Practical Strategies for Making Traditional Formulas More Accessible
By Winston Lee, L.Ac., Ph.D., KMD
Many licensed acupuncturists in the United States have herbal medicine within their scope of practice, and many of us have spent years studying herbal formulas. However, in everyday clinical practice, herbal medicine is often used far less frequently than acupuncture. One of the main reasons is practicality.
Traditional herbal decoctions can be highly effective, but they require significant time, labor, and expense. Herbs must be selected, prepared, boiled, packaged, and explained to the patient. For many non-Asian patients, the taste and smell of herbal decoctions can also be major barriers. Even when a formula is clinically appropriate, patients may be unwilling to drink it consistently. As a result, many acupuncturists gradually stop prescribing herbal medicine, losing valuable clinical experience in one of the most important components of East Asian medicine.
For this reason, I have adopted a more practical approach in my own clinic. Instead of preparing traditional decoctions, I order herbal formulas in tablet or capsule form through professional herbal manufacturing and compounding companies. Companies such as Sun Ten Laboratories and KPC Herbs are good examples. Through their online systems, practitioners can submit a formula, select the desired dosage form, and have the product prepared in bottles with customized labels.
This approach offers several advantages. First, these companies typically maintain quality-control procedures, including testing for heavy metals, pesticide residues, and other contaminants. Second, the finished products are much easier for patients to take. Tablets and capsules are familiar to most American patients, eliminating the need to tolerate strong herbal tastes or odors. Third, the cost can often be more affordable than traditional decoctions, particularly when treatment requires several weeks or months.
In many ways, this method allows us to present the wisdom of traditional herbal medicine in a format that modern patients already understand and trust. The therapeutic principles remain rooted in Korean Medicine, Chinese Medicine, and classical herbal strategies, but the delivery system resembles what patients commonly encounter in Western healthcare settings. This can reduce psychological resistance and improve patient compliance.
There is another important opportunity as well. When an acupuncturist develops a useful formula through years of clinical experience, that formula may potentially be developed into a dietary supplement. In the United States, many herbal products in tablet and capsule form are marketed under the dietary supplement category. This creates an opportunity for acupuncturists to build a small but meaningful product line associated with their clinics.
Of course, this must be approached carefully. A dietary supplement is not a drug. Therefore, product labels, websites, brochures, and advertising materials must not claim that a product diagnoses, treats, cures, or prevents any disease. Instead, product descriptions should focus on supporting normal body functions and promoting general wellness. For example, it is generally safer to say that a product “supports digestive health” rather than claiming it “treats gastritis.” Likewise, it is safer to state that a product “supports a healthy stress response” rather than claiming it “treats anxiety.” These distinctions may seem subtle, but they are essential for regulatory compliance.
For acupuncturists, this model may open new possibilities. We already possess clinical knowledge and practical experience. We understand which formulas tend to benefit particular patient presentations. By combining that knowledge with proper manufacturing standards, responsible labeling practices, and regulatory compliance, herbal medicine can become more accessible to the American public.
This does not mean that every acupuncturist should immediately begin selling herbal supplements online. Practitioners must still understand FDA regulations, state laws, professional liability concerns, and quality-control responsibilities. Nevertheless, I believe this is an area worthy of exploration. Herbal medicine should not remain something that patients perceive as difficult, bitter, or unfamiliar. It can be practical, convenient, and patient-friendly.
For many clinics, this approach may also create a stable supplementary source of revenue. More importantly, it provides an opportunity to demonstrate that our profession offers deep clinical knowledge extending far beyond acupuncture needles alone. Each formula can reflect the practitioner’s education, experience, and clinical philosophy.
In modern American healthcare, we must meet patients where they are. If patients are more comfortable taking tablets and capsules, we should consider using those forms wisely. By doing so, we can preserve the essence of herbal medicine while making it more accessible and acceptable to today’s patients.
