The practice of herbal medicine has been fine-tuned for its efficacy over centuries and is a true display of Chinese medicine’s elegant unification of science and art. In the hierarchy of mastery over the scope of Chinese Medicine, herbal medicine sits at the top.
Herbal medicine differs from other forms of Western medicine in that it takes into account an intricate pattern of symptoms unique to one’s constitution and one’s relationship to their immediate environment. This collection of symptoms, known as pattern differentiation, indicates the source of pathology based on Chinese Medicine Theory. Chinese herbal medicine therefore does more than treat symptom for symptom by seeking to identify and correct the root cause of disease and is also informed from researched biomedical pharmacology, pathology and physiology.
Because herbal formulas are constructed to work in harmony with the body’s natural order, long-term healing can be achieved without harsh side effects - Chinese herbal medicine provides a direction for the body to come back into balance on all levels.
​​​Herbal & nutritional consultations are available in-person or via a virtual platform and includes:
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A thorough intake covering your health history, current symptoms, health concerns and goals.
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Your constitution and pathology are addressed from Chinese medicine and Western perspectives to help you understand your condition and we discuss how an herbal formula and/or a combination of custom nutrition and lifestyle actions can help. The exact constituents of any herbs selected, along with how and why they work together for your condition will also be discussed so you have a clear and comfortable understanding of your formula. (Please also see our FAQ guide on safety).
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How to use Chinese medicine tools at home such as gua sha, acupressure and physical practices that fit into your lifestyle such as qigong, meditation, exercise, etc.
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You’ll also learn how to start building a mini kitchen medicinary at home with common items you didn’t know were in the Chinese medicine pharmacopeia, along with their nutritional value in order to understand how to properly support yourself in a way that works with your constitution & lifestyle.​
A prescribed herbal formula can be arranged for delivery to your home and has the option of coming prepared in a variety of forms: bulk (aka raw herbs - directions are provided on how to decoct and store), granules (powdered extract to dissolve in warm water), pre-formulated pills (i.e. patent formula), tincture (prepared herbal extract) and topical.
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Herbal medicine works best when the option chosen is the one that best suits your ability to reliably and consistently stick to an herbal regimen to achieve optimal results.
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CONDITIONS TREATED WITH HERBAL MEDICINE
The conditions herbal medicine can be used to address are vast and cover a range of health concerns from musculoskeletal pain & tissue repair to chronic, or more complex symptoms involving all major systems in the body, included but not limited to the following examples:
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IMMUNE & ENDOCRINE: allergies, cold/flu, immune support, autoimmune or metabolic conditions
DERMATOLOGY: skin rashes, eczema, acne, post-herpetic neuralgia (shingles)
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MUSCULOSKELETAL: acute or chronic pain, injury, recovery and athletic performance
RESPIRATORY & CARDIOVASCULAR: asthma, shortness of breath, palpitations
HEAD, EYES, EARS, NOSE, THROAT & ORAL: Headaches, migraines, visual disturbance, tinnitus, facial pain, Bell’s Palsy, TMJ, toothache, dizziness & vertigo
GASTROINTESTINAL: IBS-C, IBS-D, heartburn, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, ulcerative colitis, crohn's, blood sugar regulation for diabetes support
GENITOURINARY & REPRODUCTIVE: dysmenorrhea, irregular menses, menopausal support, incontinence, urinary difficulty, infertility, prostate & sexual health
NEUROLOGIC & PSYCHOLOGIC: motor disturbances, post-stroke sequelae, feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia
SAFETY + CERTIFICATIONS
When working with herbal medicine, it is important to engage a qualified practitioner who can accurately asses your specific condition, current medications, symptoms and state of health rather than attempt to seek herbal treatment through an independent search. Meghan is a board certified Chinese medicine herbalist and wishes to support you in an integrative manner with your other primary care physicians, ND’s or other specialists, as herbal medicine is not a substitute for many prescription medications. While there are few contraindications and potential side effects from working with herbal medicine, your current medications, supplements and allergies are also addressed to ensure your safety. Licensed Chinese Medicine practitioners spend thousands of hours of study dedicated to the practice of herbal medicine starting with the pharmacopoeia of 360+ herbs individually, before moving on to understanding how they work together and how they can be modified for specific presentations within hundreds of classical Chinese Medicine formulas.
If you are considering whether herbal medicine may be right for you, or have questions regarding safety, efficacy, etc., you are encouraged to book a free consultation to discuss your concerns, and to please see FAQ’s on Good Manufacturing Practices that ensure supplements recommended are of the highest purity, and are harvested in reverence of organic traditions free of pesticides, heavy metals or other contaminants.