind them. So let's take for instance something like
Ginseng, to tell you how specific the, the prescription needs to be to match someone.
When we say Ginseng from a Western standpoint, we think all Ginsengs are alike, but in reality,
there's over five main types of Ginsengs and a lot of sub-species of it that do completely
opposite things. Let's, let me give you a few examples. Have you ever had someone take
an herb, or yourself take something that just didn't quite work for you? And you took it
on the recommendation of a friend who though it was the best thing ever. Well lets' say
for instance that I have heart palpitations, I have high blood pressure, I'm a little bit
irritable, but I don't feel like I have that much energy. If I take something like a Korean
Ginseng, which has a very hot property to it, it's going to make all of those things
worse. Where if I take something like and American Ginseng, which is totally on the
other side of the spectrum, it's going to cool my body, it's going to take my irritation,
my aggravation away, but it's also going to give me energy at the same time. So what's
different about Eastern and Western Herbology is that they're very specific on the properties
that are created once it's inside me. So by taking something in, it's not going to be
the same for everybody, for that person who's hot, they can't have hot type herbs or foods.
Where the person that's cool, and tends to be cold, to like hot drinks, to always be
on the low side of things, if they took something like that Korean Ginseng, they would feel
great or phenomenal. So the basics of it are in how specific the diagnosis needs to be
in order to prescribe them properly. My name is Mark Brinson, Doctor of Oriental Medicine,
hoping this helped you a little bit in finding your balance today.