Online Chinese herbal medicine

On this page

1. About online Chinese herbal consultations
2. How an online consultation works
3. Conditions treated online
4. How your herbs are prepared and delivered
5. About Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto
6. Choosing an online Chinese herbalist
7. Commonly asked questions

1. About online Chinese herbal consultations

Chinese herbal medicine is a complete system of healthcare with over 2,500 years of continuous use, grounded in the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It uses medicinal plants, roots, bark, seeds and fungi — formulated into bespoke prescriptions tailored to the individual patient — to treat a wide range of physical and emotional health problems and restore balance throughout the body.

Online consultations allow patients anywhere in the UK and internationally to access the same quality of bespoke Chinese herbal medicine that I provide in my clinics in Wokingham, Berkshire and Twickenham, Richmond. The consultation takes place via Zoom and is every bit as thorough as an in-person appointment. Once I have taken a full case history and TCM assessment, I formulate a bespoke herbal prescription and post it directly to you, wherever you are.

Online herbal consultations are particularly suited to patients who cannot easily travel to one of my clinics — whether due to geography, work commitments, childcare, mobility limitations or the nature of their condition. They are also ideal for patients who have completed an initial in-person course of treatment and wish to continue their herbal prescription remotely, or for patients who are already receiving acupuncture locally and wish to add Chinese herbal medicine to their treatment programme.

I am a fully registered member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) and have over 25 years of clinical experience. I do not prescribe herbs without conducting a full consultation — each prescription is individually formulated to your specific TCM pattern and health situation.

2. How an online consultation works

The online consultation process is straightforward and closely mirrors what happens during an in-person appointment:

1. Book your appointment — initial and follow-up online consultations can be booked directly through my online booking system. You will receive a Zoom link by email once your appointment is confirmed.
2. Complete a health history form — before your consultation I will send you a detailed health history questionnaire to complete. This covers your main health concerns, medical history, medications, diet, sleep, emotional state and other aspects of your health that are relevant to TCM diagnosis. Completing this thoroughly before your appointment allows me to make the most of our consultation time.
3. The consultation — your initial consultation lasts approximately 45–60 minutes via Zoom. I will take a full case history, ask detailed questions about your symptoms, health history, lifestyle and diet, and ask you to show me your tongue (tongue diagnosis is one of the key diagnostic tools in TCM and is entirely feasible by camera). I will also take a detailed pulse reading in person at a follow-up clinic visit if possible, or draw on the detailed information gathered remotely.
4. The prescription — following the consultation, I formulate your bespoke herbal prescription based on your individual TCM diagnosis. Your prescription is prepared as pharmaceutical-grade granule powder from Sun Ten in Taiwan — the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality Chinese herbal granules, tested to the highest international standards for purity, potency and safety.
5. Herbs posted to you — your herbs are posted to your address within 2–3 working days of your consultation. Full written instructions are included with every prescription, explaining exactly how to prepare and take your herbs. I typically supply two to four weeks of herbs at a time.
6. Follow-up consultations — follow-up appointments are usually conducted every four weeks, lasting 30–45 minutes. At each follow-up I review your progress, reassess your TCM pattern and adjust the prescription as needed. Follow-up consultations are also available online and your updated prescription is posted to you directly.

3. Conditions treated online

Chinese herbal medicine addresses the underlying pattern of imbalance that is driving a health problem, rather than simply treating symptoms in isolation. This makes it suitable for a very wide range of conditions. The following are the conditions I most commonly treat through online herbal consultations:

Fertility and reproductive health

1. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) — improving ovulation, regulating the menstrual cycle, reducing androgens and supporting fertility naturally
2. Endometriosis — reducing pain, improving circulation to the pelvic region and supporting fertility
3. Low AMH level — nourishing Kidney yin and jing to support ovarian reserve and improve egg quality
4. High FSH level — reducing elevated FSH through Kidney yin nourishment and blood building
5. Irregular menstrual cycle — regulating cycle length and improving menstrual flow
6. Unexplained infertility — addressing subtle underlying patterns that conventional investigation does not identify
7. Recurrent miscarriage — strengthening the Kidney and stabilising the pregnancy in the early weeks
8. Male infertility — improving sperm count, motility, morphology and DNA fragmentation
9. Fertility herbs for IVF preparation — supporting ovarian response and endometrial receptivity in the three to four months before a planned IVF cycle

