Herbal Medicine

Chinese herbal medicine includes plant products, such as: leaves, roots, barks, seeds, and stems. It also encompasses the use of minerals (rocks, salts) and even some animal products (bones, shells, etc). In China, the modality of choice is herbal medicine, whereas acupuncture and other therapies are used secondarily. Herbal medicine can be very powerful therapeutically, when prescribed correctly. They can help bring the body back to balance without creating unwanted side effects. Herbal medicine can be used to treat any condition: internal or external medicine. Herbal formulas can be taken orally in the form of raw herbs (loose herbs cooked in water at home), granules, or in pill/capsule form. Chinese herbs can also be applied externally to the skin in cases such as joint pain or rashes. Chinese herbs should only be taken under the supervision of a professionally trained herbalist. In California, licensed acupuncturists have an approximate one thousand hours worth of dedicated herbal training.