TCM Herbal Medicine can be very effective with many disharmonies. A practitioner will diagnose the disorder based on TCM theories and decide on a treatment principle. The practitioner will then select appropriate herbs and combinations
of herbs that will have the desired effects. The effectiveness of herbal medicine depends highly on the accuracy of the practitioner's diagnosis of the
disharmony and the prescription of herbs chosen.
What is the Difference Between Freshly Boiled Herbal Decoction and Patent Pills?
The most common way in which herbs are used is in the form of a herbal decoction boiled up from dried herbs. The advantage of this method is that the
practitioner can choose the kind of herbs and the quantity required by the specific patient. The disadvantage of this is the inconvenience of boiling the herbs everyday and many patients are not used to the smell and taste of the decoction. Patent Pills are ready-made and have the advantage of being easier to use than the dried herbs. The disadvantage of pills is that the patent herbs don't cover every possible condition a patient may have and so they are not suitable in all circumstances.
Are Endangered Species Used?
It is true that certain parts of endangered species such as rhino horn, bear gallbladder, have medicinal effects and have been used in Chinese medicine.
Today, substitute materials are almost always used. However, there might be some patent products that still list certain endangered species on their labels. These can be easily spotted and avoided by the consumer.