Women’s health and hormonal conditions

1. Menopausal symptoms — hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, mood changes and fatigue during the perimenopause and menopause
2. Painful periods (dysmenorrhoea) — reducing menstrual cramping and improving uterine blood flow
3. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) — regulating Liver qi to reduce mood disturbance, bloating and breast tenderness in the premenstrual phase
4. Heavy periods (menorrhagia) — regulating blood and Spleen qi to reduce excessive menstrual flow

Mental health and sleep

1. Insomnia — difficulty falling asleep, waking in the night, unrefreshing sleep and early morning waking
2. Anxiety — chronic worry, nervous tension and generalised anxiety
3. Stress and burnout — recovery from chronic overwork and adrenal depletion
4. Depression — low mood, fatigue and loss of motivation associated with Liver qi stagnation or Heart blood deficiency

Digestive health

1. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — bloating, cramping, alternating bowel habits and digestive discomfort
2. Acid reflux and heartburn — reducing stomach heat and regulating downward movement of Stomach qi
3. Nausea and digestive weakness — strengthening Spleen and Stomach qi

General health and immunity

1. Chronic fatigue and low energy — rebuilding qi, blood and Kidney yang following illness, overwork or constitutional depletion
2. Recurrent infections — strengthening wei qi (defensive immunity) to reduce susceptibility to repeated colds, respiratory infections and similar
3. Long COVID — addressing the characteristic patterns of qi deficiency, blood stagnation and residual pathogenic factors seen in long COVID
4. Hay fever and allergic rhinitis — reducing immune hypersensitivity and strengthening Lung wei qi
5. Acne — clearing heat and damp from the skin through internal treatment

4. How your herbs are prepared and delivered

All herbal prescriptions I formulate for online consultations are prepared as pharmaceutical-grade granule powder from Sun Ten in Taiwan. Sun Ten is one of the world’s most respected manufacturers of Chinese herbal medicine, producing concentrated granule extracts that are tested for identity, purity, potency, heavy metals, pesticide residues and microbial contamination to the highest international standards.

Granules are the most practical and consistent form of Chinese herbal medicine for online patients. Each individual herb in your formula is extracted and granulated separately, then combined in the precise proportions of your bespoke prescription. To take them, you dissolve the daily dose in approximately 150–200ml of hot water and drink as a tea, once or twice daily as instructed — typically at least one hour after food. A small amount of honey can be added if you find the taste difficult.

Your herbs are posted to your address by first-class post within 2–3 working days of your consultation. I supply two to four weeks of herbs per postal order, depending on the stage of treatment. A written instruction sheet explaining exactly how to take your herbs is included with every prescription.

The cost of the herbs is £35 per week in addition to the consultation fee. A typical prescription for a straightforward condition costs £70–£140 in herbs per order (2–4 weeks), plus the consultation fee. Full pricing is on the treatment prices page.

5. About Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto

I am Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto, a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine with over 25 years of clinical experience. I graduated from Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine — one of the world’s leading universities for TCM — with a doctorate after completing their five-year full-time degree programme, which includes extensive training in both traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine.

I completed clinical training at Whittington Hospital in London and at two of Beijing’s leading TCM hospitals — Zhong Ri Hospital and Xi Yuan Hospital — where I gained experience treating the full spectrum of conditions encountered in TCM clinical practice. I am a fully registered member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) and a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC).

My clinical experience spans over 25 years treating fertility, pain, stress, anxiety, insomnia, menopausal symptoms, IBS and many other conditions. I am the author of My Fertility Guide and My Pregnancy Guide, published internationally. My work has been featured in the NHS, The Telegraph, Glamour, Netmums, Men’s Fitness and numerous other publications.

