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this formula, formidibly named "wise judge" is a combination formula of 2 traditional chinese herbal formulas known as Sha Shen Mai Dong (Glehnia root and Ophiopogon Tuber Drink) and Sheng Mai San ( Generate the Pulse Powder). Together these formulas act to nourish the lungs, tonify weakness in the lungs, and moisten dryness within the lungs and throat.

I usually recommend this formula to those who wish to nourish and tonify the lungs from the taxations of smoking. It makes a great option as a herbal recovery aid in smoking cessation and long term recovery from smoking.

Often in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we speak of, and plan treatment around, what we refer to as your "constitution." But what is this "Constitution" we speak of? If you were to do a quick definition search of the word constitution on the internet, you would most likely come across statements such as those found on dictionary.com; citing it as "the composition of something" or "a person’s physical state with regards to vitality, health and strength." So, essentially, "constitution" is the "you" in regards to health and vitality. Of course, TCM doesn't see this on a singular level. The "you" we refer to, and the vitality we refer to, involves strengths, weaknesses, soundness and imbalances on a physically structural and functional level, as well as mental, emotional and spiritual levels. With this totality in mind, I suppose the next question to surface is, how does the current "you" come to be?

Constitution can be seen as the current sum total results of consequences up to this point; In other words, the strengths, weaknesses, soundness and imbalances in health that have come to be, both through ascribed and acquired means. Now, consequences are not inherently bad, nor are they inherently good. By definition they are simply results of actions or of conditions; And this is what your constitution is. It is the results of past actions and conditions, whether ascribed at birth or acquired after birth, that are important and relevant enough as to effect results, that is, to create your constitution. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, consequences ascribed at birth are known as pre-natal influences, that effect what we call pre-natal qi (vitality ascribed at birth, for lack of better words). Those consequences acquired after birth are known as post-natal influences, and effect what is known as our post-natal qi (vitality acquired through life experiences and conditions for lack of better words). Now, lets discuss what ascribed and acquired really encompass.

So what exactly do we mean when we say 'ascribed consequences at birth', or pre-natal influences? This mean that you were born with certain strengths and weaknesses, things that effected your constitution long before you took your first breath. These influences include genetic strengths and weaknesses passed down through genetic lineage and through mother and father. It also means conditions or events that occurred in the womb during your fetal growth that may have impacted your development. This could be in relation to many things; such as fetal nutrition, environmental and chemical stressors; it could be any physical or mental stress, as well as any trauma suffered by the woman carrying you. All of these, and more, effect the pre-natal qi; the vitality that you are endowed with at birth.

For the acquired experiences and conditions; the postnatal influences, we must make reference to a multitude of factors and possible influences that occurred after birth, that might now contribute to current health and well-being. These are usually long standing and enduring conditions, but can include powerfully inflicting short term conditions or events. These can be environmental factors in such as the climate and temperature you grew up in, air quality you were exposed to, long term housing conditions (damp and moldy, dry etc.) and quality and quantity of food and drinking water. We also must consider repetitive habits and the cycles we create; significant periods of inactivity, or long term periods of too much activity; long durations of inadequate sleep or too much sleep. We must account for the emotional taxations we were subjected to; chronic stress or fear, constant anxiety, and  bouts of depression. A lifetime of injuries, and any recurring illnesses must always be noted, as these often have lingering results. As does sustained posture or incorrect movement over long periods of time. We must account for any conditions or weaknesses during any stage of life; respiratory, digestive, skin, urinary, immune or other. We must even look into medication, supplements, herbals or recreational drugs used over long periods of time or in large dosages.

All of these have consequences, positive or negative effects. In TCM we look for the patterns of conditions within the body created by these consequences. This is your constitution. We become interested in the progressive taxations, relative deficiencies and excesses, in the imbalances and the created disorder and inefficient processes that have developed. Our pre-natal and post-natal influences show us patterns, entire storylines of how things started, how they progressed, where they have led to and where they can further lead to if left on their own. This give us understanding of ourselves; and it is this understanding that allows us to treat effectively, efficiently and with the complete picture in mind. This, for any TCM practitioner, is what they are keeping in mind when planning the best course of treatment for their patients.

Cassandra Hecker TCM Health offers a complete constitutional assessment, known as the Traditional Chinese Health Assessment. For further information click HERE​