Herb Consults

I’m often asked if Chinese Herbal Medicines are “proven”. I’m not real sure what people mean when they ask this, but I think they want to know if herbs are safe.

To answer if herbs are safe – the majority of the time, yes, herbs are safe. However, you need to know if this herb is right for your health problem and your constitution. You need to know if this herb will affect the other medicines and supplements you are taking.

Herbs and herbal medicines should be taken within the context of your particular health problem, not just because you read that it may be good for a specific illness. You may have other health problems that an herb could aggravate.

A number of years ago, ephedra was used for weight loss, and some people developed kidney failure and died as a result of taking this herb. Western MD’s were prescribing it for their patients that wanted to lose weight, not herbalists. As a result of this, ephedra was banned by the FDA, and now Traditional Chinese Medicine herbalists are unable to use it for it’s ancient indications. Any herbal formula containing it, had to be reformulated with different herbs. Yet ephedra remains a good example of an herb that should never be used by anyone with high blood pressure or kidney disease.  Read more... (361 words, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)