Chinese Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine serves to strengthen the body’s ability to heal and may be recommended as part of your treatment plan. Herbs can increase the rate of improvement when taken during a course of acupuncture and some conditions respond better to herbal medicine in general. It can be a great treatment option for those who don’t have the time to receive acupuncture as regularly as needed for the best results. Chinese herbal medicine formulations are individualized for each patient. Formulas typically contain 4-18 individual herbs that have been carefully combined to address a patient’s health concerns. The majority of herbs come from vegetable sources although mineral and animal products are also used. No endangered species are ever prescribed by our office and use of such species is strongly discouraged in order to preserve our biodiversity.
Herbal medicine is safe to take concurrently with most pharmaceuticals when prescribed by a qualified practitioner. Please disclose any dietary restrictions, allergies, medications and supplements (including dosages) to your herbalist so that modifications can be made to avoid potential allergic reactions and herb-drug interactions.
Our office most commonly prescribes herbal formulas in either granule, capsule, tablet or tea forms. Several variables go into deciding what the best form is for each patient such as cost, convenience, and diagnosis. WellSpace Acupuncture has a granule pharmacy allowing us to create customized prescriptions for patients (we have received a Chinese Herbal Compounding and Safety Certificate of Qualification by the NCCAOM, the same institution that offers board certification in acupuncture and Chinese Medicine in the U.S.). Granules can be dissolved in hot water, broth, or even mixed in smoothies or protein shakes. For patients who prefer encapsulated granules we will either prescribe a “ready-made” formula that we have in our pharmacy or write a prescription that can be filled online from an herbal dispensary. There are a number of herbal companies that offer effective, high-quality, ready-made formulas that are GMP-certified. Working with an herbal dispensary allows greater access to these products and we’ve received positive feedback from patients, most especially how convenient it is! Patients generally receive formulas by mail a day or two after filling a prescription.
All patients taking herbal medicine prescribed by WellSpace Acupuncture receive information regarding how to fill their prescription if using an online dispensary company, how to take their herbs including dosage, and possible side-effects. Only high quality herbal products that meet U.S. GMP standards or higher are prescribed.
