Chinese herbal medicine is the most highly developed and most commonly used system of herbal medicine in the world. It can be used independently or together with acupuncture to treat a wide variety of health conditions. Herbs are given in standard combinations or formulas of approximately 4 - 15 herbs and are prescribed based on TCM pattern diagnosis. Herbs are combined to:

• Enhance the effects of similarly acting herbs
• Moderate or balance the effects of other herbs in the formula
• Treat multiple symptom patterns
• Treat both symptom and constitutional patterns simultaneously

There are over 400 individual herbs and 250 standard formulas in the Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica. They can be combined in almost infinite combinations to customize your treatment. Their effects, based on thousands of years of experience and refinement, include the following TCM treatment principals:

• Regulate and Nourish the Blood (think PMS/menopausal symptoms)
• Move the Blood (think pain)
• Tonify Qi (think fatigue)
• Warm the Interior (think arthritis that's worse in winter)
• Calm the Spirit (think anxiety/stress/depression)
• Clear Heat (think hot sore throat, or hot rash)
• Transform Phlegm & Stop Cough
• Resolving Dampness (think stuffy nose/sinuses, or diarrhea)
• Relieve Food Stagnation

Herbs are from reputable suppliers who test for insecticides and heavy metals. Research and vast anecdotal evidence suggest that Chinese herbs may be safely combined with most western medication. You should inform your practitioner if you have high blood pressure, clotting disorders, or may be pregnant.

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All terminology and medical statements in this website are
based on the Traditional Chinese Medical model.