Chinese Herbs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Herbal Extract & Herbal Formula General FAQ
Answered by X. Li, Ph. D. (credential)

How effective are Chinese herbs?

Why are Chinese herbs all herbal formulas instead of a single herb?

Can you help me understand the names of patent Chinese medicine?

What are the forms a herbal formula may have?

What is wan or pian in your patent Chinese medicines?

Do I get wan or pian for my order?

How long do I need to take the herbs?

How long does a bottle of patent Chinese medicine last?

Can Chinese herbs act fast?

I heard herbs imported from Asian countries often have toxic materials in them. Is it true? Do yours have them too?

The herbal formulas I received have a distinctive odor and color. Is this normal?

Is there a listing of any inactive ingredients in your patent Chinese medicines?

I read some patent Chinese medicines have supplemented with pharmaceuticals. How about yours?

Are your patent Chinese medicines 100% natural?

Are your patent Chinese medicines concentrated?

Can you compare your patent Chinese medicines with those Chinese herbs made by American companies?

Are your Chinese patent medicines manufactured in GMP facilities?

Can you comment on the side effects of Chinese herbs?

I am concerned with counterfeit herbal products. Are you sure you have the authentic products?

The herb ingredients listed on the bottle I received have some difference from what you list on your website. Why?

Can I combine several Chinese medicines together?

Q: How effective are Chinese herbs?
A: Chinese herbs are medicines Chinese people have been relied on for their health for thousand years. While some of them are outdated, lots of them are still proven effective and widely used in modern days. In many ways, they complement with modern medicine and may address health concerns modern medicine falls short with. Please refer to Herbal Medicine: Does it Work? for more discussion.
Q: Why are Chinese herbs all herbal formulas instead of a single herb?
A: Chinese herbs are rarely used individually in clinics. They are used exclusively in herbal formulas where multiple herbs are combined. This is due to the belief and observation over time that a single herb either does not provide all the power for cure or a potential side effect needs to be contained.
Q: Can you help me understand the names of patent Chinese medicines?
A: The names of patent Chinese medicines consist of two parts. The last word such as wan or pian serves to indicate the form of the herbs in pills or tablets. The words proceeding the last word literally could mean the name of the core herb (e.g., Shou Wu in Shou Wu Wan) or the function of the formula. (e.g., Yu Ping Feng in Yu Ping Feng Wan means Jade Screen to reflect its function in shielding the body off pathogens.) So, look only the first part to identify the formula and the last word to tell the form. The same formula may come in various forms like wan or pian.
Q: What are the forms a herbal formula may have?
A: The common forms of herbal formulas are Tang (means decoction drink), San (fine powder), Wan (means pills), Pian (means tablets). Normally, Tang or San is the original form from which Wan or pian is derived. Tang is most effective but involves individual formulation and decoction, which is not easy to handle.
Q: What is wan or pian in your patent Chinese medicine?
A: Wan is pills whereas pian is tablets in Chinese. The full line of patent traditional Chinese medicines we carry comes in the form of either wan or pian. Wan is the more traditional form. Both forms contain exactly the same active ingredients extracted in the same way from the same recipe of herbs. Wan normally comes in 200 pills whereas pian in 100 or 200 tablets. The total weight of both forms is the same.

