Prescribing herbal medicines is an integral part of the functional medicine side of my practice. It’s a challenging process to determine the optimal herbal combination for a given individual, drawing from centuries of herbal practices from different corners of the globe, enlightened further by modern medical research. But then I also have to make sure that patients obtain high quality herbal products with known concentrations.

That’s not always easy. In the United States, herbal medicines are regulated as dietary supplements. The good news is that they’re easily available. But the bad news is that there’s very little control over quality.

In Australia it’s a different story. Herbal products there are regulated as medicines, so you’re assured of getting the herbs that are listed on the label, in the concentrations listed on the label.

And by sourcing my herbs in Australia, there’s another advantage. I work with a naturopathic dispensary that can custom blend whatever combination of herbs I request. Since herbal products work best in combinations, that allows me to optimize the care for your condition.

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Dr. Lavine has been an innovator in the use of movement and touch to promote health since 1981. He practices in New York City and Princeton, NJ.