Any difference between herbs from a traditional chinese medicine dr. and herbs/vitiams purchased from a store?

Question

I have been under the care of a traditional chinese medicine doctor and its quite expensive..$10.00 per day for the herbs, which I cook in a pot and then drink. He tells me his herbs are better and more powerful than those purchased from any health food/drug store. Is this true?

Answer 1

I am a western herbalist, so I am talking from that point of view. Herbs available for practitioners are a different grade than the health food store herbs, mostly to prevent somebody doing harm for themselves by self prescribing. However, I have reservation for chinese medicine, here in Australia we find some of the herbs are substituted with less potent varieties. The herbs I am working with come from a reputable source, and it is prepared for me to mix your prescription together easily. The cost for 2 weeks worth is $30.- and not need to cook it, ready t take in 5 ml doses 3x a day. I achieved results with it out performing conventional medicine.

Answer 2

They are the same in the sense that they are all placebos and a waste of your money.

Answer 3

Yes, he is stating the truth.

Answer 4

There is a wide variety of quality in the herbal supplement world.  In fact, you may purchase an herb labelled one thing and it's actually something else.  While you can control this by buying only from reputable suppliers, what you are getting from your TCM doc is formulated specifically for you - your symptoms, your body type, your exact situation right now.  You won't get that without the expertise of a qualified practitioner.  And with Chinese herbs, there are even more quality issues.  I'd go with what you have if you can afford it.  

CH

Answer 5

well yes and no... 90% of all supplements on the market today are not regulated nor are formulated to be absorbed and used by the body. you have to also be very wary of herbal remedies. for $10 a day you could buy some really nice fresh organic foods herbs and spices from your local organic foods store and get the same results.

I would do some serious research on any herbs, and the people producing them, you are being told to take before spending that much money.