Herbal Medicine

Should I be concerned about the safety of Chinese herbs?

Patients sometimes worry about the quality of herbal medicines. At Guiding Spirit Acupuncture, we’ve done the professional research for you, and we only recommend herbs from the highest-quality manufacturers. We use a variety of extremely reputable suppliers, including an online pharmacy called Crane Herbs, which sells products from the most well-respected Taiwanese herbal company, KPC, and which can create and ship custom or premixed formulas right to your door. Rest assured that the products we recommend meet the highest quality standards.

Some herbs can interact with certain medications or are contraindicated under certain situations (like pregnancy). Susan will take a detailed health history to uncover potential areas of concern.

What is an herbal consult like?

An herbal consult is a separate visit than a typical acupuncture appointment because it takes time and attention to understand your unique health concerns and patterns and to design, write, and prescribe a custom herbal formula for you. Susan will listen to your health story, ask you a series of questions, and to do a brief exam. She will then choose a combination of herbs to address your unique needs. The process of choosing a Chinese herbal formula is very different than the process of being prescribed a drug or medication because it is designed to be specific to you and to address you as an overall person— including physical, mental, and emotional concerns.

Once Susan has prescribed a specific herbal formula for you, you will get an email from the online pharmacy to make your purchase. This is a convenient way to be certain you are purchasing the highest quality Chinese herbs.

What can I expect over time?

After your initial herbal consult, a typical course of treatment is about three months, although this can vary considerably based on the patient and conditions being treated. During that time, you and Susan will check in periodically, and Susan will evaluate whether or not she needs to make any changes to your formula as you go, based on your responses. For your convenience, some of your follow-up herbal consults can be done over the phone.

What does herbal medicine cost?

Herbal medicines and herbal consults are not covered by insurance. Many of our patients say that Chinese herbal medicine is worth every penny because it allows them to achieve a higher level of health naturally. The cost of an initial herbal consult is $125, and follow-up consults are $65. The cost of herbal medicine ranges from about $30 to over $200 per month, depending on many factors. Susan is happy to answer any questions about costs that you may have.