What We Do
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Developed and refined over centuries, Chinese herbal medicine combines individual ingredients into carefully balanced formulas, prescribed according to your health and symptoms.
Chinese Herbal Medicine at AcuMedic
Your prescription starts with you
There is no standard formula for a particular symptom or diagnosis. Your practitioner first builds a detailed picture of your health, then selects and adjusts the herbs in your prescription accordingly. As things change, your formula can change too.
Chinese Herbal Consultation
A face-to-face consultation at our Camden clinic, where your practitioner will discuss your symptoms, health history and lifestyle. They’ll also assess diagnostic signs such as your tongue and pulse before deciding whether Chinese herbal medicine is appropriate and what to prescribe.
- Who it's for
- Patients who prefer an in-person Chinese medicine assessment.
- Appointment length
- Approximately 20–40 minutes
Online Chinese Medicine Consultation
A remote Chinese medicine consultation by video or phone, wherever you are based. Your practitioner will discuss your symptoms, health history and lifestyle, and may ask you to provide a clear photo of your tongue as part of the assessment. If Chinese herbal medicine is appropriate, they can then prescribe a formula for you.
- Who it's for
- Patients who prefer a remote consultation or cannot easily visit the clinic.
- Appointment length
- Approximately 45 minutes
Your Prescription
Raw Herbs or Granules?
Traditional or convenient? You have options.
Your formula can be prepared as raw herbs to simmer at home, or concentrated granules that dissolve in hot water. Both are individually prescribed, but they fit into daily life a little differently.
Raw Herbs
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Your herbs are weighed and combined for your prescription
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Prepared traditionally by simmering them at home
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Gives your practitioner flexibility to adjust the formula
Herbal Granules
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Concentrated herbal extracts
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Simply dissolve in hot water
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Convenient when time, work or travel make raw herbs less practical
Not sure which to choose? Your practitioner will talk you through both options and recommend what makes most sense for your prescription and day-to-day life.
Explore Further
What Can Chinese Herbal Medicine Help With?
These examples are not exhaustive. Your practitioner will assess whether this treatment is appropriate for your individual situation.
New to Chinese medicine?
How Traditional Chinese Medicine understands health, diagnosis, Qi and personalised treatment.
Book Your Herbal Medicine Consultation
Your first consultation gives your practitioner time to understand what’s going on and decide whether a herbal prescription is right for you.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Herbal Medicine
How long does a Chinese herbal medicine consultation take?
An in-person Chinese herbal medicine consultation usually takes 20 to 40 minutes. During this time, your practitioner will ask about your symptoms, medical history and other aspects of your health that may be relevant before deciding what to recommend.
Online herbal consultations may take a little longer as the assessment is carried out remotely.
What happens during a herbal medicine consultation?
Your practitioner will ask what has brought you to the clinic, review your health history and check which medicines or supplements you take. They may also ask about your sleep, digestion, energy levels and daily routine to build a fuller picture of your health.
As part of a traditional Chinese medicine assessment, your practitioner may also look at your tongue. If you’re attending in person, they may check your pulse too. They’ll then explain their assessment and recommend a herbal formula if Chinese herbal medicine is appropriate for you.
Are herbal formulas personalised?
Yes. Chinese herbal medicine doesn’t rely on one standard remedy for each symptom.
Instead, your practitioner chooses a formula based on your individual Chinese medicine assessment. Two people coming to us with a similar concern may therefore receive different prescriptions.
Your formula can also be reviewed and adjusted over time as your symptoms and needs change.
What form does Chinese herbal medicine come in?
We prescribe Chinese herbal medicine as raw herbs or concentrated granules, depending on what your practitioner considers most suitable for you.
Your prescription is prepared by our Chinese herbal pharmacy, and you’ll receive clear instructions on how to prepare and take it.
How do I take Chinese herbal medicine?
This depends on the type of prescription you receive. Raw herbs usually need to be prepared before taking them, while concentrated granules are prepared differently.
You’ll receive instructions with your prescription, and our team can answer any questions you have about preparing or taking your herbs.
Can I have a Chinese herbal medicine consultation online?
Yes. You can arrange a remote consultation if travelling to our Camden clinic isn’t convenient.
Your practitioner will discuss your symptoms and health history by video or phone. During a video consultation, they may also ask to see your tongue as part of the Chinese medicine assessment.
If herbs are prescribed, our pharmacy can prepare your formula and arrange delivery to you.
Can I take Chinese herbal medicine with prescription medication?
In some cases, Chinese herbal medicine can be used alongside conventional treatment. We’re happy to work alongside the medical care you’re already receiving, rather than asking you to choose one approach over the other.
Your practitioner will need to know about any medicines and supplements you’re taking before prescribing herbs, so bring details of anything you take regularly or have started recently. They can then take this into account when deciding whether herbal medicine is appropriate for you.
Don’t stop or change prescribed medication unless the healthcare professional responsible for your care advises you to do so.
How long will I need to take Chinese herbal medicine?
There isn’t a set treatment length. It depends on what you’d like help with, how long you’ve had the issue and how you respond.
You won’t necessarily receive one prescription and continue taking it unchanged. Your practitioner can review your progress and adjust your formula as needed, or recommend stopping when appropriate.
Is Chinese herbal medicine safe?
Before prescribing herbal medicine, your practitioner will ask about your medical history, current health conditions and any medicines or supplements you take. This helps them decide whether herbal medicine is appropriate for you and whether anything needs to be taken into account when choosing your formula.
We prescribe herbal formulas individually rather than giving everyone with the same symptoms the same prescription. If your practitioner doesn’t think Chinese herbal medicine is suitable for you, they’ll tell you and explain what they recommend instead.