Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine: Healing from the Inside Out
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (TCHM) is the oldest recorded system of classifying herbs and food based on their properties, effects, and energetic nature. Long before modern pharmacology, ancient Chinese doctors understood that food and herbs could warm or cool, invigorate or calm, nourish or eliminate — and that the key to health was knowing how to apply them wisely.
In ancient times, doctors followed a natural order in treatment:
Food first. Diet was adjusted to restore balance.
Herbs second. If food alone wasn’t enough, specific herbal formulas were used.
Acupuncture last. Only when deeper intervention was needed did they use needles to regulate Qi directly.
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine is not only the oldest form of herbal medicine, it is one of the longest-running, continuously practiced medical traditions in the world. The herbal formulas we use today were first recorded in medical texts like the Shénnóng Běncǎo Jīng (Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica), written over 2,000 years ago, and the Shānghán Lùn (Treatise on Cold Damage), which introduced formula-based treatments that are still prescribed today.
That means millennia of clinical evidence backs the herbs we use — not just lab research, but real-world healing, generation after generation. Unlike modern pharmaceuticals, which are often tested for just a few years before being prescribed, Chinese herbs have been refined through thousands of years of practical application.
The Past, Present & Future of Your Health
Traditional Chinese Medicine doesn’t just focus on symptoms happening right now. We treat the past, present, and future all at once—because true healing means understanding where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going.
Many patients come to me with mild symptoms—fatigue, sluggish digestion, poor sleep, mood swings—only to be told by their doctor, “Your lab results are in the normal range.” In Western medicine, if your numbers don’t cross a disease threshold, there’s often no diagnosis and no solution.
But in TCM, being on the low end of normal is extremely significant. Even then, what is MOST IMPORTANT is HOW YOU FEEL.
We aren’t just taking care of you today — we’re taking care of you tomorrow and yesterday. Your personal experience matters just as much as your test results. If you feel exhausted, if you’re waking up groggy, if your digestion feels slow — we treat it. We don’t wait until disease develops to take action. This is how you cultivate lasting health and happiness.
Why Chinese Herbs Work Differently
One of the biggest misconceptions about herbal medicine is that it’s just “natural drugs.” But unlike pharmaceuticals, which override the body’s natural functions, Chinese herbs work with the body, helping it remember how to heal itself.
A perfect example of this is burnout and adrenal fatigue.
A Western doctor might prescribe stimulants, hormone therapy, or antidepressants, which artificially replace what the body is lacking.
A Chinese medicine practitioner, on the other hand, would use herbs that nourish and restore the body’s ability to produce its own energy—gently rebuilding strength from the inside out.
This is why Chinese herbs often don’t have side effects in the way pharmaceuticals do. They work endogenously — meaning the healing comes from within rather than being artificially imposed.
Western pharmaceutical drugs and surgeries are absolutely important — they will literally save your life. But we are not machines, we are living beings. Taking care of our health is like tending a garden, not fixing a car.
Natural Healing Is a Sunrise, Not a Light Switch
When healing naturally, it’s crucial to remember:
Night turns to day by a slow steady sunrise—not like a light switch.
In this same way, our approach to healing is about cultivating lasting change, not just symptom relief.
If you expect instant results, you’re missing the deeper wisdom of the body. True transformation happens gradually—just like the rising sun, your energy rebuilds, your digestion strengthens, your sleep deepens, your mood stabilizes. These shifts create real, lasting health rather than a temporary fix.
Practical Ways Herbs Can Help
Chinese herbs aren’t just for serious illness—they can support health at every stage.
Burnout & Fatigue: Adaptogenic herbs like Ginseng (Ren Shen) and Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) can replenish deep energy reserves without overstimulating the nervous system.
Poor Digestion: Herbs like Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) and Licorice (Gan Cao) can improve nutrient absorption and gut function, reducing bloating and fatigue after meals.
Hormonal Imbalance: Instead of shutting down ovulation with birth control, herbs like Dong Quai (Dang Gui) and White Peony (Bai Shao) can nourish blood, regulate cycles, and relieve PMS naturally.
Anxiety & Sleep Issues: Herbs like Zizyphus (Suan Zao Ren) and Polygala (Yuan Zhi) help calm the mind without sedating, so you wake up feeling rested.
Immune Support: Astragalus (Huang Qi) and Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi) can boost immunity and strengthen the lungs, making you less susceptible to seasonal illnesses.
Acupuncturists Bridge East & West with Functional Medicine
Many acupuncturists today also incorporate Functional Medicine, combining lab testing and nutritional science with the holistic framework of TCM. This allows us to bridge the best of both worlds:
We can analyze gut health, hormone levels, and nutrient deficiencies through Western diagnostics.
But instead of just prescribing supplements or medication, we apply Chinese medicine principles to create a treatment plan that includes herbs, acupuncture, dietary therapy, and lifestyle adjustments.
This integrative approach makes acupuncturists uniquely positioned to treat complex, chronic issues—especially ones that Western medicine often overlooks, like fatigue, digestive disorders, and stress-related conditions.
Remember, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine is no longer primitive. It is thousands of years old with thousands of years of improvements. The best TCM practitioners are a bridge between east and west, ancient and modern.
Treating Herbs Like Deities
One of the most profound things I heard in acupuncture school was from a prolific doctor in Korea who told us:
“You should treat the herbs like deities. They have been healing us for thousands of years.”
That has always stayed with me. These plants and minerals have existed far longer than any of us, supporting human health generation after generation. They aren’t just substances; they carry an intelligence, a lineage of healing. When we take herbs, we aren’t just ingesting something—we are engaging in a relationship with something much older than us, something that knows how to bring the body back into balance.
Exclusive Herbal Discounts for My Patreon Community
If you’re interested in exploring herbs, I want to make it easier for you. Through my Original Qi Club on Patreon, I’m offering exclusive discounts on FullScript, where you can access high-quality herbal formulas tailored to your needs.
This is a great way to incorporate herbal medicine into your life—whether you’re looking for immune support, better sleep, or a way to cultivate long-term health.
Let’s Start the Conversation
Chinese herbal medicine isn’t just about fixing what’s wrong—it’s about encouraging the body to thrive. And when we approach it with respect, we connect to something ancient, something that has been healing humanity for millennia.
Join me in exploring this wisdom. Your body—and your future self—will thank you.
