Chinese herbal medicine: a beginner's guide

Chinese herbal medicine is one of the oldest continuously practised systems of medicine in the world, and it sits naturally alongside acupuncture. Where acupuncture works through points on the body, herbs work from within, supporting your health in the hours and days between treatments.

The key thing to understand is that formulas are tailored. There is no single herb for a single symptom. Instead, we diagnose your particular pattern of imbalance and prescribe a combination of herbs designed to work together for your constitution. Two people with the same complaint may receive quite different formulas.

Safety matters, and we take it seriously. Before prescribing anything we ask about your full health history and every medication or supplement you take, and we tailor the formula accordingly. If we ever feel herbs are not right for you, we will say so.

Many clients use herbal therapy as a companion to acupuncture, so the progress made in the clinic continues at home. If you would like to know whether a formula could help you, mention it at your next visit or get in touch and we will talk it through.