At my first visit with a licensed Chinese herbalist, when he found out I worked in the film industry, he said, “Oh no, you’re on ginseng then? Stop at once, it’s so wrong for your constitution.” It was pretty common at the time for set medics to give us B12 shots and high doses of ginseng to keep us functioning through long days. This was my first introduction to the idea that herbalism was not one size fits all.
I’d been reading about and using herbs since I was 16, and considered myself pretty knowledgeable, but Arno Yap, my acupuncturist, changed my perspective. Before that, I’d used herbs for symptoms in the same way Western medicine does.
Adjust formulas to your weight
Most herbal formulas list the proper dose for a 180 lb man. Adjust accordingly. I generally change the dosage for my clientele based on age, condition, medications and side effects. For example, many formulas for fibroids have a laxative effect. I’m not going to give a high dosage to someone with a busy job who may not be able to get to a restroom immediately if they need one!
Take a break
In most cases, you can take a break from your supplements one day a week to give your liver and kidneys a break. (Don’t do this if you’re taking herbs for seasonal allergies)
If you menstruate, take a break during your period from anything that isn’t specifically for cramps or prescribed specifically for that part of your cycle. Many herbal supplements thin blood or otherwise act in ways that can interfere with a comfortable cycle. You can safely take raspberry tea or cramp bark, or a formula specific for your period.
I tend to take a few days off at the beginning of every season. Then I change my supplements according to how the season affects my body and mood.
Take with food, or Don’t!
If it’s for a digestive issue or for pain, take with food. Generally, if you’re taking the correct dosage and formula, you shouldn’t get an upset stomach. However, if you have a weak digestion, err on the side of caution and take with food.
Dos and Don’ts
Do:
Add fresh and dried culinary herbs and spices to your meals. They are chock full of antioxidants and health benefits. Parsley is a fantastic kidney tonic, basil helps with memory and focus, and cinnamon can lower blood sugar. Food is medicine! I used to live down the street from a Thai restaurant that made a special soup for colds and flu, that was chock full of lemongrass, chili, garlic and other good stuff. It was amazing when I was feeling under the weather.
Drink herbal teas with lavender, hibiscus ginger, rose, and other gentle herbs. One cup of tea is a pretty low dose, so you can safely drink without too much worry. One of several exceptions is licorice, which alters blood pressure and interacts with a ton of medications
Take herbs that have a proven track record of safety for long term use, like Cordyceps, reishi, or rose, and other herbs specific to your cultural heritage or traditions.
Buy herbs from reputable companies
I was lucky during my time working and going to school in Los Angeles to meet executives and owners for many of the major herbal retail and professional companies. I still recommend and use the ethical retail companies to this day. One of my teachers at Emperors brought in the owners of several TCM companies as well, to speak to our class.
My three favorite companies happen to have been created by my former teachers, so I know exactly how they harvest and formulate their products. The way herbs are harvested and processed makes an incredible difference in their safety and efficacy.
There’s lots of different companies with drastically different polices.
Don’t :
Attempt to diagnose or treat serious conditions yourself. I often see people online recommend long term use of a certain fibroid formula that is never meant to be taken for more than 3 months, and can cause severe complications if taken at the wrong dosage. I get it, I thought my self study made me an expert, too.
Before acupuncture school, I worked in one of the busiest health food stores in Los Angeles, where I helped around 75 people a day. I thought I would breeze through herb classes , but in my very first class I literally thought “Oh wow, so THIS is how herbalism is supposed to work!” I thought it was normal to take 6 different supplements to address each symptom, and to stay on these formulas for years at a time. When in reality, one properly diagnosed formula generally works within months. The way I prescribe is generally one formula at a time, which is adjusted as symptoms improve. The goal, always, in TCM is to fix the underlying issue.
Take medical advice from randos Just as you wouldn’t trust some random person you met at Target to do your taxes, don’t take something because your mom’s dog groomer’s cousin advised it. Your age, medications, lifestyle and underlying conditions will drastically impact what will work for you. Drug/herb interactions can be potentially serious or even deadly.
I wouldn’t prescribe St. John’s Wort to a landscaper, because it can cause eye damage in someone exposed to lots sunlight, but it would be great for someone who works indoors and doesn’t spend much time at a computer or under bright lights.
Take a million supplements
It’s incredibly rare that I prescribe more than one medical formula at a time. Before I went to acupuncture school, I worked at a health food store, and used to regularly recommend 5-15 supplements for each condition, in addition to other supplements for general wellness.
Chinese Medicine has hundreds of diagnostic syndromes with corresponding formulas. When someone has, say, irritability, PMS, irregular cycles, fatigue, poor appetite and dizziness, that is actually just one syndrome that requires ONE formula!
Buy from third party websites. Counterfeit herbs are a huge issue. Last year, Americans spent about $30 billion on nutritional supplements. I always recommend that you buy directly from the company, licensed medical professional, or a licensed reseller like Fullscript or Wellevate, so you know you’re actually getting what you pay for.
When is it OK to treat yourself with herbs?
I don’t believe in gatekeeping cultural traditions! This is a basic guide for people who do not have access to cultural elders and have not been taught how to use herbs. These are symptoms that are mostly safe to treat on your own
Normally I tell people it’s fine to treat colds and flu themselves, but I’m not doing that this winter. Please take a Covid test at the first sign of a respiratory illness, and seek proper treatment.
Situational stress and irritability
Occasional tension healdaces
Seasonal allergies
Mild insomnia
Mild menstrual cramps
Sore muscles or bruising after mild injuries or overuse
Mild acne
Short term focus issues while studying for exams
When to consult a licensed herbalist
When your symptoms are not improving We can look deeper and find and treat the origin of your issues.
TCM has categorized every herb weather it warms or cools the system, by which organ it enters, by the direction it moves energy in the body, among other classifications. It has been intensely researched over the last few thousand years. TCM formulas are the only ones used in hospitals like Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic.
Chronic pain Traditional Asian herbal formulas contain herbs to help inflammation, damaged tissue and poor circulation as well as treat pain. The goal is to heal the underlying condition , not just put a bandaid on it
PMS, cramps, large clots, heavy or very scanty flow Periods are not supposed to be painful. There is absolutely no reason to suffer every month. Most reproductive issues resolve within 3 menstrual cycles with proper treatment.
Chronic Stress, Mood, Sleep or Focus issues We can calm the nervous system treat the underlying reasons you are stuck in a constant state of fight or flight
Adult or teen acne, psoriasis, eczema or prematurely aging skin These are issues that have underlying medical cause and generally require internal herbs in addition to topical treatment
Perimenopause and menopause
Irritability, memory loss, flooding, night sweats, and hot flashes are not inevitable aspects of aging. They are very treatable.