Classical Chinese herbal medicine
Chinese herbal formulas with Dr Reece Yeo, Integrative Chinese Medicine Practitioner, chosen for your constitution and reviewed as you go.
Part of Reece's Resilience Medicine approach.
What is classical Chinese herbal medicine?
Herbal medicine is one of the main treatments in Chinese medicine, alongside acupuncture. Reece practises classical Chinese herbal medicine, often called Jingfang, which means "classical formulas". These are the formulas recorded in the Shang Han Lun and the Jin Gui Yao Lue, two Han dynasty texts attributed to the physician Zhang Zhongjing, who lived around 150 to 219 AD.
In this style, a formula is matched to a particular group of signs and symptoms, known as a formula pattern. Chinese medicine is a registered health profession in Australia, and Reece is registered with AHPRA as a Chinese medicine practitioner.
Where Reece trained
Reece has trained in two classical lineages: with Dr Arnaud Versluys in the Tian Heming and Zeng Rongxiu lineage, and with Dr Suzanne Robidoux in the Hu Xishu and Feng Shilun lineage. He also trained with Dr Huang Huang of Nanjing and translated for him at his Australian seminars.
"Jingfang isn't ancient for the sake of being ancient. It grew out of centuries of careful clinical observation, recording which formulas were used for which presentations." (Reece)
How Reece chooses your formula
Your formula doesn't come from a checklist of symptoms. Reece looks at you as a whole: your build and constitution, what your symptoms are like and where they are, your pulse, your tongue and how you respond to treatment. He then matches that picture to a classical formula. At each follow-up he reviews it with you and changes it if it isn't the right fit.
Herbal medicine is only considered after a full consultation, and Reece discusses the options and costs with you first. You won't necessarily be given herbs, and you always get to decide.
What to expect
Herbs usually start at your Comprehensive Initial Consultation, which is up to 180 minutes and always face to face. If a formula suits you, Reece makes it up at the end of the consultation, which takes about 20 minutes. Your formula comes as granules, customised and made up specifically for you.
Herbal formulas are charged on top of the consultation fee, and the cost is discussed in your consultation.
Before you start herbs
Your questionnaires ask about every medicine and supplement you take, including anything you buy without a prescription. Please tell Reece about all of them, and let him know if anything changes. Don't stop or change a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor. Reece is happy to work alongside your GP and other health practitioners.
Questions about herbal medicine
Will I be given herbal medicine at every consultation?
Not always. Herbal medicine is only considered after a full consultation. Reece prescribes a herbal formula when it's the right fit for your pattern. Some people respond mainly to acupuncture, some to nutritional medicine and diet changes, and some to herbal formulas. Most have a mix. Herbal formulas are charged on top of the consultation fee.
Request a booking
Send a booking request. It gives Reece what he needs to prepare for you, and he'll be in touch about next steps. He sees patients Monday to Friday, 10am to 7pm, by appointment only. Questions first? Email reece@drreeceyeo.com.