Chinese Herbs

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Chinese herbs and medicinals are the keystone of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). They account for over 70% of all TCM treatments in China and are considered to be the most powerful of the five disciplines of TCM.

Chinese herbs come in many forms. Decoctions (brews) of raw herbs are considered most effective, but the much easier-to-use granules are also known for their clinical efficacy, mainly thanks to their widespread use in hospitals of Japan and Taiwan. Granules are now widely used by Western practitioners, like Alain Bernard, who have received formal training in Chinese pharmacopoeia. Tablets and tinctures are nice and practical for people on the go, and are often indicated for conditions that require a longer course of treatment.

In Western acupunctural practice, Chinese herbs are often used to maintain the effect of acupuncture between sessions. However, for more severe or chronic conditions, herbs are usually required, on their own or with acupuncture, to achieve real therapeutic results.

The informative Clinician's Complete Reference to Complementary & Alternative Medicine classifies health problems for which Chinese herbs and medicinals are indicated under three categories:

  • An ideal therapy for: allergies, postpartum care, pre-menstrual syndrome, stress problems.
  • One of the good therapies for: addiction, amenorrhea, restless legs syndrome, arthritis, asthma, back pain, benign prostate hypertrophy, urinary tract infection, bronchitis, candidiasis, pneumonia, pregnancy, prostate cancer, respiratory problems, rheumatoid arthritis, sinusitis, sleep problems, stomach pain, tinnitus, ulcers, uterine fibroids, vaginal infection, viral and bacterial infections.
  • A useful supplementary therapy for: AIDS, cancer, cataracts, intestinal parasites (pinworm), sexually transmitted diseases, sleep apnea, syphilis, sight problems.

Chinese herbs and medicinals are widely used in Japan, where they are known as Kampo (or Kampoh). Several Chinese formulas are recommended and covered by the Japanese Ministry of Health's insurance plan. The most common uses include: arthritis, kidney disease, hepatitis, diabetes, premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea and menopause problems.

The Chinese herbs used by Alain Bernard in his practice are safe. They are mainly sourced from well-known Vancouver-based distributor Eastern Currents, which ensures that all processing facilities for their natural products are approved by Health Canada. The herbal brands Alain Bernard uses are internationally distributed American or European brands, such as Golden Flower, KPC, Blue Poppy, Three Treasures and Kan. These products all conform to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and other Western quality standards.

Chinese pharmacopoeia is a complex system of medicine requiring both art and science, and Chinese herbalist doctors usually spend their entire lives learning to master it. Make sure your acupuncturist using Chinese herbs has received proper training, such as that received by Alain Bernard at the ICTCM of Vancouver.

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