Service
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine has been used by millions of people for over 5,000 years.
Service
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine has been used by millions of people for over 5,000 years.
What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Chinese herbal medicine originated in China over 5000 years ago and is one of the oldest continuously used healthcare systems in the world. Over time its use has spread widely and Chinese herbal medicine is now used by millions of people in many countries around the globe to help with a large range of conditions.
A trained and experienced Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner will use the philosophy and principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to determine where and how your body is out of balance, causing illness, weakness or pain. Chinese herbs are then selected and combined to address the underlying patterns of imbalance as well as your symptoms, helping your body to improve and normalize proper function.
In more recent times modern research has begun exploring some of the active ingredients in Chinese herbal medicines and providing some scientific evidence of the mechanisms by which some of them work.
How does Chinese Herbal Medicine work?
An experienced registered Chinese herbalist uses the principles of Traditional Chinese medicine to assess the symptoms and signs of a condition and to find the unique underlying patterns of imbalance in each individual.
Traditional Chinese medicine views the body using principles such as Yin, Yang, Qi and Blood, excess and deficiency, Heat and Cold, Damp and Dryness, Internal and External pathogenic factors.
Within this framework, this means that several people with the same illness as diagnosed by Western medicine could each have a completely different diagnosis according to TCM. As such, each person will need a different approach with customised herb combinations to help their particular condition.
Chinese herbal formulas are carefully constructed and individualised at each appointment to enhance and balance the effects of their active ingredients and maximise therapeutic actions. The herbal formulation will usually be adjusted as the condition improves.
What is Chinese Herbal Medicine used for?
Chinese herbal medicine is used for a wide range of chronic and acute conditions.
What to expect at your first appointment?
Your first appointment will involve a thorough assessment your condition in order to make a diagnosis according to TCM principles. You will be asked about your medical history, family medical history, lifestyle, diet and any medications or supplements you are taking, as these are all important parts of assessing your
overall health.
Your pulses will be taken, your tongue will be examined and your abdomen palpated. Once a diagnosis has been made according to TCM principles, you will be prescribed a combination of herbs that are specifically designed for your condition. This herbal formula will then be prepared for you and you will be advised on how to take them.
Chinese herbal medicines are mainly provided as concentrated granules, but they may also be provided as pills. The granule herbs can be dissolved in water or put into capsules and swallowed. In some cases you may be given a prescription for raw herbs that will need to be prepared by cooking them at home. You may also be given dietary and/or lifestyle advice.
Safety and Ethics
All herbal ingredients used by the Tanya Newton at Flow Chinese Medicine in Surry Hills Sydney are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in consultation with the Endangered Species Certification Scheme.
No endangered animal or herbal products are ever used in any prescription from this clinic and we only use herbs from suppliers who regularly batch test herbs and monitor heavy metal and pesticide residues for quality control.
It is important to let your traditional Chinese medicine practitioner know if you are taking or change any medications (pharmaceutical as well as other supplements) or if you stop taking them. An experienced TCM practitioner will know how to modify your herbal formula if necessary, to provide better results with fewer risks or complications.
Please advise us if you are pregnant or think you could be pregnant. Tanya Newton is fully trained and experienced in knowing which herbs should be avoided during pregnancy.
When prescribed by an experienced and qualified practitioner, Chinese herbal medicine is generally considered to be safe but occasionally (as with all health treatments) may be associated with possible adverse reactions in individual cases.
Tanya Newton is fully qualified, experienced and registered with AHPRA.
How long does it take to work?
The length of time and amount of herbs you will need depends on the complexity of your condition and how long you have had it. As your condition improves your herbal formula will be adjusted to reflect the changes as your body heals.
Generally, acute conditions are resolved faster than chronic conditions which are usually more complex. In some cases acupuncture may be combined with Chinese herbal medicine for better or faster results.
TCM looks at both the symptoms of your illness and the underlying imbalances causing it. This means that your lifestyle factors will also play a big part in how long it will take to change and improve your condition. Best results are obtained when treatment is continued until the underlying pattern of imbalance is resolved, and when your diet and lifestyle factors are supportive of this.
Opening Hours
Wednesday: 9-5pm
Friday 2-6pm
Saturday 9-5pm
Flow Chinese Medicine @ Wellshare
Level 1, 17 Randle St
Surry Hills NSW 2010