Herbal Therapy

Core principle

TCM conditioning follows the principle: “treat the symptom in acute cases, treat the root when stable.” Beyond herbal medicine there are many non-drug (external) therapies and lifestyle measures.

1. Internal herbal medicine

Using the four natures (cold, hot, warm, cool) and five flavours (sour, bitter, sweet, pungent, salty) of herbs to correct imbalance.

• Decoctions: tailored to the individual, flexible and fast-acting — suited to more complex conditions needing rapid adjustment.
• Patent herbs: pills, powders and pastes that are convenient to take — suited to stable, typical patterns of chronic conditions.

2. Meridian external therapies (non-drug)

• Acupuncture & moxibustion: needling for pain, endocrine and nervous-system regulation; moxa’s warmth suits cold-deficient constitutions.
• Tui-na massage: relaxing muscles and unblocking meridians for neck/back pain, indigestion and insomnia.
• Cupping: clearing damp, promoting circulation — for damp, cold or muscle ache.
• Gua sha: clearing heat and moving blood — for early colds, heat stroke, sore throat or stiff muscles.
• Acupoint plasters (e.g. sanfu): for respiratory conditions, allergic rhinitis, joint pain.

3. Dietary therapy

“Food and medicine share the same source.” Eating is matched to constitution:

• By pattern: cold patterns favour warming foods (ginger, lamb, leek); heat patterns favour cooling foods (mung bean, bitter melon, pear); deficiency uses tonics (astragalus, red date, tremella, yam) by type.
• Medicinal cuisine: adding suitable herbs to cooking (e.g. angelica chicken, astragalus duck).

4. Emotional & exercise care

• Emotional regulation: TCM links anger to the Liver and overthinking to the Spleen; care addresses the mind as well as the body.
• Traditional exercises: tai chi, baduanjin and wuqinxi unite body, breath and mind — suited to older adults and those with chronic conditions.

5. Other therapies

• Ear-seed pressure: pressing seeds on ear points for insomnia or pain.
• Foot soaks: warm soaks before bed (with mugwort, ginger, etc.) to aid sleep and warmth.

These methods are chosen by pattern and constitution — please consult a registered practitioner. Results vary between individuals.