Herbology

What is Chinese Herbalism?

History

Herbalism is a form of medicine that developed thousands of years ago in China and later spread throughout Southeast Asia. While it shares the same theoretical underpinnings as Acupuncture medicine, traditionally it developed alongside Acupuncture. Herbalism developed in Southern China while Acupuncture evolved first in Northern China. As such, each developed its own set of diagnostic tools. Herbalism, which primarily effects change from the inside out, relies primarily on what is known as Organ Theory (Zang Fu Theory in Chinese Pin Yin) to diagnose, while Acupuncture relies more heavily on channel (or meridian) theory. Both theories are complimentary and can be used together, but it is important that your practitioner be thoroughly trained in the theories of Herbal Medicine if they are using herbs to achieve their results.

Chinese Herbology

Chinese Herbology is a form of medicine developed thousands of years ago in China and later spread throughout Southeast Asia. It shares the same theoretical underpinnings as Acupuncture medicine, because it was developed alongside acupuncture. Herbology was developed in Southern China while acupuncture evolved first in Northern China. As a result, each developed its own set of diagnostic tools. Herbology, which primarily effects change from the inside out, relies on what is known as Organ Theory to diagnose, while acupuncture uses Channel Theory. Both theories compliment each other when used together, but it is important that a practitioner be thoroughly trained in the two theories if using herbs to achieve positive results.

The Difference between Herbal Formula, Western Pharmaceuticals, and Nutritional Supplements

Chinese Herbal Medicine is the longest continually practiced medicine in the world. It has the benefit of thousands of years of clinical trial and error. The formulas offered by David have been part of this long, rich tradition. In fact, it is common for herbalists to categorize a formula as “new” if it is less than 200 years old.

One major difference with herbal formulas is the ability to manage potential side-effects. If there’s an uncomfortable side-effect from an herbal formula, this is a sure sign that the formula needs to be modified to fit the client’s constitution. This is a big difference from pharmaceuticals, where patients are conditioned to live with any side-effects caused by medication. In many cases additional drugs are given to treat the side-effects of other drugs.

Unlike natural supplements, a typical Oriental Medicine formula contains between four and twenty individual herbs. Each herb works together to magnify the effects of other herbs, counteract undesired effects of other herbs, or harmonize the effects of others. Think of the herbal formula as a sports team, where each member has a specific role to play. When all the members perform their roles well, the team achieves success. The fewer the number of herbs in a formula, the more global is its effect on the body. The more complicated the formula, the more targeted and localized the effect.

Managing Prescribed Herbal Therapy

While Chinese Herbology’s methods have proven to work through many generations, there are some shortcomings. Traditionally, herbal therapy was sent home with the client, with directions from the prescribing practitioner for its raw materials to be cooked. Many clients are simply too busy to commit to the time this requires. Also, many herbal teas have a strong aroma and taste many clients find unappealing.

David uses many innovative methods to make herbal therapy intake a simple and enjoyable task. Many of our formulas can be delivered as concentrated herbal extracts. These formulas are easy to take and many are not available elsewhere in prepared form with the full medicinal doses.

For complicated cases which require individually tailored solutions, we prescribe customized herb formulas which can be cooked at home using a fully automatic herb cooker. This makes cooking herbs as simple as making a pot of coffee in an automatic coffee maker.

We use the very best quality of herbs from only a handful of suppliers committed to providing pure, organic herbs cultivated and prepared in accordance with traditional Oriental Medicine principles and practices. Each herb is also inspected when it arrives at the clinic for quality, freshness, and accuracy of species.

David is committed to providing his clients with an herbal experience unequaled anywhere else in the world with regards to convenience, efficacy, flexibility, potency, purity, and price.