Chinese Herbal
Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine has a rich and ancient history,
dating back at least 2,200 years
I have a MSc in Chinese Herbal Medicine and am a member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine
What is Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese Herbal Medicine is one of the complementary set of practices that together make up the system of Chinese Medicine.
It is one of the great herbal traditions of the world, with an unbroken history going back to the 3rd century BC. Chinese Herbal Medicine still forms a major part of healthcare provision in China, operating alongside Western-style medicine in all state hospitals. Based on many centuries of clinical experience, Chinese Herbal Medicine has developed treatments that have continued to prove effective for a range of medical conditions.
Like the other practices of Chinese Medicine, Chinese Herbal Medicine is based on the principle that good health depends on achieving optimum vitality and balance in the body. Approaching each person as a unique and interconnected physical, psychological and spiritual system, it focuses on establishing harmony and health in relation to all aspects of a person and their surroundings. A compassionate rejection of 'one size fits all' treatment, Chinese Herbal Medicine aims to understand how a particular pattern of physical signs and symptoms reflect an underlying disease.
Following an initial consultation, I will use therapeutic combinations of herbs tailored to you to correct the diagnosed cause of ill health. Prescriptions in Chinese Herbal Medicine draw on the collected wisdom of centuries of clinical practice which now includes modern university based research from across the world. Just one source is the Chinese Materia medica, a book that lists several hundred commonly used ingredients, including roots, stems, flowers, leaves and barks, alongside some non-plant materials, such as resins and minerals. Unlike pharmaceutical medicines, which introduce chemicals into the body as standalone elements, herbal medicines harness the interactions between different compounds to treat illness. Herbs are usually prescribed in complex formulas that are carefully matched to a specific pattern of ill health that underlies the condition being treated. With the underlying cause of their disease being tackled, rather than just the presenting symptoms, patients often report improvements in many seemingly unrelated areas of their health.
Source: Register of Chinese Medicine
Please note that RCHM members are subject to strict rules that prohibit the use of medicine containing material sourced from animals and endangered plant species (there are often adequate plant-based alternatives to animal-derived ingredients).
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Chinese Herbal Medicine has a very broad potential in helping promote and re-establish good health, but is most commonly used to treat the following:
Chronic skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, acne and rosacea
Respiratory conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, chronic coughs, seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever), perennial allergic rhinitis (year-round allergic reactions to pet hair and dust mites) and sinusitis
Digestive complaints, including IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), indigestion and ulcerative colitis
Gynaecological problems, including pre-menstrual syndrome (PMT), painful periods, menopausal syndromes, endometriosis and some forms of infertility
Urinary conditions, including chronic cystitis
Rheumatological conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
Headaches and migraines
Chronic fatigue syndromes, whether with a background of viral infection or in response to other situations
Anxiety and depression
Some metabolic disorders, including diabetes and thyroid conditions, may benefit from supportive treatment
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Most commonly, CHM prescriptions are taken in the form of a tea (made up from concentrated ground herbal powders). External preparations are also used, including creams, ointments and washes for skin conditions, and compresses for traumatised tissue. Chinese herbal teas do tend to be bitter, but most patients get used to them quickly.
The length of treatment will vary greatly depending on the condition. Anything between one and six months would be common, though in certain cases treatment may last quite a bit longer.
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Serious adverse effects from being treated with CHM are very rare, and as a discipline it has a very good safety record. However, the fact that CHM treatments are 'natural' does not offer a 100 per cent guarantee there will be no side effects.
As a MSc qualified and RCHM registered Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioner:
I am trained to the highest standard
I practice in compliance with the RCHM professional code of practice
I will monitor your case carefully to check for unusual reactions and if necessary mitigate the same
I use suppliers that are committed to quality and ethical standards and are part of the RCHM approved supplier scheme