Chinese herbal medicine therapy is the perfect complement to acupuncture when the body needs continued attention each day or between treatments. I find that acupuncture alone is helpful when someone needs pure energetic “impulses,” while herbal therapy is more helpful when the body needs a little more substance to fully utilize the new “impulses.”
Chinese medical substances consist overwhelmingly of different parts of plants and trees. The classical formulas contain leaves, flowers, fruits, bark, roots, etc. Some of these herbs and spices are also known in Europe – cinnamon, ginger, licorice, among others.
Sometimes non-plant substances are used. Oyster shells (“Mu Li”) or powder made from fossilized bone remains (“Long Gu”) are the most commonly used because of their mineral content. Very rarely are animal products utilized; for patients who are vegan or vegetarian, there are usually plant-based alternatives. Of course, no endangered plants or animals are used. There is a large movement within the TCM community to promote sustainability and animal welfare practices as an integral part of Chinese medicine.
Prescribing formulas depends on your specific condition, which can only be diagnosed by a qualified TCM practitioner. Your formula is customized not only for your specific illnesses and/or symptoms but also for your constitution. A formula is often either adapted or completely changed over time. For example, people who want help with menstrual irregularities can get different formulas for different phases of their cycle.
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Further TCM Therapies:
Did you know?
Different parts of a plant can be used for different purposes in TCM. Take the mulberry tree for example: the leaves, branches, bark and fruit relieve different symptoms for different parts of the body. However, only a qualified TCM practitioner can decide if any of these herbs are effective and safe for you according to Chinese diagnosis. It must not only offer the required function and energetic temperature, but correspond to the underlying pattern.
In addition, almost no TCM formula consists of a single substance, but several substances, so that they have a very harmonious effect on the body. A formula might comprise:
- a so-called “emperor” herb to effect the main function of the formula
- one or more “ministers” to help address this effectiveness of the boss, or some other, but less important, part of the diagnosis
- one or more “assistants” to supplement the powers of the main herbs or to mitigate their potentially more severe properties
- one or more “ambassadors” to guide the effectiveness of the formula to a specific part of the body or to blend and harmonize the effectiveness of all components.
As you can see, the principles of writing a formula as well as learning the characteristics of individual herbs is quite complex. For this reason it is important to consult with a qualified TCM practitioner to discover the best treatment(s) for your situation.
Preparation
Patients in my practice are not required to cook their own herbs as in former times. Fortunately, most herbal formulas can be prepared by the pharmacy according to traditional prerequisites, and then processed into a powdered form. This granulate is then sent to your home by post; you simply mix some of it with a half-cup of hot water, using the measuring spoon and prescribing instructions provided, and then drink it like a tea. This makes it very simple to prepare the herbs at home or on the run
