Chinese Herbal Medicine

For acute as well as chronic illness, Dr. Harris often prescribes Chinese herbs.  These are in the form of concentrated granular formulas and individual herbs. 

The beauty of these customized formulas is that multiple therapeutic objectives can be addressed with one combination of herbs.  This is especially helpful in chronic conditions where multiple issues of imbalance exist.

Chinese herbal formulas can provide an effective and concise correction of most acute and chronic health problems. 

For those on a more restricted budget, or who just don’t like taking supplements, these are a good option as well.

For more than 3500 years, Chinese herbs have been the primary source of “internal medicine” prescribing, effectively treating most health disorders. 

What goes into the actual design of a Formula?

A formula is comprised of herbs that address your individual pattern of disharmony.  Like acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine is based on a detailed assessment of your energetic imbalances.

How Chinese herbs are dosed:

Generally, for most ongoing problems the dose of herbs is one rounded teaspoon 3x/day.  This can vary depending on the size of the patient and other factors. Prescriptions for acute illness are often dosed at one rounded teaspoon every 2 hours.  The herbs mix best with hot water – 4 to 6 ounces is typical.  They will mix satisfactorily with with room temperature water as well.  You are basically reconstituting the herbs into a medicinal tea.  Flavor varies widely between different formulas depending on their constituent herbs.  Antimicrobial herbs tend to have a somewhat bittter flavor, while tonifying herbs tend to have a more neutral flavor. There is somewhat better absorption by the body if the herbs are taken away from food.  However, sometimes people can sense mild gastrointestinal upset with stronger formulas on an empty stomach.  In this case it is advised to take the herbs after meals.

Information about our suppliers – KPC Herbs and Evergreen Herbs:

Samples from each formula batch are sent to a laboratories for a series of tests verifying potency and safety. These tests include:

•Microbial testing, to screen for E. coli, salmonella and various bio-contaminants such as molds and yeasts.

•GC (Gas Chromatography), to ensure safety by checking for the presence of over 200 potentially harmful substances such as pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.

•HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography), to measure potency by confirming the presence of active ingredients.

•ICP-MS (Inductively Couples Plasma-Mass Spectrometry), the future of non-organic (heavy metal) testing. Other systems in use today are sensitive to subparts per million (ppm), but the ICP-MS can detect elements in the subparts per billion (ppb) range, and some elements in the subparts per trillion (ppt) range. ICP-MS technology is by far the most precise and sensitive available for heavy metal testing. Samples from every lot of their herbs are tested for heavy metals by ICP-MS.



Circle of Health Clinic541-617-1195 
  Allan A. Harris ND, LAcBend, OR 

  "Finding your way home to balance and purpose - in body and mind"
Allan A. Harris ND, MSOM, LAc
541-617-1195info@circleofhealthclinic.com

Circle of Health Clinic - 600 NE Savannah Drive, Suite 1, Bend OR  97701