Chinese herbal medicine is a very important part of traditional Chinese medicine. Its written history dates back 2,500 years, but herbal medicine has been practiced much longer than that. In China, traditional herbal remedies are still the backbone of medicine.
Chinese herbs are natural and powerful medicines. When an herbal formula is prescribed, it usually contains 5-15 herbs, specialized according to the individual’s condition. For example, five patients with insomnia would very likely be prescribed five different herbal prescriptions, with each formula being tailored to the patient’s specific reason that caused the insomnia. Herbal formulas can be dispensed as raw herbs, in pills or granules according to patients’ need.
Herbal medicine can treat almost any condition that patients might go to their doctors for. In fact, modern researcher finds that herbal medicines often have less-side effects and are less expensive. Unlike western medicine, a skilled herbalist is able to prescribe effective formulas that address not only symptoms, but also the patients’ underlying health by stimulating the body’s own natural healing process.
At Dr Yan Lu’s acupuncture and massage clinic in Portland and Vancouver he prescribes formulas according to patients’ individual conditions, backed by ancient knowledge and modern research, allowing his patients to respond more effectively. He has learned and continues to learn many effective formulas from his father in law, who is a famous herbalist in China and has been practicing for over 50 years. Combing this family legacy with his own experience in the United States, Dr Lu is able to create his own formulas in order to help people more quickly.