CHINESE HERBS

What Are Chinese Herbs?

Substances found to have medicinal properties are grouped under the name Chinese Herbs. These substances may be of mineral or animal origin as well as plants. Indeed, some of our Western pharmaceuticals are extractions of chemical components of these herbs. However, we who practice herbal therapy regard the whole herb to be more than the sum of its parts. Rather than extracting out a single substance, thousands of years of experience tell us that herbs are more powerful and useful when combined together in a formula.  The herbs can supply the body with needed nutrients and promote certain actions in the body restoring the natural flow of energy, blood and fluids.  A formula skillfully assembled for a particular individual is the most potent.

The healing power of Chinese Herbs

There are thousands of herbs, each with particular characteristics and healing properties. Through careful observation, meticulous record keeping, and ingenious analyses the herbs were categorized according to which channels were affected, tastes, functions as well as particular indications. This provided a link between empirical knowledge of the herbs and the classical theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Because of this important link, practitioners use Chinese Herbs to address the underlying cause of a condition rather than just to suppress the symptoms. Because herbs can directly affect the body’s Blood, Fluid, Yin and Yang as well as Qi; they are an important component of TCM.

All medicine has the power to heal and the power to harm when used incorrectly. Chinese Herbs are no exception. It is important to take herbs as directed by the practitioner. Because TCM addresses underlying causes, one cannot assume that the same formula will be right for someone else with the same symptoms. Because certain herbs are very potent, they should not be taken in higher doses than prescribed nor for longer than prescribed. Always tell your practitioner if you are or become pregnant. New York State currently has no licensure requirements for herbs. NCAAOM board certification in Oriental Medicine is the only assurance that the practitioner has received the rigorous training required to prescribe Chinese Herbs.

What to expect

There are various ways to administer Chinese Herbs.

• Raw herbs are boiled, strained, then drunk as a tea.  These are the most potent and allow for adjustments to the formula to meet the specific needs of the patient.
• Granules are dissolved in hot water and drunk as a tea. This form offers some convenience and also allows for adjustments.
• Pills which contain formulas that have often been prescribed for various health problems are an effective alternative. However these cannot be tailored specifically to the patient’s condition.

Usually, a prescription will last for two to three days at the start so that adjustments can be made to fit the formula more perfectly to the patient. Often for acute problems, two days is enough to expel the illness. For chronic issues, the course of treatment may be much longer. Changes to the formula may occur through the course of recovery as the underlying pattern shifts towards wellness.