Herbal medicine is the main modality or treatment method within traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM is the world's oldest, continually practiced, professional medicine. Its written history stretches back not less than 2,500 years and its practice is undoubtedly much older than that. Although acupuncture was the first Chinese modality to gain wide acceptance in the Western countries (United States, France, and England are foremost in TCM), Chinese herbal medicine is quickly establishing itself as one of the most popular and effective alternative treatment therapies available.Chinese herbal medicine is based on the view of overall health as so much more than the sum of its parts. The practice of Chinese herbalism is a medical art that considers the context of health conditions and the overall condition of the patient, rather than only the examination of symptoms and signs.
Be Well Healing Arts keeps many Chinese formulas in stock. All custom blended
formulas are made off-site at one of two Chinese pharmacies in Manhattan. Pharmacy information is made available as needed. All formulas are delivered to Be Well, or your home or office for your convenience. If you are interested in visiting the pharmacy to see how herbal formulas are processed, you are encouraged to do so. Visiting the Chinatown pharmacies can be a fun and informative experience. Please inquire if you are interested.
Questions and Answers about Chinese herbal medicine
©Blue Poppy Press 2006.
Q: What is the difference between Western folk herbalism and Chinese herbal medicine?
A: Western folk herbalism primarily treats diseases or symptoms, such as headaches, runny nose, menstrual pain, etc. Chinese herbal medicine, when practiced as part of TCM, is based on an individualized pattern diagnosis as well as a disease diagnosis. This means the TCM patient receives a custom written herbal prescription designed to treat both the symptom or disease and also their individual pattern. Such a TCM pattern is made up of a person's signs and symptoms as well as their emotional temperament and bodily constitution.
Q: Are there any other differences?
A: Western folk herbalism primarily uses single herbs or groups of herbs which treat the same symptom or disease. TCM formulas include from 6-18 herbs. They are carefully crafted to include herbs addressing a person's main symptoms as well as their entire pattern.
Q: Are all the "herbs" vegetable in origin?
A: Although called Chinese herbal medicine, TCM practitioners use ingredients from all three kingdoms, vegetable, animal, and mineral. However, the majority of these are from vegetable sources. Leaves, flowers, twigs, stems, roots, tubers, rhizomes, barks, and seeds are some of the many vegetable parts used.
If you are a vegetarian or otherwise opposed to consuming animal products, please tell your practitioner to avoid having animal products in your formula.
Q: Do all the herbs come from China?
A: From 15-20% of the standard Chinese repertoire of 500 ingredients originated from outside China. The Chinese have adopted and incorporated into the material medica herbs from all over the world. What makes these "Chinese" herbs is that they are prescribed according to Chinese medical theory and a TCM pattern diagnosis.
Q: Do Chinese herbs work for American and European patients?
A: Yes, empirical evidence has proven the Chinese herbal medicine works for Westerners just as well as for Chinese. Chinese herbal medicine has been used successfully in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and all throughout Asia.
Q: How are Chinese herbs taken?
A: The most common method of taking Chinese herbal medicine is as a decoction. This means that the herbs are boiled, and simmered at a low heat for 30 minutes to an hour or more and then strained and drunk 2 - 3 times per day. However there are also herbal pills and powdered extracts for those who do not have the inclination or taste for drinking traditional decoctions.
Q: What are the benefits of drinking Chinese herbal decoction (tea)?
A: This method allows the practitioner maximum flexibility in writing a prescription. They can put it just what is necessary in just the right amounts. The formula can be changed even on a daily basis if necessary and decoctions tend to be more potent than other means of administration.
Q: Why do herbal decoctions taste so bad?
A: Chinese herbal teas tend to taste very earthy and bitter because they are made mostly from roots and barks where the strongest medicinal ingredients are found. If the formula is correctly written, the bad taste should go away after a few days. After that time, the patient may even come to crave the taste. This shows that the medicine is working.
Q: What are the benefits of pills and powders?
A: Pills and powders are good for prolonged administration in the case of chronic disease where formulas do not have to be very potent or changed on a frequent basis. Pills and powders are also good for short-term problems and symptoms. They are also commonly used to consolidate therapeutic results after a successful course of therapy with decoctions.
Q: Does Chinese herbal medicine have side effects?
