Online Chinese Herbal Medicine Consultations
Custom herbal formulas, prepared for your specific pattern
No generic protocol.
No one-size-fits-all bottle.
No quick questionnaire pretending to be a prescription.
An online Chinese herbal medicine consultation gives us time to look at the full picture: your symptoms, health history, digestion, sleep, energy, stress response, medications, supplements, tongue, abdomen, and the way your body has changed over time.
Your formula is not chosen from a quiz, a supplement protocol, or a pre-packaged bottle. It is built after a detailed intake and one-on-one consultation, then prepared by hand from carefully sourced raw herbs and delivered to you.
The aim is to move beyond symptom-chasing and work from the larger pattern your body is showing.
Who this is for
Online herbal consultations may be a good fit if you:
- want a custom Chinese herbal formula rather than a generic supplement list
- have chronic or recurring symptoms that do not fit neatly into one category
- are sensitive to many products and want a more individualized approach
- are already taking medications or supplements and want a careful review before adding herbs
- prefer a classical Chinese medicine approach that looks at the whole pattern, not just one symptom
- are comfortable preparing herbs as tea rather than taking capsules
- want remote care, but still want a thorough intake, live consultation, and follow-up process
This may not be the right fit if you are looking for emergency care, a quick supplement recommendation, or a one-time generic herbal protocol. I do not prescribe herbs from a questionnaire alone. Every formula follows a full intake and a live consultation.
What an online herbal consultation is
Chinese herbal medicine is not simply a list of herbs for symptoms.
In the classical tradition, formulas are chosen according to the whole presentation: digestion, sleep, temperature, thirst, appetite, pain, energy, mood, menstrual or hormonal patterns where relevant, medications, supplements, tongue appearance, abdominal findings, and the way symptoms shift over time.
The goal is to understand the pattern underneath your symptoms and choose a formula that fits that pattern as precisely as possible. As your body responds, the formula may be adjusted.
An online herbal consultation lets us do much of this work by video — using a detailed intake, follow-up questions, and visual information such as tongue and abdomen photos. I review everything with you and formulate a prescription specifically for you. Your herbs are then prepared by hand, and either mailed to you or brought to your next clinic visit.
Two ways to work with me
How your consultation runs depends on whether you already see me for acupuncture or are working with me online.
If you already see me for acupuncture
I gather the hands-on diagnostic information — abdominal palpation, pulse, and tongue — during your acupuncture visits, where I can read them most accurately.
The detailed herbal intake and formula discussion then happen during a dedicated online appointment, so I have focused time to review your full health picture.
Your herbs are prepared and brought to you at your next acupuncture visit, so there is nothing to mail.
If you are working with me online
Your consultation takes place by video. Before we meet, you will submit clear photos of your tongue and abdomen — I send simple step-by-step instructions after you book.
These photos give me part of the diagnostic picture I would otherwise gather in person.
During the appointment, I review your full intake and ask detailed follow-up questions. Your custom formula is then prepared by hand and mailed to you with complete preparation instructions.
The herbal intake is intentionally thorough — far more detailed than a typical symptom checklist. Small details often decide which formula is right: whether you run hot or cold, how your digestion behaves, whether symptoms change with stress, what your sleep is like, and how long the pattern has been developing. Trying to do this during a shorter acupuncture session would mean missing important information. A dedicated herbal appointment gives us the time to go through your case properly.
How it works, step by step
Choose an initial herbal consultation through the online scheduler and complete payment to confirm your appointment.
Complete your herbal intake
You’ll receive a detailed intake form covering your concerns, health history, medications and supplements, digestion, sleep, energy, and lifestyle. For online consultations, you’ll also get simple instructions for submitting tongue and abdomen photos.
Meet for your consultation
We meet by video for about 45–60 minutes. For online consultations, I work from your intake, tongue and abdomen photos, and detailed questioning. If you also see me for acupuncture, I draw on findings from your in-person visits.
I formulate your custom prescription
After the consultation, I build a formula matched to your individual presentation. Each formula is assembled in specific proportions and ground for you.
You receive your herbs
Your herbs are usually prepared within 24–48 hours. They can be mailed to you with written instructions, or picked up at your next acupuncture visit.
We follow up and refine
Herbal medicine is a process. Follow-up appointments are shorter (about 30 minutes), where we review your response and adjust the formula as your body responds.
