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Kevin's expertise in Chinese Herbal Medicine has allowed him to provide safe and effective natural remedies for prevention, maintenance and health to many people.
Below are some commonly asked questions:
How is Chinese herbal medicine used?
Are all herbal ingredients vegetable in origin?
Do all the herbs come from China?
How are herbal formulas taken?
What are the differences between herbal teas, pills, tinctures and granular extracts?
Do chinese herbal medicines have side effects?
What is Chinese herbal medicine good for?
Can pregnant women take Chinese herbs?
Can children take Chinese herbal medicine?
How long does it take to see results with Chinese herbal medicine?
How do I know if a practitioner is professionally trained in Chinese herbal medicine?
How is Chinese herbal medicine used?
Chinese herbal medicine is a holistic approach to healing which focuses on an individual's pattern and disease diagnosis. Your pattern is made up of your signs and symptoms, your emotional temperament and the overall constitution of your body. A patient receives a custom written herbal prescription designed to treat their individual pattern as well as their underlying symptoms.
Are all herbal ingredients vegetable in origin?
Chinese herbal medicine may include vegetable, animal and mineral ingredients, however, the majority of ingredients are from vegetable sources. Typical herbs are derived from the following categories: leaves, flowers, twigs, stems, roots, tubers, rhizomes and bark.
Do all the herbs come from China?
No. Chinese herbs have been adopted and incorporated into the chinese material medica from all over the world. What makes these ingredients "chinese herbs" is that they are prescribed based on the fundamental principles of Chinese medicine theory.
How are herbal formulas taken?
The most common method of taking chinese herbal medicine is in tea form, prepared by boiling the selected raw herbs. Herbal pills, tinctures, and granular extracts are also very common forms of taking Chinese herbs.
What are the differences between herbal teas, pills, tinctures and granular extracts?
Herbal teas are the strongest form of herbal preparation and allows the practitioner the most flexibility in writing a prescription for a patient. Tinctures are often times made through alcohol extraction. Because this requires time, tinctures come in a prepared form and don't allow as much flexibility in the formula writing. Granules are powdered herbal extractions best used for chronic conditions as they can be administered for long periods of time. Pills are the mildest form of herbal medicine and also work well for chronic conditions. Speak with your practitioner about the best approach for you.
Do chinese herbal medicines have side effects?
Most of the components of Chinese herbal medicine have a very low toxicity compared to even common, over-the-counter Western drugs. When they are prescribed according to a correct chinese medicine pattern diagnosis, they should have few, if any, side effects, only beneficial healing results. If you experience any discomfort while taking Chinese herbal medicine, tell your practitioner who will modify the formula until there are no side effects.
What is Chinese herbal medicine good for?
Chinese herbal medicine treats the full range of diseases. It is used to treat:
- acute diseases, like intestinal flu and the common cold
- chronic diseases such as allergies, gynecological disorders, autoimmune diseases, and chronic viral diseases.
- Degenerative diseases due to aging.
Chinese herbal medicine is especially good for promoting the body's ability to heal and recover from illness.
Can pregnant women take Chinese herbs?
Yes. A trained practitioner can write prescriptions that are appropriate for pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Can children take Chinese herbal medicine?
Yes. Pediatrics is a specialty within Chinese medicine and children can be given reduced dosages. There are also specially prepared pediatric medicines in pill and powder form. Chinese herbal medicine can treat a wide range of common ailments that affect babies and children, including colic, teething, earache, diarrhea, cough and fever.
How long does it take to see results with Chinese herbal medicine?
In acute conditions, results may occur in a matter of minutes. In chronic conditions, some results should be seen within two weeks. Chronic conditions may require taking herbal medicine for a long period of time. Signs that the medicine is working should be apparent to the patient and practitioner alike almost from the very start.
How do I know if a practitioner is professionally trained in Chinese herbal medicine?
Although chinese herbal medicines are safe when prescribed by a trained, knowledgeable practitioner, they are strong medicine and patients should ask about where the practitioner trained, how long the training was, how long he or she has been in practice and what experience the practitioner has had in treating the patient's specific ailment.
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