Chinese Herbal Medicine — Natural Healing from Within

We default to granules — a freeze-dried extract you stir into hot water, takes 30 seconds. They taste bitter and earthy, not pleasant but tolerable. Most patients mix the daily dose into 4 oz of hot water twice a day and get used to it within a week. Raw decoction (boiled at home from sliced herbs) is stronger but takes 45 minutes of stovetop time per batch; we save it for cases where the extra potency clearly matters. Capsules are available if you really can't manage the taste.

Most are, but not all. Before we write a formula we look at your full medication list — every prescription, OTC, and supplement — and screen for known interactions. Blood thinners (warfarin, eliquis, plavix), immunosuppressants, lithium, MAOIs, and a few cardiac meds are the usual flags. When in doubt we hold the herbs and rely on acupuncture, which has no drug interactions.

Chinese herbs are regulated by the FDA as dietary supplements under DSHEA — not as drugs. That means they cannot legally claim to treat or cure specific diseases, and manufacturers are responsible for safety and labeling. We use US suppliers operating under GMP standards (Mayway, KPC, Treasure of the East) who test every batch for heavy metals, pesticides, sulfites and microbial contamination. We do not dispense gray-market or unsourced herbs.

Acute issues (a fresh cold, mild digestive upset, an early menstrual cramp): days, sometimes within hours. Chronic patterns (cycle, sleep, allergies, skin): expect 4-8 weeks before the new baseline becomes clear, and 8-12 weeks for stubborn skin conditions. Herbal formulas take 2-4 weeks to show full effect. We review at every visit and stop the formula when it's done its job — patients do not stay on herbs indefinitely.

Some yes, many no. Pregnancy has a specific list of contraindicated herbs (anything that moves blood strongly, certain laxatives, herbs traditionally classed as 'descending'). For pregnant or breastfeeding patients we use a much narrower toolkit and double-check every ingredient. Tell us at the first visit if you're pregnant, trying, or breastfeeding.

Single-herb supplements can help in specific cases, but classical Chinese formulas combine 8-15 ingredients precisely because herbs balance each other — one ingredient may amplify the chief action, another tempers harshness, a third guides the action to a specific organ. A formula is not a louder version of a supplement; it's a different category of intervention.

First herbal consult must be in-person — tongue and pulse exam genuinely matter for formula writing. After that, refills and minor adjustments can sometimes be handled by phone or video for established patients. We don't write formulas for people we haven't seen face-to-face.