Herbal Medicine and Modern Pharmacology
There is a growing body of research indicating that traditional uses of plant remedies and the known pharmacological activity of plant constituents often coincide. However, herbal medicine is distinct from medicine based on pharmaceutical drugs in a variety of ways.
- Because plants contain a complex group of chemical constituents, herbs are more balanced than medicines based on the extraction of an isolated active ingredient. Whole herbs in their natural state, like plants eaten as food, are far less likely than drugs to cause side effects.
- Chinese herbs are typically prescribed in combination, so that the different components of a formula tend to balance each other, creating a mutual synergy that increases efficacy and enhances safety.
- Chinese herbal medicine seeks primarily to correct internal imbalances rather than treat symptoms alone, therefore addresses the whole person. Therapeutic intervention is designed to encourage the body’s natural tendency toward healing and homeostasis.
Safety and Quality Concerns
Chinese herbs are very safe when prescribed correctly by a properly trained practitioner. Over the centuries doctors of Chinese medicine have compiled detailed information in herbal pharmacopeias and placed great emphasis on the protection of the patient. Careful attention to dosage and the combination of herbs, as well as any known drug-herb interactions, are subjects covered in depth in the education of a well-trained herbalist.
There are few side effects with Chinese herbs. Allergenic reactions are rare, and will cause no lasting damage if herbal treatment is discontinued as soon as symptoms appear. Occasionally digestive symptoms may occur due to the concentrated nature of herbs, but slight adjustments in an herbal formula will usually correct the problem.
We are committed to using only the best quality herbs, rigorously tested for quality, authenticity and lack of contaminants. The herbal products we carry are regulated by the FDA and follow strict GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) guidelines. We are also greatly concerned about the threat to wild and endangered animals and plants caused by the growing demand for traditional medicines. Following the recommendations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), we support strict prohibition of these herbal substances.
For more on the regulation and testing of Chinese herbs, see Safety and Quality.