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This website is mainly designed for the education and application of herbal medicine, particularly the Chinese herbal
medicines for Western people who are interested in but with concern about their efficacy and safety.

1. TCM emphasizes on prevention
When the Yin and Yang in your body becomes unbalanced, the external or internal evil Qi (pathogens) will easily attack
you and make you sick. In this situation, your body needs to be tonified, especially when you are getting older. If you
frequently feel tired, painful, or any other uncomfortable, it is the time you need to pay attention. Both acupuncture and
herbs can balance the Yin and Yang, harmonize the organs in your body.

The prevention in TCM includes not only preventing the occurrence of diseases, but also the development or
worsening of diseases.

2. Holism – the most important TCM fundamental characteristics
The concept of holism in TCM considers the various parts of the human body as an organic whole, emphasizing the
coordination of the internal organs among each other and the harmony of the human body with the external
environment.

TCM believes the human body is a complex network of connections, made up of channels and collaterals. In modern
science, they can be considered as the nerve and circulatory (blood and lymphatic) systems. These networks not only
connect the internal organs, but also control their functions through Qi and blood. Through these connection, the
dysfunction of an organ may impact the functions of other organs. Therefore, treatments with Chinese medicine and
acupuncture are based on this concept.

3. Importance of blood circulation
TCM emphasizes maintaining an unobstructed circulation of Qi and blood, as obstructed Qi and blood are considered
the cause of many diseases. As far as we know, thrombosis not only effects coronary and cerebral arteries, causing
heart attack and stroke, but also effects pulmonary, portal, renal, hepatic, cerebral, and extremity veins – causing all
kinds of symptoms or diseases.

Circulatory system (including blood and lymphatic systems) delivers nutrients to cells throughout the body, and also
carries metabolized wastes out from tissues and organs. Only unobstructed blood flow can maintain health and quality
of life. Cells will die if not receiving enough nutrients or the wastes accumulating inside.

There are more than 100 billion neurons (nerve cells) in the human brain, composed of the central and peripheral nerve
systems. The nerve systems regulate the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and eliminative functions, maintain
hormone secretion, as well as control the movement of limbs, language, memory, recognition, thinking, etc. The brain
weight is only 2% of the body weight, but it needs 20% of the total blood supply.

The nerve cells use the nutrients provided from blood to synthesize neurotransmitters which control the regulations
mentioned above. The brain cells can only function well when they receive enough nutrients from the blood. Chronic
insomnia, anxiety, poor memory, tinnitus, depressant, some types of headache, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are all
related to blood deficiency in brain.

Keeping circulatory system function well is crucial to prevent diseases and aging!!!

4. Chinese herbs should be used under guide of TCM theory
Chinese doctors treat patients based on their own diagnostic system. If the diagnosis is correct, the treatment will be
very effective. If the diagnosis was wrong, the treatment would be ineffective or even make situation worse.

In Western countries, I have heard people saying that herbal medicine is traditional, therefore, the herbal products are
non-chemicals and very safe. Such misconception leads to the misuse of some Chinese herbal extracts such as Ma-
huang (Ephedra) and Guang-fang-ji (Radix aristolochiae fangchi) for weight loss or energy enhancement in the US and
Europe. As consequences of the long-term administration without consulting Chinese doctors, the kidneys or other
organs of some consumers were severely damaged due to over dose and long term administration. Some even died of
that. Then people blamed on the herbs. What I want to claim is that the herbs are innocent, because Chinese herbs are
always prescribed by the doctors under the guidance of TCM theory. In fact, Ma-huang and Fang-ji are never used for
the above purposes in TCM.

5. Natural products do not mean unconditionally safe
All of the materials on the earth are composed of chemical compounds. Herbal product is actually a complex mixture of
components. Even in the first Chinese herbal book Divine Husbandman's Classic of Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben
Cao Jing) written 2000 years ago, herbs were divided into three categories according to their safety and toxicity. Many
Western medicines are actually compounds separated or derived from natural sources. The purified compounds
become much more effective, meanwhile, their toxicities also increase.

The composition of a herbal product decides its efficacy and safety. The efficacy and safety of herbal products not only
depend on the quality of the raw materials, extraction method, but also the applied dose and course.

6. Consulting a licensed specialist before taking herbal products
For thousands of years, Chinese herbal medicines has been always used under the guidance of theory of Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM). The prescription should be provided by a licensed professional practitioner based on
correct TCM diagnosis. However in the American market, many people buy the products based the advertised
information. Here, therefore, I strongly recommend consumers to consult an expert before taking herbal products from
the market if you do not have enough knowledge about them.

7. FDA regulation on herbal products
FDA regulates dietary supplements under a different set of regulations than those covering "conventional" foods and
drug products (prescription and Over-the-Counter). Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994
(DSHEA), the dietary supplement manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement is safe before it
is marketed. FDA is responsible for taking action against any unsafe dietary supplement product after it reaches the
market. Generally, manufacturers do not need to register their products with FDA nor get FDA approval before
producing or selling dietary supplements. * Manufacturers must make sure that product label information is truthful
and not misleading.

FDA's post-marketing responsibilities include monitoring safety, e.g. voluntary dietary supplement adverse event
reporting, and product information, such as labeling, claims, package inserts, and accompanying literature. The Federal
Trade Commission regulates dietary supplement advertising.

*Domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture/process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption in the
United States are required to register their facility with the FDA.

On June 22, 2007, FDA issued Dietary Supplements Final Rule. The regulations establish the cGMP needed to ensure
quality throughout the manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and storing of dietary supplements. The final rule includes
requirements for establishing quality control procedures, designing and constructing manufacturing plants, and testing
ingredients and the finished product. It also includes requirements for recordkeeping and handling consumer product
complaints.