As Westerners we honestly come by our apprehension, discomfort and distrust of Chinese herbal medicine. After all, we didn’t grow up with this stuff. Our mother’s didn’t feed us “Cinnamon and Peony Decoction” when we had a cold; we got tomato soup and grilled cheese. Our culture has us going to the drugstore instead of the herb market. Plus, why should we take a medication we don’t know anything about?
Today’s guest is a patient from Yong Kang Clinic, and he’s turned the microphone around and engages Michael Max with the questions most of you probably have about the use of Chinese herbs, along with their sourcing and safety issues.
Listen in and find out how an acupuncturist thinks about Chinese herbal medicine, and some of the questions you should ask your practitioner if you are considering using Chinese herbs.
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Show Highlights:
1:40 What are some conditions that respond well to Chinese herbs?
3:25 Just what is in these Chinese herbal formulas anyway?
5:46 What about sourcing herbs? How do you know they are free of contamination?
10:50 Can vegetarians or vegans take Chinese herbs?
14:00 What about animal products and endangered species?
15:40 Why you should not take your usual herbs when you have a cold.
23:51 Conditions that are better treated by herbs, than pharmaceuticals.
27:55 What about pharmaceutical/herb interactions?
32:30 Do Chinese herbs have side effects?
34:25 How do you know the herbs are working for you?
37:43 Not all acupuncturists are herbalists.
Ian Kreidich is an award winning professional photographer based in St. Louis, MO. He works with his wife Kelly Pratt Kreidich who is also a photographer. Together they run Kelly Pratt Photography (Wedding and Family Portraits) and Pratt Kreidich Studios (Commerical, Editorial, and Ballet Photography).
Ian’s work has been published in the Huffington Post, Digital SLR Photography Magazine, Photography Masterclass Magazine, The Knot Magazine, Saint Louis Bride Magazine, and Saint Louis at Home Magazine. He is a member of Nikon Professional Services.
Visit Ian’s website for a look some stunning photography
His Instagram stream is delightful as well.
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Trained both in the USA and Asia, Michael Max practices acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine at Yong Kang Clinic in St. Louis, MO. He is a translator of non-mainstream materials on Chinese medicine, and writes extensively on health and wellbeing on his website and in his clinic’s monthly newsletter.
While many in the West have heard about acupuncture and associate it with being an effective treatment for pain relief. In fact, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can successfully treat a wide variety of ailments from allergies to migraines, anxiety to reflux, stress, depression ,fertility and women’s health and much more. He started the Everyday Acupuncture Podcast show as a way help us Westerners understand there are accessible and effective solutions to health challenges in life that do not require a pharmaceutical medication, but instead gently and naturally be coaxed from our body’s own innate ability to balance and heal.
Michael’s Website: www.yongkangclinic.com
Yong Kang Chinese Medicine Clinic
103 N. Taylor, Suite B
St. Louis, MO 63122
314-821-9642
Resources and Links:
Our gift.
Five common misconceptions about meditation.
The Jewish Mother’s Guide to Chinese Medicine.
