HI...
I have asked this question during the webinar...and I was instructed to read up on Blue Poppy (which I did) and to remember to identify patterns. In essence, reminded to practice as I was trained. Well.... I do not practice any Chinese herbal medicine without discerning patterns, examinations, etc. However, admittedly I mostly practice acupuncture and nutritional supplementation as my patients often elect not to take herbs or give up on them because of costs, taste, or inability to comply. Here is my question again because I think I must have the wrong premise in the first place. Somewhere along the way I was instructed not to give patients who are taking anti-depressant/anti-anxiety drugs herbal formulas especially those that may treat shen imbalance and consequently effect serotonin levels etc. and that it would be conservative and maybe professionally safer not to treat with herbs at all. So except for perhaps CALM ES from Evergreen... I have not been treating these patients with Chinese herbal formulas. I have many people come to me to get off these drugs or who have a huge laundry list of conditions that I would like to treat with herbs if it were not for the fact they are on these drugs. They have often been on them for 20 years and I worry that balancing them and supporting the changes is frankly out of my ability level. Where might I get a better understanding of this area in particular? How to help them off the drugs (with their Dr's cooperation, blah blah blah) with herbal formulas and support mental balance? What exactly are the precautions in prescribing these formulas? I refer to Chen's reference but honestly, I am kind of left with the idea that herbal treatment is often rather contra indicated or highly cautionary in the prescence of these drugs. I am really sort of outraged to see the numbers of people placed on these drugs. I do not think we have even begun to see the consequences in our society and in the aging populations. I greatly appreciate your kind consideration in answering my concern.
