Chinese Acupuncture Clinic

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Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine function to promote the body's natural ability to heal itself.

Chinese Herbology

Chinese Herbology or Chinese Herbal Medicine  is the application of various combinations or formulas of Chinese herbs to treat and prevent a wide range of diseases while balancing the body and activating the body's natural healing process. Most formulas consist at least two or more different kinds of herbs. Chinese Herbal Medicine can be used by itself or in combination with Acupuncture as a supportive treatment.

Some people in the USA buy Herbs like Ginseng or Dang Gui from a supper market and take them singly for a long time without consulting a trained Chinese Herbalist. This can harm people's health since Chinese herbs are hardly ever prescribed singly. In a Chinese herbal formula, different herbs are prescribed to work as a team to enhance the positive effectiveness of each herb, while reducing the negative effects.

There are sophisticated rules and strategies for composing Chinese herbal formulas. A skilled Chinese herbalist can create an individualized herbal formula that fits the patient's current condition exactly and without side effects. The formula is modified accordingly as the condition improves or changes.

Here at The Acupuncture Clinic, Dr. Na Zhai sometimes recomand chinese herbs to support Acupuncture treatment result, if the condition needs. She also give separate consultation only for Chinese Herbs by request. The Chinese Herbs available at our clinic are in the following forms: raw herbs, concentrated powder, tea bags and classic formulas (tea pills).

Should you decide to use Chinese herbs for your condition, there are usually three steps of care involved:

Step 1 Symptomatic Care: During this stage your doctor is concerned with alleviating the symptoms causing you to seek her care. This phase of care takes only a short period of time. Once your symptoms are relieved, you will move on to Step 2.

Step 2 Corrective Care: In order to restore your health, your doctor must also determine the underlying cause of your illness, rather than simply address the symptoms. This involves the prescriptions to address the root of your concerns. This phase of care can take a period of time from weeks to months depend on how long the condition has been existing and how severe the existing condition is.

Step 3 Prophylactic Care: The final phase of your treatment includes maintenance therapy. Your doctor will prescribe herbs to keep your immune system strong and healthy, harmonize your body systems to support each other’s functions, so the body can maintain the optimal health and promote longevity. This phase of care is ongoing.

How To Take Chinese Herbs?

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, each herb has five properties (cold, cool, neutral, warm, and hot), and five flavors (sweet, Sour, pungent, bitter and salty), which are related to its therapeutic actions. Decocted (boiled down) raw herbs do not always suit the patient's palate. However, the taste of the herbal tea is part of the therapeutic action of the herbs. It seems that after time, the body begins to crave a certain formula, especially the ones that help the body and you will find the taste to be more attractive.

For people who cannot stand the taste , there are alternatives. There are herbal formulas made in form of pills, tablets, powder and tincture. These are not going to be as beneficial as an individually tailored raw herbal formula, but they work well for most common conditions and they are convenient to take.

How To Cook Chinese Herbs?

Container

Use a container with a lid. Ceramic containers(like a teapot)is the best for cooking Chinese herbs, and glass or stainless steel are good,too. Avoid cast iron or other metals; some Chinese herbs can interact with these metals causing chemical reactions that can alter the therapeutic qualities of your herbs, or even worse, can have an unhealthy effect on your body.

Soak The Herbs

Place the herbs in water, covering the herbs by about one inch. Let them sit for about a half hour without turning on the heat under the teapot.

Cook The Herbs

Bring the water to a rolling boil, then turn down the heat to a low simmer. Cook for about 15-20 minutes. The time for cooking the herbs is critical to draw out the therapeutic qualities, and depends on the properties of the herbs you are cooking. The average time is 20 minutes, although some herbs need only to be steeped for 5 minutes, while others will be cooked for an hour or more. By then you will be told extra.

Strain The Tea (tea #1, about one 8-ounces cup)

Add water again to the same herbs and cook

Strain The Tea Again (tea #2, about one 8-ounces cup)

Mix Tea #1 and Tea #2 for drinking.

When To Take The Herbs?

It is the best to drink the herb tea warm and on an empty stomach. This provides the best absorption of the ingredients of the herbs. You can drink half the tea a half hour to one hour before dinner, or 2-3 hours after dinner. refrigerate the remaining tea for next day and take it about a half-hour before breakfast.

·        If you find the taste so unpalatable that you can’t drink it, water it down a bit, Or add a little honey to sweet it. This should only be done with the consent of your herbalist. Honey or anything else can adversely affect the therapeutic qualities of the formula and so it should only be added when absolutely necessary. It seems that after a time, the body begins to crave a certain formula, especially the ones that helps the body and you’ll find the taste to be more attractive.

·        If the herb tea causes a little stomach upset, drink the herb tea one hour after eating. If the tea causes nausea, drink some fresh ginger juice or eat some fresh ginger before taking the formula.

Combining Herbs With Other Medications

·        If you are taking other medicines, take them at least one hour before or after you drink the herb tea.