Taylor Acupuncture

Chinese Herbology is an incredibly complex and intricate medical system with written documentation of well over 2000 years.  It differs significantly from Western herbology in the sense that it is never used as a "one herb treats one condition" type of thing.  It uses complex and modifiable formulas of herbs to treat very specific medical conditions.

Each formula MUST be modified for the individual, and must be changed when the symptoms of the case change.  Therefore, it can be dangerous to simply start taking Chinese herbs without consulting an herbologist!  For example, most Americans do not know that Ginseng is contraindicated in a fairly large number of conditions.  This means that people can be making themselves WORSE if they are taking it...  However some conditions absolutely need Ginseng to help the patient recover.  Only a qualified practitioner can tell you if it is right for you.

Another difference is that the goal of Chinese medical treatment is to correct the patient's issues so that they no longer need herbs or treatment.  Our goal is NOT to keep you on a supplement or treatment program for the rest of your life.  The superior doctor helps the patient correct their imbalances, not perpetuate them.  Our herbal system stimulates your body to correct itself instead of the herbs simply causing a response in your body.

Chinese herbology uses a very complex system of herbal formula balancing, partial dependent on the flavors and temperatures of the herbs.  By temperature we mean whether the herb increases or decreases perceived body temperature (this could be thought of as increasing or decreasing metabolism).  Herbs are categorized from Very Cold to Very Hot, and their effects usually focus on specific areas of the body or specific internal organs.  For example, one herb may largely focus on warming the lungs and removing phlegm (for a specific type of cold/flu), while another herb may warm the uterus (as in cases of painful menstruation with white discharge and severe cramping).  To complicate matters further, the flavors of the herbs also give insight to their functions.  Sweet herbs usually tonify, while acrid herbs disperse and move, bitter herbs drain things downward, Sour herbs cause astringing, etc....

Most practitioners use about 400 herbs, and about 300 formulas, on a regular basis and must be exceptionally well versed in all the qualities, functions, contraindications, and common modifications for each.