Herbal medicine

When herbs are part of your treatment, Annie tailors each formula to you rather than to a template, and prescribes it in whichever form best suits your body and your life. The old masters designed each format for a reason, and choosing the right one matters as much as choosing the right herbs.

• Raw herbs. The most traditional form, for a strong, fast-acting effect. This is most effective for serious or acute conditions. You simmer the herbs at home into a tea.
• Granules or powder. The middle option, requiring only warm water for reconstitution while still retaining most of the benefits of raw herbs. This is also a much more portable option.
• Pills. No preparation required. Small round pills that are the most convenient option for people travelling or who find it difficult to prepare herbs consistently.

Annie tastes her formulas herself before prescribing them, and leans toward gentler, less-bitter herbs wherever possible, so you always know what to expect.

Do I have to take herbs?

Herbal medicine is often prescribed to complement acupuncture and support longer-term goals for chronic or complex conditions. At your first visit, Annie will take time to understand your full picture, including symptoms, digestion, sleep, stress, diet, and daily routine, before recommending acupuncture, herbs, or both. You do not have to take herbs to get benefits from acupuncture and vice versa; everything comes down to your personal situation and needs.

How does herbal medicine work?

Traditional Chinese medicine has incorporated herbs as medicine for as long as there have been records. Roots, barks, seeds, or flowers have been studied and applied in millions of cases and adapted as more was learned. Chinese medicine has a strong culture of continuous improvement and detailed record-keeping.

Each herbal item was found to have different properties and impacts on the pathology pattern involved in a particular disease. For example, while Western medicine might prescribe a single diuretic to reduce fluid build-up, Chinese medicine aims to change the environment in the body to discourage dampness.

What kind of herbs are used?

While there may be many words you've never heard in your formulation, it is not always an exotic herb or seed. Dried and fermented mandarin peel (Chēn Pī) might be used in the case of dampness resulting from digestive stagnation. Liquorice root might be added too. Liquorice (Gān Cǎo) is perhaps the commonly used herb, and is well known in the western herbal tradition.

It's interesting to note that many Western medicines are also based on compounds originally found in plants, which were recognised to have potent effects. Asprin is derived from willow and myrtle trees. Anti-malarials have been derived from wormwood and chichona trees.

Modern scientific methods are now applied in China to learn more about the active compounds in each product and improve the safety and preparation of formulas. There is now much more certainty about correct preparation and interactions to minimise side effects.