A: No, not if the formula has been correctly chosen and written. Most of the medicinals in the Chinese material medica have a very low toxicity compared to even common, over-the-counter Western drugs. When they are prescribed according to a correct TCM pattern diagnosis, they should have virtually no side effects, only beneficial healing results. If a patient experiences any discomfort while taking Chinese herbs, they should tell the practitioner, who will then modify their formula until there are no side effects.
Q: What is Chinese herbal medicine good for?
A: Chinese herbal medicine treats the full range of human disease. It treats acute diseases, like intestinal flu and the common cold, as well as chronic disease, such as allergies, gynecological disorders, hormone imbalances, autoimmune diseases, chronic viral diseases, and degenerative diseases due to aging. In particular, Chinese herbal medicine is especially good for promoting the body's ability to heal and recuperate.
Q: Can pregnant women take Chinese herbs?
A: Yes, if prescribed by a professional TCM practitioner. Chinese herbal medicine has been used for over 2,000 years to treat more than two score of diseases and symptoms occurring during pregnancy without harm to the fetus. Likewise, lactating mothers can take Chinese herbal medicine safely as long as they are prescribed by a trained professional.
Q: Can children take Chinese herbal medicine?
A: Yes again. Pediatrics is a specialty within TCM and children can be given reduced dosages. There are also special prepared pediatric medicines in pill, powder, and liquid form. Chinese herbal medicine can treat colic, the fussiness of teething, earache, diarrhea, cough, and fever in babies and children.
Q: How long does it take to see results with Chinese herbal medicine?
A: In acute conditions, results can be expected in a manner of minutes. In chronic conditions, results should be seen within two weeks. Although chronic conditions may require taking Chinese herbal medicine for a long time, nonetheless, signs that the medicine is working should be apparent to patient and practitioner alike almost from the start.
Q: How do I know if a practitioner is professionally trained in Chinese herbal medicine?
A: In some state, such as California, all acupuncturists must pass a licensing test which includes Chinese herbal medicine. In additional, the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) has created a certification process for Chinese herbal medicine. Practitioners who have passed that certification process are entitled to add the abbreviation Dipl. C.H. for Diplomate of Chinese Herbs after their name. If they have been certified in both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, they may append Dipl. O.M. after their name. Although Chinese herbs are safe when professionally prescribed by a trained, knowledgeable practitioner, they are strong medicine nevertheless. Therefore, it is important that a practitioner be adequately schooled and experienced in their use. A prospective patient should feel free to ask about the training and credentials of a potential practitioner.
Questions and Answers about Chinese herbal medicine©Blue Poppy Press 2006.
Q: What is the difference between Western folk herbalism and Chinese herbal medicine?
A: Western folk herbalism primarily treats diseases or symptoms, such as headaches, runny nose, menstrual pain, etc. Chinese herbal medicine, when practiced as part of TCM, is based on an individualized pattern diagnosis as well as a disease diagnosis. This means the TCM patient receives a custom written herbal prescription designed to treat both the symptom or disease and also their individual pattern. Such a TCM pattern is made up of a person's signs and symptoms as well as their emotional temperament and bodily constitution.
Q: Are there any other differences?
A: Western folk herbalism primarily uses single herbs or groups of herbs which treat the same symptom or disease. TCM formulas include from 6-18 herbs. They are carefully crafted to include herbs addressing a person's main symptoms as well as their entire pattern.
Q: Are all the "herbs" vegetable in origin?
A: Although called Chinese herbal medicine, TCM practitioners use ingredients from all three kingdoms, vegetable, animal, and mineral. However, the majority of these are from vegetable sources. Leaves, flowers, twigs, stems, roots, tubers, rhizomes, barks, and seeds are some of the many vegetable parts used.
If you are a vegetarian or otherwise opposed to consuming animal products, please tell your practitioner to avoid having animal products in your formula.
Q: Do all the herbs come from China?A: From 15-20% of the standard Chinese repertoire of 500 ingredients originated from outside China. The Chinese have adopted and incorporated into the material medica herbs from all over the world. What makes these "Chinese" herbs is that they are prescribed according to Chinese medical theory and a TCM pattern diagnosis.
Q: Do Chinese herbs work for American and European patients?
A: Yes, empirical evidence has proven the Chinese herbal medicine works for Westerners just as well as for Chinese. Chinese herbal medicine has been used successfully in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and all throughout Asia.
