CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE

Can Chinese herbal medicine help me?

Your situation is special to you and we recommend that you contact us to speak with one of our specialists who can advise you personally.

The general conditions which Chinese herbal medicine can treat are:

• Skin disease  (including eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, urticaria)
• Gastro-intestinal disorders  (including irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, ulcerative colitis)
• Gynaecological conditions (including pre-menstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis, infertility)
• Chronic fatigue syndromes
• Respiratory conditions  (including asthma, bronchitis, and chronic coughs, allergic and perennial rhinitis and sinusitis, hay fever)
• Rheumatological conditions (e.g. osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
• Urinary conditions including chronic cystitis
• Psychological problems (e.g. depression, anxiety)
• Children’s diseases

What is Chinese herbal medicine?

In response to changing clinical conditions, Chinese herbal medicine has continually advanced and developed throughout its 3000 year history. This research continues with the use of modern medical diagnostic techniques, equipment and knowledge.

Chinese herbal combinations are specifically created for you in answer to your presenting medical complaints. The herbs are often either taken as tablets, or stewed and drank as a decoction.

Chinese herbal medicine forms a major part of primary healthcare  in China, and is provided in hospitals in conjunction with western medicine.

What is the difference between Chinese herbal medicine and pharmaceutical drugs?

The traditional use of plant remedies and the known pharmacological activity of plant constituents often coincide, however there are differences between drugs and medicinal herbs:

• The complexity of plant materials means medicinal herbs are far more balanced than medicine based on isolated active ingredients and far less likely to cause side-effects.
• Herbs are typically prescribed in combination, with the different formulae components balancing each other. This increases efficacy whilst enhancing safety.
• Chinese Herbal medicine corrects internal imbalances rather than treating symptoms alone.

What can I expect from my first Chinese herbal medicine consultation?

Often Chinese herbal medicine may be prescribed alongside an acupuncture or tui-na treatment, however a consultation solely for herbs can be provided.

As with the other treatments, your practitioner will take a detailed history ensuring they understand it fully.  This usually takes up to 30 minutes. Only on completion of this history, with all the facts, will the practitioner make a diagnosis and prescribe a herbal formula.

You will be provided with full instructions of how often, and how to take your herbs.

How much Chinese herbal medicine will I have to take?

The answer to this question depends on your individual situation, and your practitioner will be able to provide you a more detailed answer.

Often people may have to take Chinese Herbal medicine 2-4 times a day for anything between 1 week to 3 months. This process will be closely monitored and supervised by one of our herbal specialists.

How much will these Chinese herbal medicines cost?

Herbal medicine can cost anywhere between £5 and £20 per week depending on the Chinese herbal medicines prescribed.

What about endangered species?

We strongly oppose the use of endangered species in Chinese herbal medicine and have a strict policy preventing their use. Our herbal suppliers are carefully selected based on the safety and quality of their products.

We refer to information supplied by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the Wildlife Liaison Office of the Metropolitan Police and the Department of the Environment, all of whom work to stop the trade in illegal substances.