Chinese medicine makes use of a wide variety of herbs to benefit  a vast array of health problems. Based on the effect their taste and temperature has on the various systems of the body, herbs are combined into finely balanced formulas, in which each herb accentuates certain qualities of the other herbs to increase the therapeutic effect.

Herbal medicine can be administered in a number of different forms, including: loose herbs that are boiled to make a decoction or tea, powdered herbs, and capsules or pills.