Herbal Medicines

In the course of treatment, Chinese herbal medicines may be prescribed to reduce acute conditions or as a dietary supplement which will build and strengthen the body. Chinese herbal medicines have developed over thousands of years into a complex medical system that complements acupuncture.

Each herbal medicine prescription is a cocktail of many substances, usually tailored to the individual patient. They may be dispensed as raw herbs for the patients to boil or in pills, capsules, powders or tinctures which make them easier to ingest. Typically, one batch of herbs is prepared as a decoction, which includes one of two main herbs that target the illness. Then other herbs are added to adjust the formula to the patient’s individual disease pattern. Ingredients are also added in order to cancel out toxicity or side-effects of the main ingredients.

There are roughly 13,000 herbs used in China and over 100,000 formulas (medicinal recipes) recorded in the ancient literature. Dried plants, animal parts and minerals are used in traditional Chinese herbal medicines, of which plant parts are by far the most common herbs used. For vegans and vegetarians, alternative substances can be used for animal products.