I’m curious whether it’s mainly because of family traditions and cultural beliefs, or because some people feel that herbal remedies and other traditional practices have helped them personally. At the same time, how do people decide which traditional practices are reasonable to use and which ones may be unsafe or unsupported?
I've been having heart palpitations for the last 4 years and now its getting more frequent. It used to only be when I'm in a group setting, where I have to speak. But now its when I get up, go to bed etc... Im assuming my body is believes that I'm in stressful situations. Because Ive got over my fear of group settings and public speaking. The heart palpitations end up holding me back and make me very uncomfortable. Does anyone have any home remedies or medicine they would recommend other than beta blockers. Im still young and don't want to delve into stronger medicines.
Thank you!
Not a doctor, just someone who grew up watching my grandmother treat food like the first line of defense before anything else. A few things that were staples in our house when someone couldn't sleep:
None of this replaces actual medical care if you have chronic insomnia — just sharing what's been part of my family's routine for a long time. Curious if anyone else grew up with similar 'food as medicine' habits, Chinese or otherwise?I'm slowly putting together a small notebook with more of these (digestion, energy, women's wellness) — sharing it here if anyone wants it: https://wild-cold-3fa.notion.site/Traditional-Food-Remedies-Sleep-Guide-3c1cfdf7134a805c8c8be3b96bb764db
Hi everyone, unsure if this is the right place to post but I’ve started seeing a TCM practitioner who performed acupuncture on me today. I’m 39 weeks pregnant and I haven’t done labour inducing pressure points (she won’t until I’m overdue). Today before our session she touched/gently pinched my left index finger and felt a slightly quicker beat/pulse, and said it was a sign of soon/incoming labour. I have tried looking this up online but can’t find anything. She said it was a bit of a wives tale amongst practitioners. Anyone come across something similar?
Sincerely, a heavily pregnant woman desperate to meet her baby 😂
The Real History of TCM, Its Potential Benefits, and the Danger of Scam Practitioners
A brief but important word about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), its ancient history, and the dangers of dishonest or incompetent practitioners.
First, we need to make something clear: TCM is not simply something invented yesterday by modern alternative-medicine marketers.
Chinese medical traditions have a documented history extending back more than two thousand years, with archaeological evidence of earlier medical practices.
Ancient Chinese physicians developed extensive systems of diagnosis, herbal pharmacology, acupuncture, moxibustion and therapeutic formulas, and recorded their observations in medical classics.
The history, however, is more complicated than the popular claim that every TCM treatment has been "proven for thousands of years."
AN ANCIENT MEDICAL TRADITION
One of the most famous texts associated with Chinese medicine is the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon).
Although traditionally attributed to the legendary Yellow Emperor, historians do not regard the Yellow Emperor as the literal author. The text is generally understood to be a compilation that developed over centuries, with important material dating to ancient China rather than to a single historical physician.
Another foundational work is the Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage), traditionally associated with Zhang Zhongjing during the Eastern Han period. It became one of the most influential sources for the development of Chinese herbal formula theory.
Chinese pharmacology also developed an enormous written tradition. The Shennong Bencao Jing, traditionally associated with the early centuries of the Common Era, became one of the foundational materia medica texts.
Centuries later, Li Shizhen's Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), completed during the Ming period, catalogued an enormous body of information concerning medicinal substances.
In other words, there is a genuine historical tradition here.
But there is an important distinction:
Ancient does not automatically mean effective. A treatment being recorded 1,000 or 2,000 years ago is evidence that people used it—not automatically proof that modern clinical trials would demonstrate that it works for every condition.
That distinction is extremely important.
TRADITIONAL FORMULAS CAN HAVE A LONG DOCUMENTED HISTORY
One of the fascinating features of Chinese medicine is the enormous number of formulas that have been transmitted through medical literature.
Researchers have compiled thousands of traditional multi-herb formulas from historical medical classics.
One database study, for example, identified approximately 11,810 formulas from 13 Chinese and Korean medical classics.
Some formulas that people encounter today therefore have a documented lineage going back many centuries.
This is very different from a practitioner simply mixing ten random herbs together and calling it a "custom formula."
There is a substantial historical pharmacological literature behind many traditional prescriptions.
However, historical continuity should not be confused with modern scientific proof. Some traditional treatments may have genuine pharmacological effects, some may have limited evidence, and some traditional claims may ultimately prove ineffective.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE PROBLEM BEGINS
In modern cities, TCM has become a commercial industry.
You may encounter practitioners who advertise:
pulse diagnosis tongue diagnosis customized herbal formulas acupuncture detoxification treatment of chronic illnesses "balancing" the organs treatment of tumors, cysts or other serious diseases proprietary herbal combinations
Some practitioners may be highly knowledgeable and ethical.
Others may not be.
And the consumer often has a serious disadvantage:
The patient usually cannot tell whether the practitioner actually knows what they are doing.
