As we age, it is natural for our energy levels to decline. In Chinese medicine, this is explained by the concept of Kidney Essence—the fundamental reserve of vitality we are born with. This essence determines our capacity to generate energy from food and air, supporting growth, fertility, resistance to illness, and recovery from injury.
Each person is born with a different amount of this reserve. From early adulthood, typically after the mid-twenties, it gradually declines in everyone. Healthy living can slow this process, but it cannot stop it entirely.
One traditional way of supporting vitality later in life is through the use of tonic herbs. In Chinese medicine, tonics are never used as single herbs or universal remedies. They are prescribed as carefully balanced formulas, tailored to the individual’s constitution, digestion, temperature sensitivity, and overall state of health.
This is why the common Western habit of taking isolated tonic herbs, such as ginseng, without proper assessment is considered inappropriate in Chinese medicine and may even be harmful for some people.
Classically, people over the age of fifty—particularly those who feel cold easily, have chronic digestive weakness, or are less robust—may benefit from taking a tonic formula during the winter months, when the body naturally turns inward and rebuilding is most effective.
If you are considering a winter tonic, it is essential to seek individual advice rather than self-prescribing. A short consultation can help determine whether a tonic is appropriate for you, and if so, which type would best support your health at this stage of life.
Photo by “The Tran Dynasty” via Wikimedia Commons, reproduced under Creative Commons License CC BY-SA 4.0.
Many people considering undertaking treatment with Chinese herbal medicine ask me what the cost will be. It is obviously a reasonable question, but the answer is not simple for a variety of reasons:
Chinese medicine rarely uses single herbs. The usual way they are used is in a mixture of between 4 and 18 herbs, which is termed a “formula”. If a formula can be purchased already mixed and that is suitable for the client, that is cheaper for the client than for me to buy each separate herb and make up the formula myself.
The herbs can come in different forms, such as dried herbs, pills or soluble granules, each with its own advantages, disadvantages and costs.
Herbs come in different quality grades, and obviously the best quality costs the most.
The evolution of the symptoms under treatment is not entirely predictable. We may have to continue longer than expected, we may have to modify the formula, we may have to stop, reconsider, and start with a different formula. It is not a case of, “Take this for a couple of weeks and you’ll be cured”.
There are other considerations apart from cost. Making a tea from the dried herbs is the traditional way of taking herbs, and hundreds or thousands of years experience has shown this way to be effective. However, in a busy life it might be considered laborious, as the herbs need to be weighed out accurately and boiled for up to an hour each day or each second day. On the other hand pills and granules are quick and easy to dispense and take. However, it is not always so easy to provide a personalised formula when using pills.
But back to cost. Let us consider the relatively uncomplicated case of a middle-aged patient who since a couple of months has been experiencing fatigue, decreased appetite, abdominal distension, gas, loose stools, loss of appetite, a feeling of heaviness and lethargy, a sticky feeling in the mouth and a cough with small amounts of white sputum.
This person’s symptoms point to a Chinese diagnosis of “Spleen Qi Deficiency with Wetness accumulating”. I could prescribe a formula of six herbs called “The Six Gentlemen”. It contains ginseng, licorice, aged tangerine peel, two other herbs called atractylodes and pinellia, and a fungus called poria. This will strengthen the digestion, improve energy levels and eliminate the phlegm and the cough. Let us say the person needs to take this for a month and that resolves the symptoms satisfactorily.
Below, we will consider and cost out in detail a number of treatment options. But before that, and if you just want the hard facts, the outlay for the herbs in the case described would likely be between €140 and €270, depending on which form of the herbs were available.
The options considered for the costings are:
(A) Dried herbs purchased individually and mixed by me for the client.
(B) The dried herbs already mixed by the supplier. (Not always available).
(C) The formula ready-made and presented as concentrated extracts in pill form.
(D) Soluble granules of each separate herb mixed by me for the client.
(D) The formula ready-made and presented as soluble granules of concentrated extract. (Not always available.)
(A) Dried Herbs Purchased Individually and Mixed by Me for the Client
For 30 days:
Herb
Price per g (€)
Amount (g)
Price
Ginseng
0.86
225
193.50
Atractylodes
0.10
270
27.00
Poria
0.09
270
24.30
Licorice
0.07
90
6.30
Tangerine peel
0.06
180
10.80
Pinellia
0.12
270
32.40
Totals
1305
294.30
To this add:
Shipping from Andorra: €17.00
IVA (10%) on herbs and shipping: €31.13
My fee for providing herbs (10% cost of herbs): €29.43
My fee for mixing and packing the herbs: €37.50
Total cost to client: €409.36
(B) The Dried Herbs Already Mixed by the Supplier
(But for many formulas this option may not be available.)
