What is known as Chinese herbal medicine has been used for centuries both with China and in many other Asian countries. Today, you’ll find some of the practices and principles of this herbal therapy in places far beyond its place of origin.
Recently, many Western countries like the UK have embraced herbal therapy and are learning to approach health and bodily improvement in a more holistic way, based on ancient medicinal treatments that have long been used to address specific health concerns as well as strengthen and protect the body as a whole.
What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Chinese herbal medicine, or Chinese herbalism, uses natural herbs to improve health. The basic concept is that by absorbing certain ingredients into the body, you can achieve certain outcomes that will either address specific ailments or improve overall health.
In traditional Chinese herbal medicine, there is a heavier focus on treating the entire human body and system as a whole, while Western practices tend to use specific herbs and recipes to fix common ailments, symptoms and diseases. Chinese herbal medicine can come in various forms, including:
- Teas, liquid extracts and powders
- Granules or easy-to-digest capsules
- Premade formulas or mixture created by a practitioner
- A custom formula or mixtures that your herbalist creates especially for you
The job of the herbalist is to choose ingredients that play a certain role in the body. Simply taking any or every Chinese herb you can find is not how this treatment works as there are thousands of combinations that work for different people. Some recipes might address the root cause and take longer to work, while others will have a more immediate impact but will only help you with secondary symptoms.
To achieve positive results, it is important that you take herbal medicine that is specially chosen for you. It is a highly individualized remedy that should ideally be adapted for your body and circumstance. For instance, if your friend has received some great benefits from their herbalist, using the same mixture or formula might not have an effect on you at all.
Similarly, just because it’s a “natural” approach, this does not mean it should be taken in unspecified quantities. The best practitioners will treat Chinese herbs like a modern prescription and only offer you exactly what you need.
How to Find a Qualified Herbalist
Chinese herbs are an important part of holistic therapy. As long as you work with a trained practitioner, it can be a great alternative to other forms of medication or a way to supplement them. If you’re interested in trying Chinese herbs, feel free to get in touch with us at Acubody as we offer both Chinese herbal therapy and Chinese Acupuncture in London.