Q: How are Chinese herbs taken?
A: The most common method of taking Chinese herbal medicine is as a decoction. This means that the herbs are boiled, and simmered at a low heat for 30 minutes to an hour or more and then strained and drunk 2 - 3 times per day. However there are also herbal pills and powdered extracts for those who do not have the inclination or taste for drinking traditional decoctions.
Q: What are the benefits of drinking Chinese herbal decoction (tea)?
A: This method allows the practitioner maximum flexibility in writing a prescription. They can put it just what is necessary in just the right amounts. The formula can be changed even on a daily basis if necessary and decoctions tend to be more potent than other means of administration.
Q: Why do herbal decoctions taste so bad?
A: Chinese herbal teas tend to taste very earthy and bitter because they are made mostly from roots and barks where the strongest medicinal ingredients are found. If the formula is correctly written, the bad taste should go away after a few days. After that time, the patient may even come to crave the taste. This shows that the medicine is working.
Q: What are the benefits of pills and powders?A: Pills and powders are good for prolonged administration in the case of chronic disease where formulas do not have to be very potent or changed on a frequent basis. Pills and powders are also good for short-term problems and symptoms. They are also commonly used to consolidate therapeutic results after a successful course of therapy with decoctions.
Q: Does Chinese herbal medicine have side effects?
A: No, not if the formula has been correctly chosen and written. Most of the medicinals in the Chinese material medica have a very low toxicity compared to even common, over-the-counter Western drugs. When they are prescribed according to a correct TCM pattern diagnosis, they should have virtually no side effects, only beneficial healing results. If a patient experiences any discomfort while taking Chinese herbs, they should tell the practitioner, who will then modify their formula until there are no side effects.
Q: What is Chinese herbal medicine good for?
A: Chinese herbal medicine treats the full range of human disease. It treats acute diseases, like intestinal flu and the common cold, as well as chronic disease, such as allergies, gynecological disorders, hormone imbalances, autoimmune diseases, chronic viral diseases, and degenerative diseases due to aging. In particular, Chinese herbal medicine is especially good for promoting the body's ability to heal and recuperate.
Q: Can pregnant women take Chinese herbs?
A: Yes, if prescribed by a professional TCM practitioner. Chinese herbal medicine has been used for over 2,000 years to treat more than two score of diseases and symptoms occurring during pregnancy without harm to the fetus. Likewise, lactating mothers can take Chinese herbal medicine safely as long as they are prescribed by a trained professional.
Q: Can children take Chinese herbal medicine?
A: Yes again. Pediatrics is a specialty within TCM and children can be given reduced dosages. There are also special prepared pediatric medicines in pill, powder, and liquid form. Chinese herbal medicine can treat colic, the fussiness of teething, earache, diarrhea, cough, and fever in babies and children.
Q: How long does it take to see results with Chinese herbal medicine?
A: In acute conditions, results can be expected in a manner of minutes. In chronic conditions, results should be seen within two weeks. Although chronic conditions may require taking Chinese herbal medicine for a long time, nonetheless, signs that the medicine is working should be apparent to patient and practitioner alike almost from the start.Q: How do I know if a practitioner is professionally trained in Chinese herbal medicine?
A: In some state, such as California, all acupuncturists must pass a licensing test which includes Chinese herbal medicine. In additional, the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) has created a certification process for Chinese herbal medicine. Practitioners who have passed that certification process are entitled to add the abbreviation Dipl. C.H. for Diplomate of Chinese Herbs after their name. If they have been certified in both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, they may append Dipl. O.M. after their name. Although Chinese herbs are safe when professionally prescribed by a trained, knowledgeable practitioner, they are strong medicine nevertheless. Therefore, it is important that a practitioner be adequately schooled and experienced in their use. A prospective patient should feel free to ask about the training and credentials of a potential practitioner.
Office ·· 718-782-2503 ··
info@bewellhealingarts.com
Katherine Irby ·· 718-930-7920 ·· katherine@bewellhealingarts.com
Monique Olivier ·· 718-344-3721 ·· monique@bewellhealingarts.com
Katherine Irby ·· 718-930-7920 ·· katherine@bewellhealingarts.com
Monique Olivier ·· 718-344-3721 ·· monique@bewellhealingarts.com
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Mahatma Gandhi