Chinese herbal medicine

Stefan Chmelik, one of the UK’s most experienced practitioners of acupuncture and Chinese herbs, see clients at 10a Upper Wimpole Street, in the heart of London’s Harley Street medical district.

A very modern natural medicine

Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is a very modern form of medicine despite its ancient origins. Because it forms a major part of healthcare provision in China, and is provided in state hospitals alongside western medicine, considerable scientific research has continued to hone its use and clinical effectiveness. For example, a recent scientific paper found CHM to be twice as effective as IVF in achieving pregnancy for women diagnosed as infertile.

What can herbal medicine treat?

Herbal medicine is a complete medical system that is used to treat a wide range of conditions – many of which are not satisfactorily treated by conventional medicine – such as:

Fertility – recent scientific research found CHM to be twice as effective as IVF in achieving pregnancy for women diagnosed as infertile.
Skin disease, including eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, urticaria
Gastro-intestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, ulcerative colitis
Gynaecological conditions, including pre-menstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis, infertility
Chronic fatigue syndrome, whether with a background of viral infection or in other situations
Respiratory conditions, including asthma, bronchitis and chronic coughs, allergic and perennial rhinitis and sinusitis
Rheumatological conditions (e.g. osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
Urinary conditions including chronic cystitis
Psychological problems (e.g. depression, anxiety)
Children’s diseases

Take action now

Call us on 0845 6769699 or email us to book an initial consultation with us, or to find out more. All calls are completely confidential and we will treat you with the respect and sensitivity that you deserve.

Gerard Frith on Chinese herbal medicine

I use herbal remedies to treat a wide range of complaints, often in combination with acupuncture. A consultation involves a comprehensive medical history, analysis of your symptoms and objectives for treatment. Based on this I will put together a detailed treatment plan.

Due to its popularity and history of use, significant scientific research has been conducted into the effectiveness of Chinese Herbal Medicine. There is a growing body of research that indicates that traditional uses of plant remedies and the known pharmacological activity of plant constituents often coincide. However, herbal medicine is distinct from medicine based on pharmaceutical drugs. Firstly, because of the complexity of plant materials it is more balanced than medicine based on isolated active ingredients and is less likely to cause side effects. Secondly, because herbs are typically prescribed in combination, the different components of a formulae balance each other, and they undergo a mutual synergy that increases efficacy and enhances safety. Thirdly, herbal medicine seeks primarily to correct internal imbalances rather than to treat symptoms alone, and therapeutic intervention is designed to encourage this self-healing process.

Stefan Chmelik on Chinese herbal medicine

Chinese medicine includes all oriental traditions emerging from Southeast Asia that have their origins in China. It is a complete medical system that is capable of treating a very wide range of conditions. It includes herbal therapy, acupuncture, dietary therapy, and exercises in breathing and movement (tai chi and qi gong). Some or several of these may be employed in the course of treatment.

Chinese Herbal Medicine, along with the other components of Chinese medicine, is based on the concepts of Yin and Yang. It aims to understand and treat the many ways in which the fundamental balance and harmony between the two may be undermined and the ways in which a person’s Qi or vitality may be depleted or blocked. Clinical strategies are based upon diagnosis of patterns of signs and symptoms that reflect an imbalance.

However, the tradition as a whole places great emphasis on lifestyle management in order to prevent disease before it occurs. Chinese medicine recognises that health is more than just the absence of disease and it has a unique capacity to maintain and enhance our capacity for well being and happiness.