中藥zhōngyào
Herbal Medicine
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Herbal medicine at the clinic draws on both the Chinese and Western herbal traditions. The Chinese materia medica has been documented and refined over more than two thousand years, and it remains the foundation of how formulas are put together today.
Ahil prescribes and dispenses individual formulas. Your individual situation, health history and current concerns determine the ingredients and their proportions, and the formula is adjusted at each visit as your condition changes. It is common for a prescription to evolve several times across a course of treatment.
Herbs are frequently prescribed alongside acupuncture as part of one coordinated plan, and always with your current medications in mind. To understand the thinking behind a formula, see Ahil’s introduction to the theoretical foundations of Chinese medicine.
Ahil is passionate about sharing herbal medicine and acupuncture with the wider community. He regularly attends markets, offering acupressure and traditional tongue and pulse assessment to the public.
Formulas designed for your individual situation
Each formula follows a full consultation and traditional examination. Ingredients are chosen to work together: some address the chief complaint, while others support digestion, sleep or energy, so the whole prescription suits the whole person.
Prescriptions tailored to you, not your diagnosis alone
Formulas reviewed and adjusted as treatment progresses
Checked With Your Medications
Tell Ahil about every medication and supplement you take. Possible interactions are assessed before anything is prescribed, and in some cases herbs are not appropriate.
Traditional knowledge, careful practice
People often consult Ahil about digestion, energy, sleep and skin, and he will discuss with you whether herbal medicine is appropriate. Everyday food matters too; recipes such as kichari in Patient Resources show the food-as-medicine approach that often accompanies a prescription.
- Custom herbal formulas dispensed individually
- Dietary and lifestyle guidance included
- Herbal medicine from roughly $35 per week
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Formulas dispensed individually
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What to expect from herbal treatment
Chinese herbal medicine is generally considered to be safe, but occasionally may be associated with adverse reactions in individual cases, such as digestive upset or an allergic reaction. Anything relevant to your situation is discussed at your first visit, and you should contact Ahil if you notice anything unexpected. You will be shown how to prepare and take your herbs, when to take them relative to any medications, and what changes to watch for between visits.
Further reading: How herbal medicine is prescribed, Chinese herbs and your prescription medicines and Are Chinese herbs regulated in Australia?.
Frequently asked questions
In the right instances herbal medicine may be used in conjunction with modern pharmaceuticals. It is important to tell your practitioner about any medications you take so potential risks can be assessed; where appropriate, you may be advised to take your herbs at a different time of day.
Side effects can occur. Chinese herbal medicine is generally considered to be safe, but occasionally may be associated with adverse reactions in individual cases. Ahil prescribes carefully and discusses dosing with you to reduce the risk of side effects. Tell him straight away if you notice anything unexpected.
Your formula follows a full consultation and traditional examination, taking in your individual situation, history and current concerns. It is dispensed individually and adjusted at follow-up visits as your condition changes.
Herbal medicine is roughly $35 per week, depending on the prescription. Consultation fees and health fund rebates are separate; an itemised invoice is emailed after each visit so you can claim through your fund.
It varies with your concern and how you respond. Your formula is reviewed at each follow-up, and Ahil will discuss with you how long to continue.
