Together with acupuncture, herbal medicine is a major pillar of Chinese medicine. Although acupuncture is the most famous modality in the West, for most of the history of Chinese medicine herbal medicine has been at the forefront, especially for internal medicine disorders.
More so than any other modality, herbal medicine exemplifies the principle that is at the heart of Chinese Medicine: individualized treatment for each and every patient based upon differential diagnosis of the illness they are seeking treatment for.
Herbal medicine in the Chinese tradition draws on a repertoire of thousands of different substances which are categorized by their therapeutic actions in the body, fundamental properties, optimal pairings/groupings, and the formulas they are used in. The Chinese pharmacopoeia lists over 6,000 different medicinal substances in terms of their properties and the disharmonies that they effectively treat. There are about 600 different medicinals in common use today.
The unique characteristic of Chinese herbal medicine is the degree to which the formulation is created. In other forms of herbal medicine, especially western herbal medicine, herbs are often delivered singly or combined into very small formulas of herbs with the same function.
In contrast, Chinese herbalists rarely prescribe a single herb to treat a condition. They create formulas instead, which usually contain four to twenty medicinals that both enhance and carefully balance the actions of each ingredient in the formula.
These balanced formulations reduce unwanted side effects often attributed to the use of pharmaceuticals, instead creating a synergistic effect that reflects the holistic nature of the diagnosis. Each formula is modified by the practitioner to suit the subtle nuances of the condition and constitution of the patient, making each formulation highly individualized and effective.
Quality Assurance
The FDA regulates Chinese herbal medicine in the United States. We carry only the highest quality herbs from companies that employ strict quality assurance, accurate species identification through gas chromatography (GC), safety testing, and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards. Our patent and topical medicines are manufactured only by U.S. companies in order to ensure products are free of heavy metals, pesticide residues, and other contaminants.
We carry CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) certified products, and guarantee that no endangered species will be bought or sold in our pharmacy. We are committed to this standard of practice in Chinese medicine and keep our patients informed on this critical issue.
Customized Chinese Herbal Formulas
We prepare customized formulas for each patient based on their constitution and presenting conditions using KPC Chinese herbal granules.
What are Chinese herbal granules?
Granules are made from decoctions of raw herbs that are cooked with water like a traditional tea. The liquid extract is then concentrated, spray dried, and ground into a fine granule powder. The advantages of using concentrated granules instead of raw herbs or prepared herbal medicine in pill form include safety, potency, and the ability to customize a group of herbs for each individual.
How strong are the herb granules?
Most granules are 5:1 concentrates, which means that each gram of the granules equals the potency of 5 grams of raw herb in decoction. Granules are prepared under the strictest laboratory conditions where time and temperature are precisely controlled, and each batch is tested to assure that it provides a minimum level of active ingredients.
Please click on the links below to read about the herbs we carry.
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