Chinese Medicine

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese Herbal Medicine is part of an integrated system of primary health care, known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM has an uninterrupted history of development dating back thousands of years in China and other parts of East Asia. The practice of Chinese herbal medicine has developed and matured to become what it is today - a natural and holistic system that effectively treats a wide range of chronic and acute health problems. Chinese Herbal Medicine takes a holistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes and focuses as much on the prevention of illness as on the treatment.

Most diseases or illnesses present with a core set of recognisable signs and symptoms, but each individuals presentation of a particular disease or illness may vary. For this reason, people with similar health conditions may be provided with quite different Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions.

A qualified practitioner is able to prescribe a Chinese herbal formula that treats you according to your TCM pathology. As your condition changes and improves with treatment, your herbal prescription is also adjusted until your health complaint is resolved.

Today, there are over 450 substances commonly used in Chinese Herbal Medicine - most are of plant origin though some animal (animal products are rarely used, however, please inform your practitioner if you are vegetarian as we can adjust your formula) and mineral substances may be used. You may find some in your kitchen, such as ginger, garlic and cinnamon, while others such as chrysanthemum and peony flowers, are more likely to be found in your garden! Many of the herbs used will be unfamiliar to you such as chai hu (bupleurum) used to assist the liver, di huang (rehmannia) a blood and yin tonic, and huang qi (astragalus) which can be used for some types of fatigue.

On average, Six to twelve Chinese herbs constitute a formula. Each herb in a formula is chosen for its therapeutic action and for the way the herb balances all other herbs in the formula when combined. A well constructed formula maximises the effectiveness for treating a particular condition. A single Chinese Herb will be less effective taken on its own than in a formula. For example, if you were to take Dang Gui as a single herb (often sold in chemists and health food stores in single form and known to have properties that promote fertility), you may find it difficult to digest. It needs to be combined with other herbs like ginger or hoelen that are known to help fertility but also bring balance to Dang Gui.

Some substances traditionally used are no longer prescribed in modern Chinese Herbal Medicine. For example, the unethical use of traditional herbs derived from endangered species have been replaced by herbs with similar properties.

Conditions effectively treated with Chinese Herbal Medicine include:

• Infertility including PCOS, endometriosis, PID, idiopathic infertility, anovulation, herbs can be used in conjunction with, or in preparation for  IVF or IUI cycles;
• Miscarriage;
• General women's health including PMS, painful menstruation and heavy bleeding, Menopause;
• Insomnia;
• Fatigue;
• Digestive disorders such as constipation, diarrhoea and Irritable bowel syndrome;
• Common cold, influenza;
• Chronic headaches, migraine;
• Skin disorders;
• Anxiety, depression and stress;
• Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis;
• Impotence and prostate disorders;