When approaching the notion of living healthy from a East Asian philosophical approach there are certain things a person should keep in mind. First of all, the Chinese approach health from a holistic point of view. If you do not feel well, from a Chinese perspective, you would want to look at the big picture. In the West, people think to themselves, "I feel sick." I want to take something so l won't feel sick anymore." In a Chinese approach, a person would think, "I feel sick." What things in my life have led me to feel this way? What steps should I take to make sure I won't get sick anymore?" The difference is that Chinese thought likes to go to the root of the problem first. In the West, they like to approach the symptoms first. In this way Chinese health practice is focused on prevention and maintenance. Because of this, Chinese health practices are done on a regular basis as a part of a lifestyle, not just when you become sick. If you begin to feel out of balance, then a change must be made in your lifestyle to reverse that before you become ill. Every person has individual needs and must maintain their health in a way that is best for them. So, though you should always maintain your health through proper attention, it does not mean that you should make one health plan and follow it forever. You should always take care of your health, but as your life changes, as you grow older, as the weather changes, you should adapt with these changes and so should the specific means in which you take care of your health! For the Chinese, these practices can be herbs and supplements, diet, acupuncture, acupressure, chi'gung (yoga), meditation, or even your environment.
    Secondly, a Chinese approach to health is natural. Even though herbs and supplements are natural products, they have to be used properly. Chinese herbalism developed over thousands of years of trial and error. It is very exact. Most herbs have to be specially selected and processed. How an herb is selected and how it is processed can have a big impact on how it will effect a person and even for what kind of condition it should be used for. Don't just think that taking a single kind of herb will give you perfect health! The art of Chinese herbalism is in the way it combines different herbs for a synergistic effect. There are few good books in English about Chinese herbs. Most only talk about what a few herbs do, but not how they work together. The Chinese have developed thousands of herbal prescriptions. Each must be prepared a specific way to give the best effect This is why it is important to speak with a professional who understands these things.
    If you do not have a lot of experience, it can be very confusing buying Chinese herbs and supplements. There are so many kinds! There are so many brands! Every product comes in so many different forms! With herbs, there are four basic grades and variations within each grade. The four grades are: low, medium, high, and top. There is a specific way to identify each grade for each kind of herb, but the grades themselves are always based on their effectiveness to one's health. The lower grades have low benefits and cost less. The top grades have the best benefits and cost more. However, the price of an herb will not perfectly tell you how effective it is compared to another grade. For example, a $100 root of ginseng is not twenty times stronger than a $5 root of ginseng, but if you bought 20 pieces of $5 ginseng is not as effective I piece of $100 ginseng. It can get confusing, but remember this: the higher the quality, the more overall effective the herb. The lower the quality, the lower the overall effectiveness of the herb. If you take a lot of a poor quality herb, it will do nothing for your health. It is better to take a little bit of a high quality herb because it will get to the root of the problem, even if it only works on it a little at a time. So, when buying herbs and supplements, make sure you get at least high quality. They are more expensive, but they are cost effective. It is better to buy one thing that works than buy a whole bunch of different things that don't do anything to keep you healthy. If only one thing you need is all you can afford for a while, then spread that product out until you will be able to buy something again. Make a plan and use it evenly over that period so it can consistently help you to maintain your health. Don't buy a supplement and use a lot of it for a month and then don't use anything for another month because you've ran out A person needs to maintain their health with consistent attention. Consistency is the key. If you stop paying to your health, your health will stop paying attention to you!
    Now that you know what kinds of products to buy, how do you find them? Right now the health market is over-saturated with different products. There are thousands of products - so many that it is difficult for even specialists to keep up with them all. Some brands are good, some are bad. Some are good at one thing, but not another. Some are good, but are too expensive. Stores try to deal with this in a few ways. Some stores only carry one or two lines of supplements. Usually this is not good because no line covers everything or is equally excellent with every type of supplement or combination. Also these stores are usually too expensive. Other stores will carry everything! The problem now is when there are so many items you need to be very experienced to pick the right thing.
    Sometimes the buyers at these stores do not know the difference between brands so they just stock everything. The final kind of stores go through a screening process. Instead of carrying the 5000 supplements available, they will carry around 2000 items because they know which supplements work and which do not, so they don't stock the ones that are not very good. There are less choices, but there is also less waste - if the store is run by a qualified professional. There is an easy way to tell if a store is not professional. It is call the "lossleader" concept. What some Chinese herb stores will do is mark down a popular item below their cost to lure customers in, but then they will sell all their other products at a slightly higher rate to make up for the loss on that one item. These stores are out for a person's money instead of their health. Look for a store that has moderate prices on everything, then you can tell that they are not trying to rope you in and then sell you things you don't need at a higher price.
    How can you tell a professional who will give you good advice on what you need? Go to different stores in Chinatown and compare how well they are organized. Talk to the people behind the counters. Do not always assume if a person has trained in China that they are the best. Though the training is very good in China, may Chinese herbalists only know those products made in China and do not know what is available on the market in America. This is shame because some of the best herbal supplements in the world are made here on the West Coast from Chinese herbs. Because of the better technology, some American companies prepare their combinations much better by extracting more out of the herbs. Be sure the person you speak to knows about a variety of different formulas and supplements. Most importantly, look at his (or her) health. If the person can take care of their self, then they can probably take care of you too. If they look terrible, they will probably not be able to find what is right for you. Chinese health care is a lifestyle, so if you don't live it, you can't practice it for others. You should also pay attention to how the products and herbs he advises make you feel. If you feel healthier and don't feel like you need to buy something else, then you have met someone who understands your individual needs. If you don't feel much better and feel like something is missing, then continue to look around. A professional wants you to be healthy! Remember: the most important thing is gathering knowledge. Once you begin looking, you will find what you need, as long as you remain aware and pay attention to Your health. Good luck!