Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine is one of the principal therapeutic traditions of Chinese medicine, with a history of clinical practice extending over many centuries.
Rather than prescribing a single herb for a particular symptom, Chinese herbal medicine traditionally uses carefully constructed formulas, combining a number of herbs according to the individual’s presentation. A prescription may be modified over time as symptoms and clinical findings change.
In my practice, herbal medicine is used to support people with a broad range of chronic and complex health concerns, including digestive and respiratory problems, fatigue, sleep disturbance, women’s health, skin conditions and other long-term patterns of ill health. It may also have a role in selected cases within integrative oncology, where prescribing requires particular attention to conventional cancer treatments and potential interactions.
My approach is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis while informed by contemporary clinical knowledge and research. Where relevant, I consider medications, blood tests, medical diagnoses and other investigations alongside tongue, pulse and other Chinese medicine findings.
Herbal medicine is not automatically safe simply because it is natural. Careful prescribing, appropriate sourcing and awareness of herb–drug interactions, contraindications and potential adverse effects are an important part of responsible clinical practice.
Chinese herbal medicine is highly individualised.
I prescribe according to the person rather than simply the name of a condition, using traditional diagnosis to create and modify formulas as treatment progresses.
I primarily work with concentrated herbal granules, sourced through specialist UK dispensaries with established quality-control standards.
When appropriate, I also review conventional medications and relevant blood results to ensure prescribing is as safe and clinically appropriate as possible.
I am a member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) and practise according to its professional and safety standards.
