What You Should Know About Chinese Herbs

The goal is to channel energy through their hands to your body to promote healing. Historically and in Asia today, acupuncture has been used to support herbal therapy. Eastern medicines have, over thousands of years of careful observation, given us the precise actions and indications of using herbs. Research has shown that acupuncture can be used with effectiveness in the treatment of a wide range of conditions, from musculoskeletal and gastronomical issues  to mental health, stress, reproductive and gynaecological concerns. Acupuncture has been proven to effectively complement the treatment of conditions such as allergic rhinitis, knee osteoarthritis, headaches and chronic lower back pain. Adverse side effects of acupuncture in the hands of a properly trained practitioner are extremely rare and often less severe than conventional drug treatments.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture points create energy pathways called meridians. Yes, they can be safe, but herb–drug interactions must be considered carefully. Some herbs, such as Ginseng and Ginkgo, can affect blood thinners, while Licorice Root may Acupuncture for Bell's Palsy influence blood pressure medications or corticosteroids. It is important to understand timing, dosage, and compatibility so the herbs support your treatment instead of interfering with your medication.

If you’ve been searching for acupuncture for perimenopause in Portland, Oregon, here’s exactly what treatment looks like at Willow Tree, from your first visit to the results our patients notice. At Willow Tree Clinic, we always start with an in-person consultation to discuss your needs and collaboratively put together a customized care plan. Your plan can include acupuncture sessions as well as herbal remedies that work hand-in-hand to offer integrated care. TCM treatments focus on the underlying condition as well as treating the presenting symptoms. With the aim of maintaining good health, wellbeing through the ageing process, disease prevention and treating illness, using food as medicine is an easily achieved intervention for people to implement in their daily lives. Herbal formulas are internal medicince given to help facilitate healing for various condiitons.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) acupuncture can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions. Your TCM practitioner will advise you about what aspects of your health he or she thinks may respond well to acupuncture – anecdotal evidence suggests it can be helpful for everything from depression to earache. Under the influence of the emphasis of the Western scientific model on empirical evidence, modern individuals seek to comprehend the nature, structure, and underlying mechanisms of the meridian system.
By stimulating these points, acupuncture aims to restore harmony to these relationships, thereby promoting healing and well being. ​The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners insert fine needles into the skin to treat health problems. The needles may be manipulated manually or stimulated with small electrical currents (electroacupuncture). It originated from traditional Chinese medicine but has gained popularity worldwide since the 1970s.
This could be because they included a small number of participants, were not double-blinded (when neither the participants nor the researchers knew which people were given which therapy) and sometimes did not use placebos. Some choose hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also known as menopausal hormone therapy or MHT. While there’s no evidence that acupuncture is a miracle cure-all, it does seem  to have some evidence as a worth-while treatment for people who may have multiple conditions and illnesses. The Chinese philosophy behind acupuncture is a bit more complicated, as the ancient practice isn’t traditionally based in science and medicine. Some people swear by acupuncture, citing it as a “miracle” to improving their quality of life because it’s said to be able to treat everything from depression and allergies to morning sickness and cramps. Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine and consists of inserting fine needles into specific points on the skin.

Chinese medicine practitioners are regulated in Australia by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Tui Na is a form of therapeutic massage used to treat specific patterns of imbalance. It involves the medicinal use of plants to treat disease and enhance general health and wellbeing. When taking your medical history, your acupuncturist will ask you about any medications you are taking. Your acupuncturist needs to have a complete picture of what is influencing your body and symptoms, as well as any side effects or cautions that might need to be considered. Often pulse taking is used as a diagnostic tool by your acupuncturist and some medications will affect the reading of the pulse.
Consequently, researchers have increasingly focused on exploring adjunctive therapies in ART. Since 2002, numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews have demonstrated the positive effects of acupuncture during embryo transfer on clinical pregnancy and live birth rates [9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16]. Similarly, studies consistently highlight the role of HM in improving primary outcomes for women undergoing IVF [17,18,19,20,21,22].
Although IVF, introduced in 1978, was a significant advancement, declining birth rates in countries like Japan, Korea, and China have heightened the demand for improved ART efficacy [2,3]. However, ART success rates remain modest, with clinical pregnancy rates (CPRs) between 30 and 40% and live birth rates (LBRs) between 6.3% and 31.3% [4,5]. Given these challenges, interest in complementary therapies, particularly East Asian traditional medicine (EATM), has increased.

Acupuncture and HM may help to regulate the menstrual cycle, balance hormones, and improve reproductive health. Funnel plot of live birth rate (acupuncture vs. control group), conducted in Stata 12.0 [61]. Meta-analysis of dropout rates (EATM vs. control group), conducted using a random-effects model in Stata 12.0 [61]. Meta-analysis of adverse events (EATM vs. control group), conducted using a random-effects model in Stata 12.0 [61]. Based on your pulse & tongue diagnosis, an individualised herbal formula is created tailored to your health concerns.
In this section, we will explore the concept of holistic health in TCM and how it differs from Western medicine. Herbal remedies in TCM are typically prescribed in formulas, which are carefully crafted combinations of herbs that work synergistically to address specific health concerns. These formulas are tailored to each individual’s unique constitution and symptoms. The herbs in the formula work together to enhance their therapeutic effects and minimize any potential side effects.
A 2021 study in Advances in Therapy found that acupuncture can help with low back pain up to two years after treatment. Qualified practitioners adjust formulas based on constitution, climate, season, and concurrent treatments. This individualized approach is what makes Chinese herbal medicine both effective and safe. Chinese herbal medicine, combined with acupuncture, can treat a variety of health concerns including seasonal allergies, the side effects of cancer treatments, autoimmune disorders, digestive issues, infertility, menopause, and sleep disorders. Herbal medicines and complementary therapies are treatments that are not part of standard medicine. The NHS does not use herbal medicines, but some complementary therapies may be available on the NHS for certain conditions.