Herbal Medicine

Customised Herbal Prescription

A Chinese herbal formula written for you alone: after a full consultation, your practitioner combines and adjusts classical formulas to match your symptoms and constitution, then supplies it as easy-to-take concentrated granules.

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Background

Understanding Customised Herbal Prescription

01
Traditional Background

Pulse reading is part of the TCM consultation that shapes your prescription

How Did Herbal Prescribing Develop?

Chinese herbal medicine has been recorded for around two thousand years. The Shennong Bencao Jing (Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica) catalogued 365 medicinal substances, and Zhang Zhongjing’s Shanghan Lun (c. 200 CE) set out many of the formulas still used today. Medicinal materials can come from the whole plant, the leaf, flower, fruit or seed, the root or rhizome, or the bark, and most are cultivated specifically for medicine rather than found in everyday cooking.
Herbs are rarely given on their own. A formula is built so that each ingredient has a role: a “monarch” herb addresses the main pattern, while others support it, temper side effects and harmonise the mix. A customised prescription often blends several classical formulas, and your practitioner adds or removes ingredients according to your TCM diagnosis. Because the pattern changes as you improve, the formula may be adjusted every few weeks.
Monarchaddresses the main pattern
Ministersupports and strengthens the monarch
Assistanttreats secondary symptoms and tempers side effects
Envoyharmonises the formula and guides it
Figure 1. The four classical roles of herbs within a Chinese herbal formula.
02
Modern Scientific Perspective

How Does a Herbal Prescription Work?

Each herb contains many naturally occurring compounds, so a multi-herb formula acts on the body in a more complex way than a single-ingredient drug. Researchers study these formulas for their effects on processes such as digestion, inflammation and hormonal balance, but how individual formulas work is still only partly understood.
Your consultation
symptoms, pulse, tongue, history
Formula chosenClassical formulas are selected to match your TCM pattern, then herbs are added or removed for you.
Concentrated granulesThe decoction is prepared and dried into granules by the manufacturer, ready to dissolve in warm water.
Reviewed and adjustedYour practitioner monitors your progress and changes the formula as your pattern changes.
Figure 2. From consultation to an individual, regularly reviewed prescription.
The clinical evidence is mixed and varies by condition. In a randomised controlled trial in JAMA, both standard and individually tailored Chinese herbal formulas improved irritable bowel syndrome symptoms compared with placebo for some patients; tailored formulas were no more effective during treatment, but only the tailored group kept its improvement at follow-up^[1]. A systematic review found that granules and traditional decoctions performed similarly in most trials, although the trials were generally of low quality^[2].
Herbs are not risk-free. Most adverse effects reported for herbal medicines are mild, but serious reactions can occur^[3], and some herbs interact with prescribed drugs such as warfarin^[4]. This is why we prescribe only after a full consultation, use reputable suppliers, and ask you to tell both us and your GP about every medicine and supplement you take.

References

Bensoussan A, Talley NJ, Hing M, Menzies R, Guo A, Ngu M. Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with Chinese herbal medicine: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1998;280(18):1585–1589. doi.org/10.1001/jama.280.18.1585
Luo H, Li Q, Flower A, Lewith G, Liu J. Comparison of effectiveness and safety between granules and decoction of Chinese herbal medicine: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2012;140(3):555–567. doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.01.031
Posadzki P, Watson L, Ernst E. Adverse effects of herbal medicines: an overview of systematic reviews. Clinical Medicine. 2013;13(1):7–12. doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.13-1-7
Izzo AA, Ernst E. Interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs: an updated systematic review. Drugs. 2009;69(13):1777–1798. doi.org/10.2165/11317010-000000000-00000

Your session

What you need to know

1Before your treatment

What to Prepare

Your first appointment is a full consultation: your practitioner will ask detailed questions about your health, look at your tongue and feel your pulse. If you have any medical reports or test results, feel free to bring them, though they are not necessary.
Please bring a list of all medicines, vitamins and supplements you take, and tell your practitioner if you are pregnant, trying to conceive, breastfeeding, taking blood thinners, or have liver or kidney problems.
2During your treatment

