Herbal Medicine

Thousands of years of herbal wisdom make up the Chinese Materia Medica that is studied today. These herbs help to support and enhance the body's natural ability to restore health.

People seeking alternatives to pharmaceutical dependence often turn to Chinese Herbal Medicine for support and find much success. This is because herbal medicine is highly individualized and specific to match patterns and constitutions of patients to their medicine.

Internal balance facilitates health by creating space for it to unfold on its own.

Herbal Medicine is effective to treat a wide range of conditions. It is incredibly safe when used properly and there is a low risk of negative side effects. The biggest risk when working with Chinese Herbal Medicinals is that there could be no noticeable effects at all, in which case it might not have been the right medicine for the condition and constitution.

Many OTC (over the counter) drugs and prescription medicines are also made from plant products. These drugs have often undergone processing to isolate specific compounds to enhance the therapeutic effect. Chinese Medicine Herbal formulae contain the entire plant and plant parts rather than lab isolated bits and pieces.

Specific herbs are chosen based on their taste, temperature, affinity for a particular organ system or particular theraputic properties. These are matched to the patient constitution and desired theraputic outcome.

Plant Based and Planet Based

The majority of Chinese Herbal Medicinals are plant-based and use all the different plant parts such as the roots, tubers, stems, leaves, branches, bark, or flowers. It is possible that two parts of the same plant each have their own unique properties and actions different from one another. There are also a small number of medicines in the Materia Medica include minerals, shells, and animal parts.

Herbal medicines can be injested in various ways, including powders dissolved into liquid, capsules, tinctures, or teas. They can be applied topically or added to foot soaks, bath water or sitz baths.

The dosage, timing, preparation, and combination of herbs all affect their therapeutic actions. For example, cloves and tumeric are incompatible with one another. Though they are both very important medicines, taking them together will cancel out each others medicinal effects.

It is important that you work with a licensed practitioner when deciding what herbs are right for you. Self diagnosing can be dangerous, even the safest medicines can cause harm when improperly used. Speak with your local practitioner to decide what is right for you.

If you are curious to incorporate herbal medicine into your health care regime, click here to schedule your first consultation.