Granules, Capsules & Raw Herbs: Choosing the Best Formula Type for You

There are three formula types that I use in my clinical practice: granule extracts, raw herbs, and capsules.

The formula type that we will use in your treatment depends on a combination of factors including your preference and the condition we are treating. I can achieve the best outcomes for you when you are open to any formula type. With some conditions, I can provide effective treatment with any formula type of your choosing. In other cases, effective treatment will only be achievable using a specific formula type. 

Throughout the course of your treatment, different formula types may be needed at different stages. Chinese herbal medicine treatment is dynamic, and highly variable based on the individual. For example, we may start with a granule extract formula, change to a raw herb formula after a few weeks, and once the relief and stabilization phases are complete we may use a capsule formula during the maintenance phase. In other cases I will use capsules throughout the entire duration of treatment. 

If you are interested in treatment, but you will only take a specific formula type (capsules for example) and you want to know if that is an option in your case, here is what I recommend: Schedule an appointment, fill out your forms ahead of time and make a note of your preference. If I don’t think treatment of your condition will be possible with your desired formula type, I will let you know ahead of time so you can cancel your appointment with no charge. 

Granule extracts. The most common method of administering herbal medicine that I use is called a granule extract. This is a modern method where a decoction (a traditional hot water extraction of raw herbs) is prepared into a concentrated extract powder. You dissolve the granule extract in water (room temp, warm or hot) and drink it. You can think of it like instant coffee, but instead of coffee it’s herbal medicine. Granules are often referred to as "herbal powders" but are very different from grinding raw herbs into a powder. Granule extracts are convenient, easy to travel with, and provide excellent all-around extraction of medicinal compounds, and especially extraction of active ingredients that require long cooking (decoction). 

Raw herbs. The term raw herbs refers to Chinese herbs in their whole dried form. The most traditional methods of Chinese herbal medicine are prepared with raw herbs as either a draft (散 San) or decoction (汤 Tang)*. My raw herb formulas are prepared as drafts. This type of formula is made by grinding raw herbs to a fine powder. I store my raw herbs in whole form which preserves their volatile oils and medicinal compounds, and combine your herbs and grind them right before sending your formula to you. To prepare a raw herb draft formula, you will weigh out the specified amount of powder, add it to an insulated thermos, fill the thermos with boiling water, and steep the herbs for a minimum of 1 hour, or overnight. Once the herbs have steeped, you'll pour the liquid through a strainer and drink. This method requires more steps to prepare than a granule extract, but can be more effective in certain cases when we are using specific herbs that will be more effective with the higher volatile oil content that's present in this type of formula. For example, I often use raw herb formulas when treating stubborn or resistant infections. 

Capsules. When I refer to capsules, I am referring to using capsule formulas from the Classical Pearls line of herbal formulas. These are granule extract formulas that have been encapsulated. Classical Pearls are the only capsule formula I use in clinical treatment because they are high quality, and they use a more concentrated extract (10:1) than other companies (5:1) which means not having to take as many capsules. 

Capsules can be very effective in certain situations, and there are some conditions where they are the best option available and they will be my first choice. Capsules are overall the most limiting in terms of formula options, so many conditions cannot be treated effectively with capsules alone. 

In Chinese herbal medicine practice, we use a high degree of specificity in our formula prescription in order to get the best results. With granule extract and raw herb formulas, I am making custom formulas from a library of ~ 400 different herbs. The average formula has 12 herbs in it, so I am working with thousands of unique herb combinations.

That said, some conditions are very well suited to the available capsule formulas. With Classical Pearls capsules, the standard treatment dosage is 12 capsules per day to achieve a traditional therapeutic dosage. In milder conditions the dosage is 6 capsules/day, and in chronic or severe conditions it can be as high as 18 capsules/day. 

Here are some examples where treatment with capsule formulas can be effective. For treatment of acute and chronic yeast infections, BV, and fungal skin infections - capsule formulas are often my first choice. Generalized stress and anxiety, allergies, chronic Candida, mold illness, menstrual pain, and irregular menses can often be treated effectively with capsules. Some cases of insomnia can be treated with capsule formulas. 

If you want a custom capsule formula, there is another option. You can get a granule extract formula from me and encapsulate it at home with a simple $50 capsule filler. This is relatively easy to do, but it is time consuming and I just don't have time to make custom capsule formulas in my practice.

Doing it this way, the capsule dosage will be roughly 24 capsules/day to get the equivalent dosage. For most people, it's just much easier to deal with the strong taste of drinking the granule extract for a few moments. But I have had patients who didn't mind taking 24 capsules/day and preferred it to tasting the herbs. So it's really up to you.

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*Raw herb decoction (汤 Tang) formulas

Raw herb decoction formulas can be very effective and are one of the most traditional preparations. I have used decoction formulas intensively in my practice in the past and continue to use them personally. They use a higher dosage of herbs, and due to rising costs of Chinese herbs worldwide, treatment with raw herb decoctions is a financial barrier for many people ($540-700/month). They also require more work to prepare and patient compliance is generally the worst with decoction formulas. After watching many of my mentors switch over to using raw herb draft formulas, I started using this approach a few years ago and have found it to work very well. With draft formulas we get a more efficient extraction by using freshly ground herbs, and are therefore able to use a lower dosage. We also get better compliance because the preparation is easier. For these reasons I don’t currently list decoctions as a treatment option. If you are interested in this formula type, you can contact me about it.