Chinese Herbal Formula
TCM practitioners use herbs to create Chinese herbal formulas for health conditions. Some herbs are used to ease the symptoms, when other herbs will help to restore your body back to balance. A body in balance is a healthy body. Generally speaking, Chinese herbs originally come from whole grasses, roots, stems, leaves, flowers, barks and fruits. When you visit a TCM practitioner, an herbal formula which contains many different herbs may be used. The formula is modified by the TCM practitioner to suit the individual condition and constitution, making each formulation highly individualized.
There are big differences in the effective ingredients of plants used in traditional Chinese medicine due to differences in growing environment and the nature of the soil. In general, herbs that are grown in the wild are considered to be of better quality than those that are artificially cultivated. TCM practitioners view the size, shape, color, texture and flavor of herbs in order to determine the quality of Chinese herbs. Chinese herbs should be stored properly in order to prevent the effectiveness become compromised. They should be kept it in a dry, well-ventilated and dark place.
Chinese herbal products are available in the market in many forms, such as tea, extract, powder, capsule, juice, oil. Capsule is probably the most widely used form of Chinese herbal products in western countries. Many Chinese herbs are taken as dietary supplements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for dietary supplements are not the same as those for used drugs. The regulations for dietary supplements are not as strict as used drugs. There have been reports of herbal products being contaminated with drugs, toxins, heavy metals or herbs not listed in the ingredients. It is very important that you purchase herbal products that have been certified.
