Why use herbs?

Herbal medicines address many health issues from digestive to respiratory to immune. While single herbs can be very helpful for minor ailments, such as ginger for nausea and turmeric for inflammation, there is also the need for more sophisticated herbal blends and remedies for issues that are not easily resolved, or that have resisted standard treatment.

Michelle is an experienced herbalist and has studied both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medical herbalism.

Chinese herbal medicine, like acupuncture, is part of the complete medical system known as Traditional Chinese Medicine. Chinese herbal medicine uses roots, bark, flowers, seeds, fruits, leaves, branches, minerals, and some animal products for medicinal purposes. It is used to address a full range of internal medical issues, especially gynecological, respiratory, urinary, digestive, psychological, and neurological disorders, as well as to relieve pain, speed healing, and regulate the immune system. Unlike pharmaceuticals, Chinese herbal medicine’s strength is in its ability to treat the root of disorders with little to no side effects.

Chinese herbal medicine is unique in that it has been actively used and developed for over 3,000 years and that it details, not just the effect each herb has on the body, but also the effect of herbal combinations. Combining herbs enhances their effectiveness and eliminates side effects. Chinese herbal medicine is almost always administered as a combination of herbs which creates a complex and customized formula for each patient. The Chinese herbal practitioner knows the details of over 300 herbs including what channels and organs the herbs affect, how the herbs are best combined, and the latest science in herb/drug interactions.

CONVENIENT HERBAL EXTRACTS

Most of the herbal formulas are administered as capsules or tablets and are composed of compressed herbal ingredients that have been either ground into a powder, or sometimes prepared as a tea with other herbs and then mixed with food starch or another binder that is completely non-toxic. Occasionally, whole plant or dried herbs are used if a condition s especially stubborn to respond. The whole plant is generally stronger in its effects than a capsule. However, more than 90 percent of the time the pill form is highly effective.

PURITY & SAFETY

The safety of our Chinese herbal medicinals is of utmost importance. From soil quality, and seed and plant identification to potency and purity testing, the chosen herbal products are at the forefront of quality and testing standards.

When quality herbs are administered by trained herbalists, Chinese herbal medicine is a very safe way of supporting your health and addressing a vast number of health concerns. Many are not familiar with Chinese herbal medicine and are only aware of the few instances of contamination and side effects in improperly produced and administer herbal supplements. However, there are volumes of written Chinese medical texts and thousands of years of clinical experience that have created and shaped how Chinese herbal medicine is practiced today. There are also very reputable companies producing quality herbal supplements.

The majority of custom herbal formulations are manufactured by Evergreen Herbs. Evergreen’s focus on sustainable agricultural practices, protection of endangered species, modern scientific processing methods, and rigorous quality control set them apart from all other sources of Chinese herbs. From “seed to shelf,” Evergreen ensures purity, safety, and potency in its herbal extracts by following standards of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) established by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The powdered herbal extracts are manufactured in Taiwan using a non-GMO cornstarch binder. Their site laboratories use equipment such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to assure consistent levels of active ingredients. All products are tested to ensure that levels of heavy metals, pesticides, and harmful bacteria, such as salmonella and E. coli, fall below minimum requirements. This testing results in a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that allows us to guarantee that our herbs are both safe and effective. For more information on Evergreen Herbs, you can visit their website at www.evherbs.com.

Our ready-made herbal tea pills, tinctures and topical formulas all meet or exceed FDA Good Manufacturing Practices and standards for heavy metals, bacteria, and pesticide residue. From the selection of raw herbs to its state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, all phases of our products production are monitored with extensive quality control and testing procedures to ensure safety and potency.

TIME-TESTED SOLUTIONS

With the complexity and volumes of information that need to be understood in order to safely and effectively prescribe Chinese herbal medicine, it’s no wonder it has been cast under a shroud of mystery and misunderstanding by the American public, media and medical community. However, we take the practice of Chinese herbal medicine very seriously and work passionately to bring you safe and effective herbal medicine so that you may benefit from this time-tested form of holistic healthcare. Herbal therapy can be an important part of treatment for many people. If you or your medical doctor would like to learn more about Chinese herbal medicine we encourage you to email or call us with your questions.

