by Amy Hausman, L.Ac, Ord.Min.
Today, Chinese herbs are being used more widely in U.S. clinics and hospitals. This expansion and higher demand has led to a depth of information on Chinese herbs and an increase in suppliers made available to both practitioners and the public. Further research and numerous articles have been done on many of the herbs in our pharmacopeia to outline their uses, side effects, contraindications, and interactions with other herbs and medications.
While this has increased the widespread use of Chinese herbs, they are still not under the jurisdiction of the FDA- and anyone, including unlicensed practitioners, can get access to them, leading to improper dosage or overuse. Years ago, this resulted in certain herbs, like Ma Huang / Ephedra, being banned in the U.S. even though they were entirely safe and very effective when prescribed by a licensed herbalist. It is up to us as practitioners to stay informed on the latest developments regarding Chinese herbs and how they are processed so we continue to use them safely in our clinics.
The use of Chinese herbs has been a strong foundation of Chinese medicine since the early Qin and Han dynasties beginning with the Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica). Centuries later, the Chinese scholar and physician Li Shi-zhen spent many years gathering notes and commentary from the earlier texts and put together the Bencao Gangmu (The Compendium of Materia Medica) in the Ming dynasty. He is considered a patron saint of Chinese herbal medicine, while the Bencao Gangmu still stands today as one of the greatest compilations of Chinese herbal medicine. Many of the prescribed formulas used today are the same ones developed by these master physicians centuries ago, which speaks to the safety and efficacy of their continued use when processed and formulated according to the ancient traditions.
What YOU can do to maintain the safety and efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine:
- Know your sources & suppliers: It is very important where you source your Chinese herbs, both raw and patent formulas, from growers to distributors who show due diligence in their processing and production standards. Make sure all suppliers do third party GC-MS testing on every batch of herbs for metals, pesticides, fillers and other contaminants like arsenic, lead, and cadmium to ensure the components are pure herbs and nothing else. The NYS Department of Health recently issued a statement about lead and other contaminants in medical supplements and there are some Chinese herb suppliers on this list. You can access more information here at this link: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/lead/traditional-chinese-medicine-warning.pdf
- If you are a board-certified practitioner in Chinese herbal medicine, please make sure to stay up to date on the latest research, herb/drug interactions, and any changes that affect the dispensing and safe use of Chinese herbs. NOTE: NYS will soon be requiring all licensed acupuncturists to maintain continuing education units (CEUs) to keep your license active, and you can start this process by signing up for CEU classes. Check out the ASNY events page or NCBAHM website to find ongoing classes in Chinese medicine.
- Stay informed regarding the latest news, what’s available to us, what’s been discontinued, and anything that shows promise. Keep in mind this information is constantly changing with some unfortunately incorrect information being filtered down as well. Social media is not always accurate. While we may not find out everything all at once, we can certainly strive to meet the demands in an ever-changing industry. We are all lifelong students of this ancient medicine.
What you can tell your patients:
- Only take herbs from a licensed herbalist. Not all acupuncturists, chiropractors, nutritionists or doctors are licensed in Chinese herbal medicine. Therefore, they may not know the full scope of this medicine nor are they aware of the various nuances. In contrast, as licensed acupuncturists and herbalists, we would never consider prescribing Western pharmaceuticals to you, we would refer you to a licensed M.D. instead.
- Make sure your patients tell you all medications/supplements they are taking and any changes to their regimen. While there are only a handful of Chinese herbs that require caution with certain medications, it is important for you to know what they are taking to avoid any unwanted side effects.
We hope this information helps you make informed decisions when it comes to your practice and encourage you to reach out to us when you have questions or concerns. We look forward to hearing your feedback.