Chinese Herbal Medicine has been used for literally thousands of years because it works. In Chinese medicine, plants, minerals and animal parts are used. Here in the U.S. most practitioners primarily use plants and minerals. Animal parts are rarely used. The flower, fruit, leaf, stem and root can be used medicinally.
A combination of herbs is used to make a balanced formula which can be taken in the form of a decoction (boiled), powdered (just add water) or tablets.
Herbs can be used for acute or chronic conditions, constitutionally to maintain health or used preventatively for seasonal conditions.