03/02/2026
What is the relationship between acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Chinese Medicine?
The general public often finds the distinction confusing, but it's quite simple:
- Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are both modalities of Chinese Medicine.
- Both rely on the same diagnostic principles and source texts, but are different 'tools' to accomplish these same ends.
That said, historically over the past ~1800 years, herbal medicine has been the primary focus of the vast majority of high level doctors, mostly owing to its profound efficacy and the level of detail at which the practitioner can modify the desired effect of the treatment.
Even today in China, over 80% of Chinese Medicine performed in hospitals is done with herbal medicine!
Unfortunately, it takes a considerable amount of study to even begin to administer herbs safely, which is why most colleges in Canada only offer acupuncture training.
In provinces with stricter regulation like Ontario and BC, herbal medicine is solely taught in the upper level advanced years - once the student has completed their acupuncture training.
They may not taste delicious, but Chinese herbal medicine really works!
We use formulas that were written in the 3rd century from the Shang Han Za Bing Lun (傷寒雜病論). They have remained unmodified over the centuries because of the clinical results they continue to produce.
