Buy Herbs from Asian Grocer to $ave

[Guest guest]

I had to post this as I'm sure everyone here would appreciate this.

 

I've gone to several acupuncturists and bought several herbal

formulas (powdered and pelleted) from them. I am and will always be

grateful for this and for their expertise.

 

I found an acupuncturist closer to me, but he was so rude -- I never

thought I'd meet an Asian who was so nasty -- and I vowed to never

see him again. I put up with him b/c I was so desperate for a

solution to my problem, had to wait for an appointment, etc., it

seemed like a shortcut home, even if it was through a dense briar

patch! :-)

 

A box of Korean ginseng tea (10 bags) was $5, and 200 pelleted pills

was $10. I went to an Asian grocer (Kam Man, I think is the name of

the chain, in Edison, NJ), and got 100 bags of the same tea, same

mfr, for $12, and got the same 200 pills, same formula, etc., for

$1.99! I was unable to find one of the other formulas, and no one at

the grocer knew what it was or where to find it. It's available

through Mayway Corp. for $9-10 a bottle, but that's retail, as Mayway

doesn't sell to the public.

 

My jaw DROPPED when I saw the price of the formula in the store. It

sold for $10-15 on the Internet. The Asian clerk said

wisely, " Internet very expensive. " It really was too funny in

retrospect!

 

I considered making the formula myself by buying the herbs online or

at a health food store (99 cts - $1.99/oz), but could not find the

percentages of ea. herb used in some of the formulas.

 

My advice: See an accupuncturist, get the herbs you need, then buy

them elsewhere at a reduced price unless the acupuncture is really

helping. These herbs helped me more than acupuncture ever did.

 

To be fair, the acupuncturist runs a business and needs to make

money. S/he knows which herbs to prescribe, which ones not to

combine, etc. Garages do the same thing to change someone's oil. An

oil change costs $7-10 to do yourself, but a garage will charge up to

$25 to do it for you. Everyone's trying to make a living and a

profit.

 

I expected there to be a mark-up on these herbs, esp'ly online. I

was disappointed with a reflexologist blocks from my house who sold

the same tea for $7.50 a box. (Highway robbery!!) But if you know

what the price ranges are, you can figure out who to go to and how

much you'll pay.

 

If you research the 4 names of the different herbs (common name,

Latin, pharmaceutical/botanical, Chinese name) and their properties,

this too will help you find what you need.

 

FYI.

 

 

Glenn

[Guest guest]

Glenn,

Good Idea. The only thing to be careful with is that, most TCM

herbalist change formulas often. A rule of thumb is not to be on the

same formula for more than a month at a time. So as you patterns

change we change what formula you take. Sometimes only little

modifications, and sometimes completely depending on our diagnosis.

Chinese herbs are serious medicine. They are not something to dabble

in with little information. Some herbs and combinations can be very

dangerous. Not to scare anyone, but it's best to use Chinese herbs

on your own only if your really understand Chinese medicine.

 

Thanks

Heather

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " apchat2000 " <apchat@m...> wrote:

> I had to post this as I'm sure everyone here would appreciate this.

>

> I've gone to several acupuncturists and bought several herbal

> formulas (powdered and pelleted) from them. I am and will always be

> grateful for this and for their expertise.

>

> I found an acupuncturist closer to me, but he was so rude -- I never

> thought I'd meet an Asian who was so nasty -- and I vowed to never

> see him again. I put up with him b/c I was so desperate for a

> solution to my problem, had to wait for an appointment, etc., it

> seemed like a shortcut home, even if it was through a dense briar

> patch! :-)

>

> A box of Korean ginseng tea (10 bags) was $5, and 200 pelleted pills

> was $10. I went to an Asian grocer (Kam Man, I think is the name of

> the chain, in Edison, NJ), and got 100 bags of the same tea, same

> mfr, for $12, and got the same 200 pills, same formula, etc., for

> $1.99! I was unable to find one of the other formulas, and no one at

> the grocer knew what it was or where to find it. It's available

> through Mayway Corp. for $9-10 a bottle, but that's retail, as Mayway

> doesn't sell to the public.

>

> My jaw DROPPED when I saw the price of the formula in the store. It

> sold for $10-15 on the Internet. The Asian clerk said

> wisely, " Internet very expensive. " It really was too funny in

> retrospect!

>

> I considered making the formula myself by buying the herbs online or

> at a health food store (99 cts - $1.99/oz), but could not find the

> percentages of ea. herb used in some of the formulas.

>

> My advice: See an accupuncturist, get the herbs you need, then buy

> them elsewhere at a reduced price unless the acupuncture is really

> helping. These herbs helped me more than acupuncture ever did.

>

> To be fair, the acupuncturist runs a business and needs to make

> money. S/he knows which herbs to prescribe, which ones not to

> combine, etc. Garages do the same thing to change someone's oil. An

> oil change costs $7-10 to do yourself, but a garage will charge up to

> $25 to do it for you. Everyone's trying to make a living and a

> profit.

