Herbs
Herbal medicine is another fundamental part of Chinese Medicine. It makes use of over 5000 derivatives of plants, minerals and animal resources. There are also thousands of different formulas with variations that have been created over the years. In everyday practice, however, a practitioner will most commonly work with fewer than a hundred standard formulas for treating most conditions. A standard herbal formula can be made of as few as two or as many as a dozen or more different herbs. Each formula can be adjusted to meet the individual’s needs. The field of herbal medicine is a rich and complex one.
The earliest classical formulas first appeared in Chinese medical texts thousands of years ago. Many of these original herbal formulas are still being used today! Beginning from these foundations, the art of herbology has developed and evolved through the centuries. Herbologists in China and around the world continue to develop new formulas, as well as find new uses for the classics.
Herbs are prescribed in a variety of forms: raw, tea pills, tablets, granules, liquid extracts, and external salves. The most common form I use is tea pills, which are easy to take and have no unpleasant taste. I also use granules, which are dissolved in hot water.
I do not use endangered plants or animals in the formulas I prescribe, nor will I use animal derivatives if the patient so requests.