Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine, like acupuncture, is part of the complete medical system known as Chinese Medicine. Chinese herbal medicine uses roots, bark, flowers, seeds, fruits, leaves, branches, minerals and some animal products for medicinal purposes. It is used to address a full range of internal medical issues, especially gynecological, respiratory, urinary, digestive, psychological and neurological disorders, as well as to relieve pain, speed healing and strengthen the immune system. Unlike pharmaceuticals, Chinese herbal medicine’s strength is in its ability to treat the root of disorders with little to no side-effects.
Chinese herbal medicine is unique in that it has been actively used and developed for over 3,000 years and that it details, not just the effect each herb has on the body, but also the effect of herbal combinations. Combining herbs enhances their effectiveness and eliminates side-effects. Chinese herbal medicine is almost always administered as a combination of herbs which creates a complex and customized formula for each patient. The Chinese herbal practitioner knows the details of over 300 herbs including what channels and organs the herbs affect, how the herbs are best combined and the latest science in herb/drug interactions.
Convenient Herbal Extracts
Our practitioners usually administer herbal medicine in the form of concentrated granules. The raw herbs are processed into a granular form that does not require additional cooking and are 5 times more concentrated. The granules readily dissolve in warm water. Granules are similar in effectiveness to raw herbs, but are better tasting and more convenient to prepare. For those unable to drink an herbal tea, we have an extensive line of ready-made herbal extracts available as pills, capsules, tinctures, salves and herbal patches.
Purity & Safety
Herbal medicine is one of the ways we address the healthcare needs our patients, our family and ourselves. So naturally, the safety of our Chinese herbal medicinals are of utmost importance to us. From soil quality, seed and plant identification to potency and purity testing, we offer herbal products that are on the forefront of quality and testing standards. As Licensed Acupuncturists (Lic. Ac.), we are held to high educational and professional standards in order to be allowed to practice herbal medicine. Our Masters degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine includes three years of herbal studies along with classes in Western medicine and herb/drug interactions. This allows us to apply the insight of modern science to this time-tested system of herbal medicine.
When quality herbs are administered by trained herbalists, Chinese herbal medicine is a very safe way of supporting your health and addressing a vast number of health concerns. Many are not familiar with Chinese herbal medicine and are only aware of the few instances of contamination and side effects in improperly produced and administer herbal supplements. However, there are volumes of written Chinese medical texts and thousands of years of clinical experience that have created and shaped how Chinese herbal medicine is practiced today. There are also very reputable companies producing quality herbal supplements.
Our custom herbal formulations are made with Evergreen Herbs. Evergreen’s focus on sustainable agricultural practices, protection of endangered species, modern scientific processing methods and rigorous quality control set them apart from all other sources of Chinese herbs. From "seed to shelf," Evergreen ensures purity, safety and potency in their herbal extracts by following standards of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) established by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Health Organization (WHO). The powdered herbal extracts are manufactured in Taiwan using a non-GMO cornstarch binder. Their site laboratories use equipment such as High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to assure consistent levels of active ingredients. All products are tested to insure that levels of heavy metals, pesticide and harmful bacteria, such as salmonella and E. coli, fall below minimum requirements. This testing results in a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that allows us to guarantee that our herbs are both safe and effective. For more information on Evergreen Herbs you can visit their website at www.evherbs.com.
Our ready-made herbal tea pills, tinctures and topical formulas all meet or exceed FDA Good Manufacturing Practices and standards for heavy metals, bacteria, and pesticide residue. From the selection of raw herbs to its state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, all phases of our products production are monitored with extensive quality control and testing procedures to ensure safety and potency.
Time-Tested Solutions
With the complexity and volumes of information that need to be understood in order to safely and effectively prescribe Chinese herbal medicine, it’s no wonder it has been cast under a shroud of mystery and misunderstanding by the American public, media and medical community. However, we take the practice of Chinese herbal medicine very seriously and work passionately to bring you safe and effective herbal medicine so that you may benefit from this time-tested form of holistic healthcare. Herbal therapy can be an important part of treatment for many people. If you or your medical doctor would like to learn more about Chinese herbal medicine we encourage you to email or call us with your questions.