>

> I expected there to be a mark-up on these herbs, esp'ly online. I

> was disappointed with a reflexologist blocks from my house who sold

> the same tea for $7.50 a box. (Highway robbery!!) But if you know

> what the price ranges are, you can figure out who to go to and how

> much you'll pay.

>

> If you research the 4 names of the different herbs (common name,

> Latin, pharmaceutical/botanical, Chinese name) and their properties,

> this too will help you find what you need.

 

A good source for researching patent formulas and their composition is

http://www.craneherb.com/products.esp You enter the formula name and

it comes up with several products by that name (only available to

practioners). When you click on any of them, it gives you the

composition of the herb by names and percentage of herbs in it. Will

also tell you the western and chinese symptoms it treats and TCM

indications (cold, heat, damp, etc), as well as contraindications.

 

sue

[Guest guest]

Don't forget that there are different " Qualities " of herbs so two

manufactures of the same formula may not have the same effect. Even

bulk herbs have different Qualities.

 

Just food for thought.

 

Bill

 

 

---- Original Message ----

qiuser

To:

FW: [Chinese Traditional Medicine] Re: Buy Herbs from Asian Grocer to $ave

Wed, 04 Aug 2004 00:57:06 -0000

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " apchat2000 " <apchat@m...>

wrote:

> I had to post this as I'm sure everyone here would appreciate this.

>

> I've gone to several acupuncturists and bought several herbal

> formulas (powdered and pelleted) from them. I am and will always

be

> grateful for this and for their expertise.

>

> I found an acupuncturist closer to me, but he was so rude -- I

never

> thought I'd meet an Asian who was so nasty -- and I vowed to never

> see him again. I put up with him b/c I was so desperate for a

> solution to my problem, had to wait for an appointment, etc., it

> seemed like a shortcut home, even if it was through a dense briar

> patch! :-)

>

> A box of Korean ginseng tea (10 bags) was $5, and 200 pelleted

pills

> was $10. I went to an Asian grocer (Kam Man, I think is the name

of

> the chain, in Edison, NJ), and got 100 bags of the same tea, same

> mfr, for $12, and got the same 200 pills, same formula, etc., for

> $1.99! I was unable to find one of the other formulas, and no one

at

> the grocer knew what it was or where to find it. It's available

> through Mayway Corp. for $9-10 a bottle, but that's retail, as

Mayway

> doesn't sell to the public.

>

> My jaw DROPPED when I saw the price of the formula in the store.

It

> sold for $10-15 on the Internet. The Asian clerk said

> wisely, " Internet very expensive. " It really was too funny in

> retrospect!

>

> I considered making the formula myself by buying the herbs online

or

> at a health food store (99 cts - $1.99/oz), but could not find the

> percentages of ea. herb used in some of the formulas.

>

> My advice: See an accupuncturist, get the herbs you need, then buy

> them elsewhere at a reduced price unless the acupuncture is really

> helping. These herbs helped me more than acupuncture ever did.

>

> To be fair, the acupuncturist runs a business and needs to make

> money. S/he knows which herbs to prescribe, which ones not to

> combine, etc. Garages do the same thing to change someone's oil.

An

> oil change costs $7-10 to do yourself, but a garage will charge up

to

> $25 to do it for you. Everyone's trying to make a living and a

> profit.

>

> I expected there to be a mark-up on these herbs, esp'ly online. I

> was disappointed with a reflexologist blocks from my house who sold

> the same tea for $7.50 a box. (Highway robbery!!) But if you know

> what the price ranges are, you can figure out who to go to and how

> much you'll pay.

>

> If you research the 4 names of the different herbs (common name,

> Latin, pharmaceutical/botanical, Chinese name) and their

properties,

> this too will help you find what you need.

 

A good source for researching patent formulas and their composition is

http://www.craneherb.com/products.esp You enter the formula name and

it comes up with several products by that name (only available to

practioners). When you click on any of them, it gives you the

composition of the herb by names and percentage of herbs in it. Will

also tell you the western and chinese symptoms it treats and TCM

indications (cold, heat, damp, etc), as well as contraindications.

 

sue

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I want to weigh in here with another alternative. Grow your own!

 

You won't be able to grow everything you need because different

herbs need different climate conditions. The quality of some of the

stuff you grow might not be as potent as that grown in a different

climate under different conditions or as potent as those in the

wild. But for those with an interest in growing things and an

interest in TCM, growing your own herbs can be a fun and money-

saving way to go. Some of these plants have beautiful flowers if you

happen to like flowers (which I do).

 

There are companies that offer seeds or cuttings of plants used in

TCM. One company that was recommended to me by several people on

the Wiseweeds list is a place out of Oregon. I can't think of the

name of the place right now as so far I haven't been set up to order

from them. I have a wish list of things I want to try to grow one

day. In the meanwhile I have some pots of more common herbs out on

the deck. BTW, since some herbs like the mints can be invasive,

growing them in pots can work when one doesn't have a lot of land.

They may not be quite as potent or as healing as those grown in more

natural environments.

[Guest guest]

I agree, Heather. That's why I paid someone to recommend something.

It's too risky otherwise.

 

The formulations do change, too. The bottle I was prescribed had the

weight %'s of the different herbs, but the one I bought used an

additional herb -- ginger -- although the name of the formula was the

same. Odd.

 

But, yes, herbs are not like lettuce. They are medicine.

 

glenn

 

 

> Chinese herbs are serious medicine. They are not something to

dabble

> in with little information. Some herbs and combinations can be

very

> dangerous. Not to scare anyone, but it's best to use Chinese herbs

> on your own only if your really understand Chinese medicine.

[Guest guest]

> A good source for researching patent formulas and their composition

is

> http://www.craneherb.com/products.esp You enter the formula name

and

> it comes up with several products by that name (only available to

> practioners). > sue

 

 

 

I found this site, Sue, but was unable to access it as it's open only

to " professionals. " I can find the composition of any formula by

visiting an acupuncture school or ordering a book of formulas, but

it's a lot of time.

 

I'm especially annoyed with that site. You'd think herbalists and

acupuncturists would have their own book of formulas.

 

 

Glenn

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " apchat2000 " <apchat@m...> wrote:

> > A good source for researching patent formulas and their composition

> is

> > http://www.craneherb.com/products.esp You enter the formula name

> and

> > it comes up with several products by that name (only available to

> > practioners). > sue

>

>

> I found this site, Sue, but was unable to access it as it's open only

> to " professionals. " I can find the composition of any formula by

> visiting an acupuncture school or ordering a book of formulas, but

> it's a lot of time.

 

Anyone can access the herbal reference part which is the only thing I

use it for. You do have to be a professional to purchase product

through them. I believe there's also other parts of the site which are

only available to professionals as well.

 

> I'm especially annoyed with that site. You'd think herbalists and

> acupuncturists would have their own book of formulas.

 

Many of them probably do. As a self-learning student, I find it good

for a quick reference on what's in a formula, the indications,

contraindications, etc.

 

sue

[Guest guest]

I've found the following site very useful for herb info:

 

http://www.holistic-online.com/Herbal-Med/Hol_herb_Directory_Index.htm

 

 

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " apchat2000 " <apchat@m...>

wrote:

> I had to post this as I'm sure everyone here would appreciate this.

>

[Guest guest]

<sigh>

The cost of an office visit is supposed to pay for the practicioner's

skill of craft to you .

 

Some practicioners well sell you products for not much more than

their wholesale price.

Even less than the suggested retail price is a profit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can never be sure of the quality of the herb you purchase if you

do not know herbs.

Perhaps the herb has been sitting on the shelf a long time.

Perhaps that price reflects what the merchant paid for it several

years ago.

Perhaps its not even the herb it claims to be by the label.

If the practicioner is not giving you the correct and potent herb so

you can get better,

what makes them think you will be willing to see them again?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A business is based not on " walk in " clients.

Repeat clients are what makes a business.

If the practicioner can help you now with effective treatment, it

means perhaps you will think of them as an opportunity for regular

seasonal balance to help avoid ill health in the future.

 

If a practicioner is rude, perhaps they are expressing their skill to

be lacking and already know you'd never come back anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A practicioner can be very skilled in somethings but not yours. In

that case, continue your search for someone who can interpret your

adventure.

Perhaps the practitioner can refer you to someone they know who can

help you through your current health adventure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just because your balance of Qi calls for a certain combination of

herbs this week, when you return for a followup diagnosis after being

in herbal therapy for a while, the herbs suggested can change.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My garden reflects many years of cultivation. Many of the herbs

reflect my family's chronic adventures.

Yes, you can grow your own herbs.

 

Are you willing to wait until the herbs are bountiful enough to

afford harvesting?

Do you have room in your garden to anticipate all the health

adventures your family might be going to have in the next couple of

years/ time it takes to get enough herbs to harvest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wild craft the herbs?

Perhaps you know of a legal and unpolluted place you could gather the

herbs.

How well are you at recognizing herbs?

You need more fresh herb to equal the potency of dried herb.

Do you have the room and facilities to properly dry the herbs?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But getting back to why we go to an accupuncturist or herbalist or

Asian bodywork therapist in the first place;

we're paying them for their interpretive skills.

We're paying them to be there to be there for us instead of making

bricks or programming software or whatever.

 

We got ourselves into whatever we're going through. Can we see clear

enough from within that state of balance to get back to where we

belong?

Do we even recognize what balance is any more?

 

Yes, its good to educate ourselves.

Yes, its good to ask questions.

The more you know lets the practitioner know how deeply you are

committed to play an active part in your therapy.

 

Penel

chronic ;-) student of Asian bodywork therapy