Chinese herbal medicine is a main focus of my clinical practice and I am always pleased to talk in-depth with my patients about this long-standing tradition of herbal prescribing.
Understandably patients have many questions about Chinese herbal prescribing, herb safety, potential herb-drug interactions, and much more.
Here are some of the most common questions I get regarding Chinese herbal medicine in my clinic:
1. What are the certifications/training requirements to become a Chinese herbalist?
I have a Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which involved over 3,000 hours of intensive graduate study in Chinese medicine and Western biosciences. 660 hours of this program were devoted exclusively to Chinese herbal medicine, as well as clinics seeing patients supervised by longtime board certified herbalists. As a Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine student, my current focus is advanced studies in herbal prescribing for cardiovascular disease, post-viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, oncology support, women’s health, and more. I passed the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) herbology exam back in 2015 and am board certified as an herbalist (and acupuncturist).
2. Are there potentially pesticides or other contaminants in Chinese herbs?
I purchase herbs from an importer that does all of their own in-house testing for pesticides. I source all of my bulk herbs from Spring Wind. Spring Wind has been a leader in the industry since the early 1990’s. They purchase herbs in small batches, have direct relationships to growers, and have the most rigorous pesticide testing program in the industry. The company is very transparent about all of the safety measures they take with their products.
3. Are Chinese herbs safe to take when I’m trying to get pregnant?
In Chinese medicine, herbal medicine, arguably even more so than acupuncture, is the primary treatment for supporting fertility in cases of PCOS, endometriosis, unexplained infertility, secondary infertility, ovulation issues, failure of Basal Body Temperature to rise, diminished ovarian reserve, and more.
Chinese herbal medicine is safe to take when you’re trying to get pregnant – and will help you get pregnant – but with an important caveat. It’s important to work with a licensed and board certified herbalist. It’s not recommended to self-prescribe herbal medicine while trying to conceive, or to take advice from someone on TikTok or Instagram, no matter how well-intentioned they might be.
4. Can my Western pharmaceutical drugs negatively interact with Chinese herbal medicine?
This is an important safety topic in the field of alternative medicine. There are potential herb-drug interactions that we need to be aware of when prescribing Chinese herbal medicine. Certain herbs and pharmaceutical drugs have similar actions on the body which are called “additive effects”. And certain herbs can counteract a drug’s therapeutic effect (called an antagonistic effect).
Key herb-drug interactions that we are take caution with include anticoagulants (blood thinners such as Warfarin), certain antidepressants, antihypertensives, immunosuppressant drugs, and diabetes medications.
5. How will I know if the herbs are working?
It should be apparent early on to both patient and practitioner that an herbal formula is working and moving the body in the direction of better self-regulation. Symptom severity should start decreasing early on and you very often will feel a sense of increased well-being in the process of drinking the formula.
6. Do the herbs taste bad?
Some single herbs and formulas can admittedly be a bit pungent. Each dose is usually 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups at a time. Bulk herb teas are safe, absorbed well, affordable, and can address a wide variety of symptoms and imbalances. Keeping an open mind pays off big time.
7. What if I have sensitive digestion?
Supporting digestive health is a main focus of Chinese medicine. Herbal formulas are tailored to the individual. We take into consideration your overall constitution, body type, how sensitive you are, and other factors to help move your system in the direction of better balance.
8. How long will I be on the formula for?
For short-term, acute issues patients can be on a formula for 3-7 days. Long-standing or more complex issues require more time to see significant changes. I generally recommend patients take herbs for 6 days in a row and then take 1 day off.
In Chinese medicine a general guideline is “one month of treatment for every year one has had the condition.” With that said each person is unique and the healing process varies widely from person to person.
