Commonly asked questions on TCM
Q: How effective are Chinese herbal medicines?
A: These herbal medicines form the basis of a medical system that is used
by a quarter of the world's population. This is a natural form of therapy that
lacks the dramatic impact of medical drugs, which often lead to side effects.
Chinese herbal medicines act in a more gentle and gradual manner, assisting the
body to heal itself in an holistic way, so that the root cause of the problem is
treated along with the symptoms.
What is it good for?
A: TCM is effective in treating a wide range of diseases and ailments,
and complements the weaknesses of orthodox medical treatments. One good example
of this is the Chinese use of tonic medicines to strengthen and supplement parts
of the body that have become weak or are not functioning at full capacity. In
this way, TCM successfully treats many chronic and degenerative conditions,
boosting the immune system and restoring normal function.
Q: How are herbal medicines different from conventional medicines?
A: Each herb contains dozens of active chemicals that occur in a natural
form. The Chinese believe that these actives have evolved in nature side by side
for good reason and to separate one from the other would be upsetting a natural
balance, of which human beings are also a part. The modern scientific approach
is to isolate the directly effective actives and manufacture them synthetically,
producing powerful drugs that may also have unwanted side effects.
Q: How is Chinese herbal medicine different from other forms of herbalism?
A: Over its long history, Chinese herbalists have discovered how to combine
herbs so that the beneficial effects are maximised and the unwanted effects are
minimised. This has lead to the development of a large number of traditional
herbal formulas that are designed to treat a wide variety of common imbalances.
When prescribing, a Chinese herbalist will base his prescription on one or more
of these traditional formulas, making minor adjustments for each individual.
Q: Are there any side effects?
A: Chinese herbal medicine has evolved in such a way as to minimise unwanted
side effects. Those that do occur are usually mild and are easily dealt with,
such as stomach upset or diarrhea. Very rarely there may be an allergic
reaction, so you should make sure to inform your practitioner if you have a
history of any type of allergy.
Q: How long does a course of treatment take and what can I expect?
A: As a general rule, the longer you have had the problem and the older you
are, the longer the time of treatment that is required. Simple ailments such as
a common cold or 'flu can be treated in three to five days, whereas a chronic
degenerative condition such as rheumatoid arthritis may require a continuous low
dosage of herbal medicines for life. Usually a course of treatment with Chinese
herbal medicines is two to three months. In the early stages there may be a
temporary worsening of the symptoms as the body goes through a cleansing and
rebalancing process. This usually passes within a week or so, after which there
is a steady improvement as the body comes into balance and healing takes place.
Q: How do I take Chinese herbal medicines?
A: Cathay Herbal provides herbal medicines in two forms; concentrated pills
or tablets, and water-soluble granules. Generally, the formulas are made into
pills and the single herbs come as water-soluble granules