How to Take Your Herbs
- You will usually receive 7 sachets of concentrated herbal granules, one week’s supply.
- Take half a sachet twice a day, 30 minutes to 2 hours before breakfast and before dinner, on an empty stomach.
- Dissolve the granules in water at about 70–80°C (boil the kettle and leave it for 5–10 minutes, or add a little cold water), then drink it warm.
- The amount of water does not matter, as long as the granules dissolve completely.
- Raw food, cold drinks, spicy food and alcohol may slow your progress; cooked vegetables, meat, eggs and rice are good everyday choices.
3After your treatment

Follow-up
- Many patients notice changes after two to three weeks, although this varies from person to person.
- Your practitioner will review your progress and may change the formula, as each stage of a condition can need a different approach.
- If you feel unwell, develop a rash or digestive upset, stop taking the herbs and contact us.
Keep your GP informed that you are taking Chinese herbal medicine, especially if you start any new medication.

Who can benefit

Conditions herbal medicine is often used for

Chinese herbal medicine is commonly used for long-standing problems where TCM looks at the overall pattern of imbalance. These are some of the most common reasons our patients choose a customised prescription, often alongside acupuncture.

Digestive problems & IBS

Bloating, irregular bowel habits, indigestion or a poor appetite. Many patients choose herbs to support digestion.

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Eczema & skin complaints

Dry, itchy or inflamed skin. Herbal formulas are traditionally used to “clear heat” and nourish the skin.

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Acne

Recurring breakouts, often linked in TCM to heat and hormonal patterns.

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Irregular or painful periods

Cycle irregularity and period pain are among the most common reasons people try Chinese herbs.

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PMS

Bloating, breast tenderness, irritability and low mood before your period.

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Menopausal symptoms

Hot flushes, night sweats and disturbed sleep around the menopause.

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Poor sleep

Difficulty falling or staying asleep. Herbs may be used alongside good sleep habits.

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Stress & low mood

Feeling tense, irritable or overwhelmed, which TCM often links to stagnant Liver Qi.

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Fatigue & low energy

Long-term tiredness and slow recovery, which TCM links to deficient Qi.

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Your practitioner will assess whether herbal medicine is right for you at your consultation. Herbs are not a substitute for seeing your GP about new or worsening symptoms.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between granules and raw herbs?

Raw herbs are dried plant parts that need to be boiled for 40–60 minutes to make a decoction. Our granules are decoctions that have been concentrated and dried, so they simply dissolve in warm water. Ground-up raw herbs are not the same thing: raw herbs are meant to be cooked, do not dissolve, and should not be eaten raw.

Why can’t I take the same herbs as someone with the same symptoms?

TCM treats the person as well as the symptom. Two people with a cold may be given different formulas: someone with a ‘hot’ constitution may receive cooling herbs, while someone with a ‘cold’ constitution may receive warming herbs. Your age, constitution and general health all shape the prescription.

Is Chinese herbal medicine safe, and will it interact with my medication?

When prescribed by a qualified practitioner after a full consultation, side effects are usually mild, such as digestive upset. However, herbs are not risk-free and some can interact with prescribed medicines such as blood thinners. Always tell your practitioner about every medicine, vitamin and supplement you take, tell your GP that you are taking herbs, and never stop prescribed medication without speaking to your doctor.

How can I tell if a herbal extract is good quality?

Good-quality granules have a strong, natural plant aroma and taste, which may be sour, bitter or sweet. An extract that smells of plastic or chemicals, or has no smell at all, is likely to be poor quality.

Can I buy raw herbs and make them at home?

We do not recommend it. Medicinal herbs are processed before use, for example by frying or steaming, to adjust their properties, and the right formula depends on your diagnosis. Always speak to a qualified practitioner before taking any oral herbal medicine.

How do I find a qualified herbalist?

Look for a trained practitioner who is a member of a professional body for Chinese medicine in the UK, such as the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture UK (ATCM) or the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM).

Still have a question? Ask our practitioners.