Imagine taking medicines that are natural, effective, and tailored to your needs. Suppose these medicines could provide freedom from chronic and acute pain, and leave you feeling energized and whole. Chinese herbal medicine is powerful, all-natural, and an extraordinary complement to acupuncture. Like acupuncture, the medicines support your body as it resolves imbalances and returns to a state of optimal health.

There are some major differences between Chinese herbs and allopathic medications. As an extension of western medicine, pharmaceuticals are intended to address particular symptoms—without necessarily addressing or isolating the cause of the symptoms. This means that once you stop taking the pharmaceutical, the symptoms may reappear. Also, pharmaceuticals tend to cause unintended side effects, which can be uncomfortable and require further medication. But when you resolve a pattern of imbalance with Chinese herbs, the root-cause of your ailment is addressed. Once the problem is resolved, the symptoms will be healed. Chinese herbal medicine leaves you feeling vital, energetic, at ease—and with no need of further medication.

Does this mean that traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine are incompatible? Absolutely not! Traditional Chinese medicine can support a course of western treatment with no contraindications. And I frequently work with doctors to create tailor-made programs that can optimize the benefits of both healing modalities.

Some of my patients shy away from Chinese herbs because they are afraid of the time involved in preparation, and of the taste. A traditional course of Chinese medicine was somewhat time-consuming—the acupuncturist/herbalist would combine the appropriate roots, flowers, leaves, and barks, which the patient would boil at home and drink as a tea. Today, Chinese herbal companies make powders or pills from the traditional ingredients, in classical combinations that treat most illnesses. Or, I can create a healing herbal formula that is specific to your needs. There are a lot of Chinese herbal products on the market, so I conduct ongoing research to make sure that the medicines I prescribe are of the highest quality.

People have been enjoying the health benefits of Chinese herbal medicine for 6,000 years—and now, it’s easier than ever for you to enjoy them, too.