Chinese Herbal Medicine is administered as a prescription based on the practitioner’s TCM diagnosis. The prescription is made according to the individual’s diagnosed “pattern” which takes into account both the symptom and disease as well as the patient’s physical and emotional condition. Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture are part of a holistic approach, that is, treating the whole of the individual and not just the individual complaint or symptom, and they are combined to bring the normal health balance back. Hospital studies in China prescribing individualized complex herbal formulas have demonstrated excellent results with patients who fail to respond to conventional pharmaceutical treatments. Most Chinese herbs been formulated to a patient’s needs by an experienced herbalist.
How Do I Take Chinese Herbs?
Most herbs are taken as pills or capsules, to make them easier and more convenient to ingest. Although now less common, you can also have it prepared in a compound as they were taken traditionally, by boiling them and drinking the herbal soup. Chinese Herbology is considered most safe and effective when prescribed by a qualified practitioner of Oriental Medicine.
How do I know if a practitioner is professionally trained in Chinese Herbal Medicine?
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) has a certification process for Chinese Herbal Medicine. Practitioners who have received extensive training and have passed the national board exam are entitled to add the abbreviation Dipl. CH (Diplomat of Chinese Herbs) after their name.