Herbal Therapy   Chinese Herbal Therapy is a major component within Chinese Medicine. When herbs are used as intended and recommended by a highly trained practitioner great results can be achieved; but when they are used in an ignorant or inappropriate manner they can likewise do harm. It is advisable that herbs only be used as recommended by a trained professional to avoid the confusion, misinformation and for safe effective results. Herbal Formulas Chinese Herbal Medicine relies on the use of formulas specifically designed for each patient’s needs. A single Chinese herb is not generally used alone, but rather formulations of  herbs are recommended for a person’s specific needs. Most Chinese herbal products in your major retail stores are marketed as single herbs which will not deliver their claimed therapeutic effect. The herbal pharmacopeia in Chinese Medicine consists of an estimated 6000 species including 1000 derived from animal sources and over 100 minerals, all categorized under the general heading of “herbs”. As you can see the process of using Chinese Herbs is more complex then just recommending a single herb. Each individual must be assessed so that a specific formula may be recommended for their particular condition. Assisting the body Chinese herbal formulas are designed to assist the body in healing itself so that the root cause of the problem is treated along with the symptoms. One major reason why herbs are used in formulas is to eliminate unwanted properties while emphasizing certain beneficial properties. This differs from medical drugs in that drugs are generally designed to isolate a specific active component which treats the symptom but not necessarily the cause. In isolating this active component; drugs effects are very strong and with that so are their unwanted properties (side effects). Many conditions which require the use of drugs would benefit greatly by incorporating the use of herbs. Certain drugs may also be replaced by herbs thus decreasing toxicity to the body and the discomfort of their side effects. Decoctions, Granules & Tablets Chinese herbal formulas are prepared in varying forms. Decoctions are strong teas which are prepared by boiling herbs in water. These teas are often most appropriate in acute or severe cases. Decoctions have the advantage of being easily altered, are rapidly absorbed and have a strong direct effect. Granules are produced similar to decoctions then concentrated and dried into powders. Granules have very high patient compliance and because they are concentrated the daily dosage is usually less. Tablets are one of the most convenient forms of herbs but also the least flexible. They often require taking numerous tablets 3-4 times per day to obtain a therapeutic effect. Tablets are often used for long term therapy, for convenience, or when specific formulas have proven to be exceptionally reliable. These exceptionally reliable tablets are often referred to as “patents” which are used by millions of people throughout the world.   When used appropriately, herbs will gently guide your body to health over a gradual period of time without negative side effects. An important concept to emphasize is the use of herbs over a consistent period of time. For most acute conditions 10 days will usually suffice, chronic conditions may require 3-6 months, and very severe long term conditions may require using herbs for a year or more.
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