What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Chinese Herbal Medicine was first documented over 2000 years ago in the Ancient text, Shang Han Lun. At the time of writing, the people of China had been stricken by numerous pathogenic viruses and bacterium. Professor Zhang Zhongjing (one of the most eminent Physicians of the Han Dynasty) created an extensive number of holistic formulas that included a number of herbs to treat these conditions. These formulas have become the foundation of modern Chinese Herbal Medicine. Formulas today, are not only used to treat viruses and bacterium, but as a complete internal medicine for most chronic and acute problems.
How does Chinese Herbal Medicine differ from Western Herbal Medicine prescriptions?
Chinese Herbal Medicine differs from modern Western Herbal Medicine by the balance and interaction of multiple herbs in a formula, rather than the prescription of single herbs. At Encompass Health Centre, herbal formulas are available in pills or powder form.
How does it work?
Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners prescribe based on the herbs individual post digestive qualities, as well as drawing from thousands of years of documented clinical history. Each herb is classified into:- nature, flavour and which organ system it treats. This gives an indication to how the herbs will affect the body, post digestion. It doesn’t come to much surprise that active constituents of these herbs are now being isolated and used for many bio-medical conditions today. In recent times, Western scientific researchers have discovered and isolated a number of chemicals and phytonutrients that show to have positive effects in specific condition.
Some conditions that have been sucessfully treated with Chinese Herbs?
- Stubborn dermatological conditions, including acne.
- Menstrual pain/absence and PMS.
- Fertility.
- Sleep disturbances including insomnia.
- Stress, anxiety and depression.
- Allergies.
- High blood pressure.
- Fatigue and frequent colds and flues.
- Indigestion and other digestive complaints.
The endangered species issue.
Chinese Herbal Medicine has had a lot of bad press over the past few decades due to the rare usage of endangered ingredients. This has almost been eliminated world wide, and in most patient presentations there is always an alternative ingredient that can be used. The importation and use of endangered ingredients in Australia is banned by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Encompass Health Centre is proud to say that no endangered species are used in the clinic, and in-fact no animal products are prescribed by our Chinese Herbalist.
For more information, read about our Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioner Jeremy Dotch, or contact us on 02 9904-1333 to make an appointment.
