Herbal Compounding Pharmacy
What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Herbs are a variety of naturally found products that have medicinal properties that add to the healthful benefits of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese treatments.
For thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners have known and employed a vast array of herbs with medicinal properties. Western Pharmacology is now beginning to acknowledge these natural counterparts without the side effects of processed pharmaceuticals.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine a patient's diagnosis reflects states of balance in his or her body. Thus the herbal remedies, if needed can be formulated in correspondence to this state. Herbs, combined with the application of Acupuncture, are effective in facilitating the flow of qi (pronounced "chee"), by removing blockages in the Meridians, nourishing and fortifying the internal organs and Harmonizing organ functions.
Herbal formulas can be taken in a variety of ways. You may be prescribed raw herbs, that can be used to steep into a tea, or you may be given herbal supplements in pill and/or capsule form. At Meridian Harmonics all herbal formulas are created for a single patient, according to his or her specific pattern of disharmony. It is unlikely that two patients, even with the same diagnosis, will receive the same herbal prescription.
Herbal medicine is a major component of traditional Oriental medicine, a comprehensive health care system used for over 3000 years in China and throughout the world today.
Oriental medicine views the body as a dynamic, interrelated whole possessing vital energy or life force called Qi. Health depends on the free flow of this energy and the interplay of the body, mind, and spirit. When disease occurs, specific herbs are chosen to harmonize the body's energy and allow it to heal itself.
Herbs affect the Qi and promote healing in one or more systems of the body. Usually, herbs are combined into formulas that address the main health problem and support the mind-body system.
Are Chinese Herbs Safe?
In the hands of a well-trained herbal practitioner, Chinese herbs are effective and safe. Careful attention to dosage and combination of herbs, as well as any known drug-herb interactions, are covered in comprehensive Chinese herbal medicine education programs. In addition, the Chinese herbal profession is working with the FDA to ensure the quality and safety of Chinese herbs imported into this country.
Herbs have a balancing or regulating effect on the body and are usually gentler than pharmaceutical drugs. Side effects from herbs are possible but are usually minor. The most common problem is gastrointestinal upset, gas and bloating due to slight difficulty digesting the herb material. If this or any other problem occurs, discuss it with your practitioner so he/she may change your formula.
How Are Herbs Administered?
Chinese herbal medicine is actually composed of over 5000 plants, minerals, and animal substances. Most herbalists, however, work with 200-300 herbs and 150-200 formulas. The traditional method of preparing herbs is to cook the raw herbs in water to form a decoction or tea. Depending on your preference, or the recommendation of your practitioner, you may take herbs in pill form, as a tincture, or in a powdered or granulated form easily dissolvable in a fluid. Although the taste is sometimes bitter, most people find this acceptable given the health benefits.
What To Expect At An Herbal Consultation?
Your Chinese herbal practitioner will ask a variety of questions regarding your specific complaint and your general health. Your practitioner will inspect your pulse and look at your tongue in order to form an Oriental medicine diagnosis. Meridian Harmonics has developed a proprietary pulse diagnosis technique, The Pulse Matrix, for determining the robust acupuncture and herbal treatment strategies.
After completing an evaluation, your practitioner may recommend an herbal formula consisting of several herbs. Although Chinese herbal medicine can effectively address a wide variety of conditions, sometimes a Western medical consultation and treatment may be appropriate. In this case, your herbal practitioner will suggest that you see your primary Western medical provider.
As in any form of healing, your attitude, diet, determination, and lifestyle will affect the outcome of your course of treatment. You are encouraged to actively participate in your healing process to obtain the best possible results.
Conditions Treated by Chinese Herbs
Chinese herbal medicine is a comprehensive form of medicine that can effectively address a wide variety of conditions. It has a long clinical history of treating acute and chronic conditions. It excels in treating conditions that Western medicine has difficulty in treating as well as conditions that do not have a Western medical diagnosis. Chinese herbal medicine may be used to treat infants, elderly patients, and pregnant women.