Asian herbal medicine is a sophisticated system that combines herbs to regulate body systems and to perform actions such as restoring normal peristalsis, reducing pain sensation, and improving blood flow to organs and tissues. Herbs that target specific tissues and systems can have multiple uses and benefits to the overall organism.

If you are interested in learning about herbal remedies, book a consult or use the Contact Form on the menu.

Some health issues – common colds, cough, allergies – can be addressed with herbal formulas of western or eastern herbs, and it may be possible to purchase these through one of the bigger online superstores such as Iherb, Vitacost or even Amazon. Some health issues – thyroid disorders and autoimmune health – require a more in-depth analysis. Consultations are helpful in either case to pinpoint the best solution for the individual as body type and health history play an important role in matching the correct remedy to the individual.

Herbs and plants are natural and medicinal substances that withstand sweeps in climate and environment and continue to thrive. They exert these same powers in our bodies by boosting energy and dredging the blood circulation to remove toxins while at the same time preserving healthy tissue. In my mind, nothing can compare to the efficacy and value of herbal medicines.

Examples of Herbal Use

The Chinese materia medica by Dan Bensky lists over 400 medicinal herbs that includes botanical identifiers as well as uniquely traditional medicine identifiers such as taste, temperature, and channel. Pharmacological studies of each individual herb and also herbs in formulas provide clinical data for ways in which herbs act upon various body tissues and structures.

Using herbs for prevention of illness is a common traditional practice. For example, the formula Jade Windscreen, Yu Ping Feng San, is taken preceding the season when allergies are problematic, i.e., taken 3 weeks in the winter in preparation for spring allergy season, to reduce the severity and frequency of allergies.

For acute and chronic conditions, herbs can halt symptoms very quickly and lower risk of recurrence or escalating illness. There are numerous digestive formulas that can assist in managing bowel dysfunction, gastritis, and more. Respiratory formulas can ease congestion, facilitate breathing, and eliminate virus.

Herbal use is growing in popularity. A recent survey conducted by the Council for Responsible Nutrition shows that over 73 percent of Americans use dietary supplements. Of these, herbals and botanicals are used by approximately 39 percent of all adults and this statistic seems to be growing (CRN survey, 2019).

This growth undoubtedly has to do with the increasing endorsement of herbs by physicians, also a relatively recent phenomenon. Many European journals (especially German medical journals not widely read by Americans) have supported the use of herbs for decades, and at this time, Germany is ahead of the game.

In the U.S. progress has not been as rapid. As one author states, there has been a “small but steady stream of articles about the irresponsible use of herbs…” (Castleman & Hendler, 1995, p. 4), and “most American doctors are unfamiliar with the vast scientific literature demonstrating herbs’ safety and effectiveness for an enormous number of ills” (p. 4).

Fortunately, this is changing as more studies are now making their way into American medical journals. The Internet and journal databases such as Science Direct and Pubmed are some popular resources that allow the sharing of international clinical studies, as well as articles and publications, sourced from universities and esteemed experts in their fields.

References

Castleman, M. & Hendler, S. (1995). The Healing Herbs: The ultimate guide to the curative power of nature’s medicines. New York: Bantam Books.

Dietary Supplement Use Reaches All-Time High [Council for Responsible Nutrition survey]. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.crnusa.org/newsroom/dietary-supplement-use- reaches-all-time-high-available-purchase-consumer-survey-reaffirms

BLOG POSTS ON THE CLINICAL USE OF CHINESE HERBS

MORE sharing on herbal medicines

I enjoy writing about herbal medicine because I believe herbology is important to health, and that herbal remedies can repair, restore, and revitalize. Because I love researching herbs. I started writing on HubPages a few years ago to practice my “chops” as a writer. Once I got a few articles published, I was able to land an actual writing job (part-time, I am more of a contributor than a writer) with the Herbal Academy in Bedford, MA, a prestigious online herbal program that offers beginner and advanced herbal training.

Below are contributions I have written that I hope can shed some light about the value of herbal medicine, and its value to health. All of the snippets below provide a brief summary of the topic, with links to the full article at the bottom.

Thanks for reading!!

🌻 Michelle Thelen, L.Ac. MSTOM