Why use Herbal Medicine?
Herbal medicine uses plants and natural substances to treat the underlying causes of illness rather than individual symptoms. Studies have shown herbal medicine to be successful in treating a range of disorders.
Chinese herbal medicine is one of the oldest and most comprehensive herbal systems in the world, dating back to the 3rd century BCE. Throughout its history, Chinese herbal formulas have been developed in response to changing clinical conditions and have been backed for centuries with proven clinical effectiveness.
Chinese herbs differ from western herbs in that they are prescribed as a formula containing between 2 to 15 herbs. The combination of different herbs creates a specific synergistic healing property to address specific pattern of disharmony.
Dr. Natalie Grigorian is sought for her knowledge and expertise and is considered one of the best herbal practitioners in Washington, DC. She applies a holistic approach to the use of herbs to address physical, emotional and spiritual issues.
What is the quality and safey of the herbs?
The Chinese Material Medica includes over 10,000 individual substances, which accounts for one third of all the medicinal herbs in the world. A typical practitioner will use approximately 500 of these substances on a routine basis. Most of herbs are plants but minerals and animal parts are also used. Dr. Natalie Grigorian is committed to environmental sustainability and ensure that we do not use any medicinal substances derived from an endangered species or plants nor one that involves inflicting pain on a living being. The herbs used are selected according to strict Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and are subject to high levels of quality control.
What are the benefits of herbal medicine?
Like acupuncture, herbal medicine addresses symptoms and the underlying causes of patterns of disharmony. Doing so can restore balance and strengthen your resistance to disease. One of the greatest benefits of an herbal consultation is the carefully blended combination of herbs superficially designed to address each person’s unique set of needs.
Below are examples of how herbal remedies can help:
- Create greater overall balance and harmony
- Provide relief of symptoms for acute and chronic conditions such as allergies, cold/flus, migraines, insomnia, constipation/diarrhea, and more
- Support emotional wellbeing for those experience anxiety, stress, fear, addition, anger, grief, or depression
- Reduce the side effects of medical interventions such as chemotherapy, radiation, and long term use of medications
- Balance hormones to promote healthy reproduction cycles for men and women.
How does Chinese herbal medicine support fertility and IVF?
Chinese herbal medicines have long been used for the treatment of infertility. When it comes to enhancing fertility with herbs, the claims and possibilities seem endless. It can be frustrating and sometimes difficult to figure out which herbs might be most appropriate and people often end up taking expensive supplements that may or may not be helpful.
There isn’t one supplement or herb that is going to be helpful for everyone when it comes to fertility. Incorporating targeted herbs in your comprehensive fertility plan can potentially boost fertility enough to help some couples conceive. For this reason it is wise to work with a qualified practitioner, such as a Chinese Medicine Herbalist and Aetherium founder Dr. Natalie Grigorian, to help you discover which herbs are ideal for your case.
The Chinese herbal approach is one of the most sophisticated herbal systems in existence. Chinese herbs are rarely taken as single herbs, but are rather prescribed as balanced, targeted formulas to address whole body health and in turn, fertility. According to a study by the NIH Chinese Herbal medicine increases a woman’s fertility, improving pregnancy rates 2-fold over a three to six month period when compared with Western medicine. With the use of Chinese Herbal medicine, there were significant improvements in ovulation, cervical mucus and endometrial (uterine) lining, all necessary to a successful pregnancy.
As a stand-alone treatment Chinese Herbal medicine is promising and the results fairly positive. When used in conjunction with Assisted Reproductive Technologies the opportunity for success is very good. Combining herbal formulas with standard fertility medication carries the potential for improved IVF outcomes.
While much is still being discovered about the use of Chinese Herbal medicine in improving fertility many physicians prefer their patients discontinue herbal formulas once they begin their IVF cycle. Because IVF requires a very controlled protocol doctors prefer to pare down the variables. Additionally, there are certain conditions in which Chinese Herbal medicine shows no effect.
How does Chinese herbal medicine help with pain management?
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience in many diseases and is often caused by intense or damaging stimuli. Pain negatively affects the quality of life and increases high health expenditures. Drugs with analgesic properties are commonly used to relieve pain, but these Western medications could be overwhelmed by side effects including tolerance and addiction.
For example, ibuprofen can cause nausea, diarrhea, stomach ulcers or even kidney damage when taken too frequently. While acetaminophen can be more gentle on your stomach, it also creates a toxic byproduct when digested that can result in liver damage.
Herbal medicines may provide alternative measures for pain management. A growing number of research is showing the many benefits that herbs have to offer when it comes to easing back pain, musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain, menstrual pain, abdominal pain, and so on.
