Frequently asked questions FAQs about Chinese herbal medicine

Frequently asked questions FAQs

This is just a selection frequently asked questions FAQs about Chinese herbal medicine. If you have another question which isn't answered here, please do get in touch. There's no such thing as a silly question! I'm always happy to have a 15 minute chat about herbs, and to give you the opportunity to 'meet' me on Zoom to help you decide whether Chinese herbal medicine is right for you.

• What can Chinese herbal medicine help with?

A very wide range of conditions! There are hundreds of herbs to select from to create a formula to benefit you, according to your unique presenting symptoms and underlying general health.

I work with all aspects of women’s health – from the onset of periods (menarche) and all the problems with menstruation, through fertility,

menopause and healthy ageing. I also have a particular interest in helping people manage autoimmune and post-viral illness; reducing symptoms such as pain, inflammation, or digestive issues; improving sleep and energy levels; boosting cognitive function; and managing the emotional impact of living with chronic illness.

• I have ME/CFS, Long Covid, Fibromyalgia or another fatigue-based illness. How can herbs help me?

Herbal medicine has a long tradition of supporting people with chronic illness. There are herbs to clear lingering viruses, herbs to support energy production, herbs to reduce pain, herbs to clear brainfog and improve cognitive function, herbs to support the immune system, herbs to aid digestion and relieve constipation or diarrhoea, herbs to help with sleep, herbs to support you emotionally… your formula will be tailored to you as a unique individual.

As a carer to someone with severe ME/CFS, POTS, Sjogren’s Syndrome and anxiety I understand the impact that chronic illnesses have on physical and emotional health. I promise never to tell you it’s all in your head or to suggest that going for a daily walk would cure you. I’ve heard it all and fought all the battles created by the stigma around these illnesses. I promise to listen, understand and support in whatever way works for you. Herbs can help to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

• Does it work?

There are many thousands of research papers, both from China and from the west, showing that Chinese herbal medicine is effective at treating a wide range of health concerns.

Plant-based medicine has been used across the world in many different herbal traditions for thousands of years, and many western drugs are developed from plant compounds. But what I love is that modern science shows us that plants have a range of pharmacological actions; they can contain powerful compounds which are antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, anti-hypertensive, diuretic, hormone-like, laxative, vasodilatory… the list goes on. But when using the whole plant (or part of it) rather than just one isolated compound, there are generally fewer side effects.

• Is it safe?

Yes! As long as you are consulting a qualified practitioner who obtains herbs from an approved supplier.

Here in the UK we currently have two training courses accredited by the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine, which are also recognised by the EHTPA (others are currently going through the accreditation process). Practitioners who have trained on these courses have a high level of knowledge of herbs and formulae, drug interactions, medical red flags and will have had hundreds of hours of supervised and assessed clinical practice as well as all the theoretical training.

We also have a handful of suppliers approved by the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine; using these pharmacies we can be sure that there are no contaminants in the herbs and that the herbs we prescribe are dispensed accurately.

If you are buying Chinese medical herbs off the internet without professional guidance, I cannot guarantee the origin or the safety of what you are buying.

• Does Chinese herbal medicine contain animal products?

I do not use any animal products in any of my prescriptions. I only use plant-based medicine.

In China, animal products are used fairly regularly, but here in the UK that is not really permitted (although some herbalists use a limited range of animal products in their formulae). It is possible that ready-made Chinese herbal products you buy online without consulting a herbalist could contain animal products. But nothing you get on prescription from me comes from any animal.

• How do I take the herbs?

For most people, you’ll drink them. Most of my patients receive their herbs as sachets of granules to make up in hot water, just like making a coffee or an instant soup in a cup. Most formulae are dark brown/black when made up, because for many herbs the active compounds we need are in the roots and twigs of the plant – I only mention that because people sometimes think herbal medicine will look green and leafy.

It is possible to request the raw herbs to boil up yourself every day, and it is possible to receive your herbs as capsules, however there are disadvantages to these options (boiling herbs every day is time-consuming, and capsules cost more!) so most people choose the granules.

• How much do they cost?

This varies according to your specific formula, but as a general guide you should expect your herbs to cost around £25-30 per week. It can be more, it can be less. It’s considerably cheaper than a weekly acupuncture treatment and more effective because you get the impact of the herbs on your health every day.

And it’s definitely better for your health than a daily coffee shop visit or a weekly takeaway…

It is always worth investing in your health!

• How long will I take herbs for?

Until you feel you don’t need them any more. For some people this is just a few weeks, for others it can be months – generally the longer you have had the problem the deeper it can be, which means it takes longer to clear or get it under control. You are totally in charge of how long you take the herbs for, and when you feel you have achieved your goal you can stop or you might choose to continue to take a much smaller maintenance dose.

It is likely that your herbal formula will change over time, focusing on different aspects of your health as needed, so the price may also change as every formula is priced individually.

• Are there any side effects?

For most people there are absolutely no side effects. Some people have some minor digestive disturbance for a day or two, sometimes a headache or ‘fluey’ feeling, but this should resolve in a couple of days. If you are taking herbs prescribed by me and are concerned about something, just contact me, I’m always happy to discuss any issues. It sometimes helps to reduce the dose for a few days while your body adapts.

• Do I have to boil them up for hours?

If you choose to receive raw herbs then yes you would need to boil them. Many of the herbs in your formula are likely to be roots and twigs which can take some time to cook up. This is quite time-consuming (and often a little smelly), so most patients choose to receive their herbs as granules to make up in a mug with hot water.

• I’ve heard they taste bad…?

Chinese herbs can be an acquired taste… The flavour will depend on the specific herbs in your formula, some are quite sweet, others quite bitter, with a very ‘planty/earthy’ background taste and smell. It’s certainly an unfamiliar flavour at first but it’s amazing how quickly you adapt to the taste. Some people prefer to make it up as a long weak drink, others prefer to make it short and strong to just ‘down in one’. If it helps, you can add a little honey or just have something tasty to eat afterwards.

• Can I take herbs if I’m already taking western medicines?

Yes. Some herbs may be contraindicated with certain medications but we will always discuss any medications you are taking during your initial consultation so drug-herb interactions can be avoided.

• What happens in the initial consultation?

I’ll send you a Zoom link so we still ‘meet’ face-to-face, a phone call really isn’t good enough. Then we discuss what has brought you to the clinic – your symptoms, medical history, any medications you are taking, and I’ll run through a head-to-toe checklist to make sure we’ve covered everything. I also need to see your tongue and will probably ask you to send me photos of the top surface and underside of your tongue. It’s also a chance for you to ask me any questions, there’s no such thing as a silly question!

Once you have started taking herbs we’ll keep in contact and review your progress regularly. This can be via another short zoom call or just a quick email.

• Why do you ask for photos of my tongue?

In Chinese medicine the tongue is an important diagnostic tool. Looking at the colour, shape and coating of your tongue, plus the sublingual veins, tells me a lot about your health and is a good way to track the progress of treatment along with monitoring your symptoms.

• What experience and training do you have…?

I’m a degree-qualified acupuncturist, with a post-graduate diploma in Chinese herbal medicine from White Crane Academy. This three-year diploma course is approved by EHTPA and RCHM and I am fully insured. I also have a post-graduate diploma in Chinese nutritional medicine from the Northern College of Acupuncture, and am an NHS-PCI accredited health and wellbeing coach. I’ve been in practice since 2010 and have treated hundreds of patients over that time.