Drug-drug interactions are a much more serious problem than either herb-drug or herb-herb interactions. This is because drugs are high doses of single, active, unstable chemicals, while herbs contain multiple ingredients, some of which are natural buffers.

Chinese herbal formulas are even more broad, comprehensive, and balanced than single western herbs. (When I talk about western herbs, I mean many of single herbs you can buy in stores which are part of western herbal tradition... and were not part of chinese herbal tradition.)

Which is Safer - Single Herbs or Herb Formulas?

Herbal formulas are safer. The more singular a substance is, more likely it is to cause side effects and interact with other substances. Studies bear this out- a number of them indicate that drugs negatively interact more with single herbs than they do with herbal formulas.

From most dangerous to safest (in order) are these cominations:

Type of Combination Situation and Results

1. Multiple drugs: The result of one or more physicians prescribing you one or more drug; interaction range from discomfort to life-threatening. 2. Drugs + single western herbs: 1 or more physician-prescribed drugs + you buy yourself 1 or more single herbs 3. One drug alone: Can still have mild to strong side effects 4. One herb alone: Mild side effects are possible 5. Multiple single western herbs: You buy several herbs for yourself and they may interact, especially if combination is not based on tradition or research 6. Drug + herb formula: Prescribed by both a western and Chinese-style physicians; based on research and guesswork. The results of such studies have been positive. The appropriate formula is often able to balance out drug's side effects and/or boost its effectiveness 7. Single western herb + chinese herb formula: Again based partly on tradition and partly guesswork. Some unexpected interactions are possible but should be mild. 8. Personalized chinese herbal formula alone: Based on diagnosis, tradition, and research. There should be little or no unexpected interactions or side effects, and if there are, physician can modify formula to better suit you.

Our current habit of purchasing single herbs like ginseng and gingko (amateur self-prescription) is more dangerous than seeing an acupuncturist for a personalized chinese herbal formula. Did you know that at least 6 million people in U.S. take ginseng singly? (Read more on ginseng) Also read number 10 in next section...

In addition, when you take several drugs and several single herbs, there are many more potential interactions... that real-world situation is more complex than any of our research has investigated. So, it's a good rule of thumb to take as few drugs and single herbs as possible.

The safest therapy options are just about reverse order of list above.

These are not hard and fast rules. In some situations, multiple drug therapy is best choice... I urge you to review your options with your western and chinese-style physicians, and together you can all make best decision.

Is Qi Energy?

Some TCM practitioners say qi is 'energy.' This is not too bad of an explanation. But don't go away thinking we believe there are electrical circuits running through your body! Some scholars (D.E. Kendall, and Paul Unschuld) maintain that idea of qi as 'energy' was a mistranslation from Chinese.

Then What is It?

In terms of basic TCM ontology ("what exists"), Qi is one of four basic constituents of body:

Yin Blood Qi Yang < --- Substance Function --- > < --- Cold Hot --- >

(Yin and Blood are substantial, yin is cold; qi and yang are functional, yang is hot) Consider this convenient car-engine analogy: Yin is water from radiator to cool engine, blood is oil, qi is force that moves pistons, and engine can be said to be in a yang state when operating. Perhaps explosion itself is yang, while force of explosion is qi. We can also say that gas contains a qi that has yet to be utilized.