Herbal Medicine is an essential component of the Traditional Chinese Medical system. Its origins can be traced back at least five thousand years, making it one of the oldest and most constant health care systems in the world. In subsequent millennia, the practice of Chinese herbal medicine has developed and matured to become what it is today - a natural and holistic system of primary health care that is used by people from a wide-range of cultural and social backgrounds to effectively treat and prevent myriad conditions.

Herbs provide a powerful means of healing because they act directly on a patient’s body chemistry in order to treat disease and restore health. They provide a daily extension of the treatment beyond the Acupuncture appointment, thereby accelerating the healing process.  Herbal medicines are much like pharmaceutical medications in that they are substances that have specific biological actions when consumed by a patient. In fact, many pharmaceuticals are composed of herbs. The important distinction, however, is that Chinese herbs are not prescribed in the ‘one size fits all’ manner that is inherent in the pharmaceutical industry. When a doctor prescribes a medication, he or she does so knowing that side effects of some sort are a rather likely possibility. The hope is that the positive effects of the drug will outweigh the negative effects it creates. Frequently, patients must take additional medications to treat the side effects created by the initial medication. This is, unfortunately, a fragmented method of treatment.

The great advantage of Chinese Herbal Medicine is that the herbal prescription can be customized for each patient. This is important because even though diseases tend to present with a core set of identifying signs and symptoms, there are variations in how a disease affects different patients. For this reason, people with similar health conditions may be provided with quite different Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions.

There are also variations in the etiologies of the same illness in different patients. The advanced system of diagnosis central to the TCM model elucidates the underlying imbalances that are giving rise to disease. The TCM practitioner thus treats the origin of the illness in order to treat the current condition as well as prevent future health problems. In contrast, masking symptoms with drugs will only perpetuate disease.

Unlike within the paradigm of Western Medicine, side-effects are not considered acceptable in TCM. If a patient experiences any side-effects, the formula is considered inappropriate and the treatment will be modified. Due to this prescription customization and because herbs are all-natural substances, side-effects are very uncommon. Mild gastrointestinal discomfort, though rare, is the most common side-effect.

For some patients, the herbal treatment is actually more important than Acupuncture. Herbs may or may not be a part of your treatment plan depending on your health needs and goals. Herbal medicines are administered in various forms including pills, powders, tinctures, topical treatments, and raw herbs that you cook yourself to decoct into a tea. Again, your prescription will be based upon your individual case.

In addition to providing effective treatment for a wide range of health disorders, Chinese herbal medicine may also be used to assist with general health maintenance and disease prevention. ‘Tonifying’ herbs can be taken to strengthen and enhance normal body functions, boost the immune system to prevent disease, as well as promote overall health and well-being.