Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, uses thousands of years of knowledge of the benefits of herbs — some of which we already commonly include in our diets — to support and enhance the body’s natural healing abilities. With each passing year, more patients turn to herbal medicine, acupuncture, and other aspects of TCM as a non-pharmaceutical approach to improving their health and well-being.

If you are new to TCM, you will probably have a lot of questions. You also may not know where to get information about adding the benefits of TCM to your current wellness program. The best place to start is to consult with a TCM doctor or a licensed acupuncturist who is trained and certified in Chinese herbs. After a careful and thorough diagnosis, you’ll receive a prescription for specific herbs or formulas tailored specifically for you that can help improve many common health concerns.

Learning more about TCM herbs and how they are commonly used can also help guide your questions and get you started on improving your health. Whether you are just beginning to explore the option of using TCM herbal supplements or you are an experienced herbs user looking to make more educated decisions about your wellness plan, we’ve created this guide to help you reap the maximum benefits from herbal medicine.