What Is Herbal Therapy?

Herbal therapy is the use of natural substances, mostly plants from the earth, that may be used in a recipe preparation to help your body heal.  They are cures from nature.  Primitive man discovered herbs by watching animals graze on plants when they weren't feeling well.  In addition herbs were discovered by trial and error.  They learned which plants helped and which plants harmed.  Eventually, primitive people found plants that helped them sleep, plants that helped them stay awake, plants that cured stomach aches, and plants that soothed sunburned skin.

Herbal therapy not only offers relief for conditions but also offers benefits for people, in good health.  Well formulated herbal therapy offers the opportunity for staying healthy and increasing quality of life.

For Which Conditions does herbal therapy work best?

In general, herb therapy are best for functional disorders, hormonal imbalances, and “organic problems” (changes in tissue structure). For example, herb therapy can be applied to weak digestive power, estrogen deficiency conditions, and cysts and swellings. The effects of herbs are usually (but not always) seen after several days of regular use, rather than immediately, but once the effect are established they often persist for a long time. The combined use of acupuncture (and/or the other traditional health practices) plus herbs ( and perhaps other internal remedies) usually provides the most dramatic results.

Can Western and Chinese Medicine be combined?

Not only can the two systems be combined they can enhance each other’s effects. Chinese herbs may make it possible to take a lower dosage of modern medicine, to reduce their side effects, and obtain a better overall effect. Modern drugs may provide emergency relief for serious conditions that will allow long-term application of Chinese herbs the rest of the time. It is advised that modern drugs be taken at a different time (eg:1-2 hours apart) from herb combinations in order to avoid any chances of interactions within the digestive system, and that monitoring of the effect of drugs be continued, and perhaps increased, while the herb therapy is being administered. Acupuncture is compatible with virtually all modern medical techniques.