Chinese Herbal Medicine
Medicine prescribed and made just for you at West Aish Farm, mid-Devon and online UK-wide
Chinese herbal medicine is one of the most sophisticated and complete systems of botanical medicine in the world. Drawing on thousands of years of clinical refinement, it offers a genuinely personalised approach to health, where every prescription is formulated specifically for you, at this moment in your life, for your particular pattern of imbalance.
No two prescriptions are the same, even for patients with the same diagnosis. In Chinese medicine, the same condition in two different people may have entirely different underlying causes and the herbs will reflect that.
What can Chinese herbal medicine treat?
Chinese herbal medicine has an exceptionally wide clinical reach.
Conditions I commonly treat include:
Menopause and perimenopause
Hot flushes, night sweats, mood disturbance, brain fog, fatigue, sleep disruption, joint pain and the general sense that your body has become unfamiliar.
Chinese herbal medicine is particularly well suited to the complexity of menopause, where multiple symptoms overlap and shift. If I'm honest, this is one of the most rewarding areas of my clinical practice. Many patients find significant relief where HRT has not suited them or where they prefer a natural approach.
Musculoskeletal pain and injury
Back pain, neck and shoulder pain, hip pain, sciatica, arthritis, joint inflammation and sports injuries. Herbal medicine works powerfully alongside acupuncture and bodywork for pain conditions, reducing inflammation, improving circulation and supporting tissue repair from the inside, while hands-on treatment addresses the structural picture.
Skin conditions
Eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea and other chronic inflammatory skin conditions respond particularly well to Chinese herbal medicine. Skin in Chinese medicine is understood as a reflection of internal imbalance so we treat from the inside out rather than suppressing symptoms externally.
Digestive disorders
IBS, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, acid reflux, food sensitivities and other gut conditions. The digestive system is central to Chinese medicine theory, and herbs can make a profound difference where diet and lifestyle changes alone have not been enough.
Anxiety, stress and sleep
Herbal medicine works deeply on the nervous system, calming an overactive mind, regulating the stress response and restoring the capacity for rest and recovery that chronic stress erodes over time.
Hormonal imbalances Irregular or painful periods
PCOS, endometriosis, PMS, fertility support and other conditions where conventional tests show normal results but something is clearly not right. Chinese medicine excels in the grey areas that conventional medicine can struggle to address.
Auto-immune conditions and chronic illness
Where the body has "turned against itself" or become locked in a pattern of chronic dysfunction, herbal medicine works to gradually restore balance and resilience rather than simply managing symptoms.
Fatigue and low immunity
Post-viral fatigue, recurrent infections, adrenal exhaustion and the kind of bone-deep tiredness that sleep doesn't fix. Nourishing and tonifying herbs are among the most effective tools in the Chinese medicine repertoire.
This is not an exhaustive list. If you're unsure whether herbal medicine might help your situation, please get in touch.
How I prescribe
I hold a full dispensary of high-quality dried herbs, from which I formulate individual prescriptions tailored precisely to your needs.
For patients who prefer a more convenient option or where a granule formula is clinically appropriate, I also work with Balance Healthcare to provide concentrated granule prescriptions.
Your prescription will be reviewed and adjusted at each appointment as your condition changes and improves. This responsive, evolving approach is central to how Chinese herbal medicine works at its best.
An integrated approach
When you come for a consultation, I assess your whole picture and recommend the treatment approach that I feel will serve you best, whether that's herbal medicine, acupuncture, bodywork, or a combination.
Many patients benefit most from these working together, and I'll explain my reasoning and discuss it with you fully.
Bodywork and Tui Na often form an important part of treatment, particularly for new patients. Working with the body manually can release held tension, open the channels and allow both acupuncture and herbal medicine to work at a deeper level. Many patients find this integrated combination more effective than any single therapy alone and it reflects the way Chinese medicine was always intended to be practised, as a complete system rather than a set of separate techniques.
The most effective outcomes come when you're able to trust the process and follow the prescription.
External herbal products
Alongside internal prescriptions, I also create bespoke handcrafted herbal products for external use including hydrosols, oils and topical preparations.
These can form a valuable part of treatment for skin conditions, pain and other presentations where external application complements internal medicine.
About Jenny Swan
Jenny Swan is a Chinese medicine practitioner with over 20 years of clinical experience, registered with the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). She sees patients at West Aish Farm, near Crediton in mid-Devon, and online UK-wide.
Easily reached from Crediton, Tiverton, Okehampton and Exeter.