TCM GUIDE
Understanding Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine requires careful disclosure and provider review. It should not be treated as risk-free or used to replace necessary modern medical care.
Why disclosure matters
Patients should share prescription medications, supplements, allergies, liver or kidney issues, pregnancy status, cancer treatment history, anticoagulant use, and prior adverse reactions. Herbal products may interact with medications or be inappropriate for certain patients.
Questions to ask
Ask what is being recommended, why it is being considered, how it should be used, what side effects to watch for, whether lab monitoring is needed, and how it fits with current physician instructions.
Documentation
Patients should request written names, instructions, ingredients when available, dosing guidance, warnings, and follow-up timing in a language they can understand.
Global Health Pilot can help coordinate translation and documentation, but medical and herbal decisions belong to qualified providers.