About Herbology [1]
Chinese Herbal medicine was created more than 2500 years ago and is the main modality within Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Chinese Herbal treatment differs from that of Western Herbal treatment in the way each herb is prescribed. It is very rare that a single herb will ever be prescribed by a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine where in western herbal practice it is very common to just take a single herb (ie echinachea). Western Herbal treatment generally treats diseases and/or symptoms (headaches, PMS, Diarrhea, …) while in Chinese medicine herbal formulas are prescribed for each individuals pattern. In Chinese medicine each individual patient will be prescribed a custom herbal formula created specifically to treat an individuals symptoms and their individual pattern.
Links:
[1] http://www.onthemarkhealth.com/about_herbs
[2] http://www.onthemarkhealth.com/herbology_diseases