When do I use Herbal Medicine?
Most common question patients ask is “For what kinds of conditions do you prescribe herbal medicine?”
To answer that question, let’s look at some categories of Traditional Chinese Medicine formulations.
Tonics
Probably one of the most popular and well known types of herbs are referred to as tonics.
Tonics can boost deficient heat, Yin, Yang, fluids, Blood, Qi. Generally applicable for weak, deficient, elderly, post-surgery, illness recovery patients.
Some common tonics include: Ginseng root, Astragalus root, Rehmannia root , Chinese Angelica root, Cordyceps, and Lycium fruit.
Invigorators
Pain and inflammation reducing herbs that move stagnant blood and qi
Usually indicated in pain symptoms due to acute trauma, chronic stagnation, stress, and even poor diet. Symptoms such as musculoskeletal issues, migraine and tension headaches are appropriate for these herbal formulations
Some common invigorators include: Turmeric, Saffron, Lindera root and Corydalis
Clearing
Herbs to clear excess heat, cold, damp, phlegm and exterior or wind
Clearing herbs are applied for symptoms such as fever and chills, headache, thirst, sweating, coughing, phlegm, wheezing, and general muscle aches.
Some common clearing herbs include: Skullcap root, Coptis root, Honeysuckle flower, forsythia fruit, Angelica root, Fritillaria blue, Cinnamon twig, and Mint leaf
Harmonizers
Combination of herbs to harmonize the imbalance between the organs, mainly Liver, Gallbladder, and Stomach channels
Common symptoms that are indicated for Harmonizers are Hypochondriac and epigastric dissension and pain, nausea, vomiting, stomach discomforts, loss of appetite, bitter taste in the mouth, and other Shao Yang symptoms
Some common harmonizers include Bupleuri root, Peony root, Atractylodes root, Cyperis root, and Pinellia Root
