Chinese herbs are based on patterns, not symptoms

One of the questions I often hear is:“What herb do you use for abdominal pain?” or

“What herb is good for headaches?”

The truth is—there isn’t one single herb for a symptom. In Chinese medicine, herbs are always prescribed as formulas, matched carefully to your unique pattern of disharmony and your overall health picture.

For example, if someone has abdominal pain, I don’t just choose an herb for “pain.” I ask:

• Where in the abdomen is the pain?

• Is it sharp or dull? Better with heat or pressure?

• Are there digestive changes, urinary issues, or menstrual symptoms?

From there, I use the Four Examinations—looking, listening/smelling, touching, and asking questions about sleep, digestion, temperature, and more. This creates a complete picture of the body’s strengths and weaknesses, so we can choose a formula that addresses the root cause as well as the symptom.

For instance, abdominal pain could be related to:

• Blood stasis (pain that is sharp and fixed)

• Damp-heat (pain with burning, burning urination or bloating)

• Cold deficiency (dull pain better with warmth)

• Liver qi stagnation (moving, distending pain with stress or digestive issues)

Each of these patterns uses a different classical formula—some written nearly 2,000 years ago—and then I adapt the formula for your exact needs.

This is why I can’t answer a question like, “What herb do you use for headaches?” without knowing the whole picture. Two people may both have headaches, but their bodies need completely different formulas.

👉 Want to see how this process works in detail?

How Formulas are Determined

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