How are Herbs Used?

Herbal medicine is by itself a powerful method of healing. Western drugs are usually used to control symptoms but do not alter the disease process. For example: antibiotics kill bacteria but do not improve a person’s resistance to infection; diuretics drain excess fluid from the body but do not improve the kidney function. Chinese herbs can rid the body of disease but they also nourish and balance the body in very specific ways, thereby improving organ function and building up a person’s constitution and immune system.

Chinese herbs are traditionally given as a very strong tea. Traditionally, the patient is given bags of dried herbs to boil in water and drink.  There are more modern preparations of capsules, tablets, tea pills, and extracts available.  At Acuharmony Wellness I use extracts because I believe them to be as potent as boiling raw herbs without the difficulties and smell involved with boiling.  With extracts, the patient is prescribed a given number of drops per serving and adds hot or boiling water into the cup with the herbs.  The amount of water added may be adjusted to suit the patient's taste.