Did you know that many drugs today actually originated from plants?
Western Medicine (WM) takes a reductionist approach when treating illness. It deconstructs the complexity of the human body into smaller parts and its emphasis is on isolating biochemical processes that drive a disease.
WM treatment and pharmaceutical design follows this philosophy. When formulating a drug a particular compound is isolated from a plant and used for a specific effect. However, by isolating individual constituents within the plant and turning it into a particular drug, the effects of the whole plant can be altered dramatically or lost, and natural buffering agents found in the whole plant can be changed, which is why so many drugs have side effects.
Traditional Herbal Medicine considers that the components of the human body cannot be studied in isolation because each part is dynamic and interdependent with other parts. Diagnosis is about determining underlying patterns and how they manifest in the individual’s presenting symptoms.
The herbal medicines we use are derived from whole plant components and are often used in formulas containing between 3-12 different herbs crafted to address the individual patient’s presentation as a whole.
Herbal medicine has evolved over thousands of years in both East and West making it one of the oldest health care systems in the world and because herbalists do not isolate single compounds side effects are uncommon.
Here at ben&biao we offer both Chinese and Western Herbalists. Both may provide solutions to a myriad of diseases and symptoms, the choice is yours.
The herbs we prescribe come from trusted manufacturers that source only high quality herbs, stringently tested to comply for full shelf-life potency and certainly no substances derived from any endangered species.
Herbs are dispensed as either liquid, tincture, powder, granules or capsule form. Detailed instructions on dosage and frequency will be provided with every herbal prescription so that you find them easy to take.
As herbs have active ingredients occasionally, as with pharmaceuticals you may experience slight side effects. We follow-up with our patients on a regular basis to ensure the herbal formula are working as expected.
In the right instances herbal medicine may be used in conjunction with modern pharmaceuticals. However, it is important to inform your practitioner of any medications you are taking so the potential risks can be assessed and you may be advised to take your herbs at a different time of day to other medications. All of this will be discussed with you at your consultation.
Returns Policy
As a general rule, individualised formulas, whether granules or raw herbs, cannot be returned because they have been constructed and mixed specifically for an individual patient.
Patent remedies, such as pills, capsules and tonics, may be returned at the discretion of your practitioner. In this case, the seal must still be intact and the product still within the expiry date.
If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to talk to you practitioner for further information.