Most people don’t realise: not all Chinese herbal medicine is the same.
When many people think of Chinese herbs, they imagine “TCM formulas” — standardised, structured combinations of herbs that are used for broad patterns like “Liver Qi stagnation” or “Spleen Qi deficiency.” These modern Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas can absolutely work. They’re widely taught, widely used, and they help a lot of people.
But in clinical practice, I kept hitting a ceiling.
When Standard TCM Formulas Aren’t Enough
Early in my career, I trained in modern TCM herbal formulas. On paper, it made perfect sense: clear patterns, set formulas, symptom-based categories.
In the treatment room, it was more complicated.
I would see patients with complex combinations of heat and cold, excess and deficiency, surface and interior conditions. They didn’t fit neatly into one pattern. Their bodies were telling a much more nuanced story than the textbooks allowed.
It began to feel like I was trying to fit real people into fixed boxes.
The results were often good—but not as precise or consistent as I knew they could be. Some patients improved, but I could sense there was a deeper level of individualisation available in Chinese herbal medicine that I hadn’t yet accessed.
So I went back to the source.
Returning to Classical Chinese Herbal Medicine
The foundation of Chinese herbal medicine lies in one of its oldest and most influential texts: the Shang Han Lun, written nearly 2,000 years ago. Many modern formulas used in TCM today are derived—directly or indirectly—from this classical text.
But the way classical herbal medicine approaches diagnosis and treatment is very different.
Modern TCM herbal medicine tends to focus on:
- Broad pattern diagnosis
- Symptom-based categories
- Standardised formulas for named conditions
Classical herbal medicine based on the Shang Han Lun focuses instead on:
- The exact, complex presentation of the individual on that specific day, how much heat or cold or a mixture?
- Highly specific, time-tested formulas with clear indications
- Fine differentiation through detailed observation—especially the pulse
In other words, it’s less about the label you’ve been given, and more about the exact moment your body is in.
That shift changed everything for my patients—and for my practice.
Learning from High-Volume Clinics in China
To really understand classical Chinese herbal medicine, I knew I needed to see it used where it originated.
I spent years travelling to China, working and observing in high-volume clinics where practitioners would sometimes see 50+ patients a day. That level of clinical exposure is invaluable: you see patterns repeat, you see where formulas work—and where they don’t—you see the subtle details that make all the difference.
During this time, I eventually found my teacher, Dr Arnaud Versluys, a classical herbalist who trained extensively in China and completed his PhD there. Through his lineage and teaching, I began to study a refined system of classical herbal medicine rooted firmly in the Shang Han Lun.
Why This Matters for Your Health
If you’ve tried Chinese herbs before and felt they “sort of helped but not fully,” or if you have a complex health picture that doesn’t fit in one simple box, a more classical, pulse-guided approach to herbal medicine may be what’s been missing.
At Eastern Therapies, our Chinese herbal medicine practice is rooted in:
- Classical Chinese medicine (Shang Han Lun)
- Detailed, individualised pulse diagnosis
- Precision prescribing, rather than one-size-fits-all formulas
- A holistic, integrative perspective that can sit alongside Western and functional medicine
If you’re looking for herbal medicine that truly recognises the complexity of your body—and meets you exactly where you are—this is the work we’re committed to.
