Chinese Herbs

What do Chinese herbs do?

Western drugs often control symptoms but do not alter the disease process, while Chinese herbal therapy uses plant and mineral substances to treat the imbalance underlying a condition’s symptoms. The Chinese pharmacopoeia lists over 6,000 such substances; about 600 are commonly used today to influence the full spectrum of human disease. They are combined in formulas to enhance their individual properties and actions.

Chinese herbs are safer for long-term use, making them suitable for chronic conditions. As herbs are more like foods than drugs, they can also supplement the diet and fortify your constitution as well as prevent or remedy ailments.

Herbs are classified in two major dimensions:  their temperature characteristics (hot, warm, cold, neutral, and aromatic) and their taste property (sour, bitter, sweet, spicy and salty).  There are herbs that will warm a cool, yin-influenced system, or cool too much yang; herbs that will tonify, and herbs to move stagnation.

Herbs are best for treating internal disharmonies, but also very effective for pain conditions.  Sometimes even more so than acupuncture.