As with acupuncture, herbal medicine has been an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 3,500 years. Although acupuncture has gained wide acceptance throughout the world, herbal medicine has always been the primary treatment method within TCM. Over the centuries, it has developed into a sophisticated, systematic method of classification and prescription including thousands of substances.

Active ingredients found in medicinal herbs have been extracted to produce some of our most common pharmaceutical drugs. Aspirin, penicillin, digoxin, and morphine are just a few of the many drugs which are derived from herbs.

Most Western drugs are very effective in treating symptoms, but they often do not treat the underlying disease mechanism. For example, antibiotics can fight bacteria, but they do nothing to address why someone has been getting repeated infections. The holistic nature of Traditional Chinese Medicine fights not only the infection, but helps to prevent further episodes by strengthening the immune system and blood. Herbs are an essential part of this approach.

Chinese Herbal Medicine In Practice

Although they are natural, Chinese herbs can be very strong medicine. Side effects can occur if taken inappropriately. The herbalist blends many herbs to counter possible side effects, and to enhance the desired result. This is why herbalists usually prescribe herbal formulas, as opposed to single herbs. This means that the patient receives a custom herbal prescription which treats both their chief symptom, and their underlying pattern of disharmony. This is called, "treating the branch, and the root".

Although the chemical compounds found in medicinal herbs are very important for their effectiveness, the herb's "properties" are what primarily guide the herbalist. Whether a herb is warm, cooling, spicy, sour, sweet, bitter, bland, or salty has a significant impact on its medicinal effectiveness. Different flavors effect the body in different ways. For example, sweet herbs, like ginseng, are commonly used to build and strengthen qi and blood. However, sweet herbs (and food) tend to produce dampness in the body. For someone with a lot of mucus or diarrhea, these symptoms may be exacerbated by sweet herbs. Therefore, if this patient needs a strengthening formula, it will include various bland herbs which will counter the damp qualities of the tonic herbs.