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tcm chinese herbal medicine

CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE SUMMARY

Each of us has a unique body constitution, which is influenced by hereditary traits, environmental factors and lifestyle habits.

TCM’s approach to treating diseases takes into account your body constitution and targets the root cause to address your symptoms. It helps you regain internal balance and strengthen your body’s resistance to diseases.

This can be done through herbal prescriptions, which can consist of sachets of purified concentrated herbal granules, or come in pill or capsule form.

Our herbal medicine is mainly herbal granules because it's the most convenient for our clients and patients; and this is #1 key to health improvements and outcomes). Consumption is convenient: just dissolve the herbal granules in hot water and consume the resulting brew.

Our physicians prescribe herbal medications to treat various health issues including:

  • Fertility
  • Skin conditions
  • Respiratory diseases
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Endocrine diseases
  • Neurological conditions
  • Stroke rehabilitation
  • Sub-health

WHAT IS CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE?

tcm-chinese-herbal-medicine

Chinese medicines, including herbs, processed herbal materials and patent prescriptions, are medications prescribed under the guidance of TCM theory.

Before Qing Dynasty, Chinese medicine was referred to as materia medica or raw medicine.

Since the majority of Chinese medicines are plant-based, that's why it is also called Chinese herbal medicine.

But that being said, there are animal products and other non-herbal minerals included too.

WHAT IS DECOCTION (BREWING HERBS)?

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From Wikipedia, on the term "decoction" -

Decoction is a method of extraction by boiling herbal or plant material (which may include stems, roots, bark and rhizomes) to dissolve the chemicals of the material. It is the most common preparation method in various herbal-medicine systems.

Decoction involves first drying the plant material; then mashing, slicing, or cutting the material to allow for maximum dissolution; and finally boiling in water to extract oils, volatile organic compounds and other various chemical substances.

Decoction is also the name for the resulting liquid. Although this method of extraction differs from infusion and percolation, the resultant liquids can sometimes be similar in their effects, or general appearance and taste.

In Chinese medicine, decoction is a mean of herb preparation involving first soaking, then boiling in ceramic pot, and lastly straining.

To maximize the efficacy of the herbs when brewing,

  • some are added early, some later / after some time
  • some are bagged
  • some need to be melted first
  • some others are to be dissolved in water and taken directly without boiling

Generally speaking, minerals and crustaceans, such as fossil fragment (LongGu) and ostrea (MuLi), need to be boiled first; aromatic herbs with volatile properties, such as peppermint (BoHe), Herba Schizonepetae (JingHuiJie), Agastache Rugosus (HuoXiang), need to be boiled later to prevent loss of medicinal efficacy; a few other ingredients, such as pearl powder (ZhenZhuFen) or “raw powder”, can be grinded down to powder for oral intake or added to the concoction.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DECOCTION AND SCIENTIFIC CHINESE MEDICINE?

There’s no hierarchy among decoction, pill, and powder.

They are various forms of medicine administered to patients according to the conditions.

Currently, manufacturing procedure for scientific Chinese medicine is the same as decoction. It also undergoes boiling process to extract active ingredients from the herbs, which are then concentrated to form scientific Chinese medicine.

It is safe, effective, portable and convenient, thus, widely accepted by the general public. In most cases, scientific Chinese medicine along is sufficient for treatment.

For other critical or complex cases, decoction may be more appropriate.

The physician will prescribe suitable formula based on patient’s constitution and illness. When it comes to decoction, there is a wide selection of herbs with excellent potency, efficacy and bioavailability.

The physician can also adjust the formula anytime to coincide with changes in the progression of illness and patient constitution, allowing maximal efficacy of the herbs.

HOW TO BREW AND ADMINISTER THE MEDICINE?

Our herbal medicine is mainly herbal granules because it's the most convenient for our clients and patients; and this is #1 key to health improvements and outcomes).

Consumption is convenient: Simply dissolve the herbal granules in hot water and consume the resulting brew. Do NOT boil - just add to one cup of hot or warm water, stir to ensure all is dissolved and drink directly.

how often to take the herbal medicine the tcm physician prescribed?

Our TCM physician will prescribe to you the frequency, from 1-3 times per day, for 7, 14, 21 or more days, depending on severity and chronic-ness of injury or health issue.

As a general rule of thumb,

  • regular medicine should be taken an hour after meal;
  • nourishing medicine should be taken before meal;
  • stomach aggravating medicine should be taken after meal;
  • narcotics should be taken at bedtime

FOODS TO AVOID when you're also taking chinese herbal medicine

While taking the medicine, avoid

  • raw food
  • cold foods or beverages
  • greasy foods and
  • spicy food

that may affect the proper absorption of the herbal medicine.

Other medications such as Western medicines should be taken at least 30 minutes apart (ideally at least 1-2 hours separately where possible).

If you are not feeling well, you may stop the medicine and contact your physician to report adverse responses for appropriate formula adjustments.

HOW DO I GO ABOUT BUYING these tcm HERBAL DECOCTION?

Please follow the prescription from our certified TCM physician.

Do NOT self medicate.

There are literally thousands of different Chinese herbs. It is difficult for one to fully master the knowledge of all herbs.

Please be advised that it is best to purchase herbs from reputable and trustworthy Chinese medicine shops. We do not advise patients or people with sickness or pains to buy from any shops to self medicate.

The safety of Chinese herbal medicine can only be ensured through appropriate processing, free of chemical additives and utilization of authentic ingredients.

CAN I ORDER CHINESE HERBS FROM sgpainrelief.?

SGPainRelief.com provides TCM herbal medicine delivery service in Singapore, to you, for your convenience.

Our certified and licensed TCM physician will assess, diagnose and prescribe the required herbal medicine for you, and once you've made payment, it will be delivered to your doorstep within 1-2 working days.

Make an appointment with our TCM physician today.