Herbs come in many forms, including raw herbs that you can cook at home, tablets or capsules, and even powders to be mixed with water.  Some of these are more costly and/or time-consuming in preparation than others.  The form in which your formula will be prescribed may vary depending on the nature of your condition and the period of time over which the herbs must be taken.  Your practitioner will also take your personal preferences and resources into consideration .

Finally, be sure to consult with your practitioner before attempting to treat a condition with herbs you may have left over from a previous illness.  There are normally several patterns of symptoms that can accompany any given condition, and each pattern is treated differently.  So, for example, an herbal formula that perfectly treated a sinus infection you had six months ago may be all wrong for a sinus infection you develop later.  It could even make it worse.  Therefore, it is important to heed this adage of traditional Chinese medicine:

One disease, many cures
One cure, many diseases

And, when in doubt, remember that your practitioner is always just a phone call away.

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