Flourish Healing Arts

Acupuncture - Herbs - Medical Intuition

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History of Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine is older than any other type of healthcare. Every culture has taken advantage of herbs and their benefits. Herbal medicine began with primitive cultures using different plants for shelter, clothing, and medicine. Man learned medicinal benefits of plants through trial and error methods in addition to observing animals. Man’s knowledge of herbs and their medicinal uses advanced over time. Even the pharmacopoeia of scientific medicine in the 20th century was developed primarily from native herbal lore. Herbal medicine continues to influence the medicines of today. Up to 25 percent of all prescription drugs in the United States have at least one active ingredient that comes from plant extracts or synthesized plant compounds.

As many as 4 billion people, or 80 percent of the earth’s population, are estimated to u se a form of herbal medicine in their health care, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Of the 119 plant-derived pharmaceutical drugs, as many as 74 percent are used in the same ways the plants were used by natives and Asian cultures.
 Herbal Formulas Are Patient Specific

After an in depth consultation, a combination of Chinese Herbs will be chosen to create a formula. Each formula can consist of anywhere from 5 to 15 different herbs that work together synergistically.  Each herb has several indications, by using combinations, we can guide the formula to different organ systems and to focus on different symptoms. Herbs are chosen carefully and formulas are administered to each client according to symptom and the individual’s body constitution.

  • Another positive aspect in Chinese Herbalism, is that it is very difficult to build up immunity to them, where in Western Medicine increasing your dosage of a medication is commonplace, it is not common in Chinese Medicine. As you change, your formula changes, by modifying (taking an herb out or adding another) your formula’s compound changes, so your body doesn’t continuously recognize the same substance and start building immunity to it.
  • And although Traditional Western medication works very quickly it can usually only mask a symptom, Chinese Herbal Medicine treats the source of the problem and most times can cure it.
  • And, lastly, Chinese Herbs does not have to be administered for years or for life. Just long enough for the body to make the shift that is necessary to alleviate symptoms.