What is the difference between Western herbalism and Chinese herbal medicine?
There are two main differences between Chinese and Western herbalism. Western herbalism primarily treats diseases or symptoms, such as headache, runny nose, stomach pain, etc. Chinese herbal medicine is based on an individualized pattern diagnosis as well as disease diagnosis. A patient receives a custom written formula to treat the symptoms, the disease, and also their individual pattern. The specific pattern is made up of signs and symptoms as well as a person’s emotional well-being, and body constitution. Western herbalism primarily uses single herbs or groups of herbs which treat the same symptom or disease. Chinese medicine formulas range between 5-15 herbs carefully crafted to include herbs to treat the person’s main symptoms while using other herbs to treat the entire pattern and underlying cause of disease or constitution.
