Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) developed a unified system of diagnosis and treatment over the course of around 2000 years. Through scholarly analysis and medical inquiry, Chinese medicine developed into the advanced system that we have today. TCM has been using observational methods and clinical trial for centuries, long before the scientific method was introduced. TCM is one of the most thoroughly tested forms of medicine in the world. In China, TCM was not “alternative medicine”, it was medicine. TCM has developed protocols to treat every illness ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics, from mild colds to heart disease and mental illness. In the modern day, Chinese medicine has continued to advance and has developed protocols to treat illnesses that did not exist in earlier centuries, but have become common today due to environmental and lifestyle changes. For example, autoimmune disease is now commonplace, but was virtually unheard of in previous generations. And while heart disease and cancer have always existed, the 20th century has witnessed a huge rise in the prevalence of these conditions. These changes have necessitated doctors and scholars of Chinese medicine to develop diagnostics and treatments to address modern illnesses holistically. About Chinese Herbs Chinese herbs are not usually prescribed individually, but in formulas. The right Chinese herbal formula will be very safe and is usually very effective. When properly prepared and taken at correct dosage under the supervision of a competent practitioner of Chinese medicine, side-effects are rare. Chinese herbs come in various forms: Raw herbs need to be cooked and strained. This method is the most labor intensive but generally produces the best results. Tinctures are alcohol extractions of herbs. They are easy to take and are highly effective. Some believe that they are even more potent than decocted raw herbs. Because of their convenience and the fact that they can be custom formulated, they are usually my first choice. Granules/powdered herbs are also highly effective. These are also customizable. They are easy to take and need only to be dissolved in a small amount of hot water. Pills are ready-made and are not usually custom formulated. They are a good option if one needs to start herbs immediately, and they are on hand. They also have a long shelf-life. While pills can be effective, in my experience they are the least potent form of Chinese herbs. They can be difficult to digest for those with sensitive stomachs and are not suitable for babies or young children. Although raw herbs may be more potent, in our fast-paced modern world, this is a difficult option for many people. While pills are a traditional form of herbal preparation, freeze dried granules and tinctures are a relatively recent development. They have made the administration of herbs a lot easier for those who don’t have the time to decoct a raw herbal formula. They are highly effective options and are barely a trade-off. These new convenient preparations of herbs have helped make them more accessible to my busy patients. I prescribe custom-tinctures to many of my patients. They often report back to me how astounded they are by the effectiveness of their tincture. Quite honestly, I too am astounded by how remarkably effective Chinese herbs can be. Their effects often parallel or even exceed modern pharmaceuticals, but with no side-effects! Custom-Tailored There are no “one size fits all” remedies in Chinese medicine. To illustrate, in the West, garlic, black pepper and ginger are recognized as natural antimicrobials (among their many functions) and favored as blanket remedies for many health conditions. All of the above are also Chinese herbs. However, TCM uses a lot of discretion when prescribing herbs. Since garlic, ginger and black pepper are all warming, they are not usually a good choice for those with hot constitutions. This is true for every herb. Its nature must be balanced against the individual’s constitution in order to improve the health of the patient. The wrong remedy, even if it has impressive medicinal qualities, will not improve one’s health. Tailoring remedies to the individual’s constitution is one of the qualifications of holistic medicine.