I remember reading a story about Chinese herbs that astounded me.
Perhaps it was aprophical, but I don't think so.
It was about some researchers looking for the 'active ingredient" in a mixture of over thirty TCM
(Traditional Chinese Medicine)herbs.
They found it, trialled it, but found it did not work quite as well as the 30 herb mixture.
So being good scientists they though "The must be a catalyst."
So they looked for a catalyst, found it, mixed it with the previously found active ingredient and trialled it again.
Still the new compound did not work as well at the Thirty Herb Mixture
(By now you know where I am going with this ?)
Back the scientists went to the 30 herb mix and again found another catalyst.
Yes you're right the two catalysts and the "active ingredient" still did not work as well as the old thirty herb remedy.
Back and forth they went but could never replicate the equal effectiveness of the Old Remedy by trying to replicate it chemically.
Now my memory of this is a bit hazy, it might have been 24 herbs in the remedy, I'm not sure. I have even forgotten what the remedy was for -but, that is not important to my point.
What astounds me is, occasionally, I have a bet on the
State Pools Lottery. I have to pick a mere 6 numbers out of 40 possible numbers to win countless millions. Despite many attempts I have, as yet, proved unsuccessful in such a seemingly-easy task.
The Chinese
pulled 30 herbs out of countless million/billion (?) plants and put them together in such a way as only that particular mix of herbs was the most effective remedy.
This is truly, almost magically, astounding. It suggests a knowledge and familiarity with plants that is profound.
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One other TCM story
A friend, who always goes to conventional doctors here, visited China just after Whitlam and Nixon opened up relations with China. Everyone on the tour got some gastric bug. The Chinese asked if the visitors would like to see a "Western" doctor or a Traditional Chinese one. Surprisingly, my friend was the only one who chose to see a TCM doctor. (He is an old commie at heart).
All the other members of the group saw a western doctor and were given anti-biotics, all were very sick for a week.
My friend was given some "truly foul" herb decoction to take and was hale and hearty within 48 hours.
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