Price per 100 g: €15.00
So for 30 days supply (1300 g), the price is: €195.00
To this add:
Shipping from Andorra: €16.00.
IVA (10%) on herbs and shipping: €44.31
My fee for providing herbs (10% cost of herbs): €19.50
Total cost to you: €274.81
(C) The Formula Ready-Made and Presented as Concentrated Extracts in Pill Form
(For some formulas this option may not be available.)
Blue Poppy Brand x 2 pots of 120 pills: €110.90
To this add:
Shipping (Spain): €8.95
IVA (10%) on herbs and shipping: €11.99
My fee for providing herbs (€15 minimum fee): €15.00
So for 1 month’s supply, the price is: €146.84
(D) Soluble Granules of Each Separate Herb Mixed by Me for the Client
For 30 days:
Herb (From KPC – Belgium)
Price per g (€)
Amount (g)
Price
Ginseng
1.7806
45
80.13
Atractylodes
0.3700
54
19.98
Poria
0.2700
54
14.58
Licorice
0.3141
18
5.65
Tangerine peel
0.2711
36
9.76
Pinellia
0.7762
54
41.91
Totals
261
172.01
To this add:
Shipping from Belgium: €20.00
IVA (4%) on herbs and shipping: €7.68
My fee for providing herbs (20% cost of herbs): €34.40
My fee for mixing and packing the herbs: €37.50
Total cost to client: €271.59
(E) The Formula Ready-Made and Presented as Soluble Granules of Concentrated Extract
(But for many formulas this option may not be available.)
KPC Brand from Sinecura (Belgium), 260 g of 1:5 concentrate (equivalent to 1305 g dry herb): €96.04
To this add:
Shipping from Belgium: €20.00
IVA (4%) on herbs and shipping: €4.64
My fee for providing herbs (20% cost of herbs): €19.21
So for 1 month’s supply, the price is: €139.89
Summary Table
Provision of 1 Month’s Supply of Herbs
Total Cost to Client (€)
Dried herbs purchased individually and mixed by me for client
409.36
Dried herbs already mixed by supplier (may not be available)
274.81
Formula ready-made as pills (may not be available)
146.84
Soluble granules of each separate herb mixed by me for client
271.59
Formula ready-made as soluble granules (may not be available)
139.89
From this it can be seen that the purchasing of each herb in the formula separately is by far the most expensive way of working with these herbs. For simple cost reasons I would rarely recommend this option unless for short courses of treatment.
I will always choose the most economical kind of good quality product that is suitable for the individual patient and that is available in the necessary time frame.
Summer is the time of Fire, maximum Yang, the Heart and spirit (“Shen”), of joy and maximum vitality. But to stay healthy we must align with the seasons.
If summer’s heat and activity become overwhelming, signs of imbalance can appear:
• Anxiety, restlessness, poor sleep, insomnia.
• Palpitations.
• Excess sweating or feeling overheated.
• Heat exhaustion.
Quotes are from the classic text, the Huangdi Neijing:
“In the three months of summer, the qi of heaven and earth interact and the myriad things bloom and bear fruit.”
“In the three months of summer, there is an abundance of sunshine and rain. The heavenly energy descends, and the earthly energy rises. When these energies merge, there is intercourse between heaven and earth.”
“In the season of summer, the Heart governs; excessive heat and moisture lead to vexation, restlessness, and sweating. The wise harmonize with the season to avoid disease.”
“In summer, the Yang is flourishing. One should rise early, rest at noon, and go to bed late. The Heart is the ruler of summer; nourish it with serenity and avoid excessive anger.”
“In summer, the qi is vigorous, the blood is active. One should eat light and cooling foods, and avoid overeating, so as not to disturb the Heart and the Stomach.”
“When the sun is at its height, one should take advantage of the warmth to move, but also rest in shade. Excessive heat injures the Yin, and overexertion injures the Spirit.”
General guidelines from this text:
• Emotional Balance: Avoid anger and cultivate joy to prevent disturbances in the Heart.
• Dietary Adjustments: Hydrate sensibly. Consume light, cooling foods to counteract the heat and support digestion. (Caution: But don’t overdo cold foods if you have a weak digestion.)
• Appropriate Activity: Moderate physical activity during the cooler parts of the day, rest during peak heat.
• Adequate Rest: Align sleep patterns with the natural light cycle. Party in the evening, but ensure sufficient rest.
Enjoy life, connect with others, and make the most of high energy, but protect your Heart Qi!
Robert Hale Herbalist 