An example of this in Ma huang, commonly known as ephedra. Ma huang is an important ingredient in many Chinese herbal formulas, both for acute as well as chronic illness. When used alone we have seen in the news the negative effects of this herb, yet used in very small doses in an asthma formula for short periods of time it’s effects are very beneficial. Using Ma huang alone to speed up ones metabolism for weight loss purposes will not only cause harm to the body, but also allow for rapid gain when it is stopped. Using Chinese medicine to balance the metabolism while making small life style changes will allow for long term results to occur and be maintained.

This balancing of Chinese herbal formulas is one reason side affects are rare. Taking herbs at home allows the body to heal more quickly. Acupuncture moves energy very efficiently, yet can only slowly add energy to the body. Herbs add energy to the body on a daily basis, which is important for some patients. Herbs are also very useful in moving energy and are given in both acute and chronic conditions. They can be used at the first signs of illness, as well as aid the body to overcome long term chronic symptoms that may otherwise be difficult to eliminate. Chinese herbs are safe to use with western medication in most cases, and any side effects can be carefully avoided. An example is using herbs to keep the body healthy during chemotherapy. This is done with specific formulas created for this purpose, therefore, not interfering with the effectiveness of the chemo itself.

Chinese herbs are used in traditional formulations or these formulas can be modified. Modifying an herbal formula is done to make it more patient specific. This is necessary for many internal medical imbalances. Infertility patients are one example of people who need specific formulas modified in order to deal with the root cause of this situation for each individual. Modifying Chinese herbal formulas is done by Lissa Nirenberg after extensive study and course work in herbology.