Sustainable Health Acupuncture is also a Chinese herb shop. We carry the powdered forms of the herbs, which you simply mix with water and drink. There is no cooking of the herbs, which is time-consuming and leads to poorer patient compliance (which of course leads to lower success of treatment!) But if you choose to take your herbs in their raw form and cook them yourself, Liz can place your order at a local herbal pharmacy for you to pick up at your convenience.
Patients often ask about Chinese herbal pills. The reason Liz chooses powders over pills is that it allows her to fully customize each formula she writes for you by choosing each and every ingredient in it. Every patient gets a different formula made specifically for him or her.
Liz views herbal therapy as a very important adjunct to acupuncture. Fortunately, she received a wonderful herbal education at The Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, which included four rigorous years of herbal study. She continue to further her knowledge of Chinese Herbs by taking continuing education classes in herbs and by using herbs frequently in her practice.
Conditions Liz has successfully treated with Chinese Herbs include:
- Infertility, both male and female
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)
- Menopausal symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes, and irritability
- Uterine fibroids
- PCOS
- Threatened miscarriage
- Digestive issues, including constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating
- Insomnia
- Depression and anxiety
- Fatigue
- Polyuria (excessive urination)
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Common cold
- Viral infections
- Ear infections
- Migraines and other headaches
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Side effects from chemotherapy and radiation
- Relief from symptoms associated with Auto-immune Conditions such as MS, RA, and Lupus
Chinese Herbs vs. Western Pharmaceuticals
Chinese herbs and pharmaceuticals work in very different ways. Pharmaceuticals work mainly at a symptom-level. They may do things like lower your blood pressure or control your blood sugar. They may cure your insomnia by knocking you out every night. But they do not address the underlying reason for these dysfunctions.
Chinese Herbs, and Chinese Medicine in general, aim to fix the underlying issue by rebalancing your body. The goal is to fix the cause so that with treatment, you no longer need any outside support in order to remain balanced and symptom-free.
Another stark difference between the two is the risk of side effects. Every single drug, without exception, has side effects. Some are minor such as digestive upset, but others are major, such as psychotic episodes or risk of death!
Most Chinese Herbs have no side effects because they are natural substances. In fact, many are even foods such as goji berries, black sesame seeds, and red dates.
There are a few Chinese Herbs that are toxic in their unprepared/raw form or in high doses. Liz only uses the prepared form of these herbs, which have been prepared in a specific way so as to address their toxicity. And because she is a certified Chinese Herbalist, she knows and uses the appropriate dosage levels of all herbs at all times.