Chinese herbal botanicals offer a gentle yet powerful boost, getting to the root of the issue from the inside out. A core treatment in Chinese medicine, herbs are a powerful way to address many health issues including women’s health and fertility, while improving your overall health and wellbeing.
Years of mentorship by a skillful and experienced Chinese herbalist gave me a comprehensive understanding of women’s health conditions, from endometriosis to fertility challenges, from pms to perimenopause. I learnt how to select the right herbal formula for every situation, and to flexibly adjust the prescription as needed, for lasting outcomes.
How do Chinese herbs work?
Chinese herbs work best when they are individually prescribed to fit your unique presentation. During your consultation we gain a detailed picture of your health, asking questions about energy and stress levels, digestive function, sleep quality, aches and pains, and menstruation (if relevant), and examining your tongue and pulse. This allows us to design a personalised herbal treatment protocol to address both your main health concern and your overall wellbeing. As treatment progresses, symptoms can change, and your herbs may need adjusting.
A herbal formula usually contains between 4 to 15 natural medicinal substances, used in combination for synergistic and more balanced actions. These prescriptions are based on over 2000 years of research and clinical application, to bring long-lasting improvements in overall health.
While new conditions can show rapid improvement, chronic health issues can require longer treatment to completely resolve. As Chinese medicine treats the underlying cause, you can expect to feel “better in yourself” – calmer and more energised – as your condition also improves.
What are the benefits of Chinese herbal medicine?
The Chinese herbal pharmacy contains a wealth of natural medicines used to supplement and boost, clear inflammation, improve circulation, and restore function and balance. For example, adaptogens like Ginseng (ren shen) and Astragalus (huang qi) help the body respond to stress, boosting immune function and increasing energy levels.
Chinese herbs are used for a wide variety of health concerns, and are prescribed individually to fit your “pattern”.
Conditions we see include:
- Infertility
- Period pain
- Endometriosis
- Perimenopause
- Hormone imbalance
- Digestive health
- Skin conditions
- Energy and immunity
What’s in my herbs?
At Four Gates Chinese Medicine we only use the highest quality herbal medicines. Safety is crucial, and so I only use the best quality raw herbal medicines, which are Eurofins certified and free from any heavy metals, chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Our prepared pills and capsules are TGA licensed, ensuring their quality and safety.
Chinese herbs are natural medicinal substances – mostly plant materials including bark, leaves, seeds and roots; and minerals. Common herbs that have become widely used in the West due to their efficacy include ginger (sheng jiang), turmeric (jiang huang), licorice root (Gan cao), and schisandra (wu wei zi).
Herbs can be taken in different ways – from potent raw herbal formulas that you boil up at home, powdered herbs that you can drink like a cup of tea, to herbal capsules and pills, and even tinctures (ready-made liquid extracts of our most useful herbal formulas). This means that we can find the most effective solution to suit your situation and lifestyle.
When you brew your individually designed herbal formula, you are taking action to improve your health. You’ll discover how easy it can be – following clear instructions you’ll boil your herbs up twice, for 30 minutes each time, so they can simmer away while you do other things at home. This process gives you enough medicinal tea to take over several days. The herbs do have a “unique” taste, but my patients are pleasantly surprised at how quickly they get used to it, and how much better they feel.
How to prepare your herbs – Herb cooking instructions