WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WESTERN HERBOLOGY AND EASTERN HERBOLOGY?
Western herbalism primarily uses single herbs to treat the same symptom or disease found in all patients, yet the constitution of each individual person should be treated differently even when sharing the same illness. This is why you hear one person say they tried an “herb” at the health food store because their friend received results and they had no results at all. Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas may include as many as 15 different herbs that are crafted carefully to work synergistically as an “army” including herbs addressing a person’s main symptoms as well as the their entire pattern and immune system. This prescription-writing method allows the practitioner maximum flexibility in writing an individualized and easily-modifiable prescription. For example, one formula may require more of a modification (stronger or weaker) for pain or bleeding than another one.
