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Herbal therapy is one of the methods of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or Oriental medicine used to heal the whole person, including disorders of the mind.

A TCM practitioner uses uniquely formulated herb combinations to treat the whole person; mind, body, and spirit; not just symptoms. A Western medical practitioner generally prescribes the same or similar drugs to anyone and everyone who exhibits symptoms associated with an identified disease.

Each herb in TCM is categorized according to its natural makeup, having its own specific mechanism of action or its Qi. Herbs are categorized by temperature (cold, cool, hot and neutral), and by a combination of flavors (for example, spicy, sweet and bitter.) Herbs are also classified by the four directions related to specific areas of the body. Other properties of herbs also play a part in determining their use for a particular condition.

"A TCM practitioner treating someone with depression would first consider the unique circumstances of the entire individual," said Jason Beito, MSTCM LAc DNBAO, clinic director, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley, Berkeley CA. "Depression is caused by emotions being repressed or ignored and stagnating in the body. Herbal therapy promotes physiological activity to move the body, mind and spirit out of that stagnation. According to Oriental theory, mental disorders or trauma will impact the body's physiological function and affect specific organs. Long-term or unresolved grief or sorrow will impair the function of the lungs. Depending upon the individual's condition, herbal formulas will be chosen to target the function of the organs responsible for the symptoms."

The herbs generally consist of the bark, stems, roots and leaves of plants with no artificial additives or chemicals, made into a tea. Locally grown herbs from a quality source are best. "In California," says Beito, "more and more herbalists are growing herbs from the Classical Chinese Medical texts. But, most practitioners rely on patented herbs, powders and tinctures, or purchase raw herbs from a distributors."

"I was being treated for physical and mental problems associated with menopause," said Mary L, a Denver elementary school teacher., "and the herbal therapy really helped. Oriental medicine appealed to me because it treated the whole person. And my overall health improved."

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Acupuncture

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