Dried herbs are the gold standard in Chinese medicine; they are the most authentic and effective. Contrary to popular belief, Chinese medicine is not just acupuncture. Acupuncture is only one tool among many used in Chinese medicine. In China, 70% of treatments involve the use of dried herbs. In this form, they are more effective and reliable, which is why they are used by almost all practitioners in China. In the West, practitioners almost unanimously agree that dried herbs are superior to other forms (especially pills).
Why choose dried herbs over pills?
Pills cause more side effects than dried herbs, and the difference in results between the two can sometimes be significant. Due to the way they are manufactured, pills are not suitable for everyone (they are mainly suitable for people with deficiencies who need toning). In summary, dried herbs are better because:
- The herbs are not processed, but simply dried. The less an herb is processed, the more effective it will be.
- Whether the herb is infused or decocted, only the water-soluble elements are extracted and consumed by the person. If the whole herb is consumed (as in pills), the effects will be different and may not be suitable in many cases.
- The consumer knows and sees what they are consuming, unlike with pills or other products, which are certainly more convenient, but where you can never be really sure of the contents.
- For example, someone who buys Chinese angelica knows that their product is 100% Chinese angelica. This is in contrast to most dietary supplements found in pharmacies, which often contain less than 50% of the desired plant.
- Herbs are more effective in their dried form.
What about concentrated powders?
They are hardly any better, since we don’t know what is really in the powders, and the word “concentrated” remains very relative. Depending on the laboratory and the plant used, the substances in the herb are more or less concentrated. In addition, the percentage of concentrated substances listed on the label is often incorrect.