Chinese herbal medicine: benefits & how it works

1. What Is Chinese herbal medicine?

Chinese herbal medicine is a system of health care that uses Chinese herbs to prevent disease and cure illnesses. It originates from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been used for thousands of years.

It is the most popular form of herbal therapy used in the world today. TCM practitioners use yin and yang theory together with signs and symptoms to formulate herbal products that contain medicinal substances to treat a wide range of chronic health problems. Endangered species are not used in Chinese medicine in Europe and the UK. Instead individual herbs are selected for their healing properties and herbal therapy.

Chinese herbs has a long history in East Asia and the UK. The use of plants probably originated not long after fire was invented and people started cooking. This knowledge later developed into one of the most sophisticated and unbroken herbal medical traditions of the world.

The earliest known herbal textbook is a list of prescriptions for specific ailments, found in the Mawangdui tombs in China, which was sealed in 168 BC. Traditionally the oldest Materia Medica is Shénnóng Ben Cao Jing (Shennong's Materia Medica). It classifies 365 species of roots, grass, woods, furs, animals and stones into three categories of herbal medicine: The famous medical textbook the Neijing Suwen - The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine is thousands of years old and outlines the theories of traditional Chinese medicine.

Today, food is still used as the first line of medicine in East Asia where different herbs are added to cuisine for their health benefits. If this first line of medicine fails, then people seek a herbalist for a herbal medical prescription.

2. Benefits of Chinese herbs

The use of plants can greatly benefit both male and female health. Whereas acupuncture helps to regulate energy (flow of qi) and blood flow, it can't give you what you don't have. Herbs however, can give you what you don't have, for example energy, energy and yin.

Herbs are more effective at regulating digestion, reducing anxiety, clearing heat, etc.

As herbs are natural and holistic upon the human body. The effects of the medicinal herbs takes time, usually around 2-3 weeks. They build up strength within the body. As they are natural they don't have side effects. Pharmaceutical drugs are quick as they are concentrated, but because they are quick they tend to have more side effects.

Some of the improvements seen after taking them can be subtle whilst others more noticeable. It depends on what is being treated.

Herbs treat the whole body, mopping up other problems that people have, so they get a greater sense of overall health and well-being. People tend to feel more energy, sleep better, their digestion improves, they either feel less cold or less hot and are emotionally more stable. The longer a person takes them the better the effects.

3. How do Chinese herbs?

According to TCM treatment, each herb has an action, a flavour and enters certain internal organs. A herbal prescription will often contain between 6-12 different plants that work with each other to treat the health problem. Herbs can work to boost the body's vital energy, balance the mind and body and can be anti-inflammatory.

Chinese herbs work differently to western medicine drugs as they are holistic. Chinese herbs are natural so take time to work but then have less side effects.

There is a growing body of research that proves Chinese herbs work. Watch my animated video below which explains how herbs work.

4. Are Chinese herbs safe?

Yes, Chinese herbs are safe to take for most health care needs. The Chinese Materia Medica lists most therapeutic benefits and adverse reactions known of thousands of years of use. Like most exported products from China, exported products have a higher quality than domestic products. The herbs are also tested for toxicity and quality control purposes when they arrive into the UK, United States and Europe.

Herbalists use a yellow card system to alert the Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee (HMAC) of any problems with a possible herb. Researchers are actively looking at herbs and their reactions in humans and with other substances.

I use the highest quality herbs available from Taiwan, called Sun Ten.

Herbal medicine has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Over the last 3-5 thousand years people have worked out which herbs are good for health and which ones aren't.

Clinical trials have proven the safety of Chinese herbs for use in the human body. The MHRA has put in place the Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee (HMAC). This new body has the same ranking as the Committee of the Safety of Medicines. If any question concerning a herbal product arises or adverse effects or allergic reactions, the HMAC will determine whether dry herbs are safe or not, based on current evidence and testing for aristolochic acids and heavy metals. The HMAC committee is made up of people from Ayurveda, TCM, Western herbal medicine and pharmacologists.

Herbs are safe for to take for fertility if they are prescribed by a herbalist who knows you are trying for a baby. Men and women can both benefit from taking herbs. They can help with various fertility problems including male sperm count and blocked fallopian tubes.

Make sure you tell your TCM practitioner that you are trying for a baby. Research has shown that they can enhance your fertility and increase your success rate of having a baby.

Chinese herbs are even safe to take during in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Side effects

There are seldom any side effects, just the bad taste. A herbal formula can only make your problem worse if the herbalist gets the formula completely wrong, which seldom happens.

Other possible side effects include an upset stomach if you take the herbs on an empty stomach. You should always take herbs an hour after food.

Each herbal formula is tailor-made to the patient's needs, unlike western pharmaceutical drugs where one size fits all (actually the majority not all).

Everyone is different and so every Chinese herbal formula is different. As it's more suited to the individual's body and their needs they are less likely to cause any side effects.

Pharmaceutical drugs are concentrated, so are fast acting but the down side is they cause side effects.

Are Chinese herbs regulated?

In the UK Chinese herbs are regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which monitors clinical trials and reported adverse reactions.

Traditional herbal medicine has a long history in the UK and was first protect into law by Henry VIII.

In Canada and Australia, Chinese herbal medicine is statutory regulated and certain standards of training must be meet in order to prescribe Chinese herbs. In the United States, Chinese herbs are not statutory regulated.