My herbal pharmacy: raw, freshly ground herbs
I keep a small pharmacy of raw, dried Chinese herbs and prepare every formula myself. This gives me more control over freshness, proportions, quality, and ingredients than relying only on pre-made formulas, pills, or standard granule products.
This is a single formula — measured out from whole, raw herbs, then ground fresh, to order, just before it goes to you.
Carefully sourced herbs
I source herbs from reputable suppliers who provide third-party testing for concerns such as heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants. When possible, I use organic herbs; when organic is not available, I choose premium-grade herbs from trusted suppliers.
Ground fresh, not in bulk
I grind herbs for each formula individually rather than pre-grinding large batches. Pre-ground herbs can lose aroma and potency over time — grinding to order helps keep the formula fresher and more active.
Raw herbs, not capsules or generic pills
Many granule extracts, pills, and capsules contain added excipients, binders, fillers, or preservatives. Working with raw herbs lets me keep the formula as close to the original medicine as possible: the herbs themselves, in the proportions your pattern calls for.
There is a subtler issue, too. A formula sold in granule or capsule form under a familiar classical name does not always contain the herb that makes it work — because of sourcing and regulatory limits, a key herb is often reduced, substituted, or left out entirely. Same name, different medicine. Building each formula from raw herbs in my own pharmacy lets me prepare it as its classical source intended. I wrote more about this in Same Name, Different Medicine Substack article.
| My raw, freshly ground formulas | Typical granules & pills | |
|---|---|---|
| Sourcing | Organic where possible, premium grade, third-party tested | Varies by manufacturer |
| Freshness | Ground to order for each formula | Mass-produced, stored long-term |
| The formula’s key herbs | Included, as the classical formula intends | May be reduced, substituted, or left out |
| Added fillers & preservatives | None — just the herbs | Often contain excipients & binders |
| Individualized proportions | Built for your specific pattern | Fixed, standardized blends |
| Format | Tea, via the thermos method | Capsule or dissolved granule |
How you prepare your herbs
Raw herbs are traditionally simmered on the stove, but I use a simpler method that fits modern life. I provide your ground herbs along with paper tea bags, and you prepare them using the thermos method.
- Place the prescribed amount of ground herbs into one of the tea bags provided.
- Put the tea bag into a thermos.
- Add boiled water.
- Seal the thermos and let it steep overnight.
- Drink the tea the next day according to your written instructions.
No stovetop. No special equipment. No all-day simmering.
Just a thermos and a few minutes the night before.
What people seek herbal support for
Because Chinese herbal medicine looks at the underlying pattern rather than one isolated symptom, people seek herbal care for many different concerns. Common reasons include:
Sleep and rest
Trouble falling asleep, waking during the night, restless or unrefreshing sleep, or feeling tired after a full night in bed.
Stress & mood
Nervous tension, worry, emotional reactivity, burnout, low mood, and the physical toll of long-term stress.
Digestive patterns
Bloating, reflux-like discomfort, irregular bowel habits, poor appetite, food sensitivity patterns, and digestive weakness.
Allergy & sensitivity
Seasonal reactivity, histamine-type symptoms, and complex sensitivity presentations. Sometimes combined with SAAT.
Pain & musculoskeletal
Tension, aches, recurring pain patterns, and lingering discomfort, often alongside acupuncture or physical therapy.
Energy & recovery
Fatigue, post-viral depletion, slow recovery after illness, and rebuilding after periods of overwork or stress.
Women’s health
Irregular or painful cycles, premenstrual symptoms, perimenopausal changes, and cycle-related shifts in mood or energy.
Immune resilience
Frequent colds, slow recovery, or feeling like your system has become more reactive or depleted over time.
This is not an exhaustive list. Chinese herbal medicine is individualized, so two people with the same diagnosis may receive very different formulas. If you are unsure whether your situation is a good fit, please contact me before booking.
What the herbs taste like
Chinese herbal teas have a distinctive, earthy character. Some formulas are surprisingly easy to drink — mild, faintly sweet, warm, or aromatic. Others are more bitter, pungent, or strong. The flavor depends on the herbs in your formula and the action it is meant to have.
I will always tell you honestly what to expect from your prescription. Most people adjust to the taste within a few days. The goal is medicine that is specific, effective, and prepared in the gentlest form that still does the job.
How long you may need to take herbs
There is no single answer. Herbs are not chosen only by symptom — they are chosen according to the larger pattern underneath the symptoms, and that pattern may take time to shift. For acute or simpler concerns, the course may be short. For chronic, complex, or long-standing patterns, plan on a minimum of about three months, and sometimes longer.
