Chinese Herbs
There are over 3,000 herbs in the Chinese Materia Medica. Over centuries of data collecting and empirical use, there have been hundreds of classical formulas used for all of the various Chinese diagnoses. While there are many overlaps between Chinese and Western herbology, many of the herbs used in Chinese medicine are rare and specific to certain regions in China. Today, herbs come in three forms; patents (or tea pills), granules, and bulk. Patents are the least effective way to take Chinese herbs as they are formulas that are generic and not specific to the patient. The herbs have also been highly synthesized and treated with various intermediate steps. Granules are a step higher than patents in efficacy. They are made from a single herb, decocted in water, dried, and then sprayed onto a starchy carrier like potato, rice, or corn powder. The most effective option in taking Chinese herbs is to make the tea out of the actual plant material. This is what is referred to as "bulk". To do this, the practitioner gives the patient a mix of dry herbs to bring home where they make a strong teat to drink daily.
Any time you are using Chinese Herbs, it is important to check the source, as there are many companies who are exploiting the recent popularity by treating the herbs with chemicals and mixing them with low grade pharmaceuticals. Specialized Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine uses only chemical, sulfur-free herbs from the Mei Wei Company, distributed out of San Francisco. A few other reputable companies can be accessed from this website. (Peoples Herbs, ITM, Evergreen)