Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine is one of the pillars of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It not only utilizes plant based herbs, but also minerals and animals extracts. Chinese herbs have been used for millenia, with documentation dating as far back as 200 BCE. Its history is rooted in trial and error by individuals trying various herbs and documenting their properties and effects. Over time, through the use of these “human guinea pigs”, their clinical effects and indications were well documented. Today, over 3000 Chinese herbs have been categorized and used for their clinical benefit. While 300 of these herbs are more commonly used.
Chinese herbs are rarely prescribed as an individual herb. Unlike modern medicine, where medication is usually taken as “one drug for one symptom”, Chinese herbs are almost always prescribed as a formula which addresses the underlying condition. Formulae are always custom tailored to the individual and are meant to target the weakened or malfunction system, which is causing the symptoms to present themselves. Formulae usually consist of 4 to 20 different herbs. Typically 1 or 2 of the herbs have the greatest clinical effect, and the other herbs are chosen to assist the main herbs in their function, remedy other issues present in the patient, and help guide the herbs to the necessary location.
Historically, Chinese herbs are prescribed in raw form. The patient is then given instructions on how to decoct the herbs and drink them. However, this process is both time consuming and messy. The herbs prescribed at the clinic are all in granular form, so it is only a simple matter of diluting powdered decoction in warm water to drink. The herbs provided at the clinic are from Evergreen Herbs, which has proven to be one of the safest and most effective herb manufacturers. While the taste is not always pleasant, the effects are time-proven,
Frequently Asked Questions
The herbs prescribed at our clinic are all in granular form and come from Evergreen Herbs, one of the safest and most effective herb manufacturers. This means it’s a simple matter of dissolving your powdered formula in warm water to drink, rather than decocting raw herbs yourself.
Chinese herbs are rarely prescribed on their own. Unlike modern medicine, where a single drug targets a single symptom, Chinese herbs are almost always prescribed as a formula custom-tailored to you, targeting the underlying imbalance causing your symptoms. A formula usually contains 4 to 20 different herbs: typically 1 or 2 carry the greatest clinical effect, while the rest assist those main herbs, address other issues you may have, and help guide the formula to where it’s needed.
Most people are familiar with the more common herbs such as ginseng, licorice root, gingko biloba, and ginger. There are actually thousands of Chinese herbs documented for their medicinal properties and usage. Around 300 of these herbs are more commonly used in clinical practice today. Chinese herbs are carefully prescribed to each patient depending on their different constitutions, taking into account their signs and symptoms. The herbs are not usually taken individually, but rather prescribed in a formula using between 4 to 20 different herbs.
The herbs used at the clinic are all in granular form, so it is only a simple matter of diluting them in warm water to drink. While the taste is not always pleasant, the effects are time-proven.
Chinese herbs have been used for millennia, with documentation dating back as far as 200 BCE. Today, over 3,000 Chinese herbs have been categorized for their clinical benefit, with around 300 of them in more common use.