The clinical use of Chinese herbal medicine is very different from the Western idea of trying single herbs — such as “dandelion to detoxify the liver” or “wild chrysanthemum for colds.” It is also unlike the approach of so-called “herbalists” who know only a few plant remedies. The experimental stage of Chinese materia medica was completed more than three thousand years ago. Its integrated system of theory and clinical application was established by Zhang Zhongjing, the renowned physician and scholar of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His profound insight and highly effective clinical results remain vibrant and relevant today.

Chinese herbal prescriptions are carefully tailored by qualified TCM physicians for each individual patient. Rarely is a single herb used on its own; most formulas are thoughtfully designed combinations. In creating a prescription, the TCM physician:

1. Identifies the root cause of the illness.

2. Selects each herb with precision and care.

3. Balances the formula with meticulous attention.

4. Monitors the patient’s progress and adjusts as needed.

This approach aims to achieve the best possible outcomes — relieving or eliminating symptoms, preserving the function of vital organs, enhancing the body’s resistance and recovery, and slowing disease progression.

When prescribed by a physician with rigorous training and extensive clinical experience, Chinese herbal medicine offers treatment that is both safe and effective.

I have been using Chinese herbal medicine in my clinical practice for more than forty years to treat a wide range of illnesses and to promote health maintenance. I also taught herbal medicine for many years. I tailor each formula to the patient’s needs and select the most convenient form for use — such as pleasant-tasting herbal teas, small pills, topical applications, or herbal plasters.

Many patients are surprised — even amazed — by the results. Some have affectionately called it their “magic tea.”