What is a Chinese Herbal Formula?
A Chinese herbal formula typically includes several, or sometimes more than ten, individual herbs. Each herb is carefully dosed and plays a specific role, working together harmoniously like a team. Just as different departments collaborate to maintain balance in a country, the herbs in a formula work to restore balance in the human body. With over 5,000 years of cultural heritage, more than ten thousand effective formulas have been recorded in Chinese medicine history.
The sheer number of formulas makes it challenging for modern researchers to fully grasp the underlying principles of Chinese herbal medicine. It is often classified as alternative medicine because its complexity resists the conventional research methods used for Western drugs. However, clinical practice is distinct from research. With systematic education and advanced clinical training, a qualified TCM physician can understand the principles of combining herbs to create personalized formulas for their patients.
The ancient wisdom encapsulated in these historical formulas provides a valuable resource for modern practice. By studying and adapting these formulas, we can merge their essence into contemporary clinical treatments, bringing together ancient wisdom and modern healing.
The Individualized Nature of Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine is highly personalized. A TCM doctor begins by gathering detailed information about each patient through four basic diagnostic methods: inspection, listening and smelling, inquiring, and palpation. These methods help the doctor understand the etiology and pathogenesis of the condition and make a TCM diagnosis, all guided by specific traditional Chinese medicine theories.
Based on this diagnosis, the doctor determines the treatment principle and selects various herbs to create a tailored herbal formula. While the process may seem straightforward, it is actually quite complex. Crafting an effective, individualized herbal prescription requires not only a deep understanding of medical knowledge and TCM principles but also extensive clinical experience and personal insight.
Chinese herbal medicine
Science & Art
For example：The Unique Role of Ginger in Chinese Herbal Medicine
Ginger is widely known around the world as a flavorful spice and is commonly used to alleviate nausea, bloating, and gas. Commercially, it is often promoted for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, in Chinese herbal medicine, ginger is used in a much more nuanced way.
When ginger is incorporated into Chinese herbal medicine, we focus not only on its basic functions, such as stopping vomiting or relieving gas, but more importantly on its Chi (temperature) and Wei (properties). Unlike modern approaches that emphasize isolated active components like vitamins or antioxidants, in traditional Chinese medicine, we consider ginger's role in balancing the five elements, its ability to guide energy flow through specific meridians, and the organs it targets.
Ginger is typically combined with other herbs to create a formula, where it can serve as either the primary ingredient or a supporting one, depending on the patient’s condition. Many classical herbal formulas developed by ancient Chinese physicians include ginger and continue to be widely used in modern TCM clinics. Through TCM diagnosis, we determine if a ginger-based formula is suitable for the individual, and we can adjust the formula to fit their specific condition.
Herbal Medicine at Our Clinic
At our clinic, we offer both internal and topical herbal treatments. For internal herbs, we provide various forms, including granules, powders, and patent pills or tablets. We collaborate with some of the most renowned Chinese herbal pharmacies in the USA to ensure the highest quality herbal medicine for our patients.
The brands we normally use include TCMZone, Evergreen, KPC, Treasure of the East, and Guang Ci Tang, etc.
Features of Different Types of Herbal Medicine
Patent Pills or Tablets
These are the most convenient and typically the most economical type of herbal medicine.
The formula ingredients are fixed and cannot be modified, making them suitable for common conditions with predictable patterns. For example, for anxiety caused by liver qi stagnation and spleen qi deficiency, the patent formula Xiao Yao San is often recommended. For insomnia due to spleen qi deficiency and heart blood deficiency, Gui Pi Wan is an excellent option. For insomnia caused by phlegm heat disturbing the heart spirit, Wen Dan Pian may be effective.
A TCM practitioner will recommend the most appropriate patent herbs based on your individual diagnosis.
2. Herbal Granules
Granule herbs, developed in recent decades, have become increasingly popular due to their convenience in today’s fast-paced lifestyle. They are pre-processed by qualified herbal companies, making them simpler to prepare and easier to digest, while offering the same effectiveness as raw herbs. The cost is comparable to raw herb prescriptions but with added convenience.
Granule herbs also allow for personalized treatment. Classical formulas can be adjusted, or new ones created, to ensure a synergistic effect that aligns with TCM’s holistic approach to wellness.
