Cairns Chinese Herbalist: Promoting Women’s General & Reproductive Health with Natural Medicine
Chinese herbalism is a highly developed form of herbalism known as 'polyherbalism’, which has been developed and used in China over the last 3000 years.
Chinese herbalism is the most extensively used Chinese medicine modality in China, where it is widely prescribed by integrative medical specialists (who practice a combination of Chinese medicine & modern medicine) working in Chinese medicine hospitals and outpatient clinics.
Chinese herbalism has many applications for women’s health issues, including pelvic pain and other endometriosis symptoms, menstrual and hormonal health issues, fertility issues, and a range of women’s general health concerns including gut health, stress and anxiety, low energy and mood, post-viral symptoms, pain management, and insomnia.
The complex ‘polyherbal’ approach unique to Chinese herbalism involves the prescription of herbs in specific combinations & dosages (‘formulas’) of typically between 4-15 herbs. These combinations take into account the interactions between the various ingredients in the formula, enabling these formulas to have targeted therapeutic effects.
Polyherbal formulas are targeted interventions that can treat specific symptom/s or health concerns within the context of your overall health.
As a Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, I prescribe and compound herbal medicines in my on-site, 200-ingredient women’s general & reproductive health dispensary. I also have access to extensive prescription-only dispensaries in Sydney & Melbourne which express ship to your door.
Chinese herbal medicine is a profession in itself, and accreditation requires completing either a dual study pathway alongside acupuncture, or an extra degree after an acupuncture degree. The title ‘Chinese herbal medicine practitioner’ is regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (CBA), and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), meaning that anyone calling themselves this, must have completed extensive study in safely prescribing herbal medicines.
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While acupuncture is great at regulating the body, it does have its limitations. There are some things that acupuncture just can’t do (or would take a long time to achieve), and where herbal medicine is more effective and/or gets results faster.
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Chinese herbal medicine is a whole profession in itself, and Chinese herbal practitioners can prescribe and compound individualized formulas (while other practitioners are limited to prescribing pre-packaged products). This means that usually, you will only need to take one or two products from a Chinese herbalist.
Chines herbal medicine practitioners are also are regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (CBA), and the Therapeutic Goods Administration(TGA), meaning they have completed extensive study in safely prescribing herbal medicines.
Accreditation as a dual practicing Chinese herbal medicine practitioner + acupuncturist involves a longer, dual study pathway (acupuncture + Chinese herbal medicine) or two separate degrees.
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Many medications used in modern medicine come from plants: aspirin (from willow); opiates (from poppies); digoxin (from foxglove); and artemisinin (from a Chinese herb, Qing Hao). “Herbal medicine’ is just medication in its unprocessed form, and should be respected as such. It is possible to get potentially serious side effects (and interactions if you take medications) from herbal medicines, however this is most likely if you are self-prescribing.
To practice Chinese herbal medicine in Australia involves extensive study, and practitioners are trained to know what is most effective for certain conditions, what is safe, and when it is safe to prescribe alongside medications. Side effects are much less likely when herbal medicines are prescribed by a trained practitioner; they’re also more likely to be effective.
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I recommend discussing this with a Chinese herbal medicine practitioner. It is not safe to self-prescribe when you are taking medications.
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No - Australia is part of an international agreement to protect endangered species (the CITES convention) and as such I do not prescribe endangered species.