Herbal Medicine has been used with acupuncture for thousands of years. Together they are very powerful in treating chronic and acute problems.
When patients buy herbs at grocery stores or drug stores they usually get one or two single herbs to treat a problem. Traditional Chinese medicine uses many herbs put together to make one formula. By combining herbs for each patient, we are able to design a formula just for you and your body. These formulas contain herbs that will enhance each other's therapeutic aspects and counteract each other's side effects and toxicities.
Most herbs are very safe. However, it is smart to double check what you are putting in your body. Below is a link that may help you decide whether or not the herb you are purchasing is for you. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/wholebody/healthnotes/index.html
Herbs come in three forms: teas (loose herbs), capsules, and granules. Loose herbs are cooked and prepared in tea form. Thsi is how the ancient Chinese prepared their herbs. Loose herbs are potent, but they can take time to prepare and taste stronger than the other two choice
The 20th Century has brought along new advancements in herbs, the capsule form. These are very convenient and are taken just as any other pill, but it is my experience that they are a bit weak.
I personally use granule herbs to make up most of my formulas. Granule herb formulas are similar to instant tea. They are quick to prepare and have a milder flavor and aroma than the loose herbs, but like the loose herbs the ingredients can be altered to suit each individual. Granular herbs are the perfect option for the busy patient who wants results.