At your initial consultation, I will give you an honest sense of the likely timeline based on your situation, and we will reassess together as you progress.
Booking, fees & policies
Fees for initial and follow-up herbal consultations are listed on my Services page, and shown again when you book. Herbs are billed separately, by the week, in addition to the consultation fee. When herbs are mailed, a separate shipping fee applies based on your location.
Cancellations
Cancellations or reschedules made at least 24 hours before your appointment are free. Less than 24 hours’ notice is subject to a $50 fee.
Herb orders
Because every formula is custom-made for you, herb orders are non-returnable and non-refundable once prepared.
Receiving your herbs
Pick them up at your next acupuncture appointment, or have them mailed to you. Herbs are usually prepared within 24–48 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Getting started
Do I have to be your acupuncture patient to receive herbs?
No. Herbal consultations can be done online by video, whether or not you also see me for acupuncture in person. Current acupuncture patients have the added option of in-clinic palpation and herb pickup; for online consultations, everything is handled by video, intake form, tongue and abdomen photos, and herbs by mail.
Is an online herbal consultation as effective as an in-person one?
For herbal medicine, an online consultation can work very well when the intake is thorough and the visual information is clear. The core of an herbal assessment — detailed case history, careful questioning, tongue observation, abdominal information, and pattern analysis — can largely be done by video with clear photos and a structured intake. If you also see me for acupuncture, I add hands-on findings from your in-person visits.
What if I’m not sure whether herbal medicine is right for me?
Please contact me before booking. Brief questions can often be answered before you schedule, especially if you’re unsure whether your case is appropriate for online herbal care.
Safety & medications
Are the herbs safe and tested?
I source herbs from reputable suppliers who provide third-party testing for quality concerns such as heavy metals, pesticides, and contaminants. I also review your medications, supplements, health history, pregnancy or nursing status, allergies, and sensitivities before prescribing. No herbal formula is risk-free for every person, which is why I do not prescribe from a quick questionnaire alone.
Can I take Chinese herbs alongside prescription medications?
Chinese herbs are often used alongside conventional medications, but this must be reviewed carefully because herb–drug interactions are possible. Please list everything you take on your intake form, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, supplements, hormones, and injections. I take this into account before formulating and will tell you if anything needs caution or coordination with your physician. Please do not stop or change prescribed medication without speaking with your prescribing clinician.
What if I am pregnant, nursing, or trying to conceive?
Please tell me on your intake. Some herbs are used differently or avoided during pregnancy, nursing, or fertility treatment, and I’ll take this into account when deciding whether herbs are appropriate and how to formulate.
Your formula & taking the herbs
Why raw herbs instead of granules or pills?
Raw herbs let me build a more individualized formula in specific proportions, grind it fresh, and avoid many of the binders, fillers, and excipients commonly found in processed products. The trade-off is that you prepare a tea instead of swallowing a capsule — and the thermos method makes that easy.
How are the herbs prepared once I receive them?
You’ll use the thermos method: place the prescribed amount of ground herbs into the provided tea bag, steep it overnight in a thermos of boiled water, and drink it the next day per your written instructions. Each prescription comes with exact guidance on amount, timing, and frequency.
Can you prescribe herbs for my diagnosis?
Chinese herbal medicine does not work by diagnosis alone. Two people with the same diagnosis may need completely different formulas, and two people with different diagnoses may sometimes need a similar formula if the underlying pattern is similar. During the consultation, I look at your full presentation and determine whether herbal medicine is appropriate for your situation.
Do Chinese herbs contain animal products?
Most of the formulas I use from the classical Shang Han Lun, Jingfang, and Kampo traditions are primarily plant-based, but some traditional formulas may contain animal-derived substances. If you are vegan, vegetarian, or have dietary or religious restrictions, please note this clearly on your intake so I can formulate accordingly whenever possible.
Herbal medicine built for you
Book your initial online Chinese herbal medicine consultation, complete your intake, and we’ll begin with a careful review of your full health picture.
Book an Herbal ConsultationHave a question first? Contact me.
The information on this page is for educational purposes and reflects a traditional East Asian medicine approach to wellness. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Herbal recommendations are individualized and are not a substitute for care from your physician or other licensed healthcare provider. Always consult your physician before starting herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, trying to conceive, managing a medical condition, or taking prescription medication. Please do not stop or change prescribed medication without speaking with your prescribing clinician. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.