Overview
Chinese herbal medicine combines roots, bark, seeds and flowers into a single formula. A typical formula has eight to fifteen ingredients, each chosen to balance the others.
No two guests receive the same prescription. Your physician writes it from your consultation and changes it as your body responds.
Why it’s done
Guests come to herbal medicine for:
- Poor sleep and waking at night
- Bloating and other digestive complaints
- Low energy and fatigue
- Menopausal symptoms
- Recovery after illness
Risks
Herbs are medicine, and they can interact with other medicine. Possible effects include:
- An upset stomach or a bitter taste
- Rarely, an allergic reaction
- Interactions with prescription drugs
- Take blood thinners, diabetes or blood pressure medication
- Have liver or kidney disease
- Have surgery scheduled
How you prepare
- Bring a full list of the medications and supplements you take, with doses.
- Avoid coffee and strongly coloured food on the morning of your consultation, as the physician will look at your tongue.
What you can expect
Before the procedure
A full consultation and pulse diagnosis, lasting about an hour.
During the procedure
The clinic’s dispensary prepares your formula, usually within a day. It may be a tea you drink twice a day, granules dissolved in water, or pills. Every few days your physician checks how you are and adjusts the formula.
After the procedure
You leave with a supply for home, labelled in English, and follow-up appointments by video.
Results
Herbs work gradually. Most guests notice changes in sleep or digestion within one to two weeks. A full course can run one to three months.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Every case is different. Our partner physicians advise what is right for you.
