Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbs can support a wide range of health concerns, including digestive issues, stress and anxiety, sleep difficulties, pain and inflammation, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune or respiratory conditions, and fatigue. Unlike acupuncture, which primarily works externally on muscles, circulation, and nervous system pathways, herbs work internally to address root imbalances in your body’s energy, supporting deeper systemic change. Because each formula is personalized, it can be tailored specifically to your unique symptoms, needs, and health goals.

Chinese herbs come mostly from plants: roots, leaves, flowers, and stems. Some traditional formulas include small amounts of animal or mineral ingredients, but many today use only plants.

If you have allergies or follow a vegan lifestyle, I’ll always customize your formula to fit your needs.

A Chinese formula is a thoughtfully crafted blend of herbs designed to work together—each one playing a role—to address a specific pattern in the body and support deeper, more effective healing than a single herb alone.

Chinese herbs contain naturally occurring compounds that have measurable effects on the body. Research shows they can help regulate stress and hormone signaling, support immune function, reduce inflammation, and improve circulation and digestion. By gently influencing these interconnected systems, Chinese herbal medicine supports the body’s natural ability to restore balance and heal.

Herbal formulas are typically taken: 2-3 times per day, the amount you take at each time will be specific to your case. In my practice, rather than use teapills, tablets, or capsules, I use granules. Granules are concentrated Chinese herbs that have been decocted and then ground into a highly absorbable powder. Granules act quickly and allow for the most precise customization, which is why they’re my primary choice for most patients.

They can be taken quickly with 4–6 oz of warm water or sipped slowly like a tea. Alternatively, you can place the powder directly in your mouth and swallow it with a gulp of water.

I don’t recommend it. The most effective way to take herbs is 2-3 times per day (depending on the formula), since this provides steady support for your body. If your schedule makes that difficult to accomplish 3 doses per day, you can divide the total daily dose into 2 larger servings (for example, morning and evening). While not ideal, this option is still effective and better than skipping doses.

Yes. I source Chinese herbs through a trusted dispensary for licensed acupuncturists. All the herbs I provide are guaranteed to be heavy metal free and produced following strict good manufacturing practices to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Substantial progress for most chronic conditions typically takes about 4 months of consistent treatment, after which we transition into a maintenance phase. As your health improves, formulas are adjusted regularly so you’re only taking what your body truly needs. The goal is always to help you reach balance—not to keep you on herbs longer than necessary.

While symptoms can improve dramatically in the first month or two (often 50–80%), that progress still needs to be stabilized. Months 2–4 are where we focus on holding those gains—you are getting better.

The body naturally tends to follow the path of least resistance, so if treatment is stopped too early, there’s a chance symptoms can gradually return. Continuing care helps retrain the body to follow a healthier pattern and supports more lasting results.

Month 4 and beyond is about maintaining those improvements and continuing to stay well. While I don’t recommend stopping early for this reason, treatment is ultimately a month-to-month program, so the decision is always yours.

It depends on your needs and goals. Acupuncture primarily works externally, targeting pain, muscle tension, and circulation, while herbal medicine works internally to address digestion, inflammation, hormones, and systemic patterns. Many people use both together for faster, more complete results, but herbs can also be very effective on their own. Your treatment plan will be personalized to what’s best for your body, your goals, and your lifestyle.

Most common medications like those for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, mild pain relief, and antidepressants are generally safe to take with Chinese herbs. However, some medications, might need closer monitoring. In some rare cases, we might avoid using Chinese herbs all together to keep you safe. As a board-certified herbalist trained in pharmacology and herb–drug interactions, I carefully review your prescriptions.

Yes—this is totally fine. For best absorption, herbs are ideally taken about 1–2 hours away from food, coffee, and medications. That said, if spacing them out isn’t realistic, it’s perfectly okay to take your herbs with meals, your morning coffee, or alongside your regular medications. Consistency matters more than perfect timing. Based on what we’ve reviewed together, there are no known harmful interactions with your current medications, but always keep me updated if anything changes.

Yes. This is to ensure your formula stays safe, effective, and tailored to your current needs, each weekly refill or new herbal formula requires an herbal consult. This allows me to adjust your formula regularly based on how your body is responding.

Chinese herbal medicine is not the same as vitamins or supplements. Vitamins typically provide a single nutrient your body may be lacking—like vitamin D, magnesium, or B12—while Chinese herbal formulas are blends of multiple plants designed to help rebalance how your body is functioning overall. Instead of just adding something in, herbs can support what’s low, calm what’s overactive, and help different systems work together more smoothly at the same time. They are also customized to your specific pattern rather than being one-size-fits-all. In most cases, it’s completely fine to continue common supplements alongside herbs.