chinese medical herbs

chinese medical herbs have been used for centuries. Among the first literature are lists of drugs for specific ailments, exemplified by the manuscript "Recipes for 52 diseases," found in the Mawangdui tombs which were sealed in 168 BC.

The traditionally recognized herbalist first Shennong (神农, lit. "Divine Farmer"), a mythical god-like figure, which is supposed to have lived around the year 2800 BC. It would have tasted hundreds of chinese medical herbs and given his knowledge of medicinal and poisonous plants to farmers. Cǎo Your Shennong Ben Jing is considered the oldest book of chinese medical herbs. It classifies 365 species of roots, grass, woods, furs, animals and stones into three categories of drugs:

       The "superior", which includes chinese medical herbs effective for multiple diseases and are mostly responsible for maintaining and restoring the body balance. They have virtually no adverse side effects.
       A category comprises tonics and boosters, whose consumption must not be prolonged.
       A class of substances that generally should be taken in doses, and for the treatment of specific diseases only.

The original text of Shennong Materia Medica is lost, however, there are existing translations The true date of origin is supposed to fall into the last dynasty of the Western Han (ie, the first century BC) ..