A practitioner can confidently give an elaborate explanation of your "kidney deficiency," "liver qi stagnation," "blood stasis," "dampness," or other TCM pattern.
The terminology can sound extremely sophisticated. But sophistication of language is not proof of competence.
THE "CUSTOM FORMULA" PROBLEM
One reason consumers should be cautious is that individualized formulas can make it extremely difficult to determine exactly what they are paying for.
With a traditional patent formula, you can often identify:
the name of the formula the historical source the ingredients the manufacturer the dosage the traditional indications
With a mysterious custom powder supplied by a practitioner, you may have much less transparency.
You may simply be told: "This is your special formula."
And then you return the following week and receive another bag of powder.
At that point, the consumer should ask questions. What exactly is in it? What are the quantities? What is the historical formula? Why was each ingredient selected? What evidence supports using it for my condition? How long am I expected to take it? What happens if it doesn't work?
A legitimate practitioner should not be offended by reasonable questions about what you are putting into your body.
THE "MILK COW" BUSINESS MODEL
There is a particularly concerning business model that consumers should watch for.
Imagine someone comes to a practitioner with a problem.
The practitioner gives them a treatment.
The patient experiences an improvement.
The patient becomes convinced that the practitioner possesses special knowledge.
Then the treatment continues indefinitely.
Every week: Another consultation. Another customized formula. Another payment. Another promise that the problem requires additional treatment.
This can create a situation in which the patient becomes financially dependent upon the practitioner without ever receiving a clear explanation of the underlying condition or a realistic endpoint for treatment.
This does not mean every practitioner who provides long-term treatment is running a scam. Chronic conditions can legitimately require ongoing care.
The warning sign is the combination of: continually increasing costs + vague explanations + no measurable treatment goals + refusal to disclose ingredients + discouragement from conventional medical evaluation.
That combination deserves serious scrutiny.
THERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM: HERBAL MEDICINES ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY SAFE
This point is extremely important. "Natural" does not mean "harmless." Chinese herbal medicines contain biologically active substances, and some can produce significant adverse effects.
A systematic review of reported Chinese herbal-medicine-induced liver injury identified cases involving individual herbs, patent medicines and decoctions. In that review, He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) was particularly prominent among reported cases.
A broader systematic review of published herb-induced liver-injury data found that herbal products were implicated in a substantial proportion of reported drug-induced liver-injury cases and identified several herbs associated with hepatotoxicity.
There is also the issue of adulteration and contamination.
A systematic review published in the Journal of Internal Medicine documented cases in which Chinese herbal products had been adulterated with pharmaceutical drugs, including corticosteroids, and reported cases of serious harm.
Therefore, consumers should consider not only: "Does this herb traditionally treat my condition?"
but also:
"Is this particular product authentic, correctly identified, uncontaminated, correctly dosed, and appropriate for me?"
Those are completely different questions.
DON'T CONFUSE A TRADITIONAL FORMULA WITH A PRACTITIONER'S PERSONAL INVENTION
This may be one of the most important lessons.
If someone recommends a traditional formula, ask:
What is the name of the formula? What classical text does it come from? Who traditionally used it? What are its ingredients? What modifications have been made? Why were those modifications made?
For example, there is a huge difference between saying:
"I'm prescribing Formula X, a historically documented prescription, with these modifications because of these particular symptoms."
and:
"I created this special formula just for you. You need to keep buying it every week."
The first can at least be investigated.
The second requires considerably more scrutiny.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU PAY
Before spending large amounts of money on herbal treatment, document your condition.
Write down: your symptoms when they began what makes them better or worse medications and supplements you take previous diagnoses laboratory results imaging results previous treatments changes over time
Then research the traditional formula or treatment being proposed.
Look for the classical source, not merely a modern practitioner's website.
Look for the actual ingredients.
Look for safety information.
And, particularly for serious or persistent symptoms, obtain an appropriate medical evaluation rather than assuming that a TCM diagnosis explains everything.
BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL WITH SERIOUS DISEASE
No responsible person should allow a traditional diagnosis to replace appropriate investigation of potentially serious disease.
If someone has: an unexplained lump unexplained bleeding persistent severe pain unexplained weight loss neurological symptoms persistent fever abnormal laboratory results a suspected tumor rapidly worsening symptoms
then seeking appropriate medical evaluation is extremely important.
A practitioner who tells a patient to abandon necessary medical investigation because "the herbs will take care of it" should be treated as a major warning sign.
THE REAL LESSON The answer is not: "TCM is all fake."
Nor is the answer: "Everything TCM has used for thousands of years must work."
Reality is more complicated.
Traditional Chinese medicine represents a vast historical body of medical knowledge that deserves to be studied seriously. Its classical literature contains thousands of recorded formulas and centuries of accumulated observations.
At the same time, traditional history is not equivalent to modern clinical proof, and herbal medicines can cause real adverse effects, interact with medications, or be contaminated or adulterated.
Therefore, the intelligent consumer should take the middle position:
Respect the tradition. Study the classical sources. Know exactly what you are taking. Question exaggerated claims. Demand transparency. Watch your finances. And never confuse confidence with competence.
There are honest and knowledgeable practitioners.
There are also people who can exploit a patient's fear, hope and lack of medical knowledge for financial gain.
Don't become an indefinitely recurring customer simply because someone has convinced you that your health problem requires endless treatment.
Research first. Ask questions. Verify the formula. Understand the risks.
And never surrender your judgment simply because someone calls themselves a "doctor" or "practitioner."
🌿 Traditional medicine deserves serious study—but so does the person selling it to you.
Hey everyone, looking for some advice or shared experiences from anyone who’s used Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture for gut and anxiety issues.
I started seeing a TCM practitioner back in October last year (so about 10 months now) specifically to address SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth), along with high stress and anxiety.
The Progress So Far:
The Herbal Formula Conundrum: Since day one, my practitioner has kept me on the exact same two herbal formulas:
Here’s my dilemma: whenever I try to taper off or stop taking the pills, my symptoms flare back up and I feel worse. So they are clearly doing something to manage the baseline, but I really don’t want to be reliant on taking these exact same pills every single day forever without making further actual progress.
My Questions for the Community:
Would love to hear your thoughts, experiences, or any questions I should be asking at my next appointment! Thanks in advance.
Hey everyone,
I’m currently researching the operational side of TCM and acupuncture practices. I know most of you got into this field to treat patients and help people heal- not to spend hours wrestling with back-office logistics and paperwork.
I’m trying to get a clear picture of where clinics lose the most time or money. If you own or work in a practice, what is the #1 administrative pain point that makes you pull your hair out?
A few examples of what I’ve heard so far:
Patient Intake & Scheduling: Chasing down missing patient histories, handling last-minute cancellations, or managing intake forms.
Billing & Claims Friction: Dealing with insurance rejections, superbill generation, or uncollected patient copays.
Herbal Dispensary & Inventory: Keeping track of inventory levels, tracking raw herb vs. granule stock, or reordering chaos.
Standard Operating Procedures: Training new front-desk staff or dealing with inconsistent administrative processes.
If you could wave a magic wand and instantly fix or delegate ONE broken process in your day-to-day workflow, what would it be?
Appreciate any insight you can share!
Hi to all. Hearing on internet the lymphatic detox benefits of rebounding i acquired a trampoline. Soon i started to doubt a bit about this claim. Doing a bit more research i find most trampoline sellers and trainers bring this claim for marketing purpose without any relevant studies to back up these claims.
While studding i find this yt video that by my understanding claims:
- during a jump’s apex the subject experiences zero gravity, allowing the space between cells to decompressing a bit, including lymphatic vessels and all muscles
- upon landing, the body experiences 2 to 3 G-forces, causing a contraction of cellular space that promotes fluid movement and cellular activity also in lymphatic vessels and cells
- this cycle of decompression and loading induces a full-body cellular workout, improving lymph flow, immunity, and musculoskeletal health
How this kind of training acts on ones qi? What would be the tcm perspective on rebounding and on the western concept of lymphatic detoxing/drainage?
I’m 11.5 months postpartum and hoping to conceive again, but my menstrual cycle hasn’t returned yet 😞 I’m still breastfeeding 3x a day (morning, before afternoon nap and bedtime).. I recently completely night-weaned (about a fortnight ago). I’m interested in hearing from those with knowledge or personal experience with herbalism, traditional Chinese medicine or traditional postpartum/fertility practices for supporting the return of ovulation and menstruation.
I was wondering if things like mugwort or red clover could help? I have been using red dates/jujube, goji berries, in congee.. but there is so much conflicting information, particularly when breastfeeding.
Has anyone used herbs, teas, foods, acupuncture or TCM specifically for postpartum amenorrhea/fertility? I’d love any tips on what you’ve done as I am so desperate to fall pregnant again!
I’ve been curious about acupuncture and how people actually find the experience. I’ve heard very different opinions about it, so I’d like to hear from people who have tried it themselves.
What was your first session like? Did you notice any changes afterward, or did it take a few sessions?
Would love to hear some genuine experiences, both positive and negative.
Hello! I've been seeing a lot of videos on Chinese medicine lately and my curiosity is peaked. I thought it would be best for me to come here and ask for recommendations on books, websites, etc possibly reliable videos on Chinese medicine.
I’m looking for a Qigong/Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective on something I’ve been experiencing.
At night, when I’m sleeping, my eyes become very dry, and I also feel like my whole body feels unusually dry. I’m curious whether, from a TCM/Qigong perspective, this could indicate some kind of imbalance.
Some background:
I don’t eat refined sugar.
I don’t eat wheat.
I don't eat industrial seed oils.
I don’t smoke.
I don’t drink alcohol.
I exercise regularly and strength train.
I generally eat whole foods and plenty of vegetables, protein, nuts...
The dryness is particularly noticeable at night.
From a Qigong/TCM perspective, what kind of imbalance could potentially cause this?
And what Qigong practices, breathing exercises, lifestyle changes, or dietary approaches are traditionally used to address this?
I’m also interested in hearing from people who have experienced something similar and what actually helped them.
I’m looking for perspectives, and I’m open to both traditional explanations and evidence-based explanations.
Hi everyone!
🪷 The website I created is linked here: https://chinese-medicine.wixsite.com/pcos-balance 🪷
I’ve struggled with PCOS for a long time, and for a while, I felt very, very hopeless & disillusioned. Almost every doctor I saw prescribed me birth control, even though I'm a teenager, and essentially told me there was no real way to treat the root causes. Because my mom didn't want me to start taking birth control, I felt like I had no options & it was such an isolating experience.
I randomly decided to visit a Chinese traditional medicine doctor - and they changed my perspective about it. While not necessarily providing a "cure," traditional medicine views the entire body as an interconnected system, so my doctor let me know about different methods to help regulate organ systems throughout my body that are connected to hormone levels & the menstrual cycle. This included eating traditional Chinese medicine but also integrating lifestyle & dietary habits designed to tackle the fundamental root issues that cause PCOS symptoms.
I noticed my skin improving a lot over time, and her treatments helped a lot with regulating my period (previously - I would only get my period a few times a year). So, because this approach helped me so much with feeling more hopeful about PCOS & like i had more control + agency in regulating my body, I created a website including all my notes & tips consolidated from personal consultations with professional Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong, as well as from my own academic research. What I hope is just to provide everyone with an alternative perspective & option, because I know exactly how isolating & hopeless handling PCOS can feel at times!
NOTE: you can follow Chinese medicine practices together with Western medicines as well! A quick disclaimer that this site offers educational self-care information from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
I included a few sections on basic info about PCOS & the general Chinese medicine perspective on it - all the practical advice & tips are included in the "Restoring Balance" section. There, I included lots of very specific advice on skincare, nutrition, exercise, mental health, and traditional medicine remedies. I also tried to make the website design as whimsy & cute as possible lol. I hope you guys find this useful!
hi! I recently took my baby ( 16 month old) to a Tcm doctor. she works with adult as well as pediatric patients. she said my daughter’s spleen was weak and prescribed her herbal medicine. Does anyone here know the safety of it for one-year-olds.
I trust the doctor, but the mom in my questions it as there’s not many doctors who will prescribe baby herbs. TIA!
I'm studying tcm.
What is this root for? What can I use it for and is it safe?
I have IgA nephropathy, an autoimmune kidney disease that has progressed to stage 4 chronic kidney disease. I also have high blood pressure. Both conditions are being managed by my doctors.
For several years, I have experienced numerous ongoing symptoms and health concerns:
Recurrent severe sinus infections, including infections involving Citrobacter koseri
Multiple confirmed allergies, although I have not received treatment for them
Tonsil swelling or throat problems during severe sinus infections
Persistent, severe iron-deficiency anemia; my ferritin is usually between 4 and 6, and my hemoglobin has been around 8. I receive iron infusions, but this remains an ongoing problem.
Excess stomach acid, which my doctor believes may be worsening my iron deficiency and could possibly be related to medications I take for my conditions
A low appetite at times, although I may eat a large amount once I begin eating
Severe, painful abdominal bloating after eating
Generally consistent bowel movements, except during sinus infections, when I develop diarrhea or very loose stools
Constant fatigue, body pain, and joint pain
Severe difficulty sleeping; I use a CPAP machine but still struggle to breathe and sleep. Some days I sleep for long periods during the daytime, while at other times I may remain awake for up to 24 hours.
Toenail fungus that causes persistent itching and pain
Occasional itching of my skin
A thinning patch on my scalp that has been present for years and has significantly affected my confidence
A sensation that my eyelids and eyebrows are drooping, possibly related to lack of sleep
Weak or worsening vision
Irregular menstrual periods that have always been short and light
Constant thirst and strong cravings for water, hydrating drinks, and ice chips
Anxiety and frequent cravings for crunchy foods
Irritability, anger, and consistently low energy
Foamy urine
Very little sweating unless I am in humid conditions
I understand that I have several complex medical conditions, and I am exhausted from feeling this way for so many years. Chinese medicine was recommended to me as a possible complementary approach not as a replacement for my current medical care or prescribed treatments. I would like help understanding whether these symptoms may be connected and whether complementary treatment could be used safely alongside the care I receive from my doctors.