What Is Chinese Herbal Medicine?

Herbalism is the practice of treating health problems and maintaining wellness with natural herbal substances, mostly plants and minerals. Chinese Herbal Medicine is the form of herbalism that originated in China thousands of years ago.  It has evolved through the ages, spreading to many parts of the world. Today in the United States, herbal substances can be found up and down the supplement aisle of any drug store. However, in the practice of  Chinese Herbal Medicine, a practitioner guides a person’s physiology from a state of illness to one of health, step by step. This requires the appropriate choice of herbs, administered at the right time, in the correct dosage, and according to the specific needs of the individual.  When practiced correctly, Chinese Herbal Medicine provides a safe, effective, complementary alternative (or addition) to drug therapies and can relieve everything from back pain to colds and flus, infertility, infections, arthritis, and urinary tract infections.  Recently studies have shown the health benefits of Chinese Herbs for endocrine diseases, chronic pain, and mental health conditions.

One can prescribe herbs from China outside of the context of Chinese Herbal Medicine. Licensed Acupuncturists, Naturopathic Physicians, and Functional Medicine Doctors may all use Chinese herbs as supplements, but only a professional trained and certified in combining substances according to the precise theories and in-depth knowledge of traditional prescription is practicing the art of Chinese Herbal Medicine. 

In California, the required education and licensure to practice Chinese Herbal Medicine includes extensive training in herbs, formulas, and diagnosis, which allows us to practice herbal medicine safely and effectively.

Treating Root Causes

Chinese herbal formulations correspond not to particular health problems, such as back pain, menopause, or infertility, but rather to the effects they have on physiological processes.  A sophisticated diagnostic process results in a clinical picture of each patient's unique condition and an assessment of the physiology that needs to be resolved.  This is known as treating the cause or “root,” which is hidden, rather than the manifestation, “branch,” which can be seen, but is merely the result of the root. 

Constructing Formulas

Chinese Herbal Medicine is an elegant, safe, and economical method for resolving a majority of health problems. For over 3,000 years, physicians have identified how to promote very specific effects on the human body using combinations of herbs that impart their ensemble of characteristics when ingested. These combinations, or formulas, are customized in each individual’s case through precise understanding of the roots and branches of the whole condition, as well as the ideal selection of substances for the most appropriate synergy.  Formulas may be adjusted throughout the various stages of treatment as the condition improves. For this reason, it is important that the patient and the herbalist have good communication and partnership.

What’s in Chinese Herbs?

The simplest answer to “what’s in Chinese herbs” is plants. Almost all Chinese herbs are parts of plants. There are over 300 commonly used substances, many of which you know by their use in the kitchen. These include cinnamon, ginger, mint, dates, cardamon, turmeric, black pepper, and more. Others, like ginseng and willow, are not herbs we typically eat, but are effective for treating many conditions.

The dosages of these herbs are much more concentrated than what we would find in food. We often use them to influence a system in the body through nourishment rather than by a drug effect.  Where a drug is used to destroy a pathogen (antibiotic) or to interfere with a disease process (anti-inflammatory), a nutritive approach stimulates normal physiology, enhancing a particular function of the body to promote wellness rather than attack disease.  

To learn more about how herbs work differently than commonly prescribed medications, read “Medicine is the Art of Coaxing Nature.”

With few exceptions, all of the herbal products used at Larchmont Traditional Medicine are certified CGMP. These guidelines require third-party inspections and rigorous testing and documentation during many points of production, from harvesting, to identification, to processing, to packaging.

If you’re ready to begin your journey towards healing and a better life, or have more questions, we’re here to help. Book your first appointment today by calling (323) 462-4710 or emailing info@ltmla.com. You may also submit any questions via our contact form here.