(in real size)
Q: Do I get wan or pian for my order?
A: For each herbal formula we indicate the availability of wan and/or pian, you choose which form you prefer. In the unlikely event of one form being sold out, we will ask you if you like to get the another form.
Q: How long do I need to take the herbs?
A: Many herbal formulas or extracts act to adjust or restore the normal physiological condition of the body. This is not something easily achievable in a few days. So depending on the indications the herbal supplements must often be taken for an extended period of time before their full benefit is experienced. for example, we recommend 3 months as the first regimen for Shou Wu Wan (Pian).
Q: How long does a bottle of patent Chinese medicine last?
A: It depends on the condition. When you start, to adequately address your concern, it is recommended to take it in the full dosage and it lasts about 8-10 days. You may lower the dose afterward.
Q: Can Chinese herbs act fast?
A: Yes. Herbal formulas can act very fast. For example, Coldsignoff^TM acts within hours to contain cold symptoms as they appear.†
Q: I heard herbs imported from Asian countries often have toxic materials in them. Is it true? Do yours have them too?
A: The problem does exit that some herbs imported from China may sometimes contain a trace amount of toxic heavy metals and frankly that problem can happen for herbs grown anywhere including in the USA. In fact, most herbs currently used in USA are grown and imported from China. The challenge is how to find good quality and trusted source of herbs. This is where we paid great attention. That is why the herb formula products we sell are made in the best TCM factories in China where we trust finest herb materials and modern facilities are to produce the best quality of products.
Q: The herbal formulas I received have a distinctive odor and color. Is this normal?
A: Herbs often have a distinctive natural odor (in most cases in pleasant flavors). They may vary in color but usually in black or grey in pills or tablets.
Q: Is there a listing of any inactive ingredients in your patent Chinese medicine?
A: All our patent Chinese medicines are made of 100% natural herbs which are listed as active ingredients on the site. They do not contain any other inactive ingredients such as gluten, sugar, preservatives.
Q: I read some patent Chinese medicines have supplemented with pharmaceuticals. How about yours?
A: Sometimes manufacturers add certain pharmaceuticals to relevant patent Chinese medicines to boost the effect. e. g., acetaminophen is added to Yin Qiao Jie Du Pian for cold relief. We do not endorse the practice and believe that Chinese medicines and pharmaceuticals are not to be combined. All patent Chinese medicines we carry do not contain any pharmaceuticals.
Q: Are your patent Chinese medicines 100% natural?
A: Yes. Our patent Chinese medicines do not contain any sugar, pharmaceuticals, artificial color, and preservatives.
Q: Are your patent Chinese medicines concentrated?
A: Yes. Our patent Chinese medicines are all concentrated many times compared to regular ones. It means they are extracted to only keep the active ingredients. They are more potent and less is needed for each dosage.
Q: Can you compare your patent Chinese medicines with those Chinese herbs made by American companies?
A: Several American companies produce some popular Chinese herbs such as Dong Gui (Dang Gui), Shou Wu (Fo-Ti). These herbs are produced by simply grinding the single herbs into powder and no extraction procedure is used to separate the active ingredients from the inactive ingredients, which may potentially cause undesired side effects and compromise the efficacy of the herb.
Q: Are your Chinese patent medicines manufactured in GMP facilities?
A: Yes. All porducts we listed are manufactured in GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certified facilities, whether they are located in USA or China. The GMP facilites we used in China are even all GMP certified for pharmaceutical products in China. You may check the GMP certificate for the manufacturer of our Guang Ci Tang® line of Chinese patent medicines here.
Q: Can you comment on the side effects of Chinese herbs?
A: Like any medicine as a whole, some Chinese herbs may have undesired side effects. This is just like what you might have read about the very popular Vioxx, the pain drug withdrawn last year by Merck that doubled the risk of heart stroke. It all depends on what you take no matter it is an herb or a pharmaceutical. In fact, in China available statistics show that many more adverse drug reactions are reported for chemical drugs than Chinese herbs. The Chinese herbs we sell are the ones we believe the very best yet safe. Please refer to Herbal Medicine: Is it Safe? for more discussion.
Q: I am concerned with counterfeit herbal products. Are you sure you have the authentic products?
A: Absolutely. All our products are purchased directly from the name brand manufacturers or their exclusive distributors.
Q: The herb ingredients listed on the bottle I received have some difference from what you list on your website. Why?
A: The ingredients listed on our site are based on the official product information provided by the manufacturers and are considered authoritative. Sometimes the list on the bottle may look different. The discrepancy can be due to several reasons:
(a) incomplete listing because of space limitation on the label or customs compliance.
(b) variations of translation in Latin or English of the same Chinese herb name. The same Chinese herb may also have different names.
(c) occasional printing mistakes on the label.
Q: Can I combine several Chinese medicines together?
A: Often times, one may have several health concerns they would like to take care of or multiple patent Chinese medicines may be applicable for the same concern. You then wander if you should buy them all and use them together.

Our advice is in general it is not necessary to take more than 2 patent Chinese medicines at the same time. While each Chinese medicine by itself is a combination of Chinese herbs with various properties. Combining three or more Chinese medicines together may make it much harder to predict the interaction of individual herbs and the outcome. A better approach is to focus the main concern in the case of multiple concerns first and to find the formula whose description best suits for your condition. Then take the formula for enough duration (for example, at least one month or 3 bottles of supply for chronic conditions) to see if it produces noticeable results for you.

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†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Contents in www.activeherb.com is for information purpose only and are written to our best knowledge and expertise for the scientific accuracy. They are not to replace the advice of your physicians. The research cited in our contents are published in scientific journals and have not subjected to the FDA evaluation. We reserve the copyright to protect our contents. Any reproduction without in its entirety and without explicit credits to ActiveHerb is prohibited.