Rancho Bernardo Acupuncture Acupuncture in San Diego, CA

East-Asian Herbal Medicine

Traditional East-Asian herbs are often used in conjunction with acupuncture for added therapeutic effect.  Herbs are plant-based medicines that have been safely used for thousands of years to treat a wide variety of medical conditions.  Plants contain many naturally-occurring chemical compounds and some of these compounds have medicinal benefits.  While many cultures have herbal medicine traditions, the sophistication of East-Asian herbal medicine is unsurpassed.  East-Asian herbal medicine has a long history reaching back several thousand years, and the resulting system is now used to treat a variety of internal medical issues - including conditions related to the respiratory system, digestive system, immune system,  reproductive system, and also issues related to chronic stress and mood regulation.  The herbal medicines I prescribe for my patients are in tablet form, which makes them easy to take and without any unpleasant taste.  

Together, we can tailor a course of treatment
to meet your unique health needs.

There are thousands of herbs used in traditional East-Asian medicine, of which about 300 are commonly used. You will generally receive a mixture of several different herbs in a formula that has been tailored to your condition.  Grouping herbs together in a formula is usually better than prescribing individual herbs by themselves because there are synergistic benefits associated with grouping certain herbs together, which increases the therapeutic effect of the herbal formula.  Additionally, herbs are grouped together in formulas in order to buffer the harshness that a single herb may have, thus greatly reducing the chance of unpleasant side effects.  The herbal formulas I prescribe are highly effective and very rarely produce any significant side effects.  However, it is important to tell me about all the medications and supplements you are currently taking so that we can avoid any unwanted interactions with your herbal formula.