Chinese Medicine has several powerful tools at its disposal. Depending on the situation, herbs may be a necessary part of your treatment because they affect the body in a way that is different from acupuncture. For instance, hormone imbalances respond better to treatment once a combination of acupuncture and herbs are used.
Our goal is to provide the most effective service possible while making Chinese Medicine accessible.
What should I expect?
If you are a candidate for herbal therapy, we’ll send you a questionnaire through our secure portal. This allows us to gather information about the chief complaint as well as get an in-depth understanding of your entire health. Sometimes, symptoms that don’t seem related are interconnected in Chinese Medicine. A common example would be that some people who experience migraines also have digestive complaints.
After filling out the questionnaire, we review your chart and if necessary follow up with a short phone call if there is any need for clarification. During your acupuncture visits, you may also notice how we take your pulse or look at your tongue which will assist in choosing the right formula for you.
When should I start seeing results?
This depends on the condition. If you are experiencing something that just started recently, people may notice a lot of change after just a few doses. Sometimes it takes a few days to notice something. More complex and chronic cases can be slower to respond.
Either way, you should notice a positive trend soon into herbal therapy. We don’t keep patients on formulas for long periods if there is no appreciable change for the better. Also, we always do follow ups on a regular basis which allow us to see how things are progressing. Just like in Western Medicine, there are times where the dose may have to be changed or a new formula has to be used to get the best possible results.
How long do I have to be taking herbs for?
This varies depending on the condition. Some conditions are as short as a couple of weeks. For instance, dealing with symptoms left over from a cold are quick to treat.
Most conditions we see, on the other hand, average between 1-4 months while more complex but not as frequently seen conditions can go on for much longer.
Once the symptoms are gone, you may be put on a constitutional formula for a few weeks and then taken off of herbs entirely. The goal is to use herbs only as needed and then let the patient make the appropriate lifestyle choices to support the progress they made while on herbs.
Are herbs safe to take?
Relying on a qualified herbalist is what makes herbs safe. First of all, a proper diagnosis is needed which is why we go to great lengths to thoroughly understand what you are experiencing. We also make sure we have considered your medical history so that you’re prescribed what is right for you.
Secondly, the quality of herbs and how they are sourced are very important. Our supplier offers professional grade products with a rigorous standard for purity and authenticity. They only sell to licensed practitioners. We use products from Classical Pearls.
How much does it cost?
It is always good to check our What To Know section in case there have been any price changes. At the time of this writing, however, the fee schedule is as follows.
Consultations:
initial consultation: $15
follow up consultation: $10
Cost of herbs:
Being a nonprofit, we have arranged deals with our provider who gives us professional grade herbs at heavily discounted rates. We pass that savings onto you.
A bottle from Classical Pearls is $22 plus tax which lasts for 2 weeks at an average dose.