I hold a 5-star review rating from over 225 patients across my Wokingham and Twickenham clinics.

6. Choosing an online Chinese herbalist

Because Chinese herbal medicine is not yet statutorily regulated in the UK, anyone can legally prescribe Chinese herbs regardless of their level of training. This makes it important to know what to look for when choosing an online practitioner. The following criteria are essential:

1. Membership of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) — the RCHM is the professional body for Chinese herbal medicine practitioners in the UK and requires members to have completed a minimum of three to four years of full-time training in Chinese herbal medicine, hold professional indemnity insurance and commit to continuing professional development. You can verify RCHM membership on the RCHM website. I am a fully registered member.
2. A full consultation before prescribing — a legitimate Chinese herbalist will never prescribe herbs without first conducting a thorough consultation. Be very cautious of online services that prescribe pre-packaged herbal formulas based on a brief questionnaire without a proper consultation. Chinese herbal prescriptions must be individually tailored to each patient’s specific TCM pattern to be both effective and safe.
3. Pharmaceutical-grade herbs from reputable sources — the quality of Chinese herbs varies enormously. The herbs I use come from Sun Ten in Taiwan, which sets the international standard for granule quality, testing and consistency. Ask any online herbalist where their herbs come from and how they are quality tested.
4. Clinical experience in your specific area — Chinese herbal medicine is a broad discipline. Look for a practitioner with demonstrated experience in the specific area you are seeking help for. Fertility herbal medicine, for example, requires specialist knowledge of reproductive medicine alongside general Chinese herbal training. Attilio has over 25 years of experience and has written peer-reviewed publications specifically in the field of fertility and Chinese medicine.
5. Transparency about qualifications — a reputable online herbalist will clearly display their qualifications, professional registrations and clinical experience on their website. Be cautious of vague claims about “years of experience” without specific reference to training institutions and professional registrations.

7. Commonly asked questions about online herbal consultations

Is an online consultation as effective as an in-person one?

Yes — for Chinese herbal medicine specifically, online consultations are just as effective as in-person appointments. The core diagnostic tools of Chinese herbal medicine — case history, tongue diagnosis and symptom analysis — are all entirely feasible via video consultation. The one element that cannot be conducted remotely is pulse diagnosis, which relies on direct physical contact. For initial prescriptions, I compensate for this by taking a particularly thorough case history and tongue assessment. Where patients are able to attend in person for an initial consultation before transitioning to online follow-ups, I would always recommend this as the ideal arrangement.

Can I have online herbal consultations if I am outside the UK?

Yes — I accept patients from anywhere in the world for online herbal consultations. Herbs can be posted internationally. Please note that customs regulations vary between countries and I will advise you on any restrictions relevant to your location before posting. Patients from within the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and most other countries have received herbs from me without issue.

How long before I receive my herbs after the consultation?

I aim to post your herbs within 2–3 working days of your consultation. UK first-class delivery typically arrives within 1–2 working days of posting. For international orders, delivery times vary by destination — typically 5–10 working days for Europe, 7–14 working days for the rest of the world. I will let you know the estimated delivery timeframe when I confirm your prescription.

How often will I need follow-up appointments?

Follow-up consultations are typically every four weeks. At each appointment I review your response to the current prescription and adjust the formula as needed. Most conditions require an initial course of three to four months of consistent herbal treatment before the full benefit is achieved — though many patients begin to notice improvements within two to three weeks of starting their first prescription. I give you an honest prognosis at your initial consultation based on your specific situation.

Can I take Chinese herbs alongside my prescription medication?

Many patients take Chinese herbs alongside conventional medication without any problems. However, some herbs can interact with certain pharmaceutical drugs, and it is essential that you inform me of all medications — prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal supplements — at your initial consultation. I take all of this into account when formulating your prescription and will advise you clearly if there are any interactions to be aware of.

How do I book an online consultation?

You can book your initial online Chinese herbal medicine consultation directly through my online booking system. If you would like to discuss your situation before booking, you are welcome to contact me through the support page. Full pricing for initial and follow-up online consultations is available on the treatment prices page.