Every time I participate in a farmer’s market or pop-up market with my tinctures and salves, I get asked if they contain Cannabidiol (CBD). No. While I think CBD is a great product and can help with so much, my training with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has allowed me to find the same quality of care using TCM methods.
I am a licensed Chinese Herbalist and acupuncturist. I spent 3 ½ years studying Chinese Herbs and acupuncture and took board exams to be licensed. Unfortunately, there are no requirements for people to sell Chinese Herbs or CBD. Anyone can sell these products with little or no training.
The Benefits of CBD
According to studies from Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, CBD is a fantastic herb that can help with a variety of ailments such as:
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Chronic pain
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Arthritis/ joint pain
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Anxiety
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Depression
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General Stress
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PTSD
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Insomnia
Another benefit of the widely therapeutic herb is that it can be administered in a variety of ways, much like Chinese herbal medicine.
Questions About CBD
While the benefits may be undeniable, studies are not very specific in where the herbs should go and what they are supposed to do. Additionally, CBD usage begs questions about the correct dosage for patients. Similarly, because CBD is so widely available without quality control there are questions about the reliability of the CBD being purchased. Unfortunately, these are questions that are not easily answered by the average consumer.
Benefits of Chinese Herbal Products
Chinese herbal medicine is a practice that requires knowledge of how the herbs work individually and combined in a formula. Chinese herbs are rarely used individually, but more often as a collaborative treatment. It’s like making a cake- the ingredients mixed together are what makes it delicious! The one common exception would be moxa.
Types of Chinese Herbs
Chinese herbs are organized by specific properties:
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Warming herbs
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Cooling herbs
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Regulating Qi herbs
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Sedative herbs
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Tonifying herbs
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Guiding herbs
What Chinese Herbs Help With
Traditional formulas are also organized by specific functions: clear heat formulas, harmonize the stomach formulas, invigorate the blood formulas, and many more. Additionally, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Chinese herbs have many broad health and wellness benefits such as:
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Stroke
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Heart Disease
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Mental Disorders
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Respiratory Diseases
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Common Cold
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Bronchitis
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Chronic Pain
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Gastrointestinal Issues
As you can tell, these formulas can be quite specific and are prescribed based on the diagnosis of a licensed Chinese Medical Practitioner, AKA acupuncturist/ herbalist.
Call or email me and let’s talk about your health concerns and how I can help you!