Chinese herbal medicine is widely used within Taiwan’s healthcare system and is integrated into the National Health Insurance (NHI) program. It is provided by licensed Chinese medicine practitioners and is available in both private clinics and hospital-based Chinese medicine departments.
Population-based studies have shown that a substantial proportion of the population in Taiwan utilises Chinese medicine services, with herbal medicine forming a major component of treatment (Yang et al., 2018; Shih et al., 2012).
Clinical use in Taiwan
In Taiwan, Chinese herbal medicine is primarily used in outpatient care.
It may be applied in:
- chronic conditions
- functional disorders
- recovery and supportive care
Patients may receive Chinese herbal medicine alone or alongside Western medical treatment. In hospital settings, Chinese medicine departments may operate alongside other specialties, allowing coordinated care where appropriate.
Herbal prescriptions are individualised and are adjusted over time based on clinical assessment and patient response.
Form of herbal medicine
In contemporary Taiwanese clinical practice, Chinese herbal medicine is most commonly prescribed as:
Concentrated herbal extracts (granules)
These are produced by extracting active components from raw herbs under controlled conditions and then standardising them into granulated form.
Within the NHI system, these concentrated extracts are the primary reimbursable form of herbal medicine, rather than traditional raw decoctions (Lin et al., 2017).
Manufacturing and regulatory standards
Herbal products used in Taiwan are manufactured under regulated conditions.
Key requirements typically include:
- compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
- controlled sourcing of raw herbal materials
- testing for contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticide residues
- adherence to the Taiwan Herbal Pharmacopoeia
These standards are designed to ensure:
- product safety
- batch-to-batch consistency
- reproducibility in clinical use
Research has emphasised the importance of standardisation and quality control in herbal medicine, particularly in systems where herbal products are used at scale (Chan et al., 2012).
Rationale for extract use
The widespread use of concentrated extracts reflects a shift toward standardisation in clinical practice.
Compared to traditional raw herbs or powders, extracts allow for:
- more consistent composition
- more precise dosing
- reduced variability between preparations
This format also supports integration into a modern healthcare system where consistency and safety are prioritised.
Clinical prescribing approach
Despite changes in preparation, prescribing remains individualised.
In practice:
- formulas consist of multiple herbal components
- prescriptions are based on clinical pattern identification
- formulas are modified over time according to patient response
Data from Taiwan’s healthcare system indicate that herbal prescriptions are tailored to individual presentations rather than applied uniformly (Yang et al., 2018).
Important note
The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
References
Chan, K., Shaw, D., Simmonds, M. S. J., Leon, C. J., Xu, Q., Lu, A., Sutherland, I., Ignatova, S., Zhu, Y. P., & Verpoorte, R. (2012). Good practice in reviewing and publishing studies on herbal medicine, with special emphasis on traditional Chinese medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 140(3), 469–475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.01.038
Lin, T. H., Lin, H. C., & Chen, C. C. (2017). The use of Chinese herbal medicine as an adjuvant therapy. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.04.028
Shih, C. C., Liao, C. C., Su, Y. C., Tsai, C. C., & Lin, J. G. (2012). Gender differences in traditional Chinese medicine use among adults in Taiwan. PLoS ONE, 7(4), e32540. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032540
Yang, S. T., Wu, M. Y., Chiang, J. H., Yen, H. R., & Lin, Y. R. (2018). Utilization of Chinese medicine in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based study. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 18, 147. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-018-2377-4