Herbs can be dangerous in the wrong hands and can have side effects. For that reason herbal medicine should be statutory regulated in the UK.

People cannot claim to be a herbalist unless they have undergone through training and have insurance. Good Chinese herbalists are members of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM).

Some people like self-medicate or buy herbal products from health food shops after receiving advice from a nutritionist. Herbs are more than just food supplements and have an effect upon the body and therefore health. Always consult a well-qualified herbalist before taking any herbs.

5. Commonly asked questions

How do you take Chinese herbs?

Chinese herbal formulas come in different forms depending on the country you live in and the herbalist prescribing them. There was five different ways you can take Chinese herbs:

Raw herbs
Powders
Capsules
Tablets
Black Pills
Tinctures

Raw, powder, capsules and tablets are tailor-made herbal prescriptions for a specific condition and chronic conditions. The black pills are off-the-shelf formulas, which cannot be modified to a person's exact healthcare needs.

Raw, dried herbs

Traditionally, for thousands of years prescribed herbs come in their original dried form, for example bits of root, bark, leaves and seeds. Single herbs are never used. These would be cooked in a pot, drained and drank as an herbal tea. This traditional process takes hours and will leave a strong odour in your house.

To decot Chinese herbs you will need a cooking pot, large bowl, a cooker and a sieve.

Place your dried herbs in a cooking pot
Add water to cover the dried herbs
Bring the water to boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes
Drain the water and herbs into a bowl using the sieve
Repeat twice more
Drink one cup of the liquid warm twice a day after food
Store the liquid in the fridge

Chinese herbal powders

Thankfully, there are more modern methods of taking Chinese herbs, for example in powder, capsule or tablet form.

If you are taking the powders, then you put the powder in a mug and add boiling hot water (half way), some honey to help with the taste and give it a good stir. Wait for it to cool down, stir it again and then drink, preferably in one go. It's not a drink that you sip and dunk biscuits into. After you have drank all the liquid, have some fruit to clear your palate.

Capsules and tablets

If you are taking herbs in tablet or capsule form, you will need to take 30 a day. Yes, 30! It sounds like an overdose, but as they are herbal, they are weaker than western medicine drugs so you need to take more of them. They are also difficult to digest.

The capsules can be a little heavy on the digestive system. You can take either 15 in the morning and 15 in the evening or take 10 three times a day. Always after food and with plenty of water.

Little black pills

Little black pills are another form of Chinese herbal medicine. These are commonly available to health food stores in the USA. This is a weak dosage and can take months to build up strength and work. They are often taken 3 times a day after meals with water.

Little black pills are illegal to sell in the UK and Europe although some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners still sell them.

Chinese herbal tinctures

There are a few Chinese herbal formulas for babies with health problems available in tincture form.

Chinese herb dosages

Herbs have different dosages depending upon the format they are prescribed in and the herbalist.

The original (raw) form, capsules and tablets are all the same strength. The little black pills are a lot weaker, cannot be tailor-made and take longer to work.

The dosage for babies and children is between 50-75% less than the adult dose.

Like with any medication you should check for any side effects or allergic reactions to your body. These are rare, but if you believe you have any, you should consult your herbalist and doctor straight away and stop taking the herbs.

How often do I need to take Chinese herbs?

As Chinese herbs are natural, they need to be taken at regular intervals, often twice a day for several weeks at a time.

The Chinese herbs that I prescribe some in three ways; as powders, or in tablet and capsule form. If you are taking the powders, then I recommend taking them twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. If for some reason, you can't take the Chinese herbs in the morning, you can take them at lunch time.

What do Chinese herbs taste like?

Herbs taste like earthly, bitter roots and don't taste that great. Most herbal prescriptions take a bit like liquorice as it's added to almost every formula to make it taste better and bind all the plants together.

In East Asia they don't have a sweet tooth like in western cultures, so liquorice is enough. However, for western palates this is not enough, so people often add honey to make it taste better.

The herbs come as a powder. No need to cook up the bits of bark, twig or seed anymore! But the powder still tastes of herbs and isn't that nice.

Believe it or not, people do get use to the taste after a while. Some people even like the taste. Other people add hot milk instead of hot water, which takes away the bad taste and makes it taste more like Ovaltine.

If you find it really hard to drink, you can have the powder put into tablets or capsules, which has no taste.

6. Are animal products used in Chinese medicine?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) uses animal and plant products together with minerals to treat and cure various diseases and promote good health.

In Europe and the UK, it is illegal to use animal parts within Chinese medicine. Only plants can be used in Chinese medical formulas in the UK and Europe.

In the USA and East Asia it is legal to use animal products such as tiger bones and rhinoceros horn in Chinese medicine. However, endangered animal products are not allowed to be used in the USA but endangered species are allowed to be used for medical purposes in China.

Recently, the use of bear-bile has been banned in parts of East Asia, which I completely support. I do not agree with the use of endangered animals in medicine or the wildlife trade of animals.

I don't use any animal products in my Chinese medical formulas. I only use plants in my formulas, such as bark, roots, leaves and seeds.

7. Online herbal consultations

I am now able to offer remote online Chinese herbal consultations via Zoom.

Online fertility courses

Gift cards

* The cost of Chinese herbs are additional