Traditional Solutions for Modern Lifestyles
When Chinaherb’s founders Dr Li and Prof Zhang came to South Africa in 1996 to teach at the Medical Acupuncture Society of South Africa, they couldn’t have known that they would still be leading the market some 25 years later. As pioneers in sharing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with the South African public, they have profoundly impacted the landscape of alternative medicine in the country. Today, their daughter Jingxi and son-in-law Marc are also part of the renowned family business.
Graduates of the Gansu University of Chinese Medicine in China, Prof Zhang majored in Acupuncture during his studies under a world acclaimed acupuncture master, while Dr Li majored in Chinese herbal medicine.
A few years after arriving in South Africa, they opened their own TCM practice. Together, they’ve spent over 30 years researching ancient herbal medicine and remedies, cementing their expertise as professionals in TCM, and realising their vision of helping South African citizens through the ancient practice of TCM.
WHAT IS TCM?
TCM is an umbrella term used for all forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine, such as acupuncture, Tui-na, guasha, and cupping. The most effective of these practices is the use of traditional Chinese herbs. During the 2 000-year history of Chinese herbal medicine, clinical observations and practical experience led to the development of classic herbal formulas.
WHY CHOOSE CHINAHERB?
Chinaherb’s range includes classical formulas used in China for thousands of years, as well as new formulas that have been developed and adapted to the specific needs of South Africans by Dr Li and Prof Zhang.
Chinaherb products only make use of top-quality herbs, and are free from chemicals and pharmaceutical drugs. Their commitment to quality and safety is one of the reasons they are the largest and most trusted source of TCM in South Africa. Chinaherb’s products are frequently reviewed by South Africa’s regulatory authorities and conform to the internationally recognised Good Manufacturing Practices. Their partners in China also conduct strict, multi- stage, and product-specific tests.
A FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
Chinaherb was founded in 1997, at a time when many doctors and health practitioners were seeking answers outside the conventional Western medicine system. These practitioners wanted to treat the root causes of their patient’s illnesses, rather than merely mask the symptoms with pharmaceutical drugs.
IDENTIFYING & TREATING ILLNESS
Chinese herbal medicine seeks to bring balance to the body by regulating yin and yang; qi and blood; body essence; deficiency and excess. It differs from Western medicine in that there isn’t a direct one-on-one match of remedy to disease. Instead, a seasoned Chinese medicine practitioner makes a pattern diagnosis (one disease will have many different patterns), looks at your lifestyle and being, and prescribes a course of medication from there. Pulse and tongue characteristics are key to making a pattern diagnosis.
Let’s look at an example of the difference between Western and Chinese medicine. To support asthma, cortisone is the go-to treatment for conventional medicine. You may know that asthma often gets worse in colder weather. In TCM, the diagnosis is Lung Qi deficiency and Cold Damp Phlegm retention in the lungs. Herbs are used to warm up the lungs and dissolve cold phlegm to bring the body back to balance. Chinaherb’s range has both preventative formulas as well as ones that achieve good results for treating asthma long-term.
CHINAHERB’S RANGE
A large variety of illnesses are treated with Chinaherb formulas, and the range has grown to include 90 products. The most effective products support the digestive system, gynaecological illnesses, and the symptoms of ageing. There is also a small range of formulas for common illnesses in children, such as cold and flu, fever, teething, and digestive issues.
