CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE

The Ancient Chinese Medicine

Eastern herbal medicine is the practice of combining individual herbs into customized formulas to promote health and well-being.

The Chinese pharmacopoeia lists over 6,000 different medicinal substances in terms of their properties and the disharmonies with which they are helpful, but only about 400 are in common use. Although a single herb is sometimes used, a combination of herbs, typically five to fifteen, is more common.

The unique characteristic of Chinese herbal medicine is the degree to which formulation is done, in order to meet the needs of your symptoms. The variety in temperature and taste give herbs – the properties that influence the yin and yang energy patterns of the body.

We can prescribe two types of Chinese Herbal Medicine:

Chinese herbal extracts are herbal decoctions that have been condensed into a granular or powdered form. Herbal extracts, similar to patent medicines, are easier and more convenient for patients to take. The advantage of herbal extracts is that each prescription is custom tailored for the specific patient’s needs.

Chinese Patent medicines are standardized formulas in a pill or liquid form. From ancient times, pills were formed by combining several herbs and other ingredients, which were dried and ground into a powder. They were then mixed with a binder and formed into pills. Patented medicines are effective and convenient and address many common ailments.

PRACTITIONER

Irina Cooper, M.Ac., L.Ac., MBA