Herbal Medicine

Medication therapy is a common practice in TCM, with about 80% of all treatments involving this approach. Essentially, Chinese medication therapy can be applied to treat all diseases. For several indications, the efficacy of phytotherapy has been scientifically proven through studies. Many medicines are also suitable for preventive treatments to avoid the onset of illness.

The therapy predominantly uses leaves, flowers, roots, and barks. A TCM practitioner can choose from 350 plant parts. In rare cases, mineral or animal substances are also used, with careful consideration for species protection and ecological balance. The composition of mostly plant-based active ingredients is based on detailed knowledge of their effects and contraindications, derived from profound expertise and experience. The application of these medicinal substances is integrated into a holistic theoretical framework, precisely aligning each remedy with functional circuits and disease factors. The properties of the medicines are differentiated and detailed in the literature of Chinese Medicine. With this knowledge and thorough examination, a TCM practitioner can create a personalized prescription. Even if two patients have the same illness, their prescriptions will likely differ, as Chinese Medicine considers each individual’s constitution and psyche. This results in considerable variation in the composition and concentration of active ingredients per patient. If symptoms are treated over a long period, the composition and intensity of the Chinese natural medicines can be adjusted. For example, a lower dose of a particular active ingredient may be required after prolonged use. Unlike often in Western medicine, there are no standard answers in TCM, as sometimes only a limited number of drugs are approved for certain diseases, which must be used for all patients.

Your personal TCM prescription can be filled at a pharmacy specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine. There, you can either receive the plant parts to make a tea (decoction) or get your medicine ready for intake: as granules, pre-cooked decoction, or in pill form. The herbs and plants are partly grown directly in Germany. The goods you receive are multiply checked and certified. You can be assured that your medicines in Germany are individually tested in independent laboratories for content and contamination.

Chinese medicinal therapy/herbal therapy is considered the crown discipline of TCM, a central treasure house. The deep understanding of the body’s functions, organ systems, functional circuits, and the processes of becoming ill and getting healthy become clearly understandable. This is attributed to the long tradition and experience Chinese doctors have with herbal medicine – more than 100 generations of doctors have contributed their experience and deep understanding and have preserved this knowledge – unlike in the West, where this knowledge has been lost. The richness of the medicinal treasure is evident in China being one of the most species-rich regions in the world, with about 12% of all plant species originating from China. The variety of herbs and their effects is vast, with the most important 500 medicines available. The quality of the medicine is assured, as the herbs available through pharmacies are all controlled, certified, and pure, with strict attention paid to species protection.

Mostly medicinal plants (leaves, flowers, roots, twigs, and barks) are used, much less often also mineral or animal substances (for example, shellfish shells). The medicines are prescribed in combination from 2-15 individual remedies as a “prescription” and usually taken as a decoction (decoct). Other forms of intake, such as granules (a kind of instant powder stirred with hot water), are also possible. For small children, aqueous concentrates (in tea or juice) are prescribed. Chinese medicines can also act locally in ointments, sprays, enemas, and suppositories (suppositories).

Herbal medicine is especially effective for acute infections, allergies, skin diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, gastritis, hepatitis, menstrual disorders, and more. A case example includes the treatment of hay fever and allergic rhinitis with Chinese medicinal herbs. For instance, a 32-year-old patient who suffered year-round from allergic rhinitis since the age of 11 found relief through TCM. Despite exhausting all conventional medical treatments for a diagnosed house dust mite allergy, the patient experienced no improvement. The patient’s symptoms, including constant nasal congestion, snoring at night, dry mouth in the morning, severe nasal discharge