Western Herbal Medicine tends to use one or two herbs to treat just a specific symptom. Chinese Herbal formula contain as many as 20 different herbs. Chinese herbs are selected to work synergistically to treat the whole person. In Chinese Medicine, we assess a person’s entire constitution (the health of their whole body) and treat the root (or cause) of a health concern along with a branch (or the symptoms) of that health concern. It is in this way that we are able to treat a person's whole body and mind, rather than just a symptom.

Western pharmaceuticals typically address one symptom or condition as a whole. They do not address the root cause of the problem or multiple symptoms concurrently. More often than not, the synthetic drugs you may take will cause side effects or adverse reactions. These side effects or adverse reactions are then treated with more drugs. And if your primary symptoms were unsuccessfully treated, a higher dosage or another synthetic drug is typically prescribed. With side effects building up and problems being compounded, Chinese herbal medicine is a safer alternative.

Chinese herbal formulas tend to be much gentler than western medicines and work not only to help relieve symptoms, but to help return the body to its natural balance so that herbs will not be needed for a prolonged period of time. That is why your Chinese herbal formula will be modified as treatment continues. With treatments, the body naturally starts to shift towards a healthier state, and therefore the herbal formula is modified to meet the changing demands and conditions of the dynamic body.

If you are currently taking western prescription medications, your Chinese herbal formula will be carefully formulated and checked for contraindications. Also, your prescribing physician can be consulted if you would like. Please keep in mind that complex conditions would have to be carefully evaluated on a case by case basis.