Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practiced for over 3,000 years, with the earliest written record and foundation text the Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) dating back to the 3rd century BCE! Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) originates, at the least, in the second century with the discovery of the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Husbandman’s Classic of the Materia Medica) detailing use of over 365 medicinals. (It is further safe to assume an oral tradition of passing down this information generationally that predates written texts.) The first comprehensive herbal text was published in 1578 AD, Li Shizhen’s Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica) listing over 1800 medicinal substances and over 11, 000 prescriptions for different ailments! Since this time, over 10,000 medicinals have been added to the Chinese Materia Medica. Through centuries of trial and error, it was discovered that these medicinals are more effective in combination than individually, and thousands of years of observation and experience have led empirically to CHM as it is practiced today.
From The Experts
“Chinese herbal medicine embodies a holistic approach to healing that emphasizes restoring the body’s balance and harmony. It offers a vast and intricate variety of herbs and formulations, often customized to individual patients, making it a valuable complementary therapy with potential benefits for a wide range of health conditions.”
Herbal Medicine at Art of Acupuncture
Our physicians prepare individually customized herbal medicine formulations, using both Chinese and Western herbs. Our pharmacy includes over 500 Chinese and Western organic raw herbs for teas and traditional decoctions and over 250 Traditional Chinese herbal formulas have been tinctured in house using only organic ingredients that have been quality tested for pesticides and other contaminants. Additionally, we have a large range of external topical solutions for injury, pain, scarring and other conditions. Art of Acupuncture Pharmacy Director, Emily Armstrong DOM, RH (AHG), hand crafts each tincture, salve and liniment and we are constantly adding new formulas to our library.
Art of Acupuncture also stocks many Golden Flower Chinese Herbs, Mayway Teapills, Conceivables Line Tinctures, Jade Tinctures, Anima Mundi products, Innate, Gaia Herbs, Greens First, Natural Vitality, and Kan Pediatric Tinctures along with many high quality nutritional supplements. Our nutrition coaching service is helpful for anyone in need of more guidance.
Furthermore, several practitioners at Art of Acupuncture offer Acupuncture Point Injection Therapy (APIT), utilizing homeopathic or vitamin injections at specific sites on the body.
*We use the term “medicinal” vs “herbal” due to the fact that many Chinese Herbal Medicinals are not plants, although the vast majority are either root, branch, bark, twig, stem, fruit, flower, leaf, or seed. Other substances include minerals from the earth and some insect/animal parts.
Herbs & Tinctures
At Art of Acupuncture we are proud to make our own Herbal extracts by hand using only the best organic medicinals from Spring Wind Herbs and organic 190 proof cane spirits from The Organic Alcohol Company. We carefully produce our extractions using a 3 step percolation method. Our tinctures are generally a 1:3 strength with 40%-60% alcohol by volume for maximum potency and easy patient compliance. We think the best part about our line (other than safe quality ingredients!) is the care and intention that they are formulated and lovingly produced with.
Classic vs. Customized Medicinal Formulations
Art of Acupuncture has over 200 Classical formulas in our tincture pharmacy and some combinations of these are typically adequate for the majority of our patients. In these cases, herbal formulas are dispensed immediately with your treatment. However, on occasion we need to come up with something extremely customized for an individual case and customized formulations can take up to a month to source ingredients and prepare.
Topicals
Art of Acupuncture Topical herbal products do not require a prescription. These are also produced in house by hand using only organic oils, beeswax, essential oils, cane spirits, and herbal ingredients. We offer a full line of traumatic injury topicals including Dit Dat Jiao (Hit Fall Wine), Tendon Injury Lotion, and Emily’s Exceptional Pain Liniment, all are martial arts formulas in use for thousands of years. Our Scar Salve is amazing at preventing adhesions in new scars and dispersing it in old scarring and our Vivid Ink Tattoo Salve works wonders on quickly healing fresh tattoos and keeping them vibrant. In addition, we now offer ZenFlex Muscle Butter, harnessing the power of magnesium and arnica to soothe and relax tired or overworked muscles and help with night time cramping or restless legs.
Point Injection Therapy
Acupoint injection therapy (APIT) is the injection at an acupuncture point of a small amount of saline, a drug, an herb/plant extract, homeopathic, or vitamin (i.e. Vitamin B-12, Vitamin C) by means of hypodermic needle. Vitamin injections offered include:
Vitamin D
B12
B complex
Homeopathic injections offered include:
MICC (weight loss)
Engystol (immunity)
Traumeel (injury/pain)
Guna/Made/Collagen (scarring and facial tissue repair),
Glutathione
Our practitioner who provides APIT services at Art of Acupuncture is Kecia Fowler, DOM, AP.
Pharmacy Supplements
What Our Clients Say
“Health and wellness are so entwined in a safe compassionate space and Emily embraces and conveys those healing elements in each treatment. I’ve always left Art of Acupuncture feeling like a better version of my whole being. Deep gratitude for Emily and her expertise.”
“Emily is amazing! I’ve been going here for 3 years now and she is super professional, and takes care of all of my specific needs! You can’t put a price on self care. 10/10”
“...Emily was able to treat to cool down my brain and gave me some herbs that helped calm without making me sleepy or dysfunctional. Also, she took a bit of extra time to chat with me which also helped sooth the hamster running on the wheel in my head.”
Common Conditions Treated with Chinese Herbal Medicines
At Art of Acupuncture we treat wide ranging conditions using internal herbal therapies, when appropriate. These include:
Gastrointestinal Issues
Including Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s, constipation, diarrhea, chronic or acute digestive issues, chronic hemorrhoids, abdominal pain, gastric inflammation, ulcerations, heartburn and acid reflux.
Painful Conditions
Including neuropathy, chronic pain, restless leg syndrome, sciatica, migraines/headaches, injury to tendons/ligaments/bone/muscle.
Fertility and Gynecological Issues
Including fibroids, cysts, irregular or problematic menstruation, and painful menses.
Genitourinary Issues
Including urinary tract infection, bladder infection, frequent urination/incontinence, prolapse, stones.
Cardiac/Circulatory Issues
Including palpitations, hypotension, hypertension.
Psychological/Emotional Issues
Including anxiety, insomnia, depression, mania, PTSD and night terrors.
Respiratory Issues
Including asthma, allergies, sinusitis, cough, infections, shortness of breath, and common cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Any number of conditions might call for herbal therapies! Your practitioner will do a complete evaluation to determine if herbs are warranted in each individual case.
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Yes. Have you ever used ginger or peppermint tea for an upset stomach? It works.
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Tea is by far the most popular way people practice herbal medicine around the globe. Teas are safe and gentle infusions that are easily accessible to anyone.
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Sometimes. Without question herbal medicine generally has fewer side effects than pharmaceutical medications and is safer to use. However, some conditions require pharmaceutical intervention and our practitioners verify safety of herbals when used in conjunction with prescription medications. Our practitioners will never instruct you to quit taking prescription medication.
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Typical side effects of herbal medicine are digestive (change in bowels, indigestion, nausea) and short term. Headaches can also be a negative side effect. We ask that patients contact us with any concerns or negative changes when starting a new herbal formula regimen.
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Because everyone is different! Chinese Herbal Medicine is based on each individual’s whole system, and two people presenting with the same problem often need very different herbal therapies. Our extracts are concentrated herbal medicine and can be harmful if used inappropriately. We are happy to fill prescriptions from other qualified practitioners.
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In acute conditions we typically see effects within the first week of starting an herbal regimen, typically requiring shorter term use.
In chronic conditions we typically see effects after several weeks of starting an herbal regimen, typically requiring longer term use.
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Cases involving a lot of pharmaceutical medications are usually contraindicated for Herbal Medicine.
Extreme caution is used in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Allergies to ingredients can prevent use of Herbal Medicine.
Visit Our Herbal Pharmacy
All of our herbs and supplements are fully tested and certified free of pharmaceuticals, pesticides and heavy metals.
OUR OFFICE: 2941 5th Avenue North St. Petersburg, FL 33713
HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday — Thursday: 8:30am — 6:30pm & Friday — Saturday: 9:00am — 5:00pm
EMAIL US: Join our community today. Ask a question, send us a testimonial or just let us know you are interested in learning more by filling out the form below. Our terrific front office staff or one of our practitioners will be happy to help!
