Herbs, oh, herbs! Denizens of my heart! Peony and pine resin, sage and motherwort, rose and mugwort and saffron and skullcap!

This is a short love letter to herbs, because they are such an incredible accompaniment to acupuncture.

Chinese and Tibetan herbal remedies are mostly given in formulas, with several herbal components. These are sometimes modified for the individual patient. Surprisingly frequently, there is nothing more perfect for a person’s ailment than a formula just as it was written in 220 CE. Sometimes, modifying or combining classical formulas is the more appropriate path. Or giving a modern formula, designed to address the unique excesses and harms of modern life. And other times, especially when people are taking multiple pharmaceutical drugs, a simple tea or food herb is the best support.

I love herbs very deeply. I love them in the kitchen, and in the garden or on the roadside, growing as persecuted weeds and unknown friends. Dandelion and purslane, wolfsbane and nettle. The range of issues that can be helped by the appropriate herbs is truly vast; insomnia, painful periods, asthma and allergies, digestive disorders, and many others. While they are not appropriate for every person, they truly can be life-changing.