Acupuncture Healthcare

Why is my practitioner prescribing herbs?

Chinese herbal medicine is used in conjunction with acupuncture to speed-up, enhance, or compliment treatments.  More often than not, you as a patient may be presenting with more than one diagnosis.  Herbal medicine helps to resolve one issue while the needles work to resolve another.  However each case is unique so ask your practitioner if you have questions.

My practitioner tells me that herbs have a diagnostic function in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  What does she mean by this?

1)  Herbs enter specific channels/organs and have their own taste, temperature, and direction of movement (upward, downward).
2)  A diagnosis in TCM is specific to each individual.  It can be flexible as a condition and can change as it is being treated.  
3)  As a patient takes his/her herbs a practitioner can follow the course of changes in the pattern/diagnosis when the patient reports back information about their condition.   

Are the herbs safe?

Yes.  I use products that have been tested for pesticides, fungicides or herbicides.  Some herbs are organic, but many are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides.  The main companies I use are Golden Flower Chinese Herbs, Asia Natural, Spring Wind, and KPC.  

Are herbs safe for me—aren’t there contraindications for my particular case—pregnancy, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer…?

Yes, there are contraindications for specific diseases and conditions.  Be sure to tell your practitioner all your current medications and special needs.  This information will be taken into account and a formula will be custom made to fit you.  

Are there side effects?

Side effects and allergic reactions are not common and tend to be mild, such as constipation, nausea or upset stomach.  If you experience any side effects or develop symptoms that you think may be a side effect, contact your practitioner right away.  

What is the difference between pills, granules and tea?

1)  Pills are patented Chinese formulas.  They are the easiest form of Chinese herbs to take and as a consequence are used more frequently.  Unfortunately the pill form is a set prescription and unchangeable—you may not need some of the herbs in the formula or you may need different herbs added to enhance the effects.   
2)  Granules are Chinese herbal formulas that have been prepared (cooked) and then ground-up into powder.  These are the next easiest form to take.  All they require is a little warm water to dissolve the powder in order to drink.  Granules are flexible—meaning that they can be tailored to suit your present condition; herbs can be removed or added.
3)  Teas are Chinese formulas made up in raw form.  The patient will take the raw herbs home to cook.  After the tea is cooked the patient will take the recommended dosage.  Teas are flexible like the granules.  They take some time to prepare, but they are stronger than both the pills and granules.    

Why do my herbs taste funny?

In Chinese medicine it’s not actually important how the herbs taste in the mouth, it’s important how they feel in the body.  Sometimes there is a bit of an adjustment period to taking herbs, but before you know it, you may begin to feel that your body wants to take the herbs.  And as your condition begins to improve, you may begin to feel that you don’t need the herbs any longer.  As balance is restored to your body, you will become more sensitive to the changes in your body.  

 Golden Flower

Spring Wind

 Raw Herbs

 KPC