Dr. Anita Chen Marshall, DAOM, Pharm D, PhD, L.Ac. Traditional Chinese Medicine for Acupuncture and  Herbs. Alameda, CA.  510-523-1072

Chinese Herbal Formulas

Chinese herbs are often used in conjunction with acupuncture for added therapeutic effect. While many cultures have herbal medicine traditions, the sophistication of Chinese herbal medicine is unsurpassed. Chinese herbal medicine has a long history reaching back several thousand years, and the resulting system is now used to treat everything from the common cold to certain types of cancer.

There are thousands of herbs in the Chinese materia medica, of which about 300 are commonly used. You will generally receive a mixture of several different herbs in a formula that has been tailored to your condition. Chinese herbs are extremely effective and normally have only mild side effects, however it is very important to tell me about all the medications and supplements you are currently taking so that we can avoid any unwanted interactions with your formula.

Dr. Anita Chen Marshall's clinic maintains a well-stocked Chinese herbal pharmacy, with herbal extracts supplied by reputable herbal manufacturers with high quality GMP standards. Chinese herbal extracts are herbal decoctions that have been condensed into a granular or powdered form. Herbal extracts, similar to patent medicines, are easier and more convenient for patients to take than raw herbs. The industry extraction standard is 5:1, meaning for every five pounds of raw materials, one pound of herbal extract is derived.

Dr. Anita Chen Marshall is a western trained pharmacist and a licensed herbalist. With her dual background in western pharmacology and Chinese herbology, she commonly provides consultation on herb and drug interactions to patients, physicians and other health care providers. She also teaches a course on “Herb and Drug Interactions” at acupuncture schools around the country.

Dr. Marshall prescribes herbal formulas as an adjunct therapy for patients who are receiving western medical treatments or for patients who prefer to use herbal medicine instead of prescription drugs. As a rule, tongue and pulse diagnosis are always performed before an herbal formula is prescribed. Each herbal formula is custom designed for the patient for a particular health condition at the time of the office visit. The herbal formula will change as the patient’s condition improves and changes.