Chinese herbal medicine, Geelong
Chinese herbal medicine is one of the two pillars of what we do at Geelong Chinese Medicine, alongside acupuncture. We prescribe herbs for most of our patients because they extend the work of acupuncture between visits and let us target your presentation more precisely.
Every herbal prescription starts with a detailed case history, tongue and pulse assessment, and pattern differentiation. Two people with the same symptoms may receive completely different formulas, because we’re treating the pattern driving the symptoms, not the symptoms alone.
Our dispensary
We run an in-house herbal dispensary at the clinic, which means we can build your formula on the day of your appointment. We prescribe in three main forms depending on what suits you and your condition:
Concentrated granules are our most common format. We combine individual herbal extracts into a custom formula specific to your presentation, taken as a powder dissolved in hot water. These are easy to take, portable, and allow us to adjust the prescription as your condition changes.
Patent formulas are pre-made herbal medicines in pill or tablet form. We use these when a well-established classical formula fits your presentation closely, or as a convenient option for maintenance and prevention.
External herbal preparations are used when a condition benefits from topical application alongside internal treatment.
How Chinese herbal medicine works
Chinese herbal medicine uses the properties of individual herbs, their temperature, taste, and the channels they enter, to rebalance the body. In practice we almost always prescribe a formula rather than a single herb. A well-constructed formula combines herbs that reinforce each other, moderate side effects, and direct the treatment to where it’s needed.
We adjust your formula over time as your condition responds. The goal is to resolve the acute issue first, then rebuild the underlying weakness so the problem doesn’t keep returning.
What to expect
A Chinese herbal medicine consultation takes around 30 minutes. We’ll take a detailed health history, assess your tongue and pulse, and explain what we’re seeing and how we plan to treat it. You’ll leave with your herbal prescription dispensed from the clinic that day. For a broader overview of what a visit involves, see our What to Expect page.
For the range of conditions we commonly treat with herbal medicine, visit our What We Help With page.
Understanding Chinese herbal medicine
Chinese herbal medicine uses natural plant-based substances to treat illness and support recovery. There are thousands of individual herbs in the Chinese medicine tradition, and we draw on around 200–300 of the most commonly used in modern clinical practice. Most are plant-derived — roots, bark, leaves, seeds, and flowers — which is why they’re referred to as herbal medicine.
Every herb has specific properties: a temperature (hot, warm, cool, cold), a taste (bitter, sweet, acrid, sour, salty), and an affinity for particular organ systems and channels. We combine herbs into formulas that work together — some target the main problem, others support digestion, moderate side effects, or direct the formula to the right area of the body.
We rarely prescribe a single herb on its own. A well-built formula is more effective and more balanced than any individual ingredient. And because we prescribe based on your pattern, not your diagnosis, two people with the same condition may receive quite different formulas.
Chinese herbal medicine is effective across a broad range of conditions, from acute issues like colds and pain through to chronic and complex presentations including digestive problems, sleep disturbance, stress, hormonal imbalances, allergies, and fatigue. We frequently combine herbal medicine with acupuncture for a stronger result. Visit our What We Help With page for a fuller picture of the conditions we treat.
Your consultation takes around 30 minutes. We’ll go through a detailed health history, ask about sleep, digestion, energy, mood, and any other symptoms, then assess your tongue and pulse. From there we’ll explain the pattern we’re seeing and prescribe a formula from our in-house dispensary. You’ll take your herbs home the same day.