Choosing the right herbal formula
With the amount of information & resources on the internet, as well as the increasing availability of Chinese herbal supplements in natural food stores, it’s easy to want to grab something for a quick fix. But how do you know if it’s really what you need?
If you’ve read through this site, you’ve no doubt heard me say that medicinal herbs (Chinese herbs or any type of herbs) are powerful and must be used properly. Consequently, I actually do not recommend self-herbalizing (vs self-medicating, as I like to call it) since the energetic and thermal natures, and functions of herbs, require more study than just reading a bottle.
I’ve had people call me looking for the pill/tablet form of various Chinese formulas and herbs for arthritis or headaches, for example, because they read on the internet that these particular formulas can help their condition. Well … it may help, but it may not. Each individual will have a different root cause for arthritis, a headache, or even menopause—so how can you use the same formula for everyone?! For example, to treat a “warm presentation” of a condition with warm herbs, or a condition of cold excess with more cold herbs would be disastrous.
Here’s an example of what happened when a herb was used incorrectly by companies and the public alike. Remember ephedra, aka ma huang? It was touted as the weight loss stimulant of the century and companies produced supplements left and right containing ephedra. This was a completely absurd and incorrect use of ephedra, and as a result, many people self-herbalizing for weight loss became ill. In the end, the FDA banned the use of ephedra. What a nightmare for the Chinese Medical community! When used appropriately, ephedra is an amazing herb, but these above actions affected our (Chinese herbalists‘) ability to use this herb.
So I implore you to seek professional advice before trying to use Chinese herbal medicine on your own. It really is for your own safety and health! And remember, most herbal supplements are pre-formulated withOUT you in mind! At the Classical True Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine clinic, herbs are tailored just for your specific health concerns. Within this site, you can read more about the different forms and qualities of Chinese herbs and how they can help you progress towards better health. Come check us out, and as always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Directions to the clinic
Click on your city below to get directions to the Classical True Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine clinic located in South Denver Colorado (Centennial - general map): Littleton, Lone Tree, Parker, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Greenwood Village, Englewood, Cherry Hills Village, DTC Denver Tech Center, Aurora, and Denver, CO.
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