Hillsboro Acupuncture and Herb Clinic

While acupuncture has gained its popularity as an effective health care system in the United States, Chinese herbal medicine is still viewed by majority of Americans as an eccentric type of dietary supplement. However, this assumption is far from the truth of the effectiveness of herbal remedy. Herbal medicine is equally important in treating various conditions.

In many cases, herbal medicine used alone as means of treatment can yield great results. In general, a practitioner can draw the best result by combining the acupuncture and herbal medicine. The purpose of the herbal remedies in East Asian medicine is not to suppress the manifestation of illness, but rather to bring the out of balance factors in the body into harmony, thereby eliminating the cause of disease.

The combination of herbs are chosen for their synergistic ability to strengthen weaknesses, redirect excessive tendencies, move fluids, and excite stagnating tissue. Practitioners of herbal medicine assess pathogenic factors presented in a person's body in terms of signs, symptoms and palpable findings. Based on such information, practitioners chose a precise combination of herbs that can eliminate the particular pathogenic factors.

Five conditions Chinese Herbal Medicine excel in treating

1. allergy/cold/flu

2. cough/asthma

3. dizziness/vertigo

4. digestive disorder

5. women's health issues

Forms of Herbal Medicine

The most traditional form is the raw materials themselves, which are given to the patient who takes home and boils them up to decoction. The decocted form of herb is the most potent and effective, but it requires time and effort to prepare for decoction. 

While some patients do not like the smell of herb cooking or the taste of decoction, many of our patients express a strong affinity to their herbs including smell and taste.

For convenience, extracted powdered herbs are available. This is basically same as decoction but is already processed. Patients can add certain amount of powder into water to drink two or three times a day.

Herbal medicine is also available in pills, where the herbal substances are compressed into small tablets. These are also convenient and less costly than extracted powder. Pills are usually mild and slow in action. Thus, patient can take pills for longer period time for chronic conditions.

Ground herb powders are another form of herbal medicine, which was used quite often in the past. They are readily absorbable, convenient and easily stored form of medicinal preparation.

Various herbs are also prepared for external application in localized problem such as skin trouble, inflammation, swelling, bleeding, pain, oozing of fluids. They can be applied as powders, ointment, washes, steams, or soaks.

About Adverse Effects of Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine is generally considered safe because all ingredients come from the nature and are prepared in natural way. However, it can induce adverse effects.The possible symptoms of such effect may include but are not limited to, excessive thirst, headache, bloating, stomachache, nausea, insomnia, changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation. These incidents are usually mild and, in most cases, disappear once patient stop taking the medicine. Adverse effect can occur when herbal prescription does not  match exactly to patient' s current needs.

One important thing that needs to be considered is what Chinese called 'Ming Xuan (healing crisis)'. It is temporary aggravation or other unpleasant experience occurring within a few hours to a day or so after person taking herbs. This side-effect like symptom is the sign of body fighting the disease or cleansing itself with the help of herbs. In such case, usually a dramatic or expedited improvement in condition follows shortly after Ming Xuan symptoms dissipating. However, this phenomenon should be distinguished from actual adverse effect of herbs.

Though many of them are drawn from food sources and spices, Chinese herbs have been used as medicine, not daily consumed foods. They have specific functions, effects and contraindications. It is very important to take Chinese herbs only prescribed by qualified practitioners.