How Chinese herbs work

How do Chinese herbs actually work — and why are they sometimes the better choice over acupuncture? In this short animated video, I explain how Chinese herbal medicine works from both a classical TCM perspective and a modern scientific one, and describe when herbs are the more effective treatment option.

Key points from the video

In traditional Chinese medicine, each herb has specific properties: a nature (hot, warm, cool or cold), a flavour (sweet, sour, bitter, pungent or salty), and an affinity for certain internal organs and channels. A qualified herbalist selects between 6 and 12 individual herbs and composes a tailored formula in which each ingredient has a defined role — working together to address the patient's unique pattern of imbalance.

Modern research increasingly confirms what practitioners have known for centuries. Chinese herbal formulas have been shown to produce anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hormonal and antioxidant effects. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs — which typically target a single biochemical pathway — Chinese herbal formulas act across multiple systems simultaneously, working with the body rather than overriding it.

Where acupuncture primarily regulates the flow of qi and blood, herbs are able to replenish and nourish what the body lacks — supplementing energy, building blood, calming the mind and strengthening organs in ways that needles alone cannot always achieve. This makes them particularly valuable for conditions involving deficiency, such as low AMH, chronic fatigue and insomnia.

I prescribe pharmaceutical-grade granule powders from Sun Ten in Taiwan — dissolved in hot water and taken as a tea — which preserve the benefits of a fully tailored prescription without lengthy home preparation.

For a full explanation of how Chinese herbal medicine works, visit the main how does Chinese herbal